Shine Not Burn(29)

“Not sure.” She flipped it over. “Some kind of claim check, I think.”

I walked over and took it from her. All it had was a number on it, no other identifier. “Did we put our luggage or a coat or something somewhere?”

Kelly shook her head. “I don’t remember doing it, but I guess it’s possible.”

I put the paper in my bag. “I’ll keep it just in case.”

Kelly shrugged. “Okay. I’m going to get dressed. When does our plane leave?”

I looked at the clock on the bedside table. “Three hours. Better hurry up. I need to eat something.” I was hoping it would calm my stomach to put some food in it. I couldn’t remember ever being this hung over. “Those margaritas or whatever they were kicked my butt.”

“Tequila is pronounced ta-kill-ya. It’s not a joke.” Kelly left the room.

I stood there for a second in silence. The nagging feeling that this paper Kelly had found was important wouldn’t go away. I walked back over to the bag and pulled out the ticket. “Where did you come from?” I asked it. The ticket didn’t respond.

Picking up the telephone, I hit the button for the receptionist. When a man with an Indian accent answered I used my best attorney-conducting-discovery voice.

“Hello. Hi. This is Andie Marks in room … oh, you already know. Okay, well, the reason I’m calling is I found a claim check I think in my room, and I was wondering if you could tell me what I asked you to hold there … in your baggage room, maybe? Last night is a little fuzzy for me.”

“What is the number on the claim check, please?”

I read it off to him and waited on hold.

While I was listening to the hold music, a yelp and a scream came from the bathroom.

“What happened?!” I yelled at Candice through the door. I couldn’t make the phone stretch far enough to go see her.

“I’m sorry, Andie, I really am!” Candice shouted back, her voice a little muffled.

“About what?”

“Shit! Shit! Shit! I just accidentally knocked your cell phone into the toilet!”

“Well, get it out!” I screamed. A feeling of dread crept over me. All my client contacts were in there and a million emails. I had them all backed up, but this would mean an entire day of being out of contact with my office. Talk about a nightmare.

“I did!” She stuck her head out the door. “But I think I killed it. I’m so, so sorry.” She looked ready to cry.

I was about to give her a serious guilt trip, even though it was pretty much my fault for leaving the stupid thing on the back of the toilet, but the reception guy came back on the line so I just frowned at her sternly and waved her away.

“Ma’am, are you still there?” He sounded possibly nervous.

“Yes, I’m still here.” Still here and now doubly annoyed.

“Well … there appears to be a slight problem.” Yep, he was definitely, positively nervous.

“How so?” I asked, feelings of misgiving washing over me. What did I leave at the desk? Please don’t let it be a monkey.

“Well, some gentlemen came to reception this morning insisting that we held their bags for them yesterday, but they were unable to produce a claim check. We allowed them into the baggage room and, well …”

I sighed. “Spit it out. I’m not going to be mad.” At least I didn’t think I was going to be.

“Well, they identified what they claimed to be their bags and we allowed them to take them.”

“What did the bags look like?”

He whispered to someone on his end before answering. “Four duffel bags, ma’am. Like athletic bags.”

It was the ma’am that he used that made something click in my head. “Was one of them wearing a cowboy hat?”

“Yes! In fact, all of them were.”

I nodded, sadness washing over me. He’d left. Without even a goodbye. Or maybe with a goodbye but not one I remembered. “It’s okay. It was my friend’s bag. You’re cool, I’m not mad.”

He breathed out an audible sigh of relief. “Oh, good, good, good, that is wonderful news. And for your trouble and stress, please allow me to offer you and your guests a free voucher for another night’s stay with us.”

I raised an eyebrow at that. “I’m leaving today.”

“It has no expiration. Surely you’ll be back someday, yes?”

No. “Sure, maybe. I’ll come get it when I check out.”

“Wonderful, perfect. Thank you, Miss Andie.”

“You’re welcome. Bye.”

I hung up the phone, staring at the claim ticket. Why did it bother me so much that the cowboy had taken his bags and gone? I looked at the trashcan and stretched my hand out to toss the ticket in, but at the last second, I didn’t. Instead, I walked slowly over to my bag and shoved it into the side pocket.

Shaking my head at my own silliness, I went about the work of getting ready to leave. Our flight was leaving soon and we had breakfast to wrangle and a taxi to hire. I ignored the haunting memories that were telling me there was something I should be remembering.





Chapter Fourteen





TWO YEARS LATER…