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A week later, the remote died in the middle of a show I was watching. I went to Troy’s desk to search for batteries.
I opened the drawer and found a neat stack of hotel receipts tucked under some old mail.
Now, Troy did travel to California sometimes, so I wasn’t concerned until I saw that the hotel was in Massachusetts.
Every receipt was for the same hotel, same room number… the dates went back months.
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at them until my hands went numb.
Every receipt was for the same hotel.
I kept trying to think of logical reasons for him to be traveling to Massachusetts, and I kept coming up empty.
I counted them. Eleven receipts. Eleven trips he’d lied about.
My chest felt tight. My hands shook as I entered the hotel’s number into my phone.
« Good afternoon. How may I help you? »
“Hi,” I said, forcing my voice steady. I gave her Troy’s full name and explained that I was his new assistant. “I need to book his usual room.”
I entered the hotel’s number into my phone.
« Of course, » the concierge said without hesitation. « He’s a regular. That room is basically reserved for him. When would he like to check in? »
I couldn’t breathe.
« I… I’ll call back, » I managed, and hung up.
***
When Troy came home the next evening, I was waiting at the kitchen table with the receipts. He stopped short in the doorway, keys still in his hand.
« What is this? » I asked.
I was waiting at the kitchen table with the receipts.
He looked at the paper, then at me.
« It’s not what you think. »
« Then tell me what it is. »
He stood there, jaw tight, shoulders stiff, staring at the receipts like they were something I’d planted to trap him.
« I’m not doing this, » he finally said. « You’re blowing it out of proportion. »
« It’s not what you think. »
« Blowing it out of proportion? » My voice rose. « Troy, the money’s been disappearing from our account, and you’ve visited that hotel eleven times over the past few months without telling me. You’re lying about something. What is it? »
« You’re supposed to trust me. »
« I did trust you. I do, but you’re not giving me anything to work with here. »
He shook his head. « I can’t do this right now. »
« Can’t or won’t? »
« You’re lying about something. What is it? »
He didn’t answer.