Page 97 of Smokescreen

Reid frowned. “You’re probably right. As a matter of fact, look. That’s her car.”

Olive followed his gaze and saw the white Tesla parked in the back of the lot.

“You stay here.” Olive grabbed the door handle. “I’ll figure out what room she’s in.”

“How do you plan on doing that?” He squinted in curiosity.

Olive threw him a grin. “I have my ways.”

She paused before going inside the lobby and grabbed a fast-food bag from the trashcan outside the door. It was in decent shape and still had some trash inside.

This would work.

She entered and spotted a twenty-something sitting behind the counter wearing AirPods.

“Hi, there.” Olive plastered on a friendly smile and then held up the bag in her hands. “I have a food delivery for Daphne Miller. However, the info I was sent says room 541, and I just figured out there is no room 541 here. It must have been a typo. Can you help?”

The woman stared at Olive and then typed something on her computer. ‘There is a Daphne staying here. I can deliver the food to her if you’d like.”

Olive frowned. “I wish I could let you do that. But it’s very important that the food stay in my possession until it gets to the recipient.”

The clerk stared at her.

“What if you take a bite of it? Spit in the food? Poison something?” Olive tilted her head. “Chain of custody is very important—and not just for law enforcement. I’m sure you would appreciate that rule if you ordered food for delivery. You don’t want it to be passed around, do you?”

The clerk continued to stare at Olive as if trying to figure out if she believed her.

Finally, she sighed. “Fine. Room 271. But I didn’t tell you that.”

“Thank you!” Olive held up the bag again before exiting the lobby.

She stepped outside and deposited the bag in the trash again.

Armed with new information, she hurried back to Reid.

With any luck, Daphne would be in her room now, and they could find some answers.

CHAPTER 44

“You got her room number?” Reid stared at Olive as he stood outside his truck, looking truly impressed with his wide eyes and lilted voice.

“I sure did.” People really needed to learn not to underestimate her. “Let’s go.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a side nod.

They headed across the gritty parking lot and climbed wooden stairs to the second floor, on the side facing the highway.

As Reid knocked on room 271, Olive planted herself out of sight. Just in case.

“Daphne?” Reid called. “Are you in there? It’s Reid.”

Olive had already instructed him to keep his voice light. There was a good chance Daphne might think her plan had worked and that Reid was coming here to declare his undying love for her. If she thought otherwise, she might not bother to answer.

A moment later, the door opened, and Olive heard, “Reid. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

Daphne sounded cheery, as if she had just been waiting for Reid to come running back to her.

Olive was going to have to end that illusion, however. Part of her didn’t even feel bad about it.

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