Never Tell (May Moore Suspense Thriller 2)

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

May knew her first priority was to locate Lewis Brooks. But she needed to do it in a way that would keep her under the hotel’s radar. She couldn’t afford to warn Lewis, or he would undoubtedly flee and destroy all the precious evidence he held. She couldn’t afford to raise suspicions any higher, or it would mean a massive danger for the trafficked women.

“They’re alerted to us at the Mount Amethyst,” she told Owen. “We can’t go back there again or they’re going to know something’s afoot. So, perhaps our best bet is to speak to Jolene at the Lakeside Heights. She doesn’t know that we’ve been to the Mount Amethyst. I’m sure they haven’t gotten around to telling her yet.”

“That’s a great idea,” Owen said.

“I don’t know where Lewis could be. If he works for the group, he could be anywhere. But as the manager, she might know his schedule, or be able to find out for us.”

May knew there was only one way she was going to be able to prevent Jolene from warning Lewis, and that was to take her into custody. So they would have to persuade her that this was being done for her own safety and that she, too, was in danger. Well, for all May knew, she was. She had no idea how long the killer’s hit list was, or who else might be on it.

They drove away from the Mount Amethyst. As the road scrolled by, May went through her plans in her mind.

Firstly, get Jolene into custody so she couldn’t warn Lewis, or anyone else. Secondly, find Lewis’s whereabouts, hopefully before the killer got to him. And thirdly, arrest him—and with any luck, locate the killer, too.

It was a lot to do.

“I think we should go in two separate cars,” Owen said. “ Then one of us can take Jolene in, and the other can go straight on to wherever she says Lewis is.”

“That’s a great idea,” May said. “Let’s go back via the police department, so we’re both mobile. It’s on the way and will only take a minute, and then we won’t waste any time on the hunt.”

*

Fifteen minutes later, May screeched to a stop outside the Lakeside Heights Hotel. Owen scrambled out of his car behind her, and they headed up to the hotel. May felt breathless and resolute. She walked into reception, knowing that she had to appear confident and not give anything away.

Even so, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a uniformed cleaner walking quickly down the corridor, her head bowed, and May’s instincts were instantly sparked. Was this one of the trafficked slaves at work? Now, she suspected strongly it was. But she couldn’t give her suspicions away.

She dragged her focus back to the receptionist’s stare.

“Is your manager available?” she asked, showing her badge. “We have some important information on the recent murders.”

“Sure.”

A moment later, with a click of heels, Jolene breezed in.

“Good afternoon, Deputies. Is there any news?” she asked.

Was it May’s imagination or did she also look briefly in the cleaner’s direction?

“Good afternoon, ma’am. We’ve had a breakthrough in the case. We understand that the killer is planning on targeting key people in the hotel’s management. It’s someone with a grudge against the business. We’re still working on the details,” May explained, playing on what she knew Jolene already believed.

“Is that so?” Now, Jolene looked alarmed.

“There’s a possibility that you may be targeted, Ms. Barr. For your own safety we would like you to come into the police department for the next few hours, until we can hunt the killer down.”

“But I—are you sure?”

Fear for her own safety was overriding Jolene’s suspicions about their sudden appearance here. May knew, from watching her face, that she was likely to agree.

“It’s very important, ma’am. As you are aware, this killer can strike at any time, and has killed near this hotel before. If you stay here, you’ll be at serious risk. Your presence might also endanger your fellow workers.”

“Oh, that’s terrible. That’s really scary. I can’t put anyone else at risk. Alright, I’ll come with you.”

Grabbing her purse from the desk, Jolene walked out with May and Owen.

Now that she was out of the hotel environment, May needed to ask the important question that would hopefully lead them to the killer. As they hustled to the parking lot, she spoke again.

“We’re also looking to bring your personnel manager, Lewis Brooks, into a place of safety as he may be targeted as well. Do you know what his schedule is, and where he would be at this time of the day?”

“At this time?” She checked her watch and frowned. Looking at her, May could see she was in a state of anxiety and struggling to gather her thoughts. Then, sounding relieved, Jolene spoke. “He’ll be at the hotel’s main liquor warehouse. He goes there twice a week to pay the casual staff and check their hours.”

“And where is that?”

“In the industrial estate on the outskirts of Misty Hills. It’s at Four Appletree Road.”

May nodded. She knew where that was.

The clock was ticking, but now they had a strong lead to their suspect. Jolene climbed into the back of the cruiser and Owen sped away. Watching them go, May felt a huge sense of relief that Jolene hadn’t been able to warn her boss, or tell him what the police had asked.

They were only just in time. As May was about to get inside her car and head off to the warehouse, she saw a big black Range Rover accelerating into the hotel.

The car roared up the drive, barely swerving to avoid Owen’s departing cruiser, and pulled up right in front of the entrance with a screech of brakes.

May stood up straighter as the driver’s door opened and a security guard climbed out.

He walked around to the other side of the car and opened the door for none other than Bert Reed. The beautiful assistant scrambled out of the back on her own.

Finally, May was realizing why he surrounded himself with this level of security. There was a good reason for it. He knew he could be a target.

The hotel mogul glowered at May.

“I heard you were interfering earlier. My staff sent you away from the Mount Amethyst and told you to obtain a warrant. Now you’re here? What’s going on? Do you have a warrant? If not, I must demand that you leave our premises. You are on private property without permission. I have a series of meetings now that can’t be interrupted.”