20
D etective Martin strolled into police headquarters and headed straight for Detective Johnson’s desk. Holding a tape aloft, he flashed a triumphant grin.
“Guess what I got?” he announced.
Detective Johnson tore his gaze from the computer screen. “Is that the tape from the Ritz-Carlton?”
Martin nodded, his smile widening. “It sure is. I’m about to watch it now. Care to join me?”
“Absolutely,” Detective Johnson said, getting up from his desk. “Maybe now we’ll get some answers,” he said, following Detective Martin into the media room.
Detective Martin inserted the tape into the video player, and the monitor flickered to life, displaying six split screens showing various locations within the hotel. He quickly fast-forwarded to 7:30 PM, when Emily had mentioned they arrived at the hotel. Stepping back, he intently watched the unfolding footage.
They had only been watching the tape for a few minutes when Detective Johnson pointed at the lobby area on the screen. “That’s her,” he said.
Detective Martin quickly touched the “Lobby” option on the side menu, and the monitor switched from the multi-screen setup to a full-screen view of the lobby. They watched as Emily and Sydney checked in at the registration desk, handed their luggage to the bellhop, and made their way to the hotel bar.
Detective Martin then tapped “Bar” on the side menu, and the screen seamlessly switched to the bar area. They observed Sydney receiving a call and promptly leaving, followed by Travis taking the seat beside Emily. To their surprise, Emily then crossed the bar to confront a woman—a detail she had conveniently omitted.
Without sound on the tape, they did their best to read Emily’s lips. Rewinding that portion of the footage, they watched it repeatedly, trying to decipher the conversation. From what they could gather, it seemed Emily was accusing the woman of having an affair with her husband.
After watching the confrontation for the third time, Detective Martin’s eyes widened with excitement. “Did you see that?” he exclaimed.
“See what?!”
“That look she gave the bartender. Go back!”
Detective Martin rewound the tape a few seconds to the moment just before Emily turned and stormed back to her seat. There it was, clear as day: with Emily’s back turned, the woman she had been arguing with gave the bartender a subtle glance and a quick nod.
“I see it!” Detective Martin said.
Next, they watched Emily return to her seat and say something to Travis before heading to the bathroom. Travis then raised his hand, flagged the bartender over, and ordered a couple of drinks.
“Keep an eye on the bartender when he makes those drinks,” Detective Martin instructed.
“Bingo!” Detective Johnson exclaimed as they watched the bartender turn his back to the patrons and discreetly drop a pill into Emily’s drink.
“It wasn’t Travis,” Detective Martin said. “Okay, now let’s see if anyone went to her room that night,” Detective Martin suggested. He clicked on “Floor 4,” switching the screen to a view of the fourth-floor hallway, and sped up the footage until Travis, Roman, and Emily appeared.
The two detectives watched Travis assist Roman in getting Emily to her room before parting ways at the door. Roman then escorted Emily inside. Glancing at the time stamp, Detective Martin noted, “10:17.”
They stared at the empty hallway on the screen until Emily’s door opened at 10:23 pm, and Roman stepped out.
“Six minutes,” Detective Martin said, “Do you think that was enough to have sex with her?”
“I doubt it. Let’s keep watching—maybe he came back,” Detective Johnson suggested. Instead, they watched Roman take a seat and lean his back against the door, keeping watch until he eventually fell asleep. He remained outside her room until 6:12 a.m. when he finally woke up and left.
“He’s telling the truth,” Detective Martin said matter-of-factly. “Gather all the information you can on our bartender. I’m going to pay him a visit, but first, I need to talk to Emily.” Detective Martin instructed, turning off the video player and removing the tape.
Agnes entered the kitchen as Emily was preparing Ava’s lunch and announced, “Detective Martin is here to see you.”
“Okay,” Emily replied, setting a tuna sandwich on a plate. She added a pickle beside the sandwich, then carried the plate to the table and placed it in front of Ava.
“Keep an eye on her,” Emily instructed Agnes as she exited the kitchen. She found Detective Martin waiting in the foyer. Smiling, she said, “I didn’t expect to see you so soon. Do you have some news?”
“Is there somewhere we can talk?” Detective Martin asked, his expression stern and his tone impassive.
“Sure, let’s go into the living room.” She led him to the living room, where they both took seats.
“Can I get you something to drink? Coffee or water?” she asked.
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I reviewed the tape. You haven’t been truthful with me.”
A look of surprise crossed Emily’s face. “I have been honest. What are you talking about?”
“Do you want to tell me about the argument you had that night?” Detective Martin pressed.
Emily released the breath she had been holding. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was relevant.”
“What’s her name? What were you arguing about?” he demanded.
“Maggie Sullivan. She works with Gabriel. I thought they were having an affair,” Emily responded.
Emily felt the heat rise to her face, growing increasingly uncomfortable as she started to squirm in her seat. “But I was mistaken.”
“Care to explain?”
“I found our credit card statement,” Emily said, her voice trembling. “There were multiple charges for hotels and lingerie. I assumed Gabriel was having an affair, and Maggie was the first person who came to mind. She’s always flirting with him and hanging onto his every word. I had just discovered the charges that day.”
She paused, her gaze dropping in shame. “I was emotional and had been drinking. When she showed up, I couldn’t control my anger any longer, so I confronted her. I’m not proud of how I behaved.”
“So, you thought your husband was having an affair with her, but now you don’t. Why is that?”
“Gabriel lent the credit card to his ex-wife. Those charges weren’t his.” Noticing Detective Martin’s puzzled expression, Emily felt compelled to explain further. “Her car broke down, and she couldn’t afford the repairs. I don’t like it, but she’s the mother of his children. He’s always going to help her.”
Emily stared at Detective Martin; curiosity evident in her eyes. “What does any of this matter anyway? Do you think she had something to do with this?”
“It’s possible. What do you know about the bartender?”
“Nothing. I’ve never seen him before. Why?”
As the pieces started to fit together, Emily’s eyes widened in realization. She threw a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God! Did he spike my drink?”
Detective Martin nodded.
“But why?” Emily exclaimed, leaping to her feet and beginning to pace anxiously.
Detective Martin observed her closely. “There seems to be a connection between Maggie and the bartender. Do you have any idea what that might be?”
Emily stopped pacing and sank back into the sofa. “I have no idea,” she murmured, her eyes glazing over as she stared at Detective Martin. “Why would he do such a thing?”
“I don’t know,” he replied, his voice resolute, “but I’m going to find out.”
Driven by the urgent need for answers, Emily asked, “Did he rape me?”
“No, Roman stood guard at your door all night. No one entered your room.”
Emily let out a sigh of relief, “Thank God.”
Just then, Detective Martin received a text from Detective Johnson informing him that he had obtained the requested information on the bartender. After reading the message, Detective Martin stood up. “I have to go. I’ll be in touch.”
Emily walked him to the door. Before leaving, Detective Martin turned to her and said, “It’s crucial that you don’t withhold anything from me anymore.”
“I understand. It won’t happen again,” Emily assured him.
“Make sure it doesn’t,” he said firmly, then walked out the door.