Page 33 of Elling & Jackie

Taking his keycard downstairs to the lobby, he went down to check out of Colman Hotel.

A woman sat at the desk. He looked around the room, wanting to deal with Jacqueline and find out who she belonged to before he left. The conversation would come after the fact, but he wouldn't change anything. He only wanted to know the Brikken member's name, so he knew who to expect when the guy came after him.

"Can I help you?" asked the employee manning the desk.

"There's another woman who works here. I need to speak to her." He widened his stance.

"Would that be Terri?"

He shook his head. "Her name's Jacqueline."

The woman smiled. "Jackie Stanton doesn't work today. Is the visit personal, or are you a guest? I can try and help you."

Stanton? He looked away from the woman, needing a few seconds to convince himself he heard her right. Jacqueline was a Stanton? Did she belong to the president of Brikken or one of the brothers?

Fuck.

He placed the keycard on the surface of the desk. "I'm checking out."

"Oh, okay. I can help you with that. I hope you enjoyed your stay at Colman Hotel." The woman slid a business card toward him. "Guests receive a ten percent discount on their next stay with us. All you need to do is show the card when you check in or use the code at the bottom if you reserve a room online."

"There won't be a next time." He stepped away, heading toward the elevator.

The woman still spoke to him, but he was done listening. He needed to get outside where he could think and breathe.

Having sex with Jacqueline had signed his death certificate.

---