Waiting For A Star To Fall (Autumn Brody Book 2) (31 page)

There was no record of a Morgan Barrington checking into the hotel. No check-ins of single women matching the officer's description. It was as if she'd vanished into thin air, taking two women with her.

Having decided that there was enough to at least get the police on the scene, Kevin and Ray had called Veronica in as a missing person. Given that Jeremy was still the number-one suspect—and still unaccounted for—Veronica's disappearance was taken as a sign of foul play.

"The details can wait," Kevin had explained. "Once they're here, let them see the footage for themselves."

It was sage advice, although Evan and Andrew struggled to stand by and
wait
for the first responders to clue in to what they already knew to be true. Andrew, having a background in documentaries, decided that it wouldn't be unusual for him to suggest tracking Barrington out of the hotel. He'd argued that maybe Jeremy had ambushed them both somewhere on the premises to keep their attention; he was only half-sorry for the publishing intern when it worked like a charm.

An officer had lost it on the hotel manager once he'd searched for the elevators. "What do you mean, these cameras are down?"

"They've only been down for a few days. We have a service call for Wednesday, but—"

"You mean to tell me a place that charges three hundred a night for a closet of a room can't afford a rush call? Fuck! How did they all manage to escape your surveillance and get outside?"

"Unless they didn't," Kevin had casually interjected. "I think they're still in the hotel."

Computer records had been searched, but there was no sign of Jeremy or Barrington on the books. The whole affair had become a circle jerk, as far as Andrew was concerned. Everyone was waiting for someone else to come up with a master plan, and not one legitimate idea was being offered. Aside from a room-to-room search and a full lockdown—which had the hotel staff distraught over their upscale clientele—there seemed to be few options.

"I can't just stand here," Evan whispered in Andrew's ear. "We need to look for them. We know what this woman's capable of."

"Agreed. But Ray's watching us." Andrew jerked his head slightly, emphasizing his point. "These guys aren't stupid. They won't let us go off half-cocked."

"She's a cop, Andy. She has a
gun
."

"I know! But they have three black belts combined and combat training."

"Fuck this," Evan spat. "I'm going."

Andrew slumped in his chair, waiting to be proven right. It took Ray all of ten seconds to notice Evan slipping out of the security office, five seconds to follow him out the door and maybe a minute to drag in a thoroughly rebuked and furious former swim captain. Kicking the wall beside Andrew, Evan leaned against it and glared at the bodyguard.

"Mirza would have let me go," Evan muttered. "I hate that they switched shifts."

"Like hell he would have. At least they're here. Last time, no one would listen, except Grant."

Evan sighed. "See, where's a cranky yet redeemable professor to lead the charge when you need one?"

Beside the wall of security monitors, a red phone lit up, chirping shrilly at the group. A hotel security officer lunged for the phone, acknowledging the caller with a grunt. Andrew's stomach lurched as the guard visibly blanched.

Something awful is happening.

"Dispatching now," the guard barked, hanging up the phone and turning to the group. "We have a situation."

"Spit it out," the lieutenant beside him demanded.

Five words. They left Andrew reeling.

"Shots fired. Fifty-seventh floor."

* * *

For a few blissful moments, nothing hurt.

Louise, take the wheel
, Autumn quipped to herself as she relinquished her body to her great-grandmother, finding herself in a murky
other
state of being. Neither inside of herself nor outside, she drifted in a limbo where she could see through her eyes, yet her body moved of its own accord. She heard her joints pop violently as her arms contorted behind her back and cringed at the sound. Louise had apparently taken the same Zip Tie Escape Class online.

I know what you know
, Louise answered in her head.
I'm simply getting done what you cannot.

The list of things Autumn could not get done on her own was brief: escape zip tie; choke killer with it. In a move that impressed her, Louise jammed her foot into Morgan's back for leverage, earning a gurgled squawk of protest.

There were also limits to how much burden a long-dead spirit could bear: as Morgan's boot drove itself into her lower rib cage, it also drove out her ghostly helper. All circuits were firing on
holy shit, I want to die
as there was pain, only pain. Her vision blurred lightning-white as she choked back vomit and curled into a ball.

Beside her, Louise stood, her head bowed as if ashamed. "
I tried to hang on, but the wound is too great to shield you.
"

Her head lolled sideways, catching sight of Veronica. "Go," she begged her. "Go..."

Veronica: her beautiful, clever, but completely fucking stubborn friend. No dice. She was determined to leave as a dynamic duo.
It hurts to breathe... I'm useless. Broken
. She couldn't even fathom sitting, let alone standing.

Speaking of standing, Morgan was back and furious. "I've had enough of you! You're just like that nosy bitch at the theatre. Phone calls, emails, harassing
my women
. Well, I'll take care of you..."

At least it'll be over
, she told herself, turning away from the blade and its sinister sunlight-shimmer.
Make sure Andrew knows I love him. You owe me, Louise.

The knife came close enough to feel the air shift with the force of the swing, stopping just shy of slashing her arm as the killer cop fell sideways. Confusion gave way to gratitude as she saw Veronica leaning beside her, shoving aside a large metal rod. Her hands shook violently as she seized Autumn by the ankles and dragged her three feet away from Morgan's stunned body.

"Come on, come on! Get up!"

Ha.
She had to applaud Veronica's optimism. It was even willing to overlook her origami repose. "No...She... It broke... I can't move, V."

"No, you can! You're Autumn Brody and you're a goddamn warrior. Now
get the fuck up
!"

