Chapter 2 - THE MAN WHO KNEW MY NAME
The man looked at my finger before he looked at me.
Then he smiled.
It was the kind of smile grown-ups used when they wanted other grown-ups to stop listening to a child.
“She’s confused.”
Evelyn stood, keeping one hand on my shoulder.
“Hugh. Do you know Sarah is here?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why does this child recognize you?”
He glanced at the watching guests.
“Can we discuss this somewhere private?”
“No,” I said.
Both of them looked down.
“My mom went somewhere private with you.”
His smile disappeared.
A woman in a black catering uniform pushed through the crowd with a clean towel.
“Here, sweetheart.”
She knelt without touching me.
I took the towel.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Nora.”
“I’m Rosa. Are you hurt?”
“My hip.”
“We’ll get someone to check it.”
Hugh reached for my hand.
“Come along, Nora.”
I moved behind Rosa.
Evelyn noticed.
“How do you know her name?”
“The woman just asked her.”
That was true.
But my body still knew something was wrong.
Hugh adjusted his cuff.
“She’s wet, hungry, and frightened. We’re upsetting her.”
“Where’s my mom?”
“I haven’t seen your mother.”
“Yes, you have.”
My voice came out louder than I meant it to.
“You were outside the side door. She showed you an envelope.”
Hugh’s face hardened.
Evelyn turned toward the hotel manager approaching us.
“Find my daughter.”
The manager introduced himself as Daniel Mercer.
“Let’s move to the reception room. We can call security and—”
“Call the police,” Rosa said.
Hugh gave her a sharp look.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Rosa looked straight back.
“A nine-year-old is missing her mother. It’s necessary.”
Evelyn nodded.
“Call.”
For the first time, Hugh looked worried.
He took his phone from his pocket and stepped away.
Nobody stopped him.
I watched his shoes.
There was a pale streak across the toe of the left one.
My mother had spilled flour on her coat that morning while making the last two pancakes.
She had laughed when I brushed at it.
I had eaten both pancakes.
I wished I hadn’t.
As Hugh passed the ballroom doors, he spoke into his phone.
Very quietly.
May you like
But I was close enough to hear.
“Move her before they check downstairs.”
