Six

After Viv’s call, I talked myself back into a visit to the hotel bar. I made my way to the lobby, where I saw a commotion out of the corner of my eye. I expected it to involve one of the dogs and was surprised to see the guy in the white shirt and paisley tie grab Clementine’s arm. I gaped as she shook him off and marched away from him. He followed her and I wondered about their relationship. They certainly didn’t look friendly. I suddenly had the overwhelming sense that he had something to do with the kidnapping or whatever was going on. Which meant that Clementine did too.

I had a terrible thought that shook me to my core. Maybe he was the kidnapper. And maybe Clementine was in danger.

I hurried after them, no plan in mind other than finding them, or at least Clementine.

Racing around the hallway, I poked my head in all the conference rooms. Unsuccessful, all I could think to do was travel the big square of conference rooms again, finally ending at the Clackamas Room. I opened the door again, poked my head in, and saw everything exactly as I had left it.

Not knowing where else to look, I closed the workroom door and turned in time to see the guy in the white shirt and paisley tie exiting a hidden hallway door. Alone. I hadn’t noticed it before, even though I’d passed it several times. It was covered with the same wallpaper as the wall. The only thing that distinguished it from the wall was a practically invisible recessed handle, and even that was painted to match the wall.

I froze. What was behind that door? Did it lead to Hanna? Was Clementine now with her?

I knew I needed a plan, but had no time to think of a good one. So I settled for saying, “Hey. Are you here for the conference? One of the volunteers?” As if seeing it for the first time, I gestured to the hidden door. “Oh, where does that door go?”

He didn’t respond, just cut his eyes both ways and scurried away like an enormous cockroach. As soon as he was out of sight, I yanked open the hidden door and immediately pulled it shut behind me.

As my eyes adjusted to the dim light dribbling from a bulb in a wire cage high on the wall, I checked my phone battery. After all the time I’d spent using it today, I was down to 33 percent. I deployed my flashlight app and waved my phone around the short hallway. Surely there was a light switch somewhere.

Maybe somewhere. But not here.

My eyes had adjusted a bit, so I shut down my phone to save the battery and tiptoed down the stairs, keeping one hand on the wall for safety. As I got to the bottom, I stopped and listened for any sound that might guide me toward Clementine. I turned to the left, because it seemed as good a choice as any. I made my way through the labyrinth of the hotel basement, stopping every so often to listen for something, anything, to make me feel more confident I might find her.

Suddenly a beam of light danced behind me. I watched in horror as it grew bigger. Whoever held that flashlight was coming closer.

I hurried forward, my left hand feeling the way ahead along the wall about waist-high. If there was a doorknob, I needed to find it, and fast.

I didn’t even need to glance behind me to see the light from the flashlight bounce around me. I was just beyond its reach, but not for much longer. I broke into a trot. Footsteps thudded behind me.

My thumb jammed into a doorknob and I cried out in surprise. I clamped my hand over my mouth and stumbled the few steps back to the door. I yanked it open and flung myself inside, closing it quickly and, I hoped, quietly behind me.

I leaned with my back to the closed door, listening for the footsteps and waiting impatiently for my eyes to adjust to the pitch black. I opened them as wide as I could, willing my pupils to speed into night vision mode. My heavy breathing sounded like a freight train and I took a deep breath and held it, hoping whoever was following me would pass right on by.

As I held my breath, I heard the footsteps stop outside. Light from a flashlight danced under the door at my feet.