“Thank you. Um, I just wanted to ask if there’s someone called Claus staying here. Could you maybe check the system?”

“I’m not allowed to do that.”

“I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t really important.”

The woman hesitates. Why won’t she just do it? I drum my fingers on the counter. A new solo. When all of this is over, I’m going to work it out on my guitar, just for her. And a little bit for Linnea too.

“Please.” All my despair is in that one word—and it works. The receptionist focuses on her screen. I hold my breath as she scans the guest list.

“Do you have a last name for him?”

“No,” I say. “Just Claus.”

After what seems to be an hour, the woman looks up.

“He’s not here.”

“What?”

“There’s no one with that first name staying at the hotel right now.”

I turn around.

“Sorry,” I hear her say, but her voice sounds far away, like I’m swimming underwater.

I walk to the stairs and sink down onto the bottom step.

He checked in under a different name. He must have.

If I’d been quicker when Room Service called, I could have caught him.

I could blame Lucas and Kate, but I’m really the only one who’s to blame.

An eye for an eye.

What if he does the same to Linnea as happened to her last year? I picture Linnea covered with scars.

That can’t happen. It must not happen.

“Fender!” A slap on my back startles me. “What are you up to?”

It’s Kate’s dad. Frank’s wearing khakis with a shirt and tie and carrying a folder with the logo of his law firm on it.

“Hey. I…”

“You guys have a good dinner?” Frank continues. “The desserts here are out of this world.”

“Yes, sir. It was great,” I manage to say. “Thank you.”

“Sir?” Frank bursts out laughing. “Since when am I a sir?”

“Um, sorry,” I say quickly. If I go on like this, I’ll give myself away.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes.”

“And is my daughter having a good time?”

“Sure is.” My voice sounds high and strained.

“I was going to come by to say hi this evening.”

“No!” It just slips out. “I mean…”

“I get it.” Frank puts his hand on my shoulder. “That’s the last thing my teenage daughter wants, right? Yep, I know better than to burn my fingers on that one.”

I force a smile.

“Have fun. Say hi to Kate and the others.”

He has no idea that “the others” is just Lucas right now.

What would he do if I told him the truth?

For a moment I consider confessing everything. About Claus and the bear and Linnea.