The Man in the Raincoat — Gordon Brewer

Chapter 1 — Stranger in the Lobby

Once a serene shoreline, the coast was now in chaos. Angry waves crashed onto the beach with a fierce determination, only to retreat back into the tumultuous ocean. The once-peaceful wooden boardwalks trembled and occasionally splintered under the powerful winds. The heavy rain flooded nearby streets, turning the area into a watery mess. As night fell, the storm continued its ruthless attack, causing even the sturdiest beachfront buildings to quake. The wind howled like a savage creature, showing no signs of slowing down.

As the raging storm battered the coast, whipping up a frenzy of rain and sea water, the currents ripped up a wreck buried deep beneath the bay’s surface. The force of the waves tore away parts of the decaying vessel, hurling them towards land. Pieces of rusted steel and broken cargo littered the shore as the storm raged on past sunset. However, most of the debris remained unnoticed amid the chaos and destruction of the Nor’easter. Only a few foolish souls braved the elements to witness nature’s spectacle. The remaining residents of the coastal town had already left or remained inside their homes and apartments to ride out the tempest.

Amid the storm, a dutiful lady continued her duties inside the lobby of The Neptune, a converted hotel turned into an apartment complex. The building was past its prime, but it was her home and office. The howling wind buffeted the windows and rattled the bronze front door, but Chastity paid little attention. Her focus remained on her smartphone. The historic building weathered many Nor’easters over the years, so the woman worried more about the steady drain on her phone battery. The power went down several hours before, leaving the residents of the city in the dark and Chastity stuck behind the desk.

Normally, she was the landlord and leasing agent. However, the storm warnings sent many of the older residents to disperse inland to weather out the storm in hotels. Chastity hunkered down to ride out the fury with the few remaining residents. She had little choice but to remain at the lobby desk since her night clerk failed to show up. Not that she was angry at the man’s choice. After all, it would take a heartless person to complain about an employee unwilling to put their life in jeopardy over a…