I’m silent, but my face must show my disgust, because Claus walks over to me and says, “I’m not proud of it, if that’s what you’re thinking, but someone had to do it. Those three can’t be allowed to get away with it. Isolde’s death needs revenge.”

“Then what am I doing here?” I force myself to look at him. “What’s your plan?”

“You’ll have to wait and see,” says Claus. “I’m only just getting started.”

Fender

My hand hovers over the button. I know what’s going to happen. Last year, some joker set off the fire alarm at school for fun.

Within ten minutes, everyone, including the teachers and the janitor, was outside in the schoolyard.

There’s a hefty fine for the inappropriate use of the alarm, but I have to do this.

Linnea has to be found.

I push the red button.

For one second, it’s silent, but then the alarm starts shrieking. The sound penetrates every fiber of my body.

I flatten myself against the wall and watch as the doors to the rooms open one by one.

I just hope I have the right floor. It was a guess, but he must be somewhere close to us. Right up at the top.

More and more guests are coming out. Men, women, children. Big, small, long hair, short hair…

“Come on, Claus,” I say quietly. “Where are you?”

The sound is deafening.

I open the door a crack and peep through.

The whole hotel is emptying out.

I take a step into the hallway.

“Out of the way!”

A woman pushes me aside and hurries past.

“There’s a fire!” someone shouts.

A fire?

There’s no way I can escape with Linnea without being seen.

Has this all just been a waste of time?

At the end of the hallway, a boy is leaning against the wall.

He’s the only one who’s not headed outside.

Our eyes meet and linger for a couple of seconds.

It’s Fender.

Fender

He’s here.

Claus is exactly as Linnea described him: a boy you’d hardly notice, unless you know who you’re looking for.

Before I can blink, he’s disappeared.

“No need for concern,” I hear someone from the hotel calling down the hallway. “Please proceed calmly outside. Take the stairs.”

I sprint to the other end of the hallway. The door Claus came out of is closed. When I see the gold numbers, I gasp.

Room 312.

Opposite the door that Linnea and I knocked on.

We were so close.

I try the handle, but of course it doesn’t work.

“Open up!” I pound the door as hard as I can. Should I smash it down, like I’ve seen people do in the movies?

“Claus, I know you’re in there. Linnea! Linnea, is everything okay?”

My voice cracks. A few last guests walk past me.