The wall clock above the registration desk showed 00:27 AM.
Julian unrolled the hotel blueprints across the mahogany counter, holding the corners flat with two heavy brass key fobs.
“Miss Dial-Tone has twenty minutes before the dummy plug expires,” Julian said, his finger tracing the vertical utility shafts. “And Sub-Inspector Harker is already searching the upper floors.”
“If they activate the master coaxial trunk switch inside Room 808 before one A.M.,” Elena said, “the fifty-thousand-watt feed bridges directly to the tower.”
“Then we have to get to the eighth floor right now,” Julian said.
“You can’t just walk away from the desk, Julian,” Lin Mei said from the alcove.
Lin Mei held the brass-edged hotel charter binder open to Rule One.
“Rule One is an absolute physical anchor,” Lin Mei reminded him. “The Night Concierge wearing Badge Zero-Eight-A has to stay stationed behind the Front Desk counter or inside the switchboard alcove from eleven P.M. until seven A.M.”
