Page 63 of The Chief
How the fuck did he think I would find either of those when I did not know this place? Which made me wonder… “Do you know the layout?”
“I got my hands on the blueprints a few years back. Follow this hall to the end. There’s an elevator.”
Shoving the cart, I had to push harder when the wheels caught on the edges of the flagstones as I moved down the hall. There were no doorways until I reached the elevator. The double doors slid open, and I pushed the cart inside.
“Which floor?”
“Take it to the top,” Keir replied, the sound of metal sliding against metal was muffled under the canvas cover.
I watched the floors light up as we ascended. “What’s the plan?”
“You’re the cleaner.”
“So?”
“So?” he replied. “Clean. You’ll have access to every room.”
Was he serious right now?Before I could ask him, the elevator jerked to a stop, and the doors opened. We entered a modern hallway, at complete odds with the exterior of the building. The cart glided easily over the crisp floorboards, and when I saw someone step from a bedroom farther up the hall, I ducked my head—keeping my eyes on the floor—until they passed.
I’d just let out a breath when someone behind me called out.
“Shit,” I breathed out, my pulse rattling the back of my teeth.
“Hey!” the guy called again.
I turned with a smile. “Yes, sir?”
He ran his burned umber eyes over me, lingering on my breasts through the coveralls. “Who are you? Where’s Ricky?”
“Family emergency.”
He grunted, his gaze still lingering on my body. “What’s your name?”
“Mandy,” I said. “What’s yours?”
“Seamus.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Seamus.”
He sucked on his teeth, his smile crude. “How about you do my room next?”
“Which one is your room?” I asked, playing along and practically feeling Keir’s glare scorching through the canvas.
“Second door from the end. On the left.”
I made a show of looking in that direction, turning back when I felt him drag his fingers across the side of my throat.
“Meet me there in thirty.” He said it like there was no room for disagreement. It was a command. “I have some shit to take care of first.”
“Thirty minutes,” I repeated and smiled sweetly.
Seamus sauntered off, disappearing through another door.
When I was sure we were alone again, I leaned closer to the canvas and murmured, “Which door now?”
“Is that normal?”
His question threw me. “What?”
