Lara's debt

Lara slips quietly out of Room 204, leaving the sleeping customer behind. She heads down the plush staircase back into the main lounge. The morning light is just beginning to break through the windows, and the neon signs are finally turning off.She finds the brothel owner sitting at the bar, reviewing the night's receipts over a cup of black coffee. Lara walks up and places her remaining $250 directly on the counter."I need wheels," Lara says smoothly, her voice firm. "I need to rent a reliable car right now. No questions asked."The owner looks at the cash, then looks up at Lara's fresh athletic gear. She smiles, recognizing Lara's determination. She reaches under the bar and tosses a set of keys onto the counter."Take the black sedan parked in the back alley," the owner says with a wink. "It's fast, completely untraceable, and the tank is full. Just make sure it comes back in one piece."Lara pockets the keys. She finally has a vehicle, a fresh change of clothes, and a clear path back to the estate. It is time to return to Croft Manor under the cover of early morning fog and retrieve her father's hidden journal.