I heaved myself around the corner and out of sight. No time to think, no time to plan. Just get out of here!
I reached the stairwell door and forced myself to stop. My hand reached for the knob and turned it soundlessly.
From around the corner, I heard the click of a door opening.
Praying the hinges wouldn’t creak, I pulled back the stairwell door. It was heavy. I slipped through the crack, feeling sweat bead on my forehead. I flattened my palm against the other side and slowly, carefully eased the door shut.
It closed with a light metallic sound.
Had Wendell heard?
Get out of here, Shaley!
My feet scurried to the stairs. I stopped, slipped off my flip-flops and clutched them in my left hand. Gripping the cold iron rail, I hurried down the steps as quietly as possible.
At the next landing, I stopped to listen.
I knew every noise would echo up the stairwell. I looked down and saw one dizzying flight after another. If Wendell opened that door one floor above me, I’d never outrun him.
Blood whooshed in my ears. Above me — silence.
Wendell was probably at Bruce’s body by now. Did he plan to move it somehow? Dispose of it? Then what—come looking for me?
He’d think I was in my room. Until I didn’t answer his knock —
The smear of blood of my door! Wendell would know I’d been out in the hall, seen Bruce’s body …
With a small cry, I flung myself down two more flights. Breathless, I skidded to a halt and cocked my head. Was he following now?
Above me, a door clacked.
I flattened myself against the wall next to the exit. Floor Twelve, the painted sign on the door read. Like many hotels, this one didn’t have a thirteenth floor.
“Shaley!” Wendell’s voice bounced around the stairwell.
I yanked open the exit and tore into the hall.
The door slammed shut behind me. No going back now. He’d know.
I sprinted around the corner, praying to see someone, but the hall was empty. Where should I go? What should I do? The only way out was the elevator on the other side. Even if I got there, would I have time to wait for it?
Blood pounded in my ears as I ran. Halfway down the long corridor, I saw another hallway opening up to the right. I knew it would lead only to other rooms. I passed it without slowing.
At the end of the hall, I tore around the next corner. Nothing there but the elevator. Frantically I pushed the down button. My head jerked up, eyes searching for the red digital numbers that told what floor the nearest car was on.
Sixteen.
Maybe I’d make it.
Air heaved from me in gasps, my heartbeats an earthquake in my chest. I flung terrorized glances toward the corner, expecting Wendell to materialize any minute.
Fifteen. The elevator hung there.
My legs shook. I smacked the down button again and again, praying for the elevator to move. Surely Wendell was coming down the stairwell. Would he check each level? How long before he found me?
Fourteen.
The elevator stopped once more.
“Come on, come on.” One more floor, just one more —
From the other end of the corridor, a metal door opened. Slammed shut. “Shaley? Shaley!
He couldn’t see me, not yet. But the way he ran, it would only take him a minute to sprint the length of the corridor.
My eyes glued to the floor number above the elevator. Please, please.
Twelve.
The door slid open. Jerry Brand was inside.
He jumped out and grabbed me, pulled me into the elevator. My flip-flops slipped from my hand.
“What?” Automatically I fought, shock stinging my nerves.
“Shhh!” He smacked a floor button and pushed me toward the back of the elevator. With a wild look over his shoulder, he searched the hallway. No sign of Wendell.
Jerry flattened himself against the side wall, body taut with tension.
The elevator door panels started to slide shut.
Wendell careened around the corner. Our eyes met.
“Shaley!”
He hurled himself toward me. His face was flushed, danger in his eyes. Both hands were bloody.
“No!”
I melted against the wall.
As he reached the door, the last few inches of space between us closed.
The elevator surged downward.