by Ethan Egorov
As they exited the car, they both looked around to see if anyone was waiting on them. There was no one to meet them at the back. They were also lucky that no one seemed to be watching the security cameras and bothered to ask why they were parking on the opposite side of the other attendees.
Trent and Tommy walked to the side entrance and found it was locked from the outside. It appeared as if once the staff exited, they would have to either go back around the front or have someone standing by the door to allow them re-entry. Tommy and Trent didn’t want to explain their attendance, so they both walked around the building and slipped into the line that had gathered at the front doors of the hotel.
“Well, a speech from the fucking mayor isn’t going to save us any time in finding Kristina,” Trent said, starting to feel agitated.
“We’re stuck here now, though, so look around,” Tommy said, wearily accepting his fate. “It’s true what they say, you can’t fight city hall.”
After waiting for what seemed like a lifetime, they finally made it through the doors of the hotel. They meandered through the crowd, smiling and nodding. There were a few people Tommy recognized that immediately stopped to chat him up, while Trent heard bits of pieces of their short conversations. On their way to the conference room they had reserved for their faux business, Trent and Tommy picked up glasses of champagne and plates of hors d’oeuvres from waiters dressed in elegant tuxedos.
When they reached the conference room, Trent scanned the room to make certain they were alone and then quickly locked the door behind them. They sat their drinks and plates down on the table, and Trent frowned as he took several long sips.
“Tommy, this is bad. There’s got to be at least five hundred people here, if not more. This is going to be too congested. I don’t like this. Even if we can find the person who has Kristina, how are we going to clear out the room long enough to take care of business?”
Tommy plopped a raw shrimp in his mouth and chewed slowly.
“You leave that to me, little brother. If anyone knows how to create a distraction, I certainly do. I’ll make it happen.”
“Fine,” Trent said, not feeling nearly as confident as Tommy. “You do what you have to. You haven’t seen any sign of her, have you?”
“No,” Tommy said all too casually. “No sign of her. Once dinner starts, we can investigate further. With so much activity now, it would be very hard to pinpoint anything suspicious in the crowd.”
“So, what do we do until then?” Trent asked.
The answer was wholly expected but nevertheless disappointing.
“We wait, brother.”
“You know I can’t just sit around, Tommy, not with Kristina out there,” Trent said, his frustration reaching a breaking point. “I have a much better idea. You remember that kid that got us the room? I wonder if he’s working tonight.”
Tommy smirked, the gears in his head turning and trying to catch up with Trent’s.
“What are you thinking?”
Trent couldn’t believe what he was about to say, but at this point, he was getting a little desperate and a little annoyed at the lack of progress.
“I’m thinking we offer him a place at the table if you know what I mean.”
“Fuck, Trent. That’s dangerous,” Tommy said before sighing. “I think you’re a good judge of character, though, so we’ll do it. I’ll go get him. You stay here and eat or something.”
Trent finished his glass of champagne and paced the room nervously as Tommy disappeared. The room was hot, and he was already sweating. He couldn’t believe so many people actually showed up to the gala. He knew the chances of finding Kristina here would be slim to none. For that matter, she may have already been on a different plane to a different country, a victim of human trafficking, or even worse.
He should have known something was off with that job she was working. He should have never left her after they got shot at, but she insisted she could take care of herself in the field.
But at this point, he reminded himself, with the clock ticking closer to the New Year—something that seemed more ominous than ever with the message Tommy had received—he needed to not worry about what could be and instead focus on what was. Only through that approach would he have a chance at rescuing Kristina.
And that started with an old acquaintance of sorts.
“Hey there, you remember us, don’t ya?” Tommy said, returning with the hotel employee, shaking Trent out of his mental funk.
“I certainly do. What can I help you with?”
Trent got right to the point.
“I need your help.”
Trent flashed a picture of Kristina.
“There may have been some important people looking for her lately. Did you see anyone talk to this woman?”
The employee stared at the photo several seconds as if trying to figure out if someone really had come for her. But as he furrowed his brow and looked on in frustration, Trent silently began to feel pessimistic.
“No. I’ve never seen her here, honestly. Trust me, I would have remembered her.”
“Okay,” Trent said. “I have another question for you . . . well, more of a story actually. Basically, we have an offer for you.”
Trent knew he sounded like Tommy. He also didn’t care much.
“We want you to be our liaison here at the hotel. It’s really quite simple. You keep an eye on the place for us. You know the drill. You’ll book our rooms and make sure we have a standing availability in one of the conference rooms. We’ll pay you whatever you need. This is just an opportunity for us to gather and have a chance to do our business, understand?”
Though Trent was about to give him an out, he could see the employee understood full well he wasn’t really being given an out.
“You can turn us down if you want to, but we like you, so we want you to have the chance to make the extra cash for as long as you’re working here. You did well for us tonight. We appreciate all the space we have here in this room.”
