17 |

Nobis Hotel 
Stockholm, Sweden
Present Day

 

The expected knock at their hotel room door still caused both of them to flinch. Acton rose, Laura switching to a chair by the window as the knock was repeated. He opened the door to a smiling staff member, a cart with a hastily ordered lunch rolling in.

Acton let the young man complete his spiel, then the bill was handed over for him to sign. He did, adding a generous tip, then before returning it, tilted the bill holder up slightly. “How would you like another thousand?”

The man’s eyes bulged. “Sir?”

“I need to use your cellphone.”

The man seemed even more confused. “Sir?”

“Both ours aren’t working here. American phones, so I guess they’re not compatible. I need to send an important text message to a friend. I’ll give you an extra thousand kronor for one text message.”

A slight smile appeared. “Umm, I suppose so.” He reached into his pocket then paused. “This isn’t anything illegal, is it?”

Acton chuckled, glancing back at Laura. “He thinks we’re drug dealers.”

Laura laughed. “Just spies, darling, just spies.”

The young man shrugged. “I guess it’s all right.” He handed Acton the phone after activating it with his thumb. Acton quickly sent as succinct a message as he could to Reading, then once he saw it was delivered, deleted it from the phone. He handed it back then reopened the bill holder, adding a ‘10’ in front of the tip.

“Thanks.”

The young man’s eyes bulged then he backed out of the room, bowing. “If you need anything, Mr. Acton, you just ask for Elias.”

“I’ll do that.” Acton closed the door, Laura already at the food.

“I think you just made a friend.”

Acton shrugged. “He could prove useful, you never know.” Laura took her plate and sat cross-legged on the bed. He eyed her. “You can eat at a time like this?”

She shrugged. “Who knows when we’ll get another chance. I say we eat as much as we can, then wait for their call. It has to be coming soon.”

Acton sighed then joined her. “Let’s just pray Hugh gets the message.”

And can help us.