10

10

I CROSS THE room to my bed and kneel down by the safe under the bedside cabinet. I open the safe with a combination provided to me in my T.H.E.M. documentation and pull out a stack of manila envelopes—my case files. The safe, of course, had been sent by T.H.E.M. to the hotel to be placed in my room prior to arrival, and a duplicate safe is in Mary Sue’s room, as well.

“You haven’t even looked at those yet, have you,” Mary Sue tisks with annoyance, indicating the envelopes in my hands.

I roll my eyes, then retort, “For the love of Captain Hammer’s nipples, Lindsay, gimme a break already.” Even though we are now in the privacy of my suite, it’s probably best to stay in character, just in case a housekeeper walks in on us or something, and so I maintain my accent and use of Mary Sue’s dupe name.

“Fine, whatever,” Mary Sue huffs in annoyance. “While you’re catching up, I’m gonna order room service. Do you want anything?”

“No, I already ate,” I say as I plop myself onto my bed