Page 28 of The Perfect Lie
The closer I got to Gwen’s suite, the more something didn’t sit right. The door was slightly open like something was blocking it from shutting. The room service cart with the food still sitting untouched on top was also disconcerting. I didn’t have a piece on me, and I didn’t want to chance being caught off guard. Patton was in the vicinity, and having back-up was always a good thing.
Thankfully he answered on the first ring. “Patton, something is up. Sean isn’t answering his cell, and when the front desk tried Gwen’s room phone, the call didn’t go through. I need you to meet me outside my suite.”
“I’m in the lobby. I’ll be right up. Hang tight.” Patton said, his footsteps pounding against the lobby tile.
Pacing the hallway, steering clear of Gwen’s suite, the hotel would be investing in new carpeting if Patton didn’t show up soon. I was just about to lose my patience when the elevator door slid open. I was relieved to find that Patton was the only person who got off.
Placing my index finger to my lips, I pulled him away from the elevators and down the hall in the opposite direction. When we were a safe distance from both rooms, I expressed my concern. “Reyna is in the suite and I couldn’t chance grabbing my gun and have her question me. Something doesn’t feel right. The last thing I want is to be ambushed with no protection.”
“So, what are you thinking?” Patton questioned as he pulled his Glock from his side holster.
“Something is blocking the door, and the untouched cart outside the door is very suspicious.”
“I’ll take the lead. Hopefully, we won’t run into any surprises.” Patton pulled back the slide of his gun, loading a bullet into the chamber.
If something went wrong, our only saving grace was that other than my suite and Gwen’s, none of the other rooms were occupied. I reserved every room on the floor in case something like this happened. Allowing Patton to take the lead, we made our way down the hall, past my suite. Hesitating for a moment in front of Gwen’s room, Patton slowly moved the cart out of the way to give us better access to the door. Once the cart was out of the way, we saw a man’s foot blocking the door. I felt my body tense as Patton inched the door open while he held at eye level.Damn, how I wished I had my gun.
While Patton held his gun, he used the other hand to push the door open. I waited on the other side of the door, staying out of any line of gunfire in the event there was someone still inside the suite. Patton’s expression became slack as he looked down at the body by the door. Seeing him shaking his head with disbelief, there was no need for words. My gut twisted in a tight knot, throwing me off balance.
Seeing Sean’s body on the floor made me question my decision to spend the day with Reyna. I felt sick, like I was going to lose my lunch. Sean’s blood soaked into the carpet, turning the fibers bright red. He was shot in the head at close range. He didn’t see it coming.
“Stay here while I go check it out,” Patton said in a low voice, pulling my sight from Sean’s body.
Nodding, I pressed my back against the wall, ready to punch the wall in front of me. Sean was a good man and didn’t deserve to die like this. At thirty-one, he still had his whole life ahead of him, but some son-of-a-bitch took it from him. I didn’t care what it took. Nothing would stop me from finding the motherfucker who ended his life. One man, in particular, deserved the same courtesy. Rui Salko.
Patton stepped into the hallway moments later to let me know no one else was in the suite. I hated having to get the Atlanta police involved since there would be a shit load of questions I wasn’t ready to answer, but there was no other choice.
If I had learned anything all, I learned how to cover my ass. I made sure Gwen’s room was registered under her name. I never used plastic and used only cash to pay for the room, which was another safeguard I learned a long time ago. I was a prominent businessman, and most of the men on the Atlanta police force were friends. With the charitable contributions I had made to the police force, no way would they think I had a part in this, even if I did know Gwen.
The forensics team finished collecting the evidence, including the fingerprints lifted from the room. My prints would be among them, but that was the least of my worries. All I wanted was to find Sean’s killer. We would be doing our own investigation, guaranteed. Hopefully, Sean’s killer got sloppy.
Exhausted from an hour of questioning, Patton and I were finally allowed to leave. Considering the events of the evening, my concern for Reyna escalated. Staying at the Four Seasons was no longer safe. I hated to be the one to ruin our plans, but tonight Reyna and I would be heading to the warehouse, where I could keep her safe.
Placing my key card in the slot, the green light blinked, and I pushed open the door. With the shit storm that hit, all I wanted was to make sure Reyna was okay so that we could leave. She wasn’t sitting on the couch in front of the television, so she must be in the bedroom. As I entered the room, the sight of her on the bed was uncharacteristic of our plans. She was curled up in a fetal position with her arms wrapped around a hotel pillow. As I moved closer to her, I saw she wasn’t just resting. Something was wrong.
Taking a seat on the bed next to her, she must have felt my weight because her eyes fluttered open. My gut ripped in two, seeing the red rings around her eyes. She had been crying, and I had no idea why. “Reyna, what’s going on?”
I tried to push away the hair that had fallen against her cheek, but she swatted my hand away and rose to a sitting position. “Is it true, Davian?”
I was clueless as to what she was talking about. There was no way she could have already heard about Sean. “Is what true?”
Tucking her hand underneath the pillow, she pulled out a folded piece of paper and pressed it against my chest, a little harder than needed even for her. Taking the piece of paper from her hand, I unfolded it and began reading the words written in Gwen’s handwriting.Shit, shit. How would I ever explain this one?
~19~
Reyna
As I was putting away the items that Davian had purchased for me at the Georgia Aquarium, I noticed an envelope propped up against the pillow on the bed. I recognized the Four Seasons’ logo on the envelope and thought maybe it was either a bill or a special invitation the maid might have left.
It wasn’t addressed to either Davian or me, so I took it upon myself to open it. As I slipped the letter from the envelope and unfolded it, I carefully read each line.
Davian,
I know that you said you will always care for me, and for that reason, I can’t believe that you would throw away everything we shared five years ago. In my heart, I believe that your falling for another woman was only a way to fill the void you’ve had to cope with while I was gone.
Two nights ago, we shared something special, and I knew then just how much you truly loved me. Touching and feeling you while we made love sparked something inside of me as well. Our love for one another can’t be denied. We belong together, and now that you know the truth, there is no reason we can’t have what we had before.
Nothing and no one will stand in the way of true love. Meet me tonight at 8:00 at the Pavilion at Tybee Pier. I know you will remember the place where we first kissed.
