Page 96 of Missing White Woman

The walk back to the hotel was swift, as by now I knew exactly how to get there. A good thing since I was on autopilot, my brain still focused on my theory.

Ty could’ve told me. I would’ve helped him. We could’ve figured this out together. Why Janelle had suddenly disappeared. What Lori needed to get away from her husband. We would’ve taken care of it as a team—and he’d still be alive.

I found myself getting mad that he’d kept it all secret, dealt with it all on his own. But then I remembered I’d kept my secrets too. I hadn’t given him the chance to help me.

I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice Adore until it was too late. It wasn’t the first time I’d unexpectedly encountered her in my hotel lobby. This time she looked every bit as surprised as I was.

She’d just stepped out of the elevator when I walked into the building. We made brief eye contact, then I looked past her at the elevator bank. We were the only ones down there. The lone security guard was probably somewhere downing coffee from the Dunkin’ around the corner. For once Adore looked small and unsure of herself. It wasn’t a sight I was used to, but I couldn’t even revel in it. I’m sure I looked small and unsure of myself too.

“I…” she started, took a breath, then tried again. “I just dropped your stuff off.”

My home training kicked in before I could stop it. “Thanks.” The only solace was that I sounded sarcastic.

“Your mom…” Again with the inability to get out a thought. “She still has the same landline. I called her to find out where you were.”

The last thing I needed was my mom knowing what Adore had done. She’d make my anger seem like a good mood. As if I didn’t have enough to deal with: the Janelle-Lori revelation, my own feelings about Adore’s betrayal, being the world’s most hated woman.

I didn’t ask Adore what they’d talked about, just did a wide arc past her until I was close enough to jab at the elevator button. I willed it to come back quick, as my ears strained to hear Adore walking through the exit. Instead, I heard breathing.

“Breanna, I…”

And this time I was thankful for the hesitation because it gave me enough time for the elevator doors to open. A lone woman was inside, her white blouse and brass name tag saying KITTY letting me know she worked here. She did a double take when she saw me, then quickly looked away before I could smile at her and let her know I was a friendly.

I still tried anyway, but she refused any more eye contact, just like I’d done with Adore not even two minutes before. And it was only then I realized I’d forgotten to put on my mask.

What was the saying? “When it rained, it poured”? This was feeling like a whole entire hurricane. Kitty didn’t bother to come out of the elevator, and I couldn’t afford to wait her out. I just got in. When I turned around, Adore was still there.

Kitty finally got herself together enough to exit. At the same time, Adore came forward, like I’d asked her to join me. “Breanna,” she said again as she got inside.

The employee must’ve heard because she slowed her gait.

I finally spoke. “You need to leave.”

But Adore stayed put and the elevator doors slid closed, trapping me with the last person on the planet I wanted to be close to. At least anymore. I tried again. “Leave. Me. Alone.”

I backed up as I said it until I was literally trapped in a corner. Adore stayed still. Not coming toward me. Not pushing a button. Not doing anything but staring. I didn’t know what to do. What to expect.

And then, suddenly, the elevator opened. Kitty placed her perfectly manicured hand on the door to prevent it from closing again.

“Is there a problem, Ms. Wright?”

It took me a second to realize she was talking to me and another to realize her tone was friendly—at least until she spoke to Adore. “We don’t allow loitering on our premises and we surely don’t allow any harassment of our guests. So you’ll need to do what Ms. Wright suggested and go.”

Adore looked at me, as if she truly thought I’d defend her. And when I said nothing, she didn’t put up a fight. Just walked out of the elevator, being sure to brush past the woman as she did. We both waited until Adore disappeared outside, then the woman removed her hand from the elevator door.

“Thank you,” I said, and this time there wasn’t a lick of sarcasm.

“Of course.” The doors started to close. “I’m so sorry this happened.”

I knew she was talking about more than the past few minutes.

I nodded just as the doors finally closed, then started to cry.

* * *

I got my shit together on the ride to the tenth floor but still didn’t want to risk going to the lobby to pick up my things. Clean underwear could wait another half hour. I needed to get online.

I grabbed my charger when I got into my room and plugged my phone in. As soon as it had enough juice, I opened Twitter first. My account was private, but it didn’t stop me getting tagged. I ignored the Notifications button, but Twitter didn’t care. Someone I followed had tagged me. A singer I liked. Her tweet was simple:

---