One Step Closer

"Spencer Grim," he said. "Are we on vacation?"

Spencer swallowed convulsively. "I don't know. Are we?"

Matthew approached the other man and extended his hand.

Spencer looked Matthew directly in the eye before he accepted the gesture of greeting. The man was a complete mystery.

"Come with me, Spencer." He gripped his friend's arm tightly and pulled him along like an angry father escorting a disobedient son.

"You don't need to hold on to me, Matthew. I can walk by myself just fine." He attempted to jerk his arm free, but the older man's grip only tightened. A light sweat broke out on Spencer's brow.

Matthew led his former employee up the beach, across the busy street, and one block north to a high-rise hotel. The drive-through lobby faced the strip, where the traffic moved so slowly that it more resembled a parking lot.

"Where are we going?"

His boss smiled again. "Seeing you here gave me a wonderful idea." Matthew crossed the lobby and headed for the elevator.

Spencer slowed his steps.

"A wonderful idea," Matthew repeated as he dragged him along.

"You can't possibly be thinking of doing anything to me. We've known each for over twenty years, Matthew. We're almost like brothers."

"Almost being the focus of that sentence," Matthew mumbled. He pushed the button for the elevator and the double doors rolled open to the sound of a bell chime.

The two men stepped into the elevator and waited for the doors to close. Matthew pressed the highest button, taking them to the building's topmost floor. The double doors rolled open again, revealing the gold and red carpeting and polished wood trim of an elegant hallway.