anything, all you have to do is ask.”
He started inside, but then he stopped when he realized that I wasn’t following him in.
“Is there something wrong?” he asked me. “I thought we’d already settled your situation.”
“This is more than we need, and I want an explanation before I move another step.”
He looked distressed as I stood in the hallway, but I was firm in my insistence that I wasn’t moving. I knew that Charlotte couldn’t afford this kind of luxury, and I doubted that Grady could either, unless he was grand- standing. I had no problem with my husband getting paid handsomely for his work. He was good at it, and he deserved whatever the market would bear. But I didn’t want to take advantage of anyone in the process.
“I’m waiting,” I said.
The manager appeared to go through a handful of options when he finally shrugged and reached for his cell phone. After dialing, he surprised me by handing it to me.
“Hello?” I said tentatively.
“Is this Savannah Stone?”
“It is,” I admitted.
“I understand there’s a problem with your accommodations.”
What on earth was going on here? “No, sir, no problem. It’s just nicer than my husband and I need. May I ask your name?”
“Of course. Sorry about that. Garrett is literal when it comes to instructions, and I’ve trained him well not to reveal anything about me that he doesn’t have to. My name is Barton Lane, and I own the Belmont, among other things here and there around the world. I would appreciate it if you would be my guests while you’re here in Charlotte.”
“Mr. Lane, it’s most generous of you, but it’s not necessary.”
“Young lady,” he said, his voice booming so loudly over the phone that I could swear I saw Garrett flinch, “I’m unaccustomed to having my wishes ignored.”
“Wow, it must be really nice living your life. It happens to me all of the time.”
I wasn’t sure what reaction I expected, and from the look on the hotel manager’s face, I must have just committed an unforgivable act of treason. The thing was, I’d never sworn an oath to Barton Lane.
What I got was laughter, a sound so foreign in the man’s voice that I was certain he rarely used it. “I like you, Savannah. May I call you Savannah?”
“Absolutely, and I’ll call you Barton.”
If I kept this up, Garrett was going to need a team of paramedics to revive him. As it was, he looked like his head was about to explode.
“Savannah, it would please me for you to use this suite, and anything else my hotel has to offer.”
“Is there any reason in particular you’re being so nice to me?”
“The second victim, Cindy Glass, was my personal secretary,” he said plainly, all joy gone from his voice. “I want her death avenged, and from everything I’ve heard, your husband is the only man capable of catching the killer.”
“Thank you,” I said. “He’ll do his best, and please know that we appreciate your generosity. It’s very sweet of you, Barton.”
“Think nothing of it. If you need anything, or would like to get in contact with me, Garrett will take care of it. I hope someday we’ll have the pleasure of meeting face to face under better circumstances.”
“That would be nice.”
“Now, if you will, give me back to Garrett.”
The hotel manager took the phone, and as he kept repeating, “Yes, sir. Of course. I understand,” I looked around the suite. My gaze was drawn outside before I even looked at the furnishings. The skyline of Charlotte, in all its glory, was laid out before me, and I couldn’t wait for Zach to see it. We loved the mountains, but Charlotte had a lure for us as well, and here in the clouds, we could see the Queen City’s beautiful architecture from a perspective few people had ever enjoyed.
I was still standing there taking it all in when I realized that Garrett was off the phone.
“Is there anything else I can get you?” he asked.
“No thank you. I’ve got to get us settled in, and then I’m going to rejoin my husband at police headquarters.” I looked around the room and took in a sitting area with furniture nicer than anything I’d ever owned in my life. The style was Queen Anne throughout, with shades of burgundy and black everywhere.
“I’ll take care of settling you in then, if you wouldn’t mind,” he said.
“Who exactly is Barton Lane?” I asked. “Forgive me, but I’ve never heard of him before.”
“He’d be delighted to hear that, since he prides himself on his privacy. I’ve spoken to him half a dozen times since I became manager, and that was fourteen years ago. Mr. Lane has a policy that as long as the job is being done efficiently, there’s no need for direct supervision, or even contact, for that matter.”
“I’m sure you’re very good at what you do,” I said.
I wondered what Zach and Steve were doing at that moment, and though I knew it was too soon for my husband to investigate anything outside the command center, I was still uneasy not knowing if he was safe. I was going to have to get over that impulse when Zach was working on a case, but I hadn’t managed to do it so far.
Garrett handed me the keys, and as we left the suite, I took a second to gaze once again at that skyline view.
