Chapter 141: This is the plan
By the time Raina stepped into the hallway, she had already formed a plan.
She needed more hands at the seaport, but manpower wasn’t her only problem. Anna was watching the hotel, and if she saw Raina and Jonah leave together, she would know exactly where they were going.
Raina needed a distraction.
The elevator doors opened, and she stepped inside with Jonah. As they descended, she caught her reflection in the polished doors and remembered the girl who had brought them room service a few days earlier.
Red hair. Grey eyes.
An idea began to take shape.
"I’ve got an idea," Raina said.
Jonah glanced at her. "What?"
The elevator reached the lobby, and Raina stepped out.
"Follow me."
She crossed the lobby and slipped through the staff entrance.
The kitchen was in the middle of the lunch rush. Cooks moved between steaming pots and preparation counters while servers hurried past with trays, the clatter of dishes mixing with shouted orders.
Raina waited for a server to pass before approaching a man near the service counter.
"Excuse me. I’m looking for a red-haired girl with grey eyes. She brought room service to my room a few days ago. Have you seen her?"
The man shook his head.
"No, sorry."
"Thank you."
Raina moved to another employee.
"Excuse me. I’m looking for a red-haired girl with grey eyes. She served me room service a few days ago."
The man thought for a moment.
"Oh, you mean Jenna?"
Raina nodded.
"Yes, Jenna. Do you know where I can find her?"
"She just went upstairs with some food. She should be back soon."
Raina glanced toward the service elevator.
"Do you know which room she went to?"
"No, sorry. I don’t."
Raina nodded.
"Thank you."
She turned and headed back toward the hallway, Jonah following close behind.
Once they were through the doors, Jonah looked at her.
"Why do you need this girl?"
Raina glanced toward the lobby.
"Anna is watching the hotel. If she sees us leave together, she’ll know we’re going back to the seaport."
Jonah’s expression sharpened.
"You want her to think Jenna is you."
"From a distance, she might."
"And while they’re following her, we get to the seaport."
Raina nodded.
"Exactly."
Jonah considered the idea for a moment.
"That could work."
"It only has to work long enough to get us out of here."
Raina looked toward the lobby.
"Now we just need to find her."
Luckily, they didn’t have to look far.
Jonah suddenly stopped.
"There."
Raina followed his gaze.
Jenna was approaching from the corridor, pushing a food trolley toward the elevators.
Raina hurried toward her.
"Jenna?"
The girl stopped, looking surprised.
"Y-yes?"
Raina was slightly out of breath from the short run.
"I need to speak with you. Somewhere private, if you don’t mind."
Jenna glanced at the trolley, then back at Raina.
"I’m working."
"I know. It won’t take long."
Jenna still looked uncertain.
Raina gave her an apologetic smile.
"Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me. I was the one who complimented your hair when you brought us room service."
Recognition appeared on Jenna’s face.
"Oh. You."
Raina smiled.
"I’m a guest here. I’m not trying to get you into trouble. I just need your help with something."
Jenna hesitated before nodding.
"Okay."
Raina led her to a quiet corner of the hallway, away from the lobby.
Once they were alone, Raina explained what she needed.
Jenna listened without interrupting, but her expression grew more uncertain with every word.
When Raina finished, Jenna stared at her.
"I can’t do that."
"I understand."
"I’m serious. I don’t even know if this is legal."
Raina reached for her hand.
"Please."
Jenna looked down at their hands.
"Someone’s life depends on this," Raina said quietly. "We’re trying to find him before it’s too late."
Jenna looked back at her.
"Who is he?"
"Someone I care about."
Raina gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"I wouldn’t ask you if I had another choice. Please help us save him. I’ll compensate you for your trouble, and I won’t put you in any danger."
Jenna remained silent for a moment.
She glanced toward the lobby, then at the food trolley she had left unattended.
Finally, she sighed.
"All right."
Relief crossed Raina’s face.
"What do you want me to do?"
A few minutes later, Jenna emerged from the hotel wearing the coat Raina had given her, her red hair tucked beneath the hood. From a distance, with Jonah walking beside her, the resemblance was convincing enough.
Raina remained inside the lobby, watching through the glass doors.
Jonah turned briefly and looked back at her.
Raina gave him a small nod. She made Jonah go with Jenna because it would look more convincing that way .
He understood.
He opened the passenger door for Jenna and got in after her. The car pulled away from the hotel, heading toward the main road.
Across the street, the blue van started its engine.
Raina watched it fall in behind them.
Her plan had worked.
Whoever was watching believed they were following her.
She waited until the van was far enough away before leaving the hotel. Once outside, she walked to her car, got behind the wheel and drove in the opposite direction.
Alone.
The seaport was waiting.
By the time she arrived, the city had fallen behind her, and the roads around the port had grown quieter.
She followed the coordinates Graham had given her and drove directly toward the section where the cameras had last recorded the blue van entering.
After parking, Raina stepped out and looked across the seaport.
Rows of containers stretched in every direction, stacked several levels high in some sections and standing in long lines in others.
She opened the equipment bag Graham had given her and took out the thermal imaging camera.
After switching it on, she adjusted the settings and began moving between the containers.
The screen showed the temperature differences around her, but there was nothing immediately useful.
Raina continued deeper into the yard.
Container after container passed by.
She checked the screen, moved on, and checked again.
There were hundreds of them.
She had no idea how long the search would take.