Booktree.ng_Forgotten-Witness

“Is she black? Pretty? Did you see a teenage boy with
them?”
“Lady, I told you I don’t know,” he moaned and then that
lazy eye of his managed to straighten for a suspicious second.
“You sure you’re not here to make no trouble?”
“Nope. No trouble.” Josie’s heart beat hard. Once, twice,
three times, like Hannah tapping out her anxiety. She gave it a
minute to calm down. “Are they still in room 720?”
“Unless he bolted and didn’t pay. That would be a bitch. I
gotta cover the room when that happens. They don’t pay me
enough to do that, and how am I supposed to see everything.
Can’t stay up twenty-four-seven.”
“If he’s gone, I’ll cover it.” Josie turned away.
“Want me to call up? Maybe the girl is there and you can
talk to her.”
“No.” Josie was already retracing her steps. “Where’s the
elevator.”
He pointed to the lobby. He had no time for anything more.
He was already in his office. Josie found the elevators in the
back of the building. She pushed the button three times before
she heard a whir. The numbers above the doors stayed dark.
She was about to head for the stairs when a bell finally dinged.
She pivoted, getting back just as the door opened. She stepped
inside then out again. A rat was nestled in the corner, dead and
destined to ride the elevator for eternity. It would be better to
take the stairs than to get caught between floors with that
thing. At least that’s what she thought until she opened the exit
door.
The stairwell reeked and she had seven flights ahead of her.
She blessed the hours on the beach playing volleyball. Seven
flights would be a piece of cake; seven floors were nothing if
it got her to room 720, Ian Francis, and the girl who was with
him.