I hoped Justin was safe with Godfrey, probably in the hotel still talking and getting to know his biological father.

There were no empty parking spaces in front of the hotel. I had to settle for one across the street, facing the square. As I turned off my lights, preparing to get out of the car, I observed someone sitting in the shadows of an old gazebo about ten yards in front of me.

He moved, and I recognized him as Justin. He watched me, obviously nervous, as I approached. The night was cool, and Justin was in short sleeves. He shivered a bit, his face turned away from me as I sat down next to him. The stone bench chilled me even through the wool of my pants.

“What are you doing sitting out here?” I asked in a mild tone. “Aren’t you getting cold?”

“A little, I guess.” Justin’s teeth chattered. “I, um, I can’t go back in there.”

“The hotel? Why not?”

“I just can’t.”

The desperation in Justin’s voice alarmed me. I put a hand on his shoulder to try to calm him a bit.

“What’s wrong? You can tell me.” I spoke in my most benign, fatherly manner.

“No, it’s horrible.” The boy shuddered, whether from the cold or something else, I wasn’t sure.

“Is something wrong with Godfrey?” I tried to keep my voice even.

Justin nodded. He still wouldn’t look at me.

“Does he need a doctor?” I stood. “We’d better go and check on him then.”

“It won’t do any good,” Justin said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Why not?”

“It just won’t.”

I was getting a really bad feeling about this. “Did you call nine-one-one?”

Justin shook his head. He still seemed too dazed to do anything.

I pulled out my phone and punched in the emergency number. I reported a possibly injured man.

“What’s the room number?” I asked Justin.

He shrugged. “The Lee Room, I think.”

I gave the operator the information and hung up before she tried to keep me on the line.

“Come on.” I grasped the boy gently by the arm and pulled him up. “Maybe there’s something we can do.” I was afraid Godfrey was beyond help at this point, but I had to try.

I expected resistance, but for whatever reason Justin came docilely enough. Though I peppered him with questions on the way, he wasn’t saying anything more.

In the bright light of the lobby, I could see that Justin was pale and in obvious distress. I felt an even stronger sense of urgency. Had Godfrey had a heart attack?

“He gave me a key,” Justin said when I veered toward the front desk.

“Fine.” I headed for the elevator, my hand still firmly on Justin’s arm. Inside, Justin punched the button for the fourth floor.