CHAPTER ONE ⚜ ROOM 626 (PART II)

[Illustration 02] Close-up. The carpet beneath the door. The dim light is blocked by the shadow of a pair of “feet,” though the edges of that shadow bleed outward like ink dropped into water. Inside the room, one bare foot hangs in the air, the toes curled tight. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLVzeJhQ4k

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Ryan bent down slowly and reached for the leather shoes by the bed. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc709EoPtrW

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The right one went on. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXpAtnsipM

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The left one — would not. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv7K5SQSd6

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He looked down. It was a dark-red satin woman’s shoe, at least three sizes too small, with a single pearl set at the toe. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5BxkRDHf4

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“This isn't my shoe.” His voice was a strangled whisper. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRzOgOmIjV

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“Who swapped my shoe for a woman's shoe?” 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfOj9zJzqV

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The shadow outside the door shifted. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqToNEuFFym

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It was then that he noticed the note pinned under the lamp on the nightstand. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0gBL4dVC6

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Hotel stationery, a red moon printed at the head of the page.  The handwriting was his own: 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJF1dEfTsb

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“ When the phone rings, whatever you do, don't answer it. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmDokgx63f

— Yourself ” 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSERHukJUm

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He didn’t remember writing it. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68fMGbRYQJ

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Below it, in a neat, delicate hand, in dark red ink: 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RQrQ9SSPY

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“ G o on … answer it . 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoZscfnDtV

— The Front Desk ” 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQnMtQiADY

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Ryan turned the paper over, and turned it back. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh271HA2sM

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The second line remained. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1i00HfLVW

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He was certain it had not been there the first time. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7d5mUSP0L

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BRRRRING—! 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN3t6VzrGc

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The rotary telephone on the nightstand went off. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnpzbmCgEg

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Ryan shot off the floor as if something had bitten him—one foot shod, the other bare—and slammed into the wall. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtU3HeWO60b

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BRRRRING—! 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡve4XzGmTOr 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaZYpYi2Tc

The shadows outside the door went from one to two to three. All of them had stopped. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbcYJvqlEo

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Ryan looked at the telephone on the desk. 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aZ2Xy788X

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“I trust myself,” he said through clenched teeth. “At the very least, I don't leave notes in red ink.” 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdxfgXln2g

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He grabbed the suitcase and bolted for the door—and only as his hand closed around the handle did he remember: there was something out there . 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4s0vc2uGM

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BRRRRING—! (The fourth ring.) 119Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBvjGj9DdA

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He pulled the door open.

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