INFECTION 2.0

~ SEVENTEEN ~

The stranger walked into the hotel like he owned the place. His strides were long and confident and he stepped across the lobby to the young man in attendance behind the desk.

“Do you have a guest here named Frank Murphy?”

“I couldn’t tell ya.” The college kid said as he eyed the other.

The stranger pulled at the side of his black leather jacket just enough to show the younger man the large handgun strapped under his arm, “I bet that computer could help.”

“Yes, yes sir.” the kid tapped away, “Ummm... Murphy, ya say. Yep, he was here.”

“What room?”

“Doesn’t matter, checkout was an hour ago.”

“Did he check out?” the man wondered.

“I haven’t cleared the room yet, but people often just leave without coming down.”

“Was he alone?”

The clerk looked at the computer, “Only one person on his registration.”

“Was he alone?” The man pressed.

“How would I know, I don’t spy on the people.”

The elevator dinged and the two men glanced over to see an attractive black woman in her mid-twenties enter the lobby. The stranger noticed how she carried nothing but a purse.

“Where can I find Frank?” he was looking at the clerk again but spoke louder than needed. From the corner of his eye, he saw the girl pause to look over.

He turned as if he was noticing her for the first time. “You haven’t noticed a soldier boy around here have you?” he asked her somewhat innocently. “Had Murphy stenciled on his shirt? I gotta tell him that our leave has been recalled. He’ll be pissed, but we all got to get back to base.”

The woman studied the man for a moment. She turned her head to watch as a yellow cab pulled to a stop near the door then looked back at the man. “He’s up on the third floor,” she said and stepped outside.

The stranger watched as she got in the cab then turned back to the clerk. The kid had a phone in his hand. “I’ll call up for you.”

The man shook his head slowly, his look is cold and icy. “What room?”

“Three twenty-three.”

The stranger went to the stairway and climbed them two at a time. As soon as he was out of site the kid had the telephone to his ear and pressed 9-1-1.

At the door, the man paused and knocked. From the other side, he heard an unintelligible moan. He knocked again.

“Go away!” The voice sounded more miserable than upset.

The stranger kicked the door hard this time. It cracked, but he had to kick twice more to break it free from the latch. Just a glance around the room told him what he wanted to know. He removed the pistol from its holster and shot the soldier once in the head.

He was gone from the hotel long before the police ever arrived.