章 107: You're In The News

Derek sat in the reception area of the hotel, his eyes fixed on the clock above the desk. Each tick of the second hand seemed to stretch into an eternity.

He had been waiting for twenty minutes, a gnawing worry growing in the pit of his stomach. Cora should have beeped him by now, a signal they had agreed upon if anything went wrong during her meeting with Eric.

The hotel lobby bustled around him with guests checking in and out, luggage wheels clattering across the tiled floor, and the distant hum of conversations blending into a low murmur, but despite the activity, Derek felt a growing sense of isolation, his mind consumed by thoughts of Cora.

He stood up, the urgency of the situation propelling him forward. On their way to the hotel, Derek had been clear with Cora. "If Eric starts misbehaving or tries something stupid, beep me immediately," he had said, his tone firm and reassuring.