Thirst No. 4 by Christopher Pike Page A

don’t know his title. He said his name was Mike.”
    “Why did he call you?”
    “He was looking for his server.”
    “What did you tell him?”
    “That I hadn’t seen any food or server.”
    Treach consults his notes. “Mike says that you identifiedKen by name even while you were insisting that Ken had failed to deliver your order.”
    “That’s true. I called the guy Ken right after Mike called him Ken.”
    “Mike says he never mentioned Ken by name. Not until you did.”
    “He did so the second he got on the phone. But I don’t think he’s lying. I think he just forgot.”
    “That happens,” Astor adds for my benefit.
    “Why do you say that?” Treach presses.
    I shrug. “When I spoke to Mike, he seemed like a nice guy. I think he was just worried about his employee. Is he still missing?”
    “That’s why we’re here. Ms. Raine, Teri, are you absolutely certain Ken didn’t come to your door? Is it possible you were in the restroom and he knocked and left because you failed to answer?”
    “It’s possible. I think I went to the bathroom at some point while I was waiting for my food. But I wasn’t in there very long.”
    Treach makes another note. “What did you do after you spoke to room service?”
    The way he asks his question, I realize Treach has something up his sleeve. It must be the family I ran into on the elevator. He’s probably talked to them. I’ll have to admit to leaving the hotel, which I hate to do. It looks odd.
    “Well, I was still hungry so I went out to get a bite.”
    “Where did you go?”
    “I don’t know, somewhere local. A deli a few blocks from here.”
    “Do you remember the name of it?”
    “No.”
    “Was it two blocks from here? Or three or four?”
    “I’m not sure. It could have been as many as five or six blocks away. I don’t know the area. I just went walking.”
    “How come you didn’t eat at the hotel?”
    “Well, as far as I could tell, their service wasn’t very good.”
    “How did you pay for your meal?”
    “With cash.”
    “Do you do that often?”
    “What? Eat?”
    “Pay for your dinner with cash. Most people use a card these days.”
    “I had some cash on me and I just bought a sandwich so I used it.”
    “I try to use cash when I can,” Astor says.
    Treach gives him a hard look before he continues, and I realize I’ve underestimated the detective. He’s experienced and my story does not ring true to his ears. The more we talk, the greater his suspicions grow. I wish he was alone and I could try using the hypnotic power of my eyes on him. Unsure of my abilities, I don’t dare try it with both of themin the room. I realize that I have to end the interrogation soon.
    “Teri, when you were leaving the hotel, you ran into a family that’s staying here. They said they tried to talk to you but you were rude to them. They also said—”
    “I wasn’t rude.” I interrupt. “They thought I worked for the hotel and kept asking me directions to the Pepsi Center. Even after I explained that I didn’t know the area, they kept bugging me, especially the wife.”
    “The husband and the wife said you had a room service cart with you. Is that true?”
    “Why would I be walking around with a room service cart? It was in the elevator when I stepped inside. I had nothing to do with it.”
    “The couple’s youngest boy thought he saw a man’s body stuffed beneath the cart.”
    I stare at Treach. “You’ve got to be joking.”
    The man shrugs. “It’s what the boy told us.”
    I laugh softly. “That’s cute. I mean, it would be cute if Ken wasn’t missing. But no, Detective Treach, I can assure you I didn’t kill Ken after he delivered my steak to my room. And I certainly didn’t stuff his body in a room service cart.”
    “It’s not like any of us really believe that,” Astor says.
    I smile. “Well, that’s a relief.”
    “Did you get out of the elevator with the family?” Treach asks.
    “I waited until they left. Then I