Page 70 of Phoenix Rising

“Yeah.”

Reese reluctantly released her and grabbed his suitcase, following Audria to the great room where the others waited.

“The brochure said to bring snacks,” Christian announced. “There’s a small cafeteria that serves sandwiches and salads, as well as vending machines. Hopefully, we won’t be there long enough to get too hungry.”

They left in separate vehicles so Elijah wouldn’t realize they were together. They’d devised a plan to get weapons inside, and Reese hoped it would work.

Reese and Audria led the way. Few cars were in the lot when he found a spot and parked. He held out his hand, and Audria grasped it as they made their way to the building and entered.

“Do you have any metal, pocketknives, clippers, or anything that would set off the detector?” the security guard questioned.

“No, we don’t.”

“Do you have cell phones?”

“No. The brochure was specific that they were not allowed on the premises.”

“They aren’t. Please place your bags on the conveyor belt and walk through one at a time.”

Audria went first, followed by Reese. They waited while the guard x-rayed their belongings. He nodded an all-clear, and they removed them. As Christian waited to go through, Talia entered and tripped, dumping her bag over the floor and causing a scene. Audria kept an eye out, and while Hunter and the security guard helped gather the fallen items, Christian passed Reese a case around the detector containing phones and weapons for each of them.

They had no way of knowing if someone was monitoring the security cameras, and if so, they’d probably kick Christian, Audria, and him out, leaving Talia and Hunter by themselves. It was a risk they were willing to take to be armed against a killer.

He and Audria proceeded to the check-in desk, encountering Helen for the third time. They wore the same disguises as their last visit. They hadn’t engaged her then, and she didn’t seem to remember them now.

“Welcome to Spiritual Beginnings. I’m so glad you could join us for the retreat,” Helen said. She chatted away as she checked them in and gave them their room key. “The opening remarks will be in thirty minutes in the garden. The retreat will focus on nature and meditation, and Guru Phoenix will talk throughout. I’m sure you will enjoy it. Here is a map showing you where you’ll be staying, along with the various locations for the retreat, including the cafeteria and chapel.” She drew a line from where they stood to their room and circled it with a black marker. “Please let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Helen,” Audria said.

Reese glanced to see Talia and Hunter had made it through the detector. No one had come rushing at him with guns drawn, so they looked to be in the clear. Now, they needed to find a place to disburse the weapons without cameras catching them.

The hallway to the rooms looked like any motel chain in America, with industrial carpet and walls painted a shimmering gold.

“This is our room, hon. One-twenty.”

She’d said it for the benefit of the others so they would know where they were staying. Reese spotted a camera as soon as they walked inside. Talia and Hunter had warned them, and it looked as if they’d nailed it. It was facing the bed. Guru Phoenix was a disgusting ghoul.

Audria had stealthily removed her phone from the case and swept the room for more bugs. She held up one finger, meaning the camera was it, and then she tapped her eye and ear. It had a listening device too.

Reese took the weapons case to the bathroom, and they both hid guns, knives, and phones to take to the others. He’d noticed a dead spot where cameras didn’t reach at the beginning of the corridor. Reese held the door for Audria, and they stepped into the hall. Christian was headed their way. Reese covertly dropped his items in his bag, and with a nod, he kept going.

They ventured into the lobby to find Talia and Hunter at the registration desk. People were mingling, some drinking coffee from a pot set up for attendees, while others sat on couches and chairs chatting. When the McGraths came their way, they introduced themselves, pretending to meet for the first time. After a few minutes of polite chit-chat, they followed them to their room, pausing in the dead zone to transfer the contraband.

Talia and Hunter stopped at room 116. “We’ll see you later in the garden for opening remarks.” And possible fireworks when Guru Phoenix realized Talia and Hunter were back.

Christian stepped out from 122. Good. They were all in the same vicinity. He held up one finger, then touched his eye and ear as Audria had. His room had the same cameras. Christian headed in the opposite direction down the hallway leading outside. Reese and Audria followed.

#

Elijah paced back and forth, wearing a path on his expensive Turkish rug, he was sure. He couldn’t sit still. Ever since he’d spotted Tina and Henry in the crowd yesterday, they were all he could think about. The disappointment he’d felt when he realized they were gone had been soul-crushing. He was proficient with a computer and had tried to track them down to no avail. He’d called as many hotels in the area as possible, asking to speak to them, but they weren’t listed on any manifests. With all the Airbnbs and bed and breakfasts around, they could be anywhere, and he certainly couldn’t contact each one. They might even be staying in Flagstaff or Prescott, for all he knew. He’d resorted to calling an investigator in Phoenix to search for them. He was desperate.

The private detective had lived up to the slang title of dick. He’d been rude and condescending when Elijah had told him that the only information he had was Tina and Henry’s names and that they were driving a red Porsche 911. The man refused to take his case, stating that there could be several hundred people with those names in Arizona, and it would be impossible to narrow it down without more information. A fool’s errand, he’d called it. Elijah had almost thrown his phone across the room.

Now, thirty or so people—less than half the usual amount—waited for him to lead them in a weekend retreat when all he wanted to do was drive up and down the streets, looking for the McKays.

Was it too late to cancel?

Sighing, he affixed the wireless mic and donned his white robe. He used this one for the retreats instead of the brown one he wore during the week. After securing the hood over his head, he slid on glasses he didn’t need, but that added to his disguise. Oh, how he’d wanted to rip the hood off and show Tina and Henry it was him. He was sure they’d be as overjoyed to see him as he was them.

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