“Well,” the employee said with a nod. “If I see her, I’ll let you know. I’ll take you up on your offer.”
“Thanks,” Trent said, feeling enormous relief like they had actually made positive progress.
There was one last question Trent had, something he just needed to humor himself. It was a long shot of long shots, but his mind was far too curious for him to ignore it.
“One last thing,” he said, and the poor employee looked like he was in detention he could never escape from. “Is there anywhere here that could be used, say, like a hiding place? Is there a part of the hotel no one goes to or anything?”
The employee went into the tank, thinking. This annoyed Trent to no end. They didn’t have time for deep thought about what might be happening. They needed to get right to the damn point.
“Well,” the employee said after long thought. “There’s always been this story of there being a false bottom of tunnels under the wine cellar, but I don’t believe it. I’ve been down to the wine cellar before and as creepy as it is, I’m pretty sure it’s just because of the dampness and, of course, the lack of lighting down there to keep the wine fresh.”
Wine cellar. It’s a start. And you know what?
I think I know my next destination.
“Hmm. Interesting.”
Trent really didn’t know if he needed to put much stock into it, but at this point, feeling he was running out of time, he was willing to consider just about anything.
“Go back to work. Tommy will settle up with you at the end of the evening.”
After the employee left, Trent wasted no time getting right back down to business with his brother. He was more focused, more determined, more on target than ever to accomplish his goal, and more willing than usual to do whatever it took.
“We better head that way for dinner,” Trent said, not wanting to draw attention. “After dessert, I’ll slip out and try to find those tunnels the kid was talking about. We can’t afford the time to lea
ve any stone unturned.”
“I understand, Trent.”
But though Trent may have felt focused and determined, the anxiety was still showing quite clearly on his face.
“Trent, we’ll find her,” Tommy said with more confidence than the situation merited. “Don’t you be giving up on this now. We’ll find her, and you and Kristina can finally settle down like you’re meant to do.”
“We will,” Trent said, though he was saying to boost himself up as much as anything else. “We’ll find her, Trent.”
The crowds began dispersing from the bar area to the large banquet area where rows of tables had been set up. They were immaculately set with gold-colored tablecloths made from delicate silk. There were lavish centerpieces all with gold and silver embellishments to commemorate the passing year. The plates were already set, and of course, water goblets and wine glasses lined each table as well as the best sterling silver cutlery that was available.
Trent watched as waiters and waitresses came out from the kitchen area and began filling each glass with water as well as portions of wine. After each table had their liquids filled, they watched as staff came out with large bowls of house salad and began plating it on every single table. It was a distraction, much to Trent’s disdain.
After Tommy had spoken to the mayor, talked to other people, and done his part as the social face of the family, Trent scanned the room for any signs of trouble, or at least any signs of Kristina. He didn’t see anything that looked out of place or even out of sorts. It was the most frustrating thing ever to know that something was amiss and yet not have any further evidence of it.
The mayor got on the PA and informed the guests that they would have live entertainment over dessert and coffee. The crowd erupted into polite applause as a woman came onto the small stage at the head of the room. The hotel’s spotlight fell on her. She was a slight woman with dark hair. She wore a long fur coat with gloves, which Trent thought was classy and, of course, appropriate for the weather. Though she looked vaguely familiar, because of where Trent was seated, he couldn’t quite see her in full.
When she began singing an old standard, he found there was something hauntingly familiar about her voice. He narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer to her direction. When she stretched her delicate gloved hands out, and her coat parted, revealing more of her, his mouth dropped open in shock.
“Tommy, look. Look at the singer.”
“What about her? She’s good, but damn,” Tommy said, distracted by someone else trying to get his attention. “Get control of yourself. If you want to ask her out, just wait until after her set and do it.”
“No, Tommy, you idiot. Look.”
Tommy did. And when it dawned on him who they were looking at, he immediately recognized the problem.
“Oh, my God.”
“Yeah, we have a problem. It’s Rachelle.”
“And did you see that?” Tommy said, finally showing Trent the evidence he’d hoped to see all along. “Don’t you see what she’s wearing under the coat at the top of her dress?”
“Yeah,” Trent said, trying not to show his anger too much. “It’s Grandma Mon’s broach.”
That’s it.
She’s the one that’s done everything. Saul’s wife. Attacking our storage location. Dragging Kristina along. Fucking Rachelle.
And it’s all my fault.
“It makes sense, though. I told her everything about our past. I don’t know what to say.”
“I think it’s time you excused yourself,” Tommy said, pushing the action. “Get to that wine cellar before she finds out you’re here. I can always cover for you not being here, but you have to move now.”
“Okay, agreed,” Trent said. “When I find Kristina, I’ll meet you in the car.”
Trent reached the elevator and rapidly pressed the button. He stood quietly and stayed as still as possible in an attempt to try to remain undetected until he could get to the wine cellar. It was their only lead to finding Kristina, and judging by the fact Rachelle was wearing his grandmother’s broach, it was obvious that one, she was involved in some fashion, and, two, he was running out of time.
