TEDDY CHECKED HIS messages in the lobby of the Pierre. There was an encrypted e-mail from Millie.
Teddy decoded it. It read: Lance wants to know when he can get the dog back. It belongs to a friend of his.
Teddy sent her a message: Prepare the friend for bad news.
Millie e-mailed back: What happened to the dog?
Teddy sent: Nothing yet.
Teddy logged off the computer, cursed Lance, and went to the front desk. “I’m Devon Billingham. I’d like to get my trunk out of the hotel safe.”
Teddy had the trunk brought up to his room. After the bellboy had left, he opened it up, took out his equipment bag, and set it on the bed.
He sorted through and selected a few items that he stowed in his jacket pocket. He repacked the trunk, returned it to the desk manager to store in the hotel safe, and strolled back out again.