"Get help." It was an order, not a request. "Leave me...
Fuck
..." Her hand gingerly touched her ribs and swore she felt a bone shifting.
This is so not good
.

Veronica was frantic now, tugging at her various limbs, testing their weight. "Autumn, please!"

"
Yeah, Autumn. Please...
"

Blinking hard, Autumn felt a chill roll over her as she saw Danielle—the murdered woman who'd held her captive in this very room. Morgan Barrington's former lover. In the harsh light of day, the silver evening gown reminded her of a disco ball, casting prismatic light in all directions. She knelt beside Autumn, her strawberry-blonde waves cascading down over them.

"
I can help you both. But you have to let me do what I need to. You can't stop me.
"

Veronica's arms tucked beneath her own and tried to drag her to the exit, to no avail. She was too petite, and Autumn was too weak to get to her feet. Danielle sneered as Morgan approached, snatching Veronica away and shoving her into the nearest wall.

"
Let me in. Let me end this,
" Danielle demanded. "
Or you both die
."

A gun. Morgan had a gun. As she released the safety and aimed it at her head, Autumn surrendered. A chance at survival was better than nothing at all. Danielle nodded, reaching for her hand and
pulling
...

And she was outside. Her body was lost.
Oh, fuck. Am I dead?
Autumn glanced down at Veronica, who was cowering against the wall.
She can't see me.
What Louise and Nikki had done—she’d still been
herself
. She’d still been
inside
.

As Morgan's finger curled around the trigger of her revolver, a distorted and sinister voice spoke.

"Quick Draw," it hissed from between Autumn's lips. "Are you still the fastest two-finger shooter in the west end?"

Morgan gasped, stumbling backwards. Her body collided roughly with a stack of marble tiles, a soft
oomph
escaping her lips.

"What did you say?"

To Autumn's shock, she watched herself stand up, her body in the hands of a cavalier puppet master. Her torso hung to the left, as if on a steep incline. Veronica's hand clapped over her mouth, suppressing a shout of surprise—or horror.

If I'm freaked out by this Body Snatchers routine, she has to be terrified.

"You let me die here," Danielle spat through Autumn's split lips. "Where did you think I went after you watched me bleed out from his bullet?"

"I... I didn't..." Morgan shook herself, circling away from the stalking spectre. "I tried to stop him, but he was so strong."

"He wouldn't have been here at all if you hadn't told him about us!" Danielle shrieked. "What we had, Morgan... It was perfect. We were perfect. You knew that I could have never left him, not without being bankrupt. Why couldn't you just
let it be
?"

"I loved you,” Morgan replied softly. “I wanted to be with you, always."

The emotion between the two women was smothering Autumn. Mesmerized and also disturbed, she watched as her bruised, limping frame reached out almost lovingly to Morgan. Veronica, still on the ground, seemed torn between reaching for her metal rod and cracking Morgan another time, or running from the room and never looking back.

Well, at least she'll never take me to a psychic again
, Autumn mused sarcastically.
If I live.
Instinctively, she reached for her friend's shoulder to reassure her and promptly stumbled
through
her.

A hushed conversation was playing out between Morgan and Danielle. It suddenly occurred to Autumn that Andrew was wrong: she'd ended up in the middle of a dark, twisted version of that damn movie
Ghost
, after all. But there was no mistaking it: from her vantage point, she knew that Danielle's soothing words were merely bait. The web was spinning around her oblivious prey.

"We can still be together," Danielle purred. "You don't need
her
." She glared at Veronica, who scooted closer to the door, holding herself tightly.

"But how?" Morgan asked, her eyes welling up with tears. "You're dead, Danielle. You're gone!"

"Will you let me show you?" Danielle asked, inching closer. "You were always so
closed
during our relationship. This time, will you let me in?"

Autumn's eyes widened.
Oh... Oh my God...
She understood the angry phantom's words now. Watching her reach for Morgan's right hand—which still held the revolver—Autumn looked to Veronica.
Look away!
she pleaded.
Damn it, hear me, V! Close your eyes!

Because Morgan had nodded. Morgan was letting Danielle in. And hell hath no fury like a violent woman scorned.

For a moment, time froze: drifting in limbo, caught between Danielle's
need
and her own horror, she watched as Morgan's hand slowly rose. The gun turned, aimed at her right temple in a mirror of Danielle's own demise. The click of the trigger echoed like a thunderclap, the bullet seeming to freeze in the chamber as Autumn began to plummet down into darkness, into the venom and icy finger-gripping-tearing of what nightmares are born from.

Andrew
. Her mind reached for the tourmaline she knew was in her pocket and with it, she fought her way back to the surface. His embrace warmed her as she clawed through the mire, reaching for light, for
him
. A translucent hand reached down and she grabbed on, thinking of her first dance with a man who loved her.

I have come too goddamn far to die now!

With a shaky gasp, she surfaced inside her battered body, crumpling immediately to the concrete and burying her face as sticky droplets spattered against her legs.
Blood
, she knew.
Morgan's blood.
There was a sickening thump and the bounce of the revolver. Somewhere, Veronica was screaming for help.

Distantly, she heard Danielle's hiss of satisfaction.
Revenge.
She had asked for it. She sure as hell had it now.

An alarm bell.
Fire alarm?
Had someone heard their ordeal? Was someone coming? Wearily, she turned her head, seeking out Veronica. Her blue eyes were rimmed red, her cheeks stained with tears and blood.