An Apple for Zoe: Book One ~ The Forsaken

'Prop?' quizzed Kirkland.

'Close enough.'

Taking in a long deep breath he sighed. 'We've got to get some lights back on in here Tom.'

'Just do your best.'

Looking closer than he cared, Kirkland's beam of light caught what appeared to be something written just above the bottle.

'Wait, I got something here. It looks like writing on her pubic area.'

James moved closer. 'Writing like on Amanda Carlyle?'

'Yep, she's got a tattoo also. It says Never Fink Mia—You think that's her name? Mia.'

James thought hard on the wording. 'Whether it is or isn't Mike, one thing is clear for certain. She's not supposed to tell who did this.'

'Well I think killing her took care of that.'

James sat down heavily in the chair at the foot of the bed. He ran his hands through this thick salt and pepper hair. 'We've got a serial killer, Mike.'

'That means this is beginning Tom.'

Grantham called to them from the hallway, 'Inspector?'

Both Kirkland and James looked up at one another having completely forgotten all about him.

'Yes?'

'Is there another dead body in there?'

'Fraid so,' called James.

'Now what do we do?' asked Grantham.

'Mr. Grantham, it's okay you can come inside,' said Kirkland.

'I'd rather not. I think I'll just hang out with the Hazmat guys if you don't mind.'

James looked at Kirkland. They both smirked at Grantham's cowardly behavior. James gave a nod of his head telling Kirkland to sort it out for him. Kirkland handed James his flashlight and replaced his gun as he returned to join Grantham, Jake and Steve in the hallway.

'Looks like we are going to be here for a long time guys. Any chance you can give us some clearance, Steve, so we can get our CSI's up here?'

Waving his RAE around the hallway, Steve took in a deep breath. 'As far as I can tell Mike, there's nothing poisonous in the air. I think you guys are good to go. Jake and I are going to go back downstairs and consult with our backup team. There has to be some kind of answer to all of this.'

Kirkland agreed as he watched the two men slowly descend the stairs and then looked at Grantham and could see the thoughts bouncing about inside Grantham's mind. He could also see Richard Grantham wanted to ask the unthinkable question.

'What is it?'

'The body. Is it a woman?'

'Yes it is.'

'Is it like it was in 1921?' Grantham asked with a hollow tone.

'It's worse.'

Kirkland watched the hotel manager's eyes fill with fear. A fear that made him question, maybe he knew more than he was letting on.

'Richard, is there something you want to tell me? Maybe something more about Mr. Skylar?'

'No, Mr. Skylar, he's the best employee I've ever had. As I told you earlier, I never had any trouble with him. He's always courteous and kind to everyone.'

'Would it be out of place for a young girl to be found in his room?' asked Kirkland.

Grantham blushed and hesitated. He gave a look to Kirkland as if he was telling tales out of school.

'Frankly, Detective Kirkland, no it's not out of place for Mr. Skylar to have a young woman come round. We always found it quite interesting that very attractive—and I do mean very attractive women—would be seen coming to the hotel to see him.'

'Escorts?'

'Not on his salary. Look, I run a high-class hotel detective. I know the difference between escorts and prostitutes. None of the women coming here were either of those.'

'So why do you find it interesting?' asked Kirkland.

'Come on the guy is old. It's just kinda funny to think at his age he's still getting his freak on. And I might add, he's doing it with the kind of women most of us never get a chance with. Gotta love that Viagra I guess'

Kirkland was really beginning to like Grantham. 'So Richard, how many different girls do you think you've seen him with?'

'I don't know, maybe three or four.'

'Does he see them more than once?'

Grantham began to squirm a bit. 'I suppose so. I mean I'm not the guy's social secretary. But yeah, I've seen the same women in here more than once.'

'Think you would remember any of them if you saw them again?'

'Sure. I think so,' said Grantham.

'Then I'd like to ask you if you recognize the woman inside room 1219.'

Grantham hesitated. 'Do I have to?' he asked.

Kirkland put his hand on the manager's shoulder. 'It would be a huge help to us all if you did.' Grantham nodded and stepped inside the room.

'Now, just try to relax, she's going to be laying on the bed. Try to just look at her face okay?' stated Kirkland.

Stepping round the corner, Grantham froze momentarily as he saw the dead girl. His eyes went immediately to the Coke bottle.

'Oh my God.'

'It's okay. Ignore that. Just look at her face,' said James.

Stepping closer Grantham attempted to adjust his eyes as James flashed the beam of light on her face. Both Kirkland and James watched Grantham. In an instant they could tell from his reaction he recognized her.

'Who is she?' asked James.

Without warning Grantham began to shake and shoved Kirkland aside, running for the door. James quickly pulled his gun from the holster and ran in pursuit. Rising to his feet Kirkland followed.

'Richard, stop!'

'Mr. Grantham, don't run!' called Kirkland.

Grantham continued into the hallway and fell to his knees. Doubled over he began to throw up. James turned his head away trying to give the manager as much privacy as possible in what was, at best, an embarrassing moment. Wiping his mouth with the back of his shirtsleeve, Grantham tried to pull himself together. 'I'm sorry, Inspector James.'

'You scared us,' said James as he replaced his gun.

Kirkland knelt down next to Grantham. 'Was it one of the girls?'

Grantham shook his head no. 'No it wasn't,' he said as he tried to regain his composure.

'But you know her?'

Grantham nodded. 'Yeah, she's my girlfriend's kid sister.'

'What's her name?'

'Valerie Rivera.'

Chapter Eight Valerie Rivera

Kirkland and Grantham waited just inside the lobby entrance for Jessalee Rivera and her evidence crew to