Kee Patterbee - Hannah Starvling 02 - The Gourmet Who Kept Diamonds in the Kitchen Read Online Free Page B

then considered the placement of her room. She was in 3108. She remembered that Janine told her they were, by coincidence, in the room above. 4108. Same side . The siren got louder as it passed in front of the lobby doors. Hannah listened as the sound subsided, but was still loud and remained so. In the distance, she could hear another two approaching sirens.
    “Goodness,” said Gran, “wonder what all that is about.” Hannah rose to her feet. “Try Elias again, please,” she said, pointing to Janine’s phone but looking straight ahead. After another try, the young woman shook her head. Hannah glanced over to Papa Jay and Gran. Gran’s eyes shot to where the sound appeared to be emanating. The elder Starvling turned to Janine and said, “So dear, how did you an Elias meet?”

Chapter 3
    “I’ll be right back,” Hannah announced as she headed for the lobby door. When she made it out of Janine and her grandparent’s sight, she ran toward the corner of the hotel’s main building. As she rounded to the crossing street up the way, she made out a large crowd of individuals gathered around something. She wanted to close her eyes and pray that her instinct read the situation wrong. As she darted toward the group, she glanced up and counted four floors. The glass door to the balcony stood open. No , she said to herself. At that moment, she found herself wrong.
    Elias lay on top of the vehicle, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He appeared dead. A paramedic crouched on the roof of the vehicle checking his eyes. A second man stood below. Several firemen stood ready as two police officers tried to maintain the crowd’s distance.
    The shock of the scene sent Hannah reeling back. She took in the sounds of hysteria from the crowd.  For a brief second, everything overwhelmed her, as if she might faint. She shook the sensation off before pushing her way through toward the man who lay on the roof of the car. As she reached forward, she cried out, “Elias!” A police officer attempted to grab her, but Hannah made a quick move and slid past him. Elias groaned and she almost breathed a sigh of relief to find him still alive. As she reached up to take his hand, the officer caught her and dragged her backwards. Eyes half open, Elias looked straight at her. He said a single word, “Dahlia,” before he fell unconscious.
    “ Miss, I need you to stay back. Let the paramedics do their work,” the officer said as he released her. Hannah looked into his face and blinked before nodding. He turned and called out, “Everyone. Back. Now.”
    Hannah felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to find Ducky staring at her. “You okay, Ms. Starvling?” The lights, noise, shock, all again led to a lightheaded sensation for Hannah. Her knees went weak and she almost collapsed when Ducky stepped up. “Careful, I got you,” he said, catching her as she staggered forward. He led her over to the curb and sat her down.
    “ You good?” he asked.
    Hannah shook her head in an attempt to clear herself of the lightheadedness.  “I’ll be alright in a minute.” To herself, she added, keep yourself together. Stay focused.
    Ducky drew his face in and asked. “Weren’t you with his wife a while ago? I saw them earlier.”
    Hannah confirmed with a nod. “She and my grandparents need a way to the hospital. They’re in the lobby. Can you arrange that?”
    Ducky agreed. “I can. What about you?”
    “ I’ll get there soon enough.” As Ducky turned to head back up the street, Hannah called out, “Make sure she doesn’t see this.”
    Ducky affirmed, and then sprinted away, back toward the corner.
    Hannah took out her cell and dialed. “Gran, it’s him. He’s alive, but she doesn’t need to see this, not in her condition. So, take her to the hospital. I’m sure the concierge has an idea which one they will take him to.” She looked up in time to watch the paramedic on top of the car stabilize Elias’ neck. A fireman stood