Erica Whaley was standing at the check-in desk with her husband, Mark. It didnt say anywhere on the website that the hotel was brand new, she said. Lucky us. She smiled.
Mark Whaley was holding his credit card paused in mid-air. He glanced at his wife. They laughed. OK go ahead, said Mark.
Did you have far to come? said Jared.
No Denver, said Mark.
The rooms are completely finished dont get me wrong, said Jared, and any extra work that needs to be done wont happen on weekends, so it will be quiet during your stay. The major work is done except for the Spa. Sorry. He directed this at Erica. But she had turned to see her three-year-old son, Leo, hanging upside down from the back of a brown leather sofa, his face red with the rush of blood.
Mark spoke to Jared. Our son tests all surfaces and objects for suitability to climb or swing from. He paused. Then climbs or swings from them, regardless of his findings.
Erica sprinted for Leo, grabbing him under his arm and swinging him into the air.
Mark raised his eyebrows at Jared. That was close. His Spidey sense is weak.
Jared smiled.
OK, be honest, said Mark, leaning in to him, speaking quietly. Will this be a comfortable stay? My little girl isnt feeling too good. Marks eleven-year-old daughter from his first marriage, Laurie, was on the sofa reading a book, oblivious to her Spiderbrother.
You bet, said Jared. Theyre just doing some things like wiring, and putting fancy room numbers on the doors, etc.
Hmm said Mark. No room numbers? That could be interesting.
The doors are numbered with laser print-outs for now, dont worry, said Jared.
OK, said Mark. I just wanted to make sure that if the Parkers are coming back to reclaim Leo that they know which room to go to.
Jared paused for a moment, then smiled. Peter Parker is Spiderman, right?
Yes, he is, said Mark, just so were clear He smiled, and turned around to see his wife struggling back to the reception desk with her bucking son jammed onto her hip and shouting at her to let him go.
Take him, said Erica to Mark. She almost dropped Leo at Marks feet. The little boy sprang up.
Erica shook her head. Hes like those indestructible, I dont know, zombies that you cant kill they keep coming back to life.
Mark looked at Jared. We dont want to kill him, he said. Honestly. Or return him to the Parkers.
Erica had clearly heard the Parker reference before. She called, Laurie, sweetie?
Laurie closed her book and came over.
Just like that, said Erica, squeezing Laurie against her, and kissing the top of her head. How are you feeling, sweetheart?
Im fine now, said Laurie. I dont know what happened, but the pains gone.
Erica held the back of her hand to Lauries forehead. No fever. And youve got good color in your cheeks. I pronounce you fit and well.
Laurie smiled. Why, thank you.
Leo was swinging out from the reception desk, his feet working hard to climb to the top. He dropped to the floor and ran away.
Your turn, said Erica.
Laurie ran after him.
Jared went into the back office.
Loving the loose cannon desk clerk, said Mark.
I know, said Erica. She wrapped her arms around Mark, and kissed his neck. Then she moved up to his ear.
Is this about hotel sex? said Mark, leaning back.
Erica smiled. That goes without saying, she said. This is about dinner.
What about Laurie is she feeling better? said Mark. Is she OK to be left with a sitter?
Oh, shes fine, said Erica. I think it might have been a little attention seeking?
Or she wanted to make sure we wouldnt leave her to go to dinner, said Mark.
No, said Erica. I was just talking to her, she said she was absolutely fine. So?
Mark hooked his arm around Ericas waist, and pulled her close. I promised the kids Id watch Toy Story 3.
Well, I promised myself I wouldnt lose my mind, said Erica. So, you watch the movie, Ill go down to the bar and pick up a snowboarder.
Mrs Whaley, said Mark, the kids and I can watch the movie while you take a bath, slip into something less comfortable, and by the time you have done the makeup I dont think you need to wear, yet apply so beautifully, Ill be ready to accompany you to the bar to oversee your choice of snowboarder.
Deal, said Erica.
Jared came back to the desk. Alrighty, he said, setting two keys on the desk.
Deal, said Erica.
Jared came back to the desk. Alrighty, he said, setting two keys on the desk.
Old-fashioned keys, said Erica. Nice touch.
Youll be in Room 304, said Jared. Thats on the third floor. Elevator is that way. Youll be staying in a family suite two inter-connecting rooms. Do you need help with your bags?
No, thank you, said Mark.
Well, OK then. Enjoy your stay.
Oh, we will, said Erica.
Wed like to arrange for a sitter to look after the kids for a couple hours, while we go down to dinner, said Mark.
Not a problem, said Jared. For what time?
Eight thirty for the sitter? said Mark. Nine for dinner? He turned to Erica. Thatll leave us some time to check her out before we entrust our prized possessions to her.
3
Agent Ren Bryce sat at her desk in The Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, a violent-crime squad of eleven based in Denver. It was Saturday night, and everyone had gone to the bar, except the boss, Special Supervisory Agent Gary Dettling, and Cliff James, Rens big-bear buddy. Cliff was ex-Jefferson County Sheriffs Department. At fifty-three, he was the eldest of the team, and at two-hundred pounds, the most huggable. Cliff and Ren, along with blond, kind, grandma-friendly Robbie Truax and arrogant, short-ass numbers-guy Colin Grabien, had become a mini-squad of movable parts. The arrangement of their desks and the maneuvering of two filing cabinets could create a subtle break in the squads bullpen that was more psychological than visible. Otherwise, their boss would have done something about it. If he could have only thrown Colin Grabien out into the general population, that would have worked for Ren. The book was The Three Musketeers. Not The Three Musketeers and the Dickhead.
