The Scratch on the Ming Vase Read Online Free Page B

terrible scream from across the atrium. Someone’s in trouble!” The cop dashed down the corridor, then headed toward the atrium.
    Ellen and Dolores ran behind him.
    â€œCome on, Yin!” they hollered.
    Nicki knocked her pail over with her foot. “Oh, no!” she cried. “You two go. Hurry! I’ll be right there.”
    Once they were out of sight, Nicki pulled out her mother’s universal passkey, rammed it into the slot, grabbed her mop and pail, and quickly shut the door behind her.
    She went straight to the in-room safe.
    The vase has to be in there. Her mind raced as she pulled out the override tool.
    It was!
    Standing alone in the middle of that cold metal safe was the most exquisite piece of porcelain she had ever seen. But there was no time to admire it now. Nicki grabbed a thick towel from the bathroom, wrapped it around the vase, and carefully placed it in the bottom of her pail. Then she opened the door a crack and peered down the hall.
    Good. I still have a bit of time.
    She riffled through Kahana’s shirts in the chest of drawers.
    There’s got to be a clue here someplace. Something to lead me to the creep who stabbed Master Kahana.
    Next she tried the closet.
    It was empty except for a couple of light jackets. She went through the pockets, but there was only a package of gum and a slip of paper. On it Kahana had written a phone number and a name: Robert A-G. Nicki shoved it into her pocket.
    Sensing her time was up, she crept out the door, just as the cop was coming down the hall. Wheeling her mop and pail to the service elevator, she took a deep breath and prayed that he didn’t see her get on.
    He didn’t.
    But Trent Newman did. When the doors opened, he was standing in the elevator.

Chapter Seven

    â€œWhat the devil are you doing?” Newman had a chunk of Spam in his hand. No bun, no mustard, just Spam. Neat.
    Now I know he’s a kama’aina , thought Nicki. Nobody can stomach Spam like a born-and-bred Hawaiian. There isn’t a restaurant in Honolulu that doesn’t serve it.
    â€œYou’re supposed to be cleaning with your team! Why aren’t you?”
    Nicki shrugged. Then she noticed that the towel had shifted and part of the vase was exposed. She draped her mop over it in an attempt to conceal it from Newman.
    It felt like the longest elevator ride of her life.
    â€œFind your team and don’t go off on your own, do you hear me?” declared Newman. “Any more missteps and you’re history.”
    Newman stuffed the meat into his mouth, holding it between his teeth so it didn’t fall out, then stomped through the door when the elevator finally came to a stop.
    Nicki hurried to her mother’s office on the main floor. When no one was looking, she slipped inside and found a place to hide the vase. Then she called home.
    â€œI need your help, Fenwick. And I need it now.”
    â€œMy help, Miss?”
    â€œI’ve got the vase.”
    â€œYou found it?”
    â€œI’ll explain later. Right now it’s hidden in my mother’s office at the hotel, but I’ve got to get it out of here. I’ll be working on one of the floors, but I’ll keep my eye out for you every chance I get. Bring a suitcase, Fenwick. And try to look like one of the guests.”
    â€œI’ll try.”
    â€œOh, and Fenwick?” Out of her pocket Nicki pulled the slip of paper she’d found in room 813. “Can you do a reverse phone check for me?”

    Nicki finished work at seven. Before she left, she returned to the eighth floor, stood with her back against the wall and peered around the corner toward 813. The forensics team was inside, poking into every corner. Newman stood outside the room, hands folded in front, a vacant look on his face.
    After a few minutes, a detective came out.
    â€œWe’re almost finished in there, Mr. Newman,” he said.
    Investigators shuffled past; they didn’t