Outside the Hotel
A male guest exited the grand hotel, a smug smile lighting up his face. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through his contacts until he landed on the name Nicholas Crane. Without hesitation, he dialed the number.
The line clicked, and a cold, sharp voice answered, “Who is this, and what do you want?”
The man chuckled, leaning casually against a lamppost. “Nick Crane! Long time no talk. I recall hearing that the Reynolds family out here in Los Angeles is related to you. Is that right?”
Nicholas’s tone grew more impatient. “Yes, my mother is Maya Reynolds’s grandfather’s sister. Maya is my niece. What’s this about?”
“Ah, so that’s the connection!” the man said, his voice thick with amusement. “Well, Nick, you missed one heck of a show today. Your niece got married, an
