Murder at the Miramar (Augusta Burnette Series)

by Dane McCaslin

Chapter Nine

  True to his word, Detective Baird sans Fischer appeared in the main lobby of the Miramar at precisely two o’clock. Emmy had departed to parts unknown to take care of resort business, leaving me to fend for myself; even Ellie had done a disappearing act. I steeled my mind; I would not be taken in by his devastating charm once again.

  That resolution lasted exactly three seconds. Spotting me across the room, Detective Baird let go with a barrage of dimples, instantly turning my knees to putty and my mind to mush. Apparently that second breakfast had not done its job.

  I could see Detective Baird had ditched his usual costume for jeans and a button-down shirt, tucked into a waistband that emphasized his slim build. He looked more like an executive enjoying a day off for golf, or a casual lunch, instead of an officer knee-deep in a murder investigation. In short, he was lookin’ mighty good.

  ‘Concentrate, AJ, concentrate,’ I muttered to myself, trying hard not to let my eyes wander in places they had no business going. If I wasn’t careful, I’d find myself confessing to the crime just to keep him around for a while.

  He joined me at Emmy’s desk. I’d retreated to the business side to keep myself – to keep myself what? Protected? I almost got the giggles as I had a sudden image of me as ‘damsel in distress’, cowering behind the computer tower as a devastatingly handsome rogue that looked vaguely like Detective Baird leaned over me. Hmm. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

  ‘Good afternoon, Ms Burnette,’ he said easily as he slipped his well-filled jeans into the chair next to the desk. ‘What, no coffee?’

  He looked around the room as if a carafe might magically appear, provided he searched hard enough. I did a mini eye roll; I can take a hint. I reached for the phone and ordered a plate of cookies as well as two large coffees. Besides, I told myself, I was going to do that anyway. I was definitely in need of a dose of equilibrium-restoring sugar.

  Cookies and coffee delivered, I sat back and waited for him to tell me what he’d come about. Instead, to my consternation, he chatted about the weather (‘Really nice today. Do you sail?’), the Miramar in general (‘These are really good cookies.’), and why I took the job here (‘What does San Blanco have that your hometown doesn’t?’). That last question gave me pause: what did San Blanco have over the place I grew up in? Besides a gorgeous beach, a fabulous job, and him? Exactly nothing. I didn’t share this thought with him, though.

  Draining his coffee and brushing the crumbs of his third cookie from his jeans, Detective Baird finally settled into official mode, reaching over to retrieve the clipboard and pen he had laid on the floor beside his chair. My heart rate picked up a bit; I wasn’t certain if it was from the impending questions or the sight of his strongly muscled arms. Either way, I was feeling rattled.

  ‘So,’ he began, tapping the end of his pen against the paper. ‘What was your day like yesterday? Begin with the earliest thing you can remember and take it from there.’ He looked at me expectantly, and I just stared back. Was he serious?

  ‘Well, I had breakfast in the Palmetto Room, helped Emmy get Mrs Reilly calmed down –’

  ‘The mother of the lost girl, I take it?’ he interrupted. I nodded.

  ‘Then I got my things settled in my room, had lunch there, and went out to help Emmy with a group of scrapbookers who were in town for a convention.’ I paused, looking out the large window opposite me. I could see someone at work on the herbaceous borders lining the drive. That reminded me about Emmy and her walk past those same flower beds.

  ‘Oh, and I covered the front desk when Emmy went to check on the sound system. That was about four-ish, I think. That’s about it, aside from dinner and the dance.’

  I stopped talking, waiting for direction. Detective Baird’s head was down as he wrote his notes with an easy script, giving me a great view of his profile. Absolutely gorgeous, I decided, trying to think of something to say that would bring that ravaging dimple out of hiding. No, that was a bad idea, I reminded myself. I didn’t want to deal with a blushing episode again.

  I’ve never been a delicate girl, always a bit ungainly, and I’ve never managed to learn the art of girlie ploys. When I’m embarrassed, I tend to go a mottled reddish-pink, looking more like a sunburn victim than a reticent young woman twirling a parasol or fluttering a fan – you know, like one of those ditzy gals in old movies.

  I realized he was waiting for an answer to some question that I had totally spaced, and I could feel the dreaded mottling beginning to creep up my neck. Fabulous. And I hadn’t even had the pleasure of observing that dimple peek out, to make the blush worth it.

  Detective Baird was still waiting for my answer, so I sheepishly admitted that I hadn’t heard a word he’d said. His blue eyes twinkled at me, making me feel like he’d read my mind, and I did that crazy hot-cold thing that seemed to happen whenever he was around. Good thing I was sitting down already; I might’ve bit the dust.

