Chapter 2
When the elevator reached the top floor, Laura was still beside me.
“Stay with me tonight,” she said. “I knew Daniel said you were separating. I didn’t know he planned to announce it tonight.”
“You still knew more than I did.”
She flinched. I walked to the suite and tapped my key card against the lock.
The light flashed red.
I tried again.
Laura reached for the card. “Maybe it stopped working.”
“It worked before dinner.”
I called the front desk. After confirming my name and room number, the receptionist hesitated.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Hart. Your name is no longer listed on that suite.”
“When was it removed?”
“I’ll have the night manager check.”
The suite door opened from the inside.
Rebecca stood behind it, wearing my cream cashmere coat. The sleeves were a little short, and she had tied the belt too high.
I had planned to wear it to breakfast the next morning. I had hung it in the closet myself.
“Daniel asked me to pack your things,” she said. “He handed me the coat when I came upstairs. I didn’t think you were coming back tonight.”
“Take it off.”
“Claire, it’s only a coat.”
“Mine.”
Laura stepped forward. “Give it back.”
Rebecca untied the belt and slipped the coat from her shoulders.
“I’m trying to keep this from becoming more embarrassing than it already is.”
The elevator opened again. The night manager approached with a security officer. He introduced himself as Michael and checked my identification.
“Mrs. Hart, the reservation was changed earlier this evening. Mr. Hart remains registered to the suite, but your belongings were packed at his request. We have another room available.”
“Who gave anyone permission to touch my things?”
“Mr. Hart said you had agreed to stay separately.”
Rebecca held out my coat. “It’s probably best for tonight.”
I took it from her.
“Michael, I want the time my access was removed, the name of the person who requested it, and a record of everyone who entered the suite. I also want to check my belongings before I leave.”
Rebecca frowned. “Do you have to make this formal?”
I looked at the coat over my arm. “Yes.”
Michael escorted me inside while the security officer remained at the door.
Two open suitcases sat on the bed. My clothes and shoes had been packed together. My toiletries were in a hotel laundry bag. Our anniversary champagne remained unopened in the ice bucket.
I found my passport and medication, then checked my jewelry and camera. Laura recorded the items on her phone.
“My laptop bag is missing.”
Michael checked his list. “What did it contain?”
“A laptop, charger, and external drive. It was beside the desk.”
Rebecca folded her arms. “Maybe Daniel took it for work.”
“Did you see him take it?”
“No. I came up to pack.”
Michael called the front desk to check the baggage log and hallway record.
While we waited, he offered me the hotel’s last available room, a standard king in the east wing. I asked him to put it in my name and cancel the driver Daniel had arranged.
I wasn’t going to another hotel chosen by my husband.
Michael ended the call.
“Your laptop bag was removed before the dinner.”
“By whom?”
“Mr. Hart.”
He checked the record again.
“At 6:34 p.m. He told the staff the computer belonged to the company and should no longer be left with your personal belongings.”