Death by Flapper by Brittany E. Brinegar

Author:Brittany E. Brinegar [Brittany E. Brinegar]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Britt Lizz Publishing
Published: 2024-01-29T00:00:00+00:00

13

Out of the Frying Pan

A rumble from the prep area signaled the return of waiters with empty trays. Tobias checked his pocket watch. “They aren’t supposed to be back for another twenty minutes.”

“Hundreds of guests are trapped in the smaller ballroom with no music, no drink, and nothing but finger foods. I’m surprised it took this long for them to become restless and demand more provisions.” Margo slid the plate of cake. “They’re going to be sorely disappointed by the stale dessert.”

Tobias buttoned his jacket. “We need to move.”

Margo jutted her thumb. “Follow me, I found a back hallway leading to the billiards room.”

“Isn’t that where they’re keeping the bellboys?” I asked.

“They were relocated to the dining room with the other staff. The space is isolated and quiet.”

“I don’t enjoy pool. Maybe you can find someone else to play you.” I dug in my heels. “The rooms are smoky and stuffy. And reeking of men’s hair tonic and awful cologne.”

“Enough.” Tobias picked me up and carried me over his shoulder like a misbehaving toddler.

“Hey!” Too stunned I didn’t think to fight back until he dropped me into a dark, narrow area outside the kitchen.

“Which way?” Tobias asked as he navigated toward dim lights.

“Follow me.” After a series of left turns through the service corridors, Margo pushed her hip into a swinging door that spilled into a larger hallway. “Oops, wrong door.”

A police officer leaned against a wall smoking. He lifted his head and cleared his throat like a cat coughing up a furball. “Hey, you aren’t supposed to be here.”

“Listen, chum,” Tobias said. “It seems we got turned around. Can you point me to the elevator?”

The officer was well beyond the prime of his life. A man relegated to duty away from the action and astonished when confronted by anything with a pulse. “Oh, no you don’t. Not until I contact the sergeant.”

Tobias approached with one long stride and smacked the officer below the throat. When the man bent, Tobias twirled him and placed his hands around the man’s neck.

I backed away shielding my eyes and bumped into Margo. She shoved a forearm into me, limiting my escape. I calmed my breathing and stifled a scream. My predicament suddenly became real.

Tobias looped his arms around the officer’s neck and adjusted his elbow under the man’s chin. I recognized the Judo hold from a book my husband studied, a move used to render an opponent unconscious but not kill him.

Thankful Tobias didn’t execute the officer, I halted my struggle against Margo, who showed surprising strength for a woman ten years my senior. “Was that necessary?”

Tobias eased the man to the wood floor and dusted the tuxedo jacket. “Which door?”

“Second on your right.” Margo guided me beyond the prone officer. “Why didn’t you try talking to the man first?”

Tobias busted through the door and flicked a switch, illuminating low fixtures hanging over a half-dozen wooden tables with felt surfaces. “The old man should have retired at least a decade ago. I can’t stomach such incompetence and we don’t have the luxury of explaining our situation.

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