Chapter 4: The Missing Woman
542 Words
Terrified.
That was the only word Ava could think of.
She had never seen Ethan Black afraid.
Not during business takeovers.
Not when reporters swarmed him.
Not even when investors threatened to pull millions from his company.
But now...
His hands were shaking.
"Where's the hotel manager?" Ethan demanded.
"He went upstairs, sir," the security guard replied. "The police are on their way."
Police?
Ava's stomach lurched.
"What happened in Room 1708?" she asked.
No one answered.
"Ethan!"
He finally looked at her, but his eyes weren't really seeing her. They were fixed on something much darker.
"I need you to trust me."
Ava let out a hollow laugh.
"You've lost the right to ask for that."
She brushed past him.
"I'm going to see that room myself."
"Ava, don't!"
His hand caught her wrist.
She yanked it away.
"Don't touch me."
The hurt on Ethan's face lasted only a second before he masked it.
"I'm trying to protect you."
"From what?"
Silence.
Again.
"I hate your silence!" Ava shouted.
Heads turned.
Phones lifted.
Someone whispered, "They're recording."
Ava didn't care anymore.
"If you won't tell me the truth, I'll find it myself."
She stormed toward the elevators.
"Ava!" Jade called, hurrying after her.
Selena hesitated, then followed too.
The elevator doors slid shut behind the three women.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
The only sound was the soft hum of the elevator climbing.
Finally, Jade broke the silence.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"No."
Ava stared at the glowing floor numbers.
"But I have to."
Selena kept her eyes on the floor.
"If we find something..."
"We deal with it."
The elevator chimed.
17th Floor.
The doors opened.
The hallway was eerily quiet.
Yellow police tape blocked the far end.
A hotel employee stood nearby, arguing with an officer.
While everyone was distracted, Ava ducked beneath the tape.
"Ava!" Jade hissed.
"Come on."
The three hurried toward Room 1708.
The door hung slightly open.
Inside, the room looked as if a storm had torn through it.
A shattered lamp lay on the floor.
A chair was overturned.
Broken glass glittered across the carpet.
One curtain had been ripped from its rail.
There had been a struggle.
Ava stepped carefully inside.
Her heartbeat echoed in her ears.
Then she saw it.
A single high-heeled shoe.
Red.
The same shade as the dress she was wearing.
"Someone left in a hurry," Jade murmured.
Selena frowned.
"Or someone was dragged out."
A chill swept through the room.
Ava moved closer to the bed.
The sheets were crumpled.
On the bedside table sat a half-full glass of water...
...and a photograph.
She picked it up.
The picture showed Ethan.
He looked younger.
He had one arm around Olivia.
In Olivia's arms was baby Emma.
But that wasn't what made Ava's breath catch.
Standing beside them, smiling at the camera...
...was Selena.
"What...?"
Selena's face turned white.
"I've never seen that photo before."
Ava slowly turned toward her.
"Then why are you in it?"
Before Selena could answer—
A loud crash came from the bathroom.
All three women jumped.
The bathroom door...
Slowly...
Creaked open.
A figure stepped out of the darkness.
Covered in blood.
And whispered one trembling word.
"Run."
- Writer
