Damaged

CHAPTER 46

The pounding came from someplace other than inside Platt's head. Of that he was certain, though the back of his head throbbed. He opened his eyes and took a few seconds to remember where he was.

Hotel room. The Hilton. Too many free mai tais. Rum gave him a killer headache every time.

He pushed himself off the sofa and that's when he remembered Maggie. The thought spun him around to look back at the bedroom. Awake, he realized the pounding came from the front door of the suite, not the bedroom.

Platt grabbed his shirt from a nearby chair but didn't bother with his shoes. It was probably just hotel staff. He noticed the telephone's flashing red button. He didn't remember the phone ringing but he could have missed it.

By the time he opened the door he had his shirt on but not buttoned. The black man in a green polo shirt looked puzzled.

"Yes?" Platt asked.

The man stared at him, backed up and checked the number beside the doorframe, then looked over Platt's shoulder to get a glimpse inside. Not much success. He was shorter than Platt.

"I'm looking for Maggie O'Dell."

"Are you from the hotel?"

"Ah, no. Homeland Security."

"Door-to-door check?"

"Excuse me?"

"Do we need to leave?"

"Is Maggie here?"

"Charlie?" Maggie called from behind Platt.

With a glance over his shoulder, Platt saw her come out of the bathroom. Her hair was wet and she wore one of the hotel's white robes. The fresh scent of soap wafted through the entry and as distracting as it was, Platt couldn't take his eyes off Charlie, whose eyes had widened. His jaw hung open. It was classic.

"I'm sorry," Platt said. "You're Charlie Wurth. When you said Homeland Security, I thought you were here to tell us that we had to leave. I'm Benjamin Platt."

He held his hand out and waited while Wurth processed the information, still trying to figure out what he was seeing. Platt spotted the paper bag in Wurth's right hand. He could smell the pastry as Wurth moved it to his left hand in order to shake.

"Come on in, Charlie. Keep Ben company while I put on some clothes," Maggie told him. "I overslept." Then to Platt and with a smile, she said, "I actually slept."

"I'll bet," Platt heard Wurth say, but under his breath.

Maggie was already headed through the bedroom door and Platt swore he saw a bit of a skip in her step.