Oscar heaved up from the table, shot Sam a glance that looked panicked and furious all at once, and charged out of the room.
Leland was waiting in the hallway, his hands planted on his hips. “Sure you shoulda tipped your hand so soon that we think he’s involved?”
“Doesn’t matter. Reyes knows enough to be good and scared. He knows we’re on to him.” His finger tapped the folder. “I’ll bet money he’s heading straight to the boyfriend to warn him.”
“I’ll have a detective tail him. See where he ends up.”
Sam nodded. “I’m heading to the hotel. I don’t like Cait there on her own.”
“Me neither. Something hinky’s sure to happen.” Leland’s eyebrows lowered ominously. “Make sure the place doesn’t get blown up.”
10
Cait waded through the crowded lobby. Guests covered the couches and chairs while they whispered among themselves. The registration counter was blocked by others questioning the clerk about what was going on.
Three cadaver dogs had arrived, handled by private contractors who were already searching the floors in a methodical sweep, hotel staff with master keys letting them into every nook and cranny. A team operating sonar equipment was on the top floor and working its way down.
Rather than trail the dogs or the techs, Jason and Cait remained in the lobby, scanning the crowd, looking for anyone who appeared nervous about the search.
“What do you think about the kid in the green T-shirt?” Jason asked quietly.
“He’s worried someone’s gonna find his stash of weed,” she said, eyeing the skinny man who was sweating harder than was warranted—if he’d been an innocent man.
“There’s the manager, Avery Lewis.”
Cait turned to follow his gaze. Mr. Lewis wrung his hands, while his glance swept the people loitering in his lobby. Slightly disheveled, his suit was rumpled, his gray hair sticking up in places. He’d probably slept on his office couch rather than head home. She made a mental note to corner him later. Although he’d been interviewed the day after Sylvia’s death, he hadn’t been asked the questions she was most interested in hearing answers for.
Jason grunted, then pointed with his chin. “There’s the Reel PIs crew. They certainly don’t waste an opportunity.”
Cait’s upper lip curled in a snarl. “They’re recording this. When he gets here, I’ll have Sam tell the sergeant in charge to remind all his men that no one grants them an interview.”
“Think now might be a good time to bring them in on the investigation?”
For a moment, Cait fell silent. Things were already complicated as hell. As soon as they turned the crew loose on the investigation, the police would have their hands full keeping them safe and out of trouble while they watched to see if the incubus flashed his hand. “Jesus, I hate those guys.”
“Because they’re posers?”
She shrugged. “They don’t understand how dangerous the situation can get. They treat this like it’s some big adventure.”
“Who knows? Maybe they’re the real deal.”
She snorted and waved a hand. “And Santa Claus really does squeeze his fat ass down chimneys.”
“Bet all you ever got was a lump of coal. Anyone ever tell you that you have a bad attitude?”
She flashed him a grin and then began winding her way through the crowd toward the Reel PIs crew.
Clayton spotted her first and elbowed Booger, who bent to Mina’s ear.
She whipped her camera toward Cait.
“You’re the one who got electrocuted yesterday,” Mina said, peeking around her handheld unit and pushing her cat’s-eye glasses up her nose.
“I’m consulting with the police.”
“You a psychic detective?” the girl asked.
Cait flashed her a pained smile. “No, just a plain old PI.” She scowled at the camera before turning to Clayton. “We need to talk.”
Clayton straightened his shoulders, his demeanor changing instantly. His shoulders straightened, which pressed his large round belly forward. “I figured you might.”
“Follow me,” she said, crooking her finger. As soon as she turned her back, she rolled her eyes at Jason, who hid a smirk.
She led them back to the break room and closed the door. The film crew took seats in front of the metal table. With the sounds from the lobby muffled, she sat opposite them, blowing out a breath that billowed her cheeks. “I’m Cait O’Connell, and this is my partner, Jason Crawford. Folks, we could use your help.”
From his seat, Clayton narrowed his eyes. “If we agree to help, you gonna let us keep our recording?”
“Why?” Was this a break in the case? “Do you have anything?”
“Tons of orbs on the third floor.”
“Uh-huh.” Cait forced her expression to remain unchanged. “I’ll have Jason get with you to review the footage.”
Jason kicked her foot under the table.
She cleared her throat. “We want to set up surveillance on the third floor. Something that augments what the police are currently doing.”
Clayton glanced around at the rest of the crew before speaking. “Because they don’t have our specialized equipment and won’t know what to look for?”
She gave Clayton a grave nod. “That’s exactly it.”
His brown eyes narrowed. “Can we get access to room 323?”
Cait held her breath for a second, remembering the problem she’d had. If these guys were innocent of any wrongdoing, she couldn’t put their lives in danger like that. She shook her head. “Too dangerous. Look at what happened to me.”
“Then it wasn’t just bad wiring.” Clayton leaned toward Booger. “Told you the manager was full of it.”
Cait smiled. “Let’s set up the equipment to watch the third floor at the end of the hallway where 323 sits. We’ll monitor it remotely to keep everyone safe.”
“We can’t leave it unattended.” Clayton frowned. “Someone might walk away with our stuff. It’s expensive.”
“All the other guests on that floor are being moved. We can assign you a room on the third floor for you to set up and monitor your feeds, but far enough away so you won’t get tazed like I was. The PD is placing uniforms at the elevators and stairwells to control who enters. Sound satisfactory?”
Clayton glanced at Booger, who gave him a quick nod. Mina’s head jerked up and down like a bobble-head doll. Firming his lips, Clayton turned back to Cait. “We get to keep our footage, any readings we take.”
Pretending to give his request serious consideration, she took her time before she gave him a solemn nod. “We’ll make copies if we need them.”
Clayton leaned closer. “We get to interview the detective in charge.”
She nearly laughed. The thought of Sam being interviewed by a group of paranormal investigators, scowling and growling, was just too funny. “You can talk to me. Detective Pierce and I are working very closely on this one.”
Eyebrows raised, Clayton’s glance swept her. Booger’s did too. “She’s cute. Should look great on camera.”
Cait elbowed Jason because he was snickering beside her. Then she reached out a hand. “I think we have a deal.”
Clayton gave her hand a crushing squeeze. “Deal.”
“For now, stick around the lobby.” She circled her hand. “I’ll have to discuss this with the PD and get a room
