Read The Hostage: BookShots (Hotel Series) for Free Online Page B

Roscoe sat on the corner of the bed next to Jocasta and her daughter. ‘It’s not good, Mrs Harlington,’ he said.
    Jocasta’s eyes filled with tears. ‘He’s dead, isn’t he?’ she asked, as Roscoe wondered if she already knew the answer she was about to receive.
    ‘I’m afraid so,’ he said, putting his hand on her arm.
    Jacqueline Harlington let out a cry at the news of the death of her father as Oscar Miller put his hand to his face. Jocasta Harlington sat motionless and somehow retained her composure.
    ‘I think I knew,’ she said. ‘The man was heavily armed. When Jackson opened the door to welcome Oscar, he easily forced his way in. As soon as he was in the room he hit Jackson across the head, knocked him unconscious with the butt of his gun. Jackson went straight down.’ Jacqueline started to sob as her mother continued, ‘He wore a mask the whole time. A ski mask, I think. He threatened to shoot us all, Jon. Jackson was on the floor, hardly moving. He tied up Oscar and Jacqueline. Oscar started to struggle.’
    Jocasta turned to Oscar Miller. ‘Why did you do that, Oscar? He might have killed you.’ Only now did she show any real emotion. ‘He struck Oscar and then he dragged me into the bathroom. I thought he was going to kill me but all he did was tie me up. He left me lying on the floor and I could see him going back to Jackson. Jackson was coming round and he dragged him to his feet. I started screaming and that’s when he came back in and gagged me. Then he closed the door and left me. After that I didn’t see any more.’
    She bowed her head and Roscoe could see the physical effort she had to make to stop herself breaking down, as her hands trembled on her knees.
    ‘Thank you, Mrs Harlington,’ he said before turning to Jacqueline. ‘I know this is difficult, but can you tell me what happened after that?’ he asked her.
    ‘He came back out, grabbed hold of my father, pointed the gun at his head and forced him out of the room. And that was it until you came in,’ said Jacqueline, wiping the tears from her eyes.
    ‘How long since he left?’
    ‘It feels like hours, Jon, but I’m guessing it’s no more than thirty or forty minutes,’ Jocasta said.
    Roscoe turned to Savage. ‘He’s working to a timetable,’ he said quietly. ‘When he called us from the twenty-fifth floor he knew we’d head upstairs. He was waiting for us to unlock the elevators and as soon as we did he sent down his message. By the time we get up here, he’s long gone.’
    ‘Did any of you recognise him at all?’ asked Savage. ‘Or feel like you knew him or might have known him in any way?’
    ‘He wore the mask,’ said Jacqueline. ‘There was no way we would’ve been able to recognise him even if we did know him.’
    ‘What about his voice?’ pressed Savage. ‘Anything at all that struck a chord with you?’
    ‘He never spoke,’ said Jacqueline. ‘Not a word. Nothing.’
    ‘What about you, Mrs Harlington. Any recognition?’ continued Savage. ‘Anything you might be able to tell us could be vital.’
    ‘I’m sorry, no. I wish there was. We’ve told you everything.’
    ‘Can you tell us what happened to my father?’ asked Jacqueline Harlington, looking directly at Savage.
    Savage couldn’t answer. He turned to Roscoe for help. Silence hung in the air.
    ‘I’m sorry, Miss Harlington. It seems like the hotel is, I don’t know …’ said Roscoe, struggling for words, ‘it seems as if the hotel is under some kind of attack. I’m afraid Mr Harlington was killed as part of that. Right now we’ve every reason to believe the killer is still in the hotel, and that means we need to get you somewhere safe.’
    ‘We should take you downstairs, Mrs Harlington. All of you. We can get medical attention for Mr Miller,’ added Savage.
    The police officers started to help Jocasta Harlington and her daughter to their feet.
    ‘Savage,’ said Roscoe softly. ‘He could have killed all three of them if