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at dinner. Eight o’clock. Devyn will bring you to my private dining room.” Then she hurried off.
    “If you’re ready to go now…?” Devyn said, and she nodded.
    He led her to a small open elevator, ushering her inside and closing the gate behind them. “You’ve been given the penthouse suite,” Devyn said. “There’s only one here at the Spa. Most of the rooms and other suites are in the wings of the main building. They did a really terrific restoration. You should see the before pictures. They’re on display in the library.” The elevator stopped, and, opening the gate, Devyn led the way across the carpeted corridor to a large double mahogany door with brass fittings. “This is your key card,” he said, showing her how to insert it. “Don’t even think about it. Just put it in and get it out quickly.”
    Annie heard a faintly audible click, and the door swung open. It was then that she noticed it had no knob. “Where’s the doorknob?” she asked Devyn.
    “Isn’t that just the greatest security measure?” he said. “The door opens when you use the key card. You can’t open the door from the outside without that card. We’ve got terrific security, but places like this attract all kinds.” He preceded her into the suite.
    Be cool, Annie told herself as her gaze swept the room. Try not to behave like a geek. “Oh, my!” she said softly.
    “Yeah,” he echoed her admiration. “It really is pretty neat, isn’t it?”
    Annie laughed. “How old are you?” she asked him.
    “Old enough to work at the Spa,” he told her, grinning. “Why?”
    “You remind me of my son,” she lied. “First job?”
    “Yeah, first real one,” Devyn admitted. “After I graduated college I backpacked around a bit. But it was time to find a job. I majored in English, of all things in this day and age. Didn’t want to teach, and then a friend of my father’s said that the Channel Corp. was hiring. My brother says that even though they’re a privately held corporation they’re solid, and a foot in the door is a foot in the door. They gave me and the rest of the guys they hired a quick course in hotel management and manners, and here we are.” He moved across the living room in which they now stood with her bag. “This is your bedroom,” he told her, flinging open a door. “I’ll put your luggage here. Would you like me to send a maid to unpack for you?”
    “No, thank you,” Annie said, swallowing back a giggle.
    “This is for you,” Devyn said, handing her a small gold button. “It’s my call button. You can clip it to whatever you’re wearing. Just press it when you want me. I’ll give you an hour to unpack and get yourself acclimated. Then I’ll be back to pick you up. I’ve scheduled a manicure, pedicure, facial, and massage for you this afternoon.” Then with a quick smile he was gone out the door of the suite, closing it behind him.
    Annie stood very still and looked all about her. The living room of the suite was beautiful. The thick carpet was cream colored. So was all the upholstered furniture, a couch, and two extra-large club chairs, one with an ottoman. The fabric on them appeared to be a nubby textured silk. And there were large multicolored pillows in purple and green, both solids and patterns. There was a fireplace on one wall of the living room. The tables and the chests were of the same beautiful Brazilian rosewood she had seen in the lobby. The lamps were ceramic, palest green, with floral designs. She slid out of her shoes. It seemed almost sacrilegious to walk about on this carpet in shoes.
    A pair of louvered doors caught her eye. Walking over to them, she folded them back to discover a little wet bar, a microwave, and a small fridge. Curious, she opened it. Inside she found six small bottles of San Pellegrino water, a round of Brie, a little net of Gouda, and a rectangle of extra-sharp cheddar. The cabinet above held a single box of whole-grain crackers and some white plates