Page 49 of Dead to Me

“I don’t have all the information.”

Sierra set her champagne glass down.

“Is there a fire?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Then what happened?”

The employee paused.

“Police are on the sixth floor.”

My heart thumped once, slow and satisfied. China glanced at me. I widened my eyes.

“Police?”

The employee nodded.

“We are asking guests to avoid that floor until further notice.”

China grabbed her phone.

“Why would police be here?”

No one replied. I already knew. I sat quietly as the room buzzed with guesses. A fight. A medical emergency. Someone joked that maybe a guest had died. I almost smiled.

China called Malcolm again. No answer. She called twice.

“Why isn’t he answering?”

I stood.

“China, relax.”

“I’m relaxed.”

“You don’t look relaxed.”

She glared at me.

“Don’t start.”

“I was only trying to help.”

“Then stop.”

I lifted my hands in surrender. China walked to the window and tried calling Malcolm again. It went straight to voicemail. I watched her.

Malcolm knew. Maybe he didn’t know everything yet, but he knew enough.

That was good. I wanted him to be afraid. My phone buzzed.

It was a text from Malcolm.

COME TO MY ROOM.

I stared at the message.