Page 48 of Don't Look Back

“Was there a fire?”

“No.”

“But it was only the sprinklers in my room?”

“As far as we know, yes.”

“How is that possible?”

“We’re looking into that. In the meantime, your room must be repaired. Your belongings, they are wet. We have another room for you on the second floor.”

“There’s no need. I’ll stay in Ms. Hanson’s room.”

“No.” The word was out of Kira’s mouth before she had a moment to consider.

“Does your room have two twin beds, like mine?”

She nodded.

“Then I’m staying. With everything that’s going on, you shouldn’t be alone.”

She knew he was right, but still, she’d wanted that separation. It wasn’t like separate beds changed anything. The twin mattresses were so close together, at first glance she’d thought it was a single king bed, and it wasn’t like having separate sheets could build a wall to stop her from throwing herself at Rand.

She gave a sharp nod to the clerk. Rand leaned forward and said, “On paper, we’re in separate rooms. Don’t change the hotel records.”

The Knights of St. John had settled in Malta by 1530, giving the country its Catholic foundation. Now, nearly five hundred years later, the country remained deeply religious. Some websites stated there were more churches per square meter here than in any other Christian country. The man likely thought Rand’s concern was fear of being caught in a compromising position by family or friends in violation of beliefs and not that Kira was in danger and had been hunted by a madman with a gun on Tuesday.

Not your average week.

Yet today, it was Rand’s room that had been invaded and vandalized.

Nothing made sense.

“Our computer will require payment for the unoccupied room,” the man said.

“Credit me back for half the rate for the damaged room, and we’ll be square.”

“I will have to clear that with my boss.”

“Fine. I need to grab my things from my old room.”

“We took the liberty of removing them for you.” He nodded to the door to the hotel offices as he rose to his feet. “I will bring them to you.”

A moment later, the young man circled around from the side pushing a luggage cart. It held a wet duffel bag, a few loose items of clothing and toiletries, the bookstore bag, and a plastic file folder containing a small stack of papers. She wondered if the plastic folder held his travel documents.

Did the hotel now know he was in the US military?

Nothing they could do about that if so. Anyone who’d been in his hotel room making noise and setting off sprinklers might have seen the papers.

Rand gathered his belongings. They were about to leave the small lobby when the clerk said, “Ms. Hanson. I almost forgot. This message was delivered by courier for you earlier.”

He held up an envelope that matched the one currently in her purse.

Inside Kira’s room, Rand dropped his wet bag and leaned against the closed door. He watched Kira as she gingerly explored her belongings, looking for a sign someone had searched her room.

The “Do Not Disturb” door tag would have kept housekeeping out, but the fire alarm meant the room had likely been checked.

For not being a combat mission, today had been aride. Now he watched Kira, whose day had been even more turbulent than his. And it wasn’t even five o’clock.

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