Chapter 16: The Head of Security

The head of security found me in the lobby of Anson's hotel at noon the next day.

I was crossing to the elevators with a bag of Pearl's clean nightgowns when a hand closed on my arm.

"You ruined me," he said.

He was in yesterday's suit, unshaven, with red eyes and a smell of old coffee.

I knew his face from the dock video, and from the hands that had zipped my bag.

"Let go," I said.

"I have a charge pending because of you. Mr. Sedgwick cut me off this morning."

"You put a necklace in my bag."

"I followed an order!" His voice cracked across the marble. "You stand there like a saint, and I'm the one who loses everything."

The lobby had been quiet. It was not quiet now.

Guests at the front desk turned. A bellman stopped with a cart.

He pulled me closer, and his fingers dug into my elbow.

"You go to the police today," he said low.

"You tell them it was a misunderstanding, a family joke."

"Or I find out where your foster mother sleeps."

I looked at the hand on my arm.

"She's in a cardiac ward," I said, "and I'll be there at six."

"Then I'll find the ward."

"Take your hand off my guest," a voice said behind him, pleasant and carrying.

Anson crossed the lobby at a walk.

He did not touch the man. He took my bag out of my grip, set it on the desk, and turned to the room.

"Good afternoon," he said. "I'd like everyone here to hear something. It will take three minutes."

The head of security let go of me.

"This man worked for Sedgwick Hotels for nine years," Anson said. "Last night the police took his statement about a planted necklace."

"He's now threatening a witness in my lobby, in front of forty people and a camera over the desk."

The man's mouth opened. "That is not what I meant."

"I read his file this morning. May I read a part?"

Nobody answered, which was an answer.

"Six years ago a bartender was fired for stealing a watch from a guest."

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