A Decade For Nothing novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The Brecken

The Brecken Hotel had a brass revolving door and a lobby that smelled of lilies and money.

Joel stood next to me at the front desk in his best jacket, which still had a stain from the wedding.

"Let me do the talking," he said.

"You talk to bar customers."

"That's the same skill."

The clerk behind the desk was a young man with a name tag and a very steady smile.

"Welcome to the Brecken," he said. "How can I help you?"

"I need to know about a room on March eighteenth," I said.

The smile did not move.

"I'm sorry, sir. We can't discuss guests."

"The guest was me."

"Sir?"

"The booking says L. Harrow. That's my name. I'm Levi Harrow, and I was not here."

He looked at me properly for the first time.

I saw him recognize my face.

I saw him decide whether to be sorry for me or afraid of me.

"You're the groom," he said quietly. "From the video."

"I'm the groom. And I'd like to know who gave you my name."

"I really can't."

"Can you tell me if I walked in? Can you tell me who checked in?"

"We don't keep that kind of record at the desk. A manager would have the camera footage."

"Then can I speak to the manager?"

The clerk disappeared through a door behind him.

Joel leaned his elbows on the marble.

"That's the nicest anyone has been to you in three days," he said.

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