Page 21 of Rotten Apple

Maxwell Pierce

Chapter 11

Gwen was about to break the law, and Max had taken an oath to uphold it. Still, there was no way he would let her go in herself.

She pulled the card key out of her pocket and held it up for him to see. “Max, you need to move.”

Determination stared back at him. She was going in no matter what he said. This was the trade he’d made. Max ran his hand over his head and squeezed his neck. “What do you intend to do if he comes back?”

“We’ll leavebefore that happens. I have eyes on him.”

Perfect, his employees were accomplices. If word of this got out, he’d be screwed. “So, Marcus is helping you?”

“Your mother offered his assistance.” Gwen’s eyes sparkled.

For the love of God, his mom was just as guilty. Max sighed, and ignoring his better judgment, hetook the card key from her fingers and pressed his ear to the door. “Do you hear somebody in there yelling in distress?”

“Why yes, I think they’re yelling that you’re an idiot and we’re wasting time,” she said while rolling her eyes.

“We should help.” Max stuck the card key in the slot and pushed the door open. “Housekeeping.”

“Move, I could have been done by now,” Gwen jostled around him andentered the room. “He’s not here. I’ve already told you, and now we’re wasting time.”

Max followed her inside and gently closed the door after looking up and down the hallway for witnesses. Not a single person loitered in the area to observe the crime. Brunch time normally meant the guests were eithereating or already by the pool and beach. They could only be so lucky. “What are you going to do? Look for his checkbook?”

“I’ve got big plans for him once I find what I’m looking for,” she answered pulling two tissues from a box in the bathroom. She handed him one while using the other to conceal her prints.

She searched one drawer, feeling around before closing it. She worked her way through the entire dresser while Max checked the bedside tables. She grabbed the resort notepad and rooted in the drawer for a pencil. She lightly colored the page to reveal a message.

“Maybe I should call you Nancy Drew.”

“If that turns you on.” She pulled out her phone and took a picture when Max spotted a briefcase on the floor next to the desk.

“You say you can pick anything. What about a briefcase?”

“Those three-digit briefcases are simple if you can master the art of number tension.”

“I don’t even want to know,” Max said, leaving the Samsonitebriefcase on the bed. He opened the closet doors. A single black suit, along with casual shirts, hung inside. Maybe he’d expected a bag full of cash or disguises, but there was nothing interesting, not even the suit. “You sure this is the guy that stole the retirement folks’money? There is nothing elaborate or expensive among his things.”

“Maybe he doesn’t flaunt…” Gwen’s words trailed off, and Max glanced over his shoulder to find her with the briefcase open. “What the heck?”

She stood speechless, almost afraid to touch whatever was inside. Max moved behind her to get a better look. A single envelope lay inside with Gwen’s name scrolled across it, along with a symbol stamped into wax on the envelope flap.

“Are you sure you’ve never met this guy before?” Max asked, watching her pick up the envelope. She ran her hand over the red wax.

“I’m positive,” she answered seconds before she pulled her phone out of her pocket. Max saw it vibrate in her hands. Her eyes widened. “Crap, he snuck by the cameras. Marcus has him on the elevator.”

She stuffed the envelope into her bra and put the briefcase back before grabbing her scribbled piece of paper. Max grabbed her hand, pulled her to the door, and peeked outside, just in time to see the elevator doors open.

He shut the door again and pulled her farther into the room. “It’s too late.”

She pointed to the balcony and hurried to unlock the door. They’d just stepped outside and closed the door when the hotel door opened. Max peered around the corner into the room. Fillpot was on the phone.

Fillpot grabbed the briefcase and tossed it onto the bed before heading straight for the sliding glass door. Max’s heart raced as he pressed his back further into the concrete wall. If Fillpot stepped out, there would be no way to explain their presence. He needed to get them out of there.

Gwen’s focused gaze met his. He held his breath while running through any explanation that might sound plausible in his head. Nothing.

The sliding glass dooropened,but Fillpotdidn’t step outside. “You two can come inside.”

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