Page 6 of The Master's Holiday

“Someone is dead.” Nik stated and Dumas nodded. Nik glanced over at Dumas, and he quickly headed for the door intent on getting the car. They were getting out there before it allhit the fan. “We have to move fast Walker.” He said and Walker fell into step. “We need to be out of here before the body is found.”

They packed and were in the lobby when their car pulled up out front. Dumas jogged inside and took their luggage. Before he got to the door, the room blew up. Bullets hit the ceiling and walls in rapid succession, and screams filled the room as chaos took over.

Dumas stood shoulder to shoulder with Nik, and they kept Walker covered and secure behind them. Nik also put a shield around Walker, making sure no arrant projectile would harm him. “We didn’t act fast enough, sir," Dumas uttered, clearly annoyed at himself.

"We can handle this, Dumas," Nik assured him. “Be conscious of the cameras and the other patrons, but you have permission to do whatever you have to do, and we’ll sort it out later.”

Dumas reached over, grabbed a man, and pushed him to the floor just as more gunfire rang out. Several of the bullets hit Dumas, but no one seemed to notice in the commotion. "Stay down and get behind the furniture." He told him, and the man did as he was told. Everyone was dropping to the floor and searching for cover or trying to run from the room.

The three of them slowly and strategically moved backward until a wall was behind them. They observed the room, and it was obvious the two with the automatic rifles were not purposely trying to kill anyone. They were shooting wild and mostly at the ceiling. Their faces were covered, but Dumas recognized them as the two men from the restaurant the previous night.

Things gradually settled and the two started shouting orders for everyone to move up against the wall where Nik along with Walker and Dumas were already standing. They kept Walker behind them shielding him from any possible harm.

Nik would definitely thank Josef when they returned home. He thought bringing any security, and certainly, a hellhound, was overkill for such a basic leisure trip. Right now, he was damn glad to have Dumas at his side.

“Do as we say, and no one will get hurt.” The larger one yelled. He then motioned for the smaller one to approach and he started sorting through the group of people at the wall confiscating all the electronics phones, tablets whatever they were carrying. Nik wiped their phones with just a touch before they were taken.

He started separating people, some he kept against the wall and others he moved over toward the front desk. It became clear that he was separating out those he believed to be less affluent or influential. They kept Nik and his party along with three other groups, one of which Nik recognized from the financial pages. It was beginning to look like they may be considering extortion.

The others were herded into a conference room while those still standing at the wall were instructed to go into the restaurant. Nik maintained the shield around Walker making sure he was safe no matter what the outcome. As they walked to the restaurant three more masked individuals came in through the front doors with several more patrons who had obviously been enjoying the grounds and other amenities. They were taken to the conference room.

The people in the conference room were left with just one guard at the door, and the others returned to stand with the twocovering the entrance to the restaurant. There were five so far, but there were probably more. They would have to secure the grounds and make sure no one else entered, which would take manpower.

Nik glanced over at the conference room doors and threw a glamour of protection around the room. People could leave the room, but no one could enter, and that should keep them safe for now. Nik then turned his attention to the people around him and those who kept them prisoners.

They were the two Dumas had spoken of and the bartender along with two who were strangers. Nik reached into the mind of the large one who had spoken to them all in the lobby. The mystery about the smell of blood was answered.

“The general manager and his assistant manager are both dead in the back office," Nik informed them. Walker immediately looked sad, but Nik raised his hand. "Don't cry for them; they were in on it and decided to try to betray the others.”

"What a clusterfuck," Dumas commented.

“It gets worse.” Nik continued. “The general manager was the only one who had the combination to the safe. That’s why things have blown up in this manner.”

“How much money could a country lodge be holding that would tempt men like this to go to such lengths to rob it?” Dumas was puzzled. This looked like a lot of manpower for a little country safe.

“Apparently, the safe has a secure multilayered defense system. Therefore, it is used as a drop for all the earnings of businesses in the area that are owned by the group that owns The Glendale. The money is picked up once a week, and collection is tomorrow morning, so that safe is bursting withcash at the moment.” Nik spelled it out and both Dumas and Walker were nodding their heads.

“It all makes sense except for the part where they killed the guy with the combination.” Walker offered his two cents worth.

“They’re going to try and make up for the loss with extortion. Each person in this room is going to be told to donate if they want to leave this Lodge alive." Nik said, glanced at the men standing outside the door. “Bad plan. They went from a quick heist to a crime that is going to be plastered across the state, and everybody and their brothers will be involved."

“What a mess.”

“Indeed.”

“Have you determined the issue with the Master’s phone?” Josef stood at Cole’s desk. Cole’s title was head of cyber-security along with so many other technical titles. If there was a serious problem Cole was the go to solution.

“The phone is completely out of operation. My guess is that it has been destroyed along with Dumas’ phone and Walker’s phone. None of them can be traced or read.” Cole gave the disappointing news.

“Did you try the Lodge?” Josef asked.

“No response and I tried every number even the Terrace Restaurant Maître D. No one is answering.” Cole looked as worried as Josef felt. “What’s next?”

“Keep trying to contact someone in the area. I’m taking a few guards and we’re heading to the Glendale.” Josef flew from the room and within ten minutes they were on the road. He wasn’t taking any chances considering what had been going onthe last few months. Nik would not purposely refuse to answer his phone, and the fact no other phones were working made the matter that much worse.

If they’d had contacts in the police department it would have helped tremendously but that area of Pennsylvania was a dead spot as far as the paranormal was concerned. He didn’t doubt that Nik and Dumas could well take care of themselves but still it didn’t hurt to have reinforcements.

Not knowing and not being able to contact them was getting under Josef’s skin. Even during the darkest days of the curse, they could still maintain a level of contact, so this was unacceptable.

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