'I take it she has not checked out.'

'Mrs. Hobbs is stil registered.'

'Have you seen her today?'

'No.'

'When did you last see her?'

'I can't possibly keep track of al our guests.'

'Mrs. Hobbs hasn't been to work since Sunday, and I'm concerned about her. Could you please tel me what room she's in?'

'I'm sorry, but I can't do that.' The smile widened. 'Policy.'

'She could be il.'

'The maid would report a sick guest.'

Ralph was as polite as a policeman on a traffic stop. O.K. I can do polite.

'This is realy important.' I placed a palm lightly on his wrist and looked into his eyes. 'Can you tel me what Mrs. Hobbs drives so I can see if her car is in your lot?'

'No, I cannot.'

'Can we go together to check her room?'

'No.'

'Wil you go while I wait here?'

'No, ma'am.'

Puling back my hand, I tried another tack.

'Would Mrs. Stover remember when she last saw Mrs. Hobbs?'

Ralph laced his fingers and laid his hands on the magazine. The hair on his forearms looked pale and wiry against the calamine-pink skin.

'You are asking the same questions the others asked, and my wife and I wil give you the same answers we gave to them. Unless served with an official warrant we wil open no room, and divulge no information about any guest.' His voice was buttery smooth.

'What others?'

Ralph drew a long, patient breath.

'Is there anything else I can help you with?'

I honed my voice to scalpel sharp.

'If Primrose Hobbs comes to any harm because of your policy, you'l wish you'd never sent away for that hotel-motel management course.'

Ralph Stover's eyes narrowed but the smile held firm.

I puled a business card from my purse and jotted down my cel phone number.

'If you have a change of heart, give me a cal.'

I turned and strode toward the door.

'You have a nice day, ma'am.'

I heard the flip of a magazine page, the jangle of a bracelet.

Gunning the engine, I raced from the lot, sped up the highway, and puled onto the shoulder fifty yards north. If I knew human nature, curiosity would drive Stover to Primrose's room. And he would go there immediately.

Hurriedly locking the car, I sprinted back to the Riverbank turnoff and cut into the woods. Then I picked my way forward, paraleling the gravel road, until I had a clear view of the motel.

My intuition was right on. Ralph was just arriving at unit four. He checked to his left, then his right, unlocked the door, and slipped inside.