Emily Kimelman - Sydney Rye 05 - The Devil's Breath by Emily Kimelman Page B

accent pretty good. I could still hear a hint of her native tongue. She came from somewhere cold and harsh with a language that matched its dark and dangerous landscape.
    “Safe travels,” I said and then followed Malina’s friend’s advice, entering the alley and running a couple of doors down to the salon. The door was unlocked and I stepped into an air-conditioned room. The three sinks with seats backing up to them made it clear this space was used for hair washing. Right by the door was a shelving unit filled with dyes, shampoos, and other supplies.
    I grabbed a smock off a shelf and quickly threw it around myself, snapping the buttons at the base of my neck. Blue sat slightly behind me, head low, scrunching into himself, trying to look smaller. The door opened and a woman walked in. She startled when she saw me, then placed her hand over her heart and smiled. “I am sorry, you gave me a start. I didn’t know you were back here.” She held her hand out pointing toward the row of sinks. “I’m Missy, let me get you shampooed. Who are you here to see?” she asked.
    I smiled. “I’m not sure of their name,” I said. “My hotel made the arrangements and I just walked over.” I sat in the chair, being careful to keep my hands under the fabric. Blue sat next to me. The woman walked around me glancing at Blue. “Nice dog,” she said.
    “Thanks, it’s great you’re pet friendly.”
    “Sure,” she said. I heard her turn the tap, the rush of water from the spout.
    “What are you thinking of having done?” she asked, pressing on my shoulder for me to lean back.
    I slid into the seat, my neck resting on the cool porcelain. “Something drastic,” I answered. 
    #
    W hen I got back to my suite I kicked off my shoes and unbuttoned the smock from around my neck. I’d convinced the hairdresser I loved it and wanted to keep it. She told me it did look nice. Her face didn’t agree with her words but she went along with it.
    I unbuttoned my stained shirt and, grabbing a plastic laundry bag from the closet, pushed it in. Peeling off my jeans I dropped them into the bag and then tied it off. I took a shower and scrubbed at my skin. I’d taken a trip to the ladies room at the salon and gotten as much off my hand and arm as I could but it had soaked through my shirt and onto my stomach and ribs. After the shower I climbed naked into bed. Blue jumped up and settled at my feet, his chin resting on my calf. I dialed Malina’s number. She picked up.
    “Is everything okay?” I asked.
    “Perfect, Sydney, everything is perfect.”
    “Good,” I said, feeling the exhaustion of relief and jet lag come at me.
    “You sound tired, Sydney. Is everything all right?”
    “Hugh is in real trouble, Malina,” I said.
    “Dan told me.”
    I bit my lip feeling a surge of emotion. “I’m exhausted.”
    “Take a nap. You will feel better.”
    My last thought before sleep descended on me like a heavy blanket, was that so far, I’d been pretty useless to Hugh.
    I woke to someone knocking at the door. Blue rushed out of the bedroom and through the living room toward the entrance. I followed, pausing to grab a robe from the bathroom. When I checked the peep hole I saw a bellboy, resplendent in his tasseled uniform. I need to switch hotels, I thought, before opening the door.
    “Ms. Sydney Rye?” he asked.
    “Yes?”
    “This came for you,” he said, holding up a large white box with a skull and cross bones patterned ribbon tied around it.
    “Oh,” I said, taken aback. He passed it to me and I put it inside the room. “Who delivered it?” I asked, as I grabbed my purse off the entrance table and pulled out a $20 bill.
    “Don’t know, Miss. Sorry,” he said, eyeing the bill in my hand. I thanked him handing over the money.
    Back in my room I placed the box on the bed. I looked for a card but there was just the large and floppy satin bow. I pulled on it, the knot falling out of place easily. Inside a handwritten note sat on