He turned toward the desk.
“Ms. Sterling.”
Victoria looked almost triumphant.
“Yes?”
“You have my name.”
“You have my reservation.”
“You have cameras.”
“You have witnesses.”
He looked around the lobby.
“Everyone here should remember what happened next.”
Victoria gave a humorless smile.
“Is that a threat?”
“No.”
Damon shook his head.
“It’s documentation.”
Then he stepped outside.
The cold air hit his face.
Behind him, the revolving door turned.
Jake followed.
Luis stayed near the entrance.
Damon stood beneath the hotel awning.
Traffic moved along the avenue.
A black SUV stopped for another guest.
The driver opened the door.
A woman in a fur-trimmed coat walked directly through the same entrance Damon had just been removed from.
Nobody questioned whether she belonged.
Jake stood several feet away.
“Sir.”
Damon looked at him.
“I’m sorry.”
Damon studied him.
“Why?”
Jake’s face tightened.
“For how that was handled.”
“You handled part of it.”
“Yes.”
“Did you believe I was a threat?”
Jake hesitated.
“No.”
“Did you believe I was trespassing?”
“I didn't know.”
“You could have checked.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you?”
Jake looked back through the glass doors.
Victoria stood at the desk talking to another guest.
“Because she’s my manager.”
Damon nodded.
“That explains the decision.”
Jake looked confused.
“It doesn’t excuse it.”
Damon picked up his phone.
Jake remained.
“Am I free to stand here?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.”
Damon called Sarah.
She answered immediately.
“How bad?”
Damon almost laughed.
That was Sarah.
No hello.
No wasted time.
“Worse than the complaint summaries suggested.”
Silence.
“What happened?”
He told her.
Sarah did not interrupt until he reached the part where Ryan apparently found the reservation.
“Did you record?”
“No.”
“Cameras?”
“Lobby cameras.”
“Audio?”
“Unknown.”
“Witness phones?”
“At least three.”
“Are you safe?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want legal on-site?”
“Not yet.”
Damon looked through the glass.
Victoria was still at the desk.
“I want transition announcement released now.”
Sarah paused.
“That moves Monday’s schedule.”
“I know.”
“Full chain?”
“Yes.”
“Press?”
“Standard acquisition statement.”
“Nothing about tonight.”
Another pause.
“Good.”
Damon continued.
“I want local HR and regional operations on conference in fifteen minutes.”
“Victoria?”
“Administrative leave pending investigation.”
“Not termination tonight.”
Sarah understood immediately.
“Because you want evidence reviewed first.”