“That song’s pretty cool,” I thought to myself, twenty minutes later, humming the smart reinterpretation of “Strong Enough” to myself that I’d just heard as I pulled into the driveway of the Ritz in Marina Del Ray.

“Welcome to the Ritz,” the valet said as he opened my door.

“We’ll take care of the luggage for you, miss,” one of the other men waiting attentively just outside the front door of the hotel said.

“Thanks!” I told them as I skipped towards the front desk, in a happier mood.

After I checked in, I told the friendly clerk, “I’m famished, actually. Is there a seafood place I could grab a quick lunch in?”

With a smile he pointed out a shrimp shack on the area map that he flipped over the desk for me to study. It wasn’t far from the hotel, I saw with relief.

“Could you …” I started to ask.

“I’ll have them bring your car around, miss,” he said quickly, with another smile. “And don’t worry about your things. They’ll take the luggage over to your room.”

“Thanks!” I said again and gave him a quick wave as I turned to walk towards the front doors of the hotel.

Normally, I would have grabbed a quick shower first. But I really was hungry, and aching to spend some time out in the sun, relaxing with a beer maybe while I caught some rays by the water, and suck some shrimp down while I thought about the rest of my day.

About an hour and a half later, I was soaking in the room’s Jacuzzi, allowing the underwater jets to massage my muscles. And then I thought I heard my cell ring.

“Huh?” I sat up listening for the ring again. I groped for the button controlling the jets.

As the jets slowed, the ring cut through the quiet again.

I scrambled out of the tub, dripping water all over the bathroom floor and the soft carpet of the bedroom.

As I finally got to the phone, it disappointedly fell silent.

“Damn!” I cursed aloud, but at nothing in particular.

I flicked at the phone icon and looked at the list of “missed calls.”

The one at the top of the list was not familiar, but looked to be from the LA-area.