Chapter 4: The Floor That Didn't Exist
For three seconds, nobody moved.
Victor Hale's voice continued through Richard's phone, calm and impatient, as though he were discussing an ordinary business transaction rather than ordering employees to obstruct an investigation.
"Richard, are you listening to me?""
Richard swallowed.
"Yes, sir.""
"Then do exactly what I told you. Nobody accesses those records until I arrive.""
Claire Morgan stepped closer to the phone.
"This is Claire Morgan, corporate security. Your instructions are being recorded as part of an active investigation.""
Silence.
Then Victor laughed softly.
"An active investigation? Claire, I approved your department's budget. Don't tell me how your job works.""
"And I don't take operational instructions from you during an evidence-preservation procedure," Claire replied.
"Where is Daniel?""
"I'm standing right here," I said.
Another silence followed.
"Daniel," Victor finally said.
"I was hoping you'd call before making a spectacle of yourself.""
I looked at my daughter, who was sitting on the lobby chair with my jacket wrapped around her shoulders.
"A spectacle? My child is sick, Victor. Your hotel staff tried to throw us into the rain.""
"I'm sure there's been a misunderstanding.""
"That's what Richard said.""
"Richard has managed that property for six years. He's a good man.""
I glanced at the manager.
He stared at the carpet.
"Then why is he afraid of a room that doesn't exist?""
Victor didn't answer immediately.
"You're tired, Daniel. You've been traveling too much. Let me handle this.""
"No.""
"Excuse me?""
"You heard me. Claire is securing the records. Nobody leaves until we understand what's happening.""
Victor's voice hardened.
"You don't understand what you're interfering with.""
"Then explain it.""
"I will. Privately.""
"Not a chance.""
I ended the call.
Richard stared at his phone as though I'd just destroyed his last lifeline.
Claire extended her hand.
"Mr. Collins, please surrender your phone temporarily for evidence preservation.""
"I don't have to do that.""
"You're not being asked to confess to anything. We need to preserve communications relevant to this investigation.""
Richard gripped the device.
"I'm the night manager. I have responsibilities.""
"Then start by cooperating.""
He reluctantly handed it over.
Claire passed it to her colleague, who placed it in a secure evidence pouch.
I crouched beside Sophie.
"Sweetheart, do you think you can stay with Ms. Melissa for a few minutes while Daddy figures something out?""
Sophie rubbed her eyes.
"Are we sleeping here?""
"Yes, baby. I'm going to make sure we get a warm room.""
"With a bathtub?""
I managed a smile.
"With a bathtub.""
Melissa sat beside her and offered her a small packet of crackers from her bag. Sophie accepted it with a sleepy smile.
That tiny gesture nearly broke me.
A receptionist who had spent the evening watching her manager humiliate people had still found the courage to help my child.
I stood and turned toward Claire.
"What exactly did Victor mean by the twenty-third floor?""
She opened a folder on her tablet.
"The architectural plans show twenty-two guest floors, plus mechanical space above them. There's no twenty-third floor listed in the hotel's official building documentation.""
"Could it be a maintenance level?""
"Possibly. But Richard's access records show repeated entries into a restricted elevator zone that isn't identified on the public floor directory.""
"How many entries?""
"Forty-seven in the last three months.""
I looked at Richard.
"What is up there?""
He rubbed his face.
"Nothing.""
"Then why has Victor specifically ordered you to keep us away from it?""
"I don't know what he meant.""
Claire tilted her tablet toward him.
"Your keycard accessed the restricted elevator zone forty-seven times. Would you like to explain those entries?""
Richard stared at the screen.
His lips moved, but no words came out.
The older security guard approached us.
"There's something else you should know," he said.
Claire turned.
"What is it, Marcus?""
"There's an old service elevator behind the laundry corridor. It goes above the twenty-second floor, but management told us never to use it.""
"Who gave that instruction?""
"Richard did.""
Richard snapped his head around.
"That was a safety restriction!""
Marcus didn't flinch.
"You told us the upper level was structurally unsafe. But last month, you had contractors bring in new furniture through the service entrance.""
The lobby fell silent.
"Furniture?"" I repeated.
Marcus nodded.
"Beds, desks, lamps. Several deliveries. All after midnight.""
Claire exchanged a look with her colleague.
"Did you keep the delivery records?""
"I think the loading dock has copies.""
"Then we'll retrieve them.""
Richard suddenly stepped forward.
"You can't just start searching private areas!""
Claire held up her identification.
"This is a company property, and we're conducting an authorized internal investigation. If we discover evidence of criminal activity, we'll notify the appropriate authorities.""
Richard's hands trembled.
"You don't know what you're getting into.""
I moved closer.
"Then tell us.""
For the first time that night, his eyes filled with something that looked almost like shame.
"I didn't build any of this," he whispered.
"Build what?""
He looked toward the elevators.
"The rooms. The payments. All of it.""
"Who did?""
Richard opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, the lights above the reception desk flickered.
The hotel's security monitors went black.
Claire spun toward her colleague.
"Check the surveillance system. Now.""
He opened his laptop.
"Network connection just dropped.""
"Can you tell whether it was a power failure?""
He shook his head.
"No. The power is still on. Someone shut down the camera system remotely.""
I looked at Richard.
He was staring at his phone's empty evidence pouch.
Then he whispered something that made Claire turn sharply toward him.
"They know you're here.""
"Who knows?"" I demanded.
Richard's eyes shifted toward the dark monitors.
"The people upstairs.""
A metallic crash echoed from somewhere beyond the lobby.
Sophie screamed.
I rushed to her and pulled her into my arms.
Across the lobby, Marcus drew his radio from his belt.
"Security to all units. Report your locations.""
Static answered him.
Then a man's voice came through, breathless and frightened.
"Marcus, stay out of the service corridor.""
Marcus pressed the button.
"Who is this?""
A pause.
Then the voice returned.
"Don't come upstairs. They just locked someone inside.""
May you like
The radio crackled.
And every light in the elevator bank turned red.