It was baffling to Trent to think that a woman he had once loved was now the reason for inflamed tensions between the two families. God, she looked so much different. She had a new glow about her, though not the good kind, and there was an eeriness to her eyes that didn’t exist before. It was like she wasn’t all present. He had slept so peacefully with her at his side, and at one point, he even considered asking her hand in marriage. What happened?
And for that matter, how had he been so stupid as to sleep with the enemy? Granted, he never noticed any connection between her and the Mikkelsons, and no one else in the family had raised the alarm about her. But still, this was really bad on his part. How could he have fucked up so badly?
But the time for questions would have to come later.
The elevator finally opened after what seemed like forever. Trent knew he needed to be prepared for anything and everything. To his surprise, the wine cellar was unlocked. He ducked around the corner with his gun already drawn. The low lighting gave the room a creepy glow. The kid who worked at the front desk was certainly right about the atmosphere. He inhaled the thin, dusty air and stifled a sneeze. The room was several degrees colder than upstairs.
As he made his way through the cases and casks of wine, his footsteps echoed in the empty room. It seemed the room was only used for storage by the staff. In addition to wine, there was some cleaning equipment and several old ovens and refrigerators that had long since seen use. As Trent walked down the long room, he thought about the legend of tunnels being used under the hotel and secret passages hidden below.
Trent’s eyes landed on an old painting that seemed out of place in the room. It was the only artwork in sight, and it didn’t really seem to have any purpose in the scheme of the room. It was a Romantic piece showing a medieval knight extending his hand to his princess in danger. Trent didn’t believe in luck, but a part of him did believe in signs, and this was one that definitely called to him. He looked around the room once more to make certain no one was watching him, and he removed the painting from the wall. The action sent dirt and dust all over, covering his fine black suit in grime. He quickly saw there was a lever turned all the way to the right.
Trent pulled the lever and heard a loud groan in the room. He watched in awe as the end of the room moved and shifted. A light suddenly appeared where there once was a cement barrier, and Trent ran to it. He pulled out his phone and tried to message Tommy, but he was disappointed to see he didn’t have any service underground.
Trent reached the edge of the hallway and once again pulled his gun. He didn’t know what to expect as he made his way through the narrow hallway. The only light was from one overhead bulb that hung low but it was sufficient to see the space was tiny enough just for a couple people to walk through side by side. The fact that no one could have possibly been above him staring down comforted him somewhat. He ran as quickly and as cautiously as possible to the door at the end of the hallway. It was a heavier door that was more modern. He found it strange that it had been renovated while everything else in the hallway seemed untouched through the years. He pulled the handle and lifted the door quickly in hopes it wouldn’t make as much noise as the rumbling he had caused earlier. He exhaled in relief as it opened quickly and easily.
He held his weapon in front of him and once again scanned the room, ready to shoot at anyone that was in his path. He seemed to be alone once again. He shut the door behind him and walked out into the barren room. Once more, it seemed abandoned and not even used for any type of storage. Of course, it had probably been decades since anyone even knew of its existence. He walked around the empty room that was so dark he could barely see a few feet in front of him. The only thing he was looking for was a sign that Kristina or anyone had been in the room recently.
Trent pulled out his phone again and turned on his flashlig
ht. As he shined it through the room, which had collected pools of water through the years and smelled of nothing but mildew, he didn’t see anything of interest save for an old radiator heater that was positioned oddly in the corner of the room.
He walked to the bulky metal object and shined his light. He squinted a few times to make sure his eyes weren’t betraying him.
Blood. There was fresh blood on the heater.
Someone had been there recently, and it certainly didn’t look like there was any type of friendly exchange that happened. He continued shining his light, tracing the line of blood from the heater to where it pooled near the corner of the room. He felt sick to his stomach when he saw the largest pool of blood that had gathered there. Then he saw a matte of dirty, bloody red hair.
He composed himself and then rushed to the young woman’s body.
Kristina. Please be alive.
He knelt down and placed a hand on her temple. She groaned at his touch. She was at least alive.
“Kristina!”
She moaned a little more, sounding like she was trying to make words but without much ability to do so.
“It’s Trent. I’m here. We’re going to get you out of here.”
Kristina looked at him through narrowed eyes. She looked dazed and a little confused, but again, she was alive, so not much else mattered. A hospital could heal her wounds.
“How did you find me down here?”
“Good detective work. Now, tell me how bad are you hurt?”
“It’s just my head, I think. I was okay until I got up and got sick.”
She can walk then. That’s what is most important right now.
“Come on, you’ve got to get up. I certainly can’t carry you and shoot at the same time.”
Kristina grabbed his outstretched hand and took it as she focused her efforts and pulled herself to a standing position. Trent placed his arm around her to steady her, and after a few moments, he watched her blink slowly and shake her head.