Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27799 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27799 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
I rummage in the closet and find the luggage stool. I flip it open and heft Georgia’s case on top. She can’t carry any weapons through customs, but the case feels too heavy for just clothes. I’ll take a look later when she’s showering.
“There’s a door here, but it’s not opening,” she calls from the opposite side of the suite. I find her standing in front of a white paneled door.
“It’s for the connecting room.”
“Right. Isn’t that where I’m sleeping?”
“We only have this suite.”
Her brows furrow together. “But there’s only one bed. How can there be only one bed in this ginormous space? Like there’s a living room and a dining room table and even a little powder room at the entrance but only one bed?”
There’s a little panic in her voice. Gotta hand it to her, she has never once broken cover. I wonder what her body count is. She’s good at her job. My adrenaline spikes. Life had been getting monotonous. Go to a city. Kill a person. Go home to my empty apartment. This is different. This is exciting.
“There’s only one. I put your suitcase in the bedroom. I’ll bunk on the sofa. I’m sure it’s a pull-out. Why don’t you shower first? I’ll go when you’re done.”
She hesitates. “Maybe we should go down and talk to the reservation person. I was supposed to get a comped room. I’m a travel blogger, and this hotel paid for me to come and take photos and stuff, so you should not be forced to room with me.”
“A travel blogger?” How’s that possible? She’s leaving a footprint of all of her kills on social media? Or is it an extremely effective cover?
“Yes. I didn’t start as an influencer. I inherited some money from my grandma, who told me to go and see the world, so I started to do that, and I took photos and stuff, and people liked it. I have a small following, but I guess it’s large enough that some places—like this hotel—offer me freebies. I would never be able to stay in a place like this if I had to pay. The rooms are like a thousand a night, and I can’t even imagine how much this suite is even though there’s only one bedroom.”
I’m not one that gets surprised. It’d be fatal in my line of work, but her whole monologue has me rocking back on my heels. An influencer? That’s her cover? But…maybe it’s actually brilliant. She’s very clever. I can’t underestimate her, and letting her out of my sight isn’t an option now. Keeping her next to me is the safest course of action.
“I’m okay if you’re okay. This place is big enough for the two of us.” I drop onto the couch and throw my booted feet up on the table. She looks like she’s going to protest more, so I grab the In Paris magazine and leaf through it.
After a few moments of silence, she finally leaves for the bedroom. I throw the magazine to the side and listen as she moves around the inner room. The suitcase gets unzipped. There are some shuffling noises. A cabinet door opens and closes. Two drawers slam shut, followed by the click of a door, and then the pipes creek. This hotel is lux, but it’s Paris, and nothing here is new.
I pat the walls gratefully and glide over to the bedroom, which is all clear. Quickly I rifle through her things. It’s not very practical for a traveler or an assassin. There are dresses bright and patterned, sexy colorful bras and panties, shoes with heels. She’s very dedicated to her cover, I’ll give her that. There’s nothing in the bag that resembles a weapon. Even the scissors I find are small, designed for nails or sewing or something mundane like that. There are no poisons or chemicals that could make poisons. Her handler must have set something up locally. She’ll have to retrieve it at some point. I can’t wait to follow her around.
I step out of the bedroom and grab the ice bucket. Once I’m away from the room, I contact Mercy. “What else do you have for me?”
“You checked in already?”
“Yeah. I wasn’t sure about the room situation, but I think it’s for the best now.”
“Why? Are you too far away from her?”
I stop in the middle of the hallway. “I’m in the same room. You didn’t put me there?”
“Why would I put you in the same room? Wait, did you just say you are in the same room as this other assassin? How? Why?” Mercy’s having a breakdown.
“Hotel said that there was a note that we should be put together so they booked the other available room for someone else. I thought you did that.”
“That’s insane. I wouldn’t do that. The note was that you should both be above floor three, not that you should be on the same floor or the same room. I’ll call them.”