Corrigan added, “If they touch the wall and climb, they’re trespassing. The wall is property of the hotel.”

I frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

I sighed. “This isn’t going to be the shitstorm that I wanted it to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“I wanted attention. I wanted the media to know we were here.”

“They will. Trust me.” Corrigan stood up, but was still crouching over so his head couldn’t be seen from the top of the foliage. He motioned for me as he started heading toward a back door. As I followed him, he whispered back to me, “I know some guys from school that used to work here. They aren’t supposed to keep phones on them, but they do anyway. Catching a photo and selling it to the tabloids helped buy one guy a car.”

“They never caught him?”

“They did, but they just fired him. He went somewhere else and did the same thing. Tabloids spend a lot of money for those pictures, some of them anyway.”

Pressing my lips into a flat line, I didn’t want pictures taken and sold. Whatever was added could be made up or twisted into a lie. I wanted cameras. I wanted actual paparazzi in the lobby. I wanted all of it caught, then blasted on some show. This wouldn’t do. Corrigan tried the door handle, but it was locked.

“I thought you were going to go in and sneak an ID card from someone?” That had been the plan.

“I will. I just wanted to try this way first.” He glanced at me. “You going to be okay waiting out here?”

I gestured to the bushes next to the door. “It’s a stalker’s wet dream.” Giving him a smile, I patted his arm. “I’ll be fine. Go ahead. Give this girl her fairytale and break her into this ritzy hotel.”

He laughed. “I will. I’ll be back in a few, okay?” As he slipped past me, his hand brushed against mine. Acting on impulse, I grabbed for it. Sudden tears threatened to spill out, and I wasn’t sure why I was feeling this way, but when he paused and looked back, I just squeezed his hand and whispered, “Be safe.”

“You okay?”

I nodded. I would be. That’s what I reminded myself. I would be, at the end of all this.

Corrigan left, disappearing around the corner silently. He was supposed to sneak in through a side door, that either Bryce or Denton was going to open for him. Bryce and Denton had talked about the hotel layout. I hadn’t paid much attention. I’d been too busy plotting what I was going to say to Guadalupe and her assistant, but I wished now that I had paid more attention.

Then the back door opened. I slunk farther down behind the bush, hoping they couldn’t see me as one employee stepped outside and lit a cigarette. He leaned back against the wall, inhaling and seeming to savor the taste of it before letting it back out. I frowned. This could take a while, but then a name was called from inside the building.

“Aron.”

He opened the door and stuck his head inside. “Here?”

A woman dressed in a housekeeper’s uniform came to the door. She saw the cigarette and heavy disapproval flashed to her face. She shook her head, her hands resting on her hips. “What are you doing? Those things will kill you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He took another drag before asking, “What do you need?”

She gestured inside, over her shoulder. “Security’s saying a door was left open by the west stairs. I’m supposed to send you over to check it out.”

He made an impatient sound. “What? Can’t they check the security cameras?”

“Glen said he was in the process of wiping the footage from yesterday. He messed up though and accidentally deleted the footage of today, too. He said to have you check it out, just post there and make sure no one’s trying to slip in.”

“Come on.” He held his cigarette up. “I’m taking a break.”

“Take a break over there, but no smoking.” She batted at his arm as he lifted it for another drag. “Too many people can see you over there. Too many big people are here today.”

He groaned, but snuffed out his cigarette and made a motion for the door. “Okay. Come on. I’m going. Move out of the way, woman.”

She shook her head again, her eyebrows bunching forward. “I know your mother. Watch your tone with me, or I’ll tell on you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” His tone was still smart, but it had softened. His head went down as he followed her inside.

This was my chance. Before the door could completely close, I dashed for it and stuck my hand inside, catching it before it completely closed. It slammed on my hand, and I realized how heavy these doors were made. They were designed to slam shut with force.

“What the—?”

He was coming back. I had to think quickly. Looking around, I grabbed his discarded cigarette and held it between the door. Pulling my hand out, at just the right moment, the guy came back and reached for the door. He pulled it shut the rest of the way, and this time it did shut. I heard from the other side, “Goddamn doors. This is the fourth time they haven’t shut, just this week.”

“Let’s go!” the woman called after him.

“I’m coming! Jeez, woman.”

I held my breath, standing frozen until I was sure they had gone far enough away where I could dare to try to sneak inside. I tried the handle. It was still locked, but I pulled at the door.

It swung open.

“Thank you, Mr. Cigarette Man,” I murmured under my breath and pulled out the cigarette. It had jammed the door so the lock hadn’t clicked into place, even though the door had shut all the way. Then I moved inside, but a thought struck me.

I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Denton. The back door can be opened. Can you have someone let this info ‘slip’ to a trusted media source? I need them inside the hotel for this showdown.

A second later, my phone buzzed. Done. Be safe. They almost caught Bryce opening a door. They’re on the lookout. The media has doubled outside the gate since we arrived.

Thanks. Then I moved forward, muttering to myself, “That’s exactly what I want to hear.”

CHAPTER NINE

I didn’t know where Corrigan had gone, and I wasn’t going to wait. I sent him a text. Inside. I’m heading for her room.

He replied instantly. Don’t. Wait.

No. Wherever you are, stay there. I’m going to get in trouble, but it’ll just be me then. Besides, you can be backup if I need help.