The Hampton Inn was one of half a dozen budget hotels located near the Camarillo Premium Outlets. The hotels served the busloads of tourists who couldn’t possibly get all their shopping done in a single day. Kate knocked on the door to room 216 and the door to room 215 opened behind her. “Over here,” Nick said, beckoning her in. Giving out the wrong room number to people was a simple, age-old security measure, but it still worked. She turned and went into his room. He closed the door behind her and bolted it. Nick wore a new Ralph Lauren polo shirt, new Levi’s jeans, and new Nike running shoes. He looked like every other outlet shopper staying in the hotel. Bags of clothes from several of the outlet stores were spread out on top of one of the double beds. The bags were set dressing to impress the maids. There were maps, blueprints, and photos of moving-company trucks scattered on the table near the window, which offered a breathtaking view of a McDonald’s and a Carl’s Jr. across the street.