  ‘No, I didn’t actually see Emmy check the sound equipment. That’s just what she told me.’ I looked intently at him, trying to read meaning behind his question concerning Emmy’s whereabouts. I had no earthly idea why he’d go down that road; so distressed had Emmy been, I knew she couldn’t possibly have had anything to do with Miguel’s death.

  Or could she? A recollection popped into my mind and I remembered that peculiar look on her face when the accident had happened. That had been odd, no doubt about it. But murderous? I couldn’t say.

  Detective Baird clicked the pen shut, signifying the end of our conversation. I was disappointed; it hadn’t lasted nearly long enough, from my point of view, and I knew that it showed on my face. I have never been able to file my feelings away as neatly as others can. I could see right away my message had been sent and received, loud and clear. Great. That was all I needed; to come across as a kid with a crush.

  He laughed, flashing that amazing smile that sent a bolt of something tingly racing down my spine.

  ‘I need to talk to some of the kitchen staff, AJ. Care to walk over there with me?’

  Oh, wonder of wonders! He’d used my name. This sent my temperature fluctuating again; I was beginning to feel like a water tap, switching back and forth from hot to cold and back to boiling in a matter of seconds. Or maybe I was coming down with some tropical disease. Either way, I was walking on a cloud.

  ‘Sure, no problem,’ I replied, trying to sound casual, as though strolling with the world’s handsomest man was an everyday occurrence.

  Miraculously, I was able to put one foot in front of the other all the way through the maze of corridors. The kitchen, situated near the middle back portion of the resort, had two entrances. I chose to go through the one I’d used that morning when I was looking for Ellie. I figured I’d be able to find at least a handful of staff there, and I would keep an eye out for Maria. After what she’d said in my room that morning, I wanted Detective Baird to talk to her before he left.

  I led the way into the kitchen. We were in luck: Maria was standing with her back to us, putting a tray together for a room service delivery. I walked over to her and tapped her on the shoulder, startling her and nearly sending her into orbit. I caught the tray just as it tipped over the counter’s edge. No need to waste those luscious cookies.

  I introduced Detective Baird to the timid girl, backing quietly out of the kitchen. I figured she’d be more likely to talk without an audience.

  I spent the next hour or so working on a project Emmy had left for me, looking up every time someone walked into the lobby. I was hoping to see a certain pair of jeans strolling into view. And I had to admit that I was curious as to who he was talking to. It would seem that the police department considered Miguel’s death something other than an accident.

  I found myself wondering if Emmy knew that.

  Sadly, the afternoon passed without another glimpse of Detective Baird. For that matter, I’d seen neither hide nor hair of Emmy. I sat for a moment, thinking, trying to decide if I should try to find her
or look for something else to do. I decided not to do either, heading to my room instead to see if Ellie was still here or had flown the coop. I half-hoped I’d find an empty suite, but experience told me Ellie would still be there, ensconced on my couch, making herself right at home.

  I was right. Ellie lay asleep, stretched out on the couch, making snorting noises and looking like she could sleep for hours. I stood just inside the door for a minute, watching her and grinning as I recalled the crazy scrapes we’d gotten into as kids. In a town the size of ours, there was little chance of having secrets or getting away with anything, but Ellie and I had managed to fly under the radar, creating mischief and having a blast.

  Here at the Miramar, though, flying under the radar probably wasn’t a great idea. I would need to let the powers that be understand that she was here to act as bodyguard and lookout for yours truly. And to take advantage of the resort’s amenities, if I knew my cousin.

  I managed to restrain myself from pouring water on her like she used to do to me whenever I spent the night at her house. It would not do to get her wound up; I knew she still had an impish streak, and revenge was her middle name. I contented myself with a quick shake of her shoulder.

  ‘Hey, AJ,’ she said sleepily, propping herself up on her elbows. ‘What time is it?’ She laid back down, flinging one arm across her face to block out the late afternoon light.

  ‘Just past five,’ I replied, walking into the kitchen and opening the fridge. Since there was absolutely nothing in there, it was clearly out of habit. I closed the door and leaned back on the counter.

  ‘How about a quick walk before dinner?’ I suggested, checking my watch. We’d have just enough time for a turn around the resort before the Palmetto Room would be opened. I intended to be in the first crowd of folks so I’d have time to chat with Emmy.

  I still hadn’t heard from her and I was getting anxious. I hoped she was OK, considering the bad news about Miguel and the suspicions that surrounded his demise. She was so protective of the Miramar and its reputation and something like a murder inquiry could be devastating.

