Karl let out a sharp, barely audible laugh.

“People always show up thinking that if they push hard enough, a luxury suite will just magically open up for them.”

Patrick did not correct his colleague.

If anything, he seemed to agree.

“You can try one of the budget inns closer to the highway,” he added, dismissively.

“You might have better luck there.”

And Clara looked at the two of them with a calm that should not, under any circumstances, have been mistaken for weakness.

It was not the calm of a woman who did not know how to fight.