Rens cell phone rang, and the screen flashed with a photo of her older brother Matt her best friend, therapist, and moral conscience rolled into one. He was thirty-nine two years older than Ren and lived in Manhattan with his wife, Lauren, and their three-month-old son, Ethan.
Finally, said Matt when Ren answered.
Silence.
Youre alive, said Matt.
Yes, I am, said Ren.
Just, you didnt text back, said Matt. And did you get my voicemails?
Sorry, yes, said Ren.
Are you OK? said Matt.
Yes! said Ren. Why wouldnt I be?
Pause. Um maybe because last month, you could barely make it from the bed to the sofa? And you phoned me several times bawling your eyes out. In the middle of the night-
Im so sorry, said Ren. I know thats hard with Ethan and everything
You can call me any time, you know that, said Matt. Im always here, but thats not the point. You dropped off the face of the earth.
Im sorry, said Ren. I didnt mean to worry you.
You never do, said Matt.
Whats that supposed to mean? said Ren.
Exactly that. You never mean to. Next time, keep me posted, thats all.
Fine. Jesus.
So what have you been doing? said Matt. Are you OK? What changed? I was so worried. Ever since Helen
Ren was bipolar, unmedicated, and shrink-free. Her beloved psychiatrist of two years, Helen Wheeler, had been murdered four months earlier, and Ren and her FBI undercover past had been painfully entangled in her death.
Positive thinking! said Ren. Talking to you really helped that last time, Matt. You cheered me up. And when I got off the phone, I just said, OK, what can I do? So I went online, looked at positive thinking websites, ordered some positive thinking books on Amazon. I looked up psychiatrists in Denver, printed off a few names and I just told myself, get a grip.
And did you find a psychiatrist? said Matt.
No
Ren youve been very down for months.
Im OK now, said Ren. Im feeling much better.
Well, Im glad to hear that, said Matt. I really am.
And, said Ren. I met this amazing guy.
Silence.
Matt? said Ren. Are you there?
Yes, said Matt. When did this happen?
Two weeks ago-
Which might explain the radio silence
Ugh. Anyway, I went out with work, then the guys all went home, I stayed on with Colin Grabiens girlfriend, Naomi. The woman is nuts. Anyway, next thing, I met this really cute guy-
And off the radar you go. His tone was flat.
I wasnt off the radar, said Ren. I was in work.
I got one text from you weeks ago, then nothing, said Matt.
You sound like mom
Your worst nightmare. Weve been through this before, Ren. This is not an on/off thing: you cant call me all upset, then drop off the face of the earth when everything is OK. I didnt know everything was OK.
Well, I would have called you if I was going to jump off a cliff Ren laughed.
Silence.
So howre things with you? said Ren.
Exhausting, said Matt.
You dont sound yourself, said Ren. She could hear him sigh.
So, said Matt, are you going to call one of the psychiatrists?
Yes said Ren.
Once more with feeling.
I will. Its Saturday night
Ren Monday morning, please do.
Yes, OK. Jesus.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
You too.
Ren put down the phone.
Well, that was depressing.
Ren turned to Cliff.
Im taking advantage of Colins absence, she said. To ask you this question is he serious about crazy Naomi?
I think he has found The One, said Cliff, smiling.
Hmm, said Ren. Im not sure she feels the same way. I really like the woman. I do. But remember I ended up staying out with her a couple of weeks back? We had a lot to drink, but she was behaving like a single lady. All the single ladies.
All the single ladies, said Cliff. He put his hand up.
She zoned in on this guy at the bar, like it was her mission to bag him, said Ren.
And did she? said Cliff.
No, but I was right there she was hardly going to disappear with him.
Maybe shes just insecure, said Cliff, or competitive, or
Hmm, said Ren. Shes like those women who other women love until they see them around their man. Shes a girls girl, and a mans girl, but you get the feeling shes distracting you with her high-larity, while shes got her hand on your boyfriends ass. Ren paused. Im safe for girlfriends and wives. Ill laugh or joke with yo man, but I dont want him, hes all yours. I think I make that clear. Ive never taken someones man. Naomi I think she does want to take other men.
And I thought you didnt care about Colin said Cliff.
Ren smiled. And dont mention this to him, by the way.
And I thought you didnt care about Colin said Cliff.
Ren smiled. And dont mention this to him, by the way.
No, said Cliff.
It would be quite the irony, said Ren, a manwhore hanging up his riding boots for a womanwhore.
Ren, that sentence is wrong on so many levels, said Cliff.
Ill get you coffee for that, said Ren.
Cliffs phone rang. He picked up. Glenn? Shoot, he said. Glenn Buddy was a Denver PD detective, and Cliffs closest friend.
Really? said Cliff. No. Nothing. Im here with Ms Ren. Let me put you on speaker.
Hey, Ren, said Glenn. Weve got a second rape. Victims parents found her in her bedroom when they got back from the movie theater. She is hanging by a thread. We think its the Kennington guy