The Sirani Connection (Genevieve Lenard, #13) by Ryan Estelle

Author:Ryan, Estelle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Autism fiction, Autistic protagonist, Private detective, women sleuths, kidnapping, conspiracy
Publisher: Estelle Ryan
Published: 2019-03-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter THIRTEEN

“WE’VE TOLD GUESTS IT’S a gas leak.” Ivan looked towards the wide staircase in the centre of the hotel’s foyer. Dozens of people were coming down, some with their suitcases. I detected no panic, just looks of annoyance, confusion and curiosity.

“That is always the simplest and fastest way to get a large group of people to evacuate an area.” Daniel was standing with us next to the beautiful mahogany reception desk. Even though he was wearing jeans and a thick jacket, his posture was exactly the same as the specialised police officers calmly leading the guests outside.

“Have you heard from the hospital?” Colin asked Ivan.

“Yes.” Ivan had tried to calm Antonin down in gently spoken Czech, but Antonin had been hysterical. I’d recognised that level of debilitating panic. The state he’d been in had reminded me of my meltdowns. When Antonin had started crying and rocking in his chair, Manny had told Ivan to order an ambulance. “They’ve sedated Antonin and he’s sleeping.”

“If they’ve sedated him, he’ll most likely sleep until tomorrow morning.” Daniel shook his head. “I usually see such breakdowns only in traumatised children.”

“His fear was real.” It had affected me greatly. Even now, I was mentally listening to Mozart’s String Quartet No. 1 in G major to slow my breathing and heart rate.

“We’re here! We’re here!” Roxy rushed over from the front entrance and went on her toes to kiss Vinnie. “How can I help?”

Francine stopped next to Roxy and looked at me. “Are you okay?”

“I’m well.” Anxious and trying to process all the new information, but I was managing. For now.

Roxy took a step closer to me and stared at me, then nodded. “You’re good to go.”

I leaned away from her. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She smiled and moved back to Vinnie’s side. “Where’s Bree?”

“Her hotel is three blocks away.” Colin nodded with his chin towards the street. “She said she was going to walk there and do some more research. And eat. She was hungry.”

“Good riddance.” Manny jerked when Francine slapped his shoulder. “I don’t trust that journalist.”

“Not yet, but you’ll come around.” Francine turned to Ivan. “What do we know about this death?”

“He wasn’t tortured like Shahab’s other victims.” That had been the first question Ivan had asked the first responders. “He had been exposed to some form of opioid, collapsed in his room and died there.”

“Is this the poison Antonin was talking about?” Vinnie asked.

Ivan raised both shoulders. “We need autopsy results to know that.”

“Who found him?” Francine asked.

“The hotel received a call from the victim’s business partner. The victim was supposed to be at a meeting, but didn’t show and wasn’t answering his phone. The partner managed to convince the hotel to check his room.”

Francine lifted her tablet. “What’s the victim’s name?”

“Jarda Zonyga.” Ivan looked at Francine tapping on her tablet, closed his eyes for a second and sighed. “I don’t know what you’re doing now, but I hope you’ll find more than we’ve done so far.”

“What do you know?” Manny asked.

“Zonyga was a partner in a toy company.

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