NALEDI’S POV
I got to my room and didn’t bother taking a shower.
I peeked out the window, looking for any signs of people lurking around – Arturo’s men – but there was nothing. Which meant two things in my book. Either the coast was clear and they had gone on their break or Donna’s mother was no longer here.
Desperate for an answer, I headed out of the room and made my way to room 69. Three knocks later, I was left standing with no sign or movements in the room.
Was she not around? I wondered and threw in a couple more knocks, just in case she was asleep. When there was no response, I decided to take laws into my own hands and try to open the darn door.
It opened without restraint. I looked around the corridor for witnesses before taking out my gun from my shin. The last thing I needed was a shootout so I prayed that it didn’t need to get to that.
One step, two steps in and I realised she was gone. Her things were gone, the windows were open and everything looked like she was never there. I closed the door behind me, and took a more careful look around the room, only to find that there was nothing.
No sign of her whatsoever.
I could feel panic clawing its way into my heart and mind but I refused to let it win. There was no way I just lost the lead on how to identify Flora. There was no way she was gone, leaving me with a big fat nothing.
I scoured the room for several minutes and there was nothing. Just when I was close to giving up, sitting on the bed, head bowed and feeling sorry for myself, I saw something. It seemed like a piece of paper kept under the foot of the bed.
It was hard to notice it or think anything of it, which told me it was something kept intentionally by the perpetrator. I got off my butt and made for it, slightly raising the bed and digging out the paper which I later found to be a picture.
I opened it and I nearly cried when a picture of a woman and two teenage girls looked back at me. One with a striking resemblance to Donna. And the other a smaller-looking girl with a smile that looked a lot like Donna’s, except more beautiful and childish.
If my guess was right, I think I got myself a face reveal of Flora, AKA Donna’s little sister.
Happy with my little finding, I turned the back of the picture and sure enough, there was a handwritten note. “I don’t know how long before I leave, but I hope you find her.”
Confusion laced my face as I read the note, knowing it was meant for me. What did she mean by she didn’t know how long she had to stay? Did they find out she was talking and evacuated her from the place?
I turned around just in time to see a sniper standing at the building a few blocks away from the hotel. As soon as I sighted them, they pulled the trigger of their sniper gun.
My instinct was to lay on the floor, head first. The bullet missed me by a moment, impaling the wall close to the door. I sat up and without waiting for a soothsayer, hurried out of the room with the picture in hand.
As soon as I got to my room, I changed clothes, wearing a female outfit and lying on the bed like I hadn’t almost lost my life by walking into that room. From my experience, it was only a matter of time before they got to the room, ransacking every single room in search of the man they’d missed.
I feigned to be asleep when I heard the marching of footsteps in the hallway, headed towards the direction I’d come. Within minutes, they returned from the direction they went, no doubt, having searched the room for me.
Restless and charged with adrenaline, I walked out of my room with a bag, covering my face with a scarf. I was going for a religious look in a black overall. A sharp contrast from the man they’d seen.
My disguise could go two ways. Very good or very bad.
When I saw some suited men rush past me on the stairs, I knew I made the right call to leave that room. As I passed the lobby, the desk woman gave me an odd look but I didn’t care.
I was on the run for my life. With the prowess of a lioness, I swiftly eluded the men who stood by the roadside, talking animatedly to each other before rushing into the hotel. I hurriedly rushed down the street and entered an uncompleted building where I was certain a lot of crimes took place, changed into my last outfit, and entered a cab headed for the restaurant.
By the time I stepped out of the taxi, I paid my fare and reached for my phone which was ringing. “Hey.” I breathed, still trying to wrap my head around how I may or may not have briskly escaped from the trap set for me.
Korah was on the phone, “How did it go? Did you talk to her already?”
I took a deep breath in, “She was already gone. Where are you?”
“We just closed off on the last drop-off. We are headed to our usual.” I could tell she had a lot of questions, “Where are you?”
“At the restaurant,” I said, walking into the place and finding a seat in a less conspicuous place.
“We’ll be there in five,” Korah said and dropped the call.
I made my order before they came in. I needed to eat something after what I’d been through. I was halfway into my burger when two people joined my table.
“You got started without us.” I heard the accusation in her tone.
Marcel took a seat and waved to the waiter who took their orders.
“If you didn’t meet her then how do we go from here?” He asked, and I could tell he was worried.
I dipped my hands into my bag, brought out the picture of Donna and her family, and handed it over to them.
“Where did you get this?” Korah asked, meticulously looking at the picture.
“I think Donna’s mother left it out for me with hopes it could help. Look at the back.” I stated and they did just that, “She knew she might not be there if I did come back and she wanted me to have that.”
“Why?” Korah voiced, “Why would she want you to have it?”
“Maybe she thinks it will help in finding her daughter.” Marcel opined, “Or she thinks she might be in danger and thought to leave you a little help.”
I swallowed, “Judging from the fact I narrowly escaped being killed, I think you are not far from the truth.”
Marcel and Korah wore matching widened eyes at my words. Things were about to take a different turn. I could feel it. I just hoped for all our sakes that it’ll be in our favour.