Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
November 9th, 2022
Evermore Regency Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts
L ilia glanced around the grand lobby of the Evermore Regency, taking in the gleaming marble floors, the ornate chandeliers that hung from the high ceilings, and the soft murmur of classical music that filled the air. It was the kind of place where secrets were whispered behind closed doors and everything was a little too perfect, a little too controlled.
“Do you have any rooms with a marina view?” she heard Augustus ask at the front desk, his voice calm and confident.
Lilia’s eyes drifted to the large windows on the far side of the lobby, which offered a sweeping view of the marina below. It was easy to see why someone like Willow would have been drawn to a place like this. It was the epitome of elegance, a place where appearances were everything. “What were you doing here, Willow?” she murmured to herself.
Augustus continued his conversation with the receptionist, his tone casual but deliberate. “My friend recommended the hotel to us. She stayed here a few months ago. She said that the room was lovely.”
The woman behind the desk, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, gave a polite but distant smile. “All of our rooms are quite beautiful. We strive to procure the best for our guests.”
Augustus didn’t miss a beat. “Her name is Willow Montgomery. I’m sure it’s written somewhere in your records. Maybe you can find the room she stayed in.”
The receptionist’s fingers flew over the keyboard, but it was clear she was ignoring his request. “She would’ve stayed here at some point during the week of April 13th,” Augustus added, leaning in slightly.
The woman’s smile tightened. “That information is confidential. We’re not allowed to relay information from our guests. But we can gladly provide you and your”—she glanced behind him at his friends—“guests with one of our fine rooms.”
“That would be great,” Augustus said, returning her tight smile with one of his own.
He retrieved the keycard and walked to where Lilia and the others were waiting, the tension visible from the set of his shoulders.
“Any luck?” Lilia asked as he approached.
“She wouldn’t tell me anything,” he replied, slipping the key card into his pocket.
“Maybe it’s written in the ledger. We can check it out later tonight,” Sebastian suggested.
“No, it looks like everything is electronic.” He shook his head. “We’ll have to find another way.”
“Then we’ll come back later,” Delilah said, her voice resolute. “It’s a quick search.”
It was past midnight, and the grand lobby was eerily quiet. The opulent chandeliers overhead cast a dim, golden light across the marble floors, and the only sound was the soft echo of their footsteps as they moved toward the front desk.
“This is a really stupid idea,” Eleanor murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes darted nervously around the space.
“Relax, we’re not committing murder. Calm down, princess,” Sebastian replied, though his bravado couldn’t mask the tension in his voice.
The friends all looked at him, their expressions a mix of disbelief and exasperation.
“Perhaps those weren’t the best choice words, now that I’m thinking about it,” he added, shrugging slightly.
“Would you shut up?” Augustus hissed, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one was nearby.
“You shut up,” Sebastian retorted as he reached the empty front desk. His fingers hovered over the computer’s keyboard for a moment before he clicked it on. The screen flickered to life, casting pale blue light on his face. “What do I look for?”
“A ledger, reservations, anything with dates and names,” Augustus said, keeping his voice low.
Sebastian’s fingers flew over the keys, navigating through the hotel’s system with surprising ease. The tension in the room was palpable as the rest stood watch, every creak of the building making them jump.
“This is ridiculous,” Delilah whispered, her eyes flickering to the elevators, half-expecting someone to step out at any moment. “If we get caught?—”
“We won’t,” Lilia interrupted, though she wasn’t entirely sure herself. She forced herself to stay focused, to think about Willow and the answers they needed.
“Found it,” Sebastian said. He turned the screen for them to see.
“Look for the 13th of April,” Lilia urged quietly.
Sebastian furrowed his brow as he searched for the date. The computer whirred softly, and after a moment, a list of names appeared on the screen.
“Okay, I’ve got it,” Sebastian said, “But the name listed on the reservation isn’t Willow Montgomery.”
Lilia leaned in, frowning. “What do you mean?”
Sebastian pointed to the screen. “The name listed here is Phoebe Hastings—not Willow Montgomery.”
“Are you sure that’s the right date?” Eleanor asked.
“Yes, there’s nothing. Just this. The date is right, but that isn’t her name.”
“So what?” Eleanor asked, her brow furrowed. “She used a fake name? Why—it’s not like anyone here knew her.”
“She wanted to make sure no one ever found out,” Lilia said quietly.
“Is there any credit card information?” Augustus asked, glancing nervously down the hallway.
“Nothing. It says here that they paid in cash.”
“Of course they did.” Delilah sighed. “Great. We drove two hours for absolutely nothing.”
“Lilah—” Sebastian started as she turned to leave.
“I’m going to bed,” she murmured.
Lilia watched Delilah’s retreating figure, her footsteps echoing through the empty lobby. The frustration was evident in her rigid posture, and Lilia felt it too—a gnawing sense of defeat. This entire trip had led them to more questions than answers and felt like they were chasing shadows in the dark.
“Wait,” Lilia said, her voice cutting through the silence. “Let’s think about this.”
Delilah stopped, but didn’t turn around. The others exchanged uneasy glances before focusing back on Lilia.
“Phoebe Hastings,” she continued. “We need to find out who that is. Maybe it’s someone Willow knew, or maybe it’s connected to whoever she came here with.”
“You think it’s an alias?” Augustus asked.
“Possibly,” Lilia replied. “Or it could be someone else entirely. But whoever it is, they’re important. Willow came here with the mystery guy, and maybe Phoebe Hastings is the key to figuring out who he is.”
Sebastian, who had been scrolling through the hotel’s records, glanced up. “We can check the room she stayed in and see if there’s anything left behind. It’s a long shot, but maybe we’ll find something.”
“Nothing,” Sebastian muttered after a few minutes, frustration creeping into his voice. “This place is spotless.”
Lilia opened the closet, her hand brushing against the empty hangers. Her heart sank as the reality of their situation settled over her. They had come all this way, and for what? A name that meant nothing, a room that offered no clues?
“Wait.” Eleanor’s voice was barely audible, but it carried across the room like a beacon. She was crouched by the nightstand, her fingers carefully prying open a small compartment at the back. “There’s something here.”
Everyone gathered around her as she pulled out a small, folded piece of paper. Lilia’s breath caught in her throat as Eleanor unfolded it, revealing a hastily scribbled note.
Thank you for the best night.
“Is that Willow’s handwriting?” Delilah asked, her voice shaky.
Lilia nodded, recognizing the familiar script. It was unmistakable. This was Willow’s.
The words looped over and over again in her head.
Thank you for the best night.
Thank you for the best night.
Thank you for the best night.
Thank you for the best night.
Love always, Willow.
But who was she talking to?