  ‘This place is incredible!’ Ellie stood near the path that led to the beach, looking back at the resort with one hand protecting her eyes from the sun.

  I felt a proprietary pride, nodding in agreement. ‘Yeah, it sure is. I picked a winner, that’s for sure.’

  Ellie turned to look at me. ‘So, what’re your plans, AJ? Do you mean to stay, or will you be coming back to the nest?’

  I snorted. ‘Not any time soon. I like it here, and I couldn’t find a job like this back home if I looked for a hundred years.’ And so far, Emmy hadn’t asked to me to fetch her dry-cleaning, so that made it an even better gig in my book.

  I took a long look at the Miramar. The buildings spread out proudly across the beachfront, giving no hint of the tragedy of the day before. I earnestly hoped that nothing else would happen to spoil its peaceful ambiance.

  Chapter Ten

  When dinner came and went, and still there was no sign of Emmy, I began to get really worried. I didn’t think anything had happened to her; rather, I was beginning to suspect that she was avoiding people in general. Why, I couldn’t say, but it still didn’t look good for the Miramar’s most public of employees.

  Ellie and I lingered over our well-filled plates, reminiscing and laughing so hard that others began to stare. A few of the staff still in the Palmetto Room stifled grins of their own whenever they passed our table; the Miramar, after all, had a reputation to uphold.

  Our family is a great one for good times and fun for all. Ellie and I have always been the resident gigglers; whenever we two get started, there’s no stopping us, and everything is grounds for merriment. Finally, though, sated with food and laughter, we staggered to our feet and headed out into a perfect balmy evening.

  We began to stroll toward the beach, the sound of the waves and the call of the seagulls a beacon, urging a visit to the water’s edge. I have to admit that this was the biggest draw for me when I applied for the job; the idea of living practically beachside intrigued this mountain girl to no end.

  We paused by an outcrop of rocks, some of them perfect for sitting and staring at the ocean. I sat on the largest, Ellie on the one just below. We rested silently for a few minutes, taking in the tranquility of our surroundings. The beach was deserted, except for a few seagulls tussling over something buried in the sand, so we had it to ourselves.

  ‘Ellie,’ I said abruptly, leaning forward. ‘I never asked you about your card reading this morning, the one you did for Maria. You said something about knowing who had done it. What was that all about?’

  Ellie kept her face forward, the fading light of sunset defining the edges of her silhouette. ‘I saw something that bothered me, AJ,’ she answered quietly.

  ‘I did, too: I saw my cousin practically turning the Miramar’s kitchen into a carnival sideshow.’ I gave her a friendly poke in the back, but she didn’t take the bait. Ellie must’ve been really rattled, even more than I’d thought.

  ‘I’m afraid it’s not over yet,’ she said, her voice almost inaudible as she stared out over the waves. ‘Not by a long shot.’

  I stayed silent. What could I say to that? Besides, I’d begun to get the heebie-jeebies as well, especially since Emmy seemed to have gone AWOL from the resort.

  Eventually we stood to leave, darkness and dampness encouraging us to scoot back to the Miramar. Besides, I needed to do the last check of the night at the desk, making sure that all guests were happy, no one wanting for anything.

  As we began to pick our way across the rocks and head toward the path, a loud squawking arose behind us. Ellie and I turned to look, but it was just dark enough to keep us from getting a clear view. I looked at her and shrugged.

  ‘Do we need to check it out? It’s probably just seagulls fighting over someone’s leftovers.’ I didn’t have any real wish to walk across the wet sand, but Ellie turned and started moving in the direction of the avian fracas.

  The closer we got to the large seabirds, the more we could see what it was they were fussing over. Something large and dark lay near the water’s edge, half in the water and moving gently in the current. Apparently someone had left behind one of the Miramar’s large beach blankets; available at the concierge’s desk, these could get quite heavy when wet. I grimaced. I had no desire to cart it all the way back to the resort, dripping and dragging against my legs. It would just have to stay there until I could get someone a little stronger than me to retrieve it.

  Ellie began walking more quickly, her presence scattering the birds at the periphery of the feathered mob. They settled back on the sand a few feet away, scolding her as she advanced on the others. With a mad flapping of wings and coarse cries, the remainder of the gulls took flight, wheeling above us and screeching their displeasure. I didn’t blame them: I hate it when someone interferes in my life, too.

  I should have known at once that something was amiss by Ellie’s stance. She was completely still, head down and focused on the blanket. As I watched, she bent her knees, leaning in closer for a better look. It’s a good thing I’d moved up behind her – I caught her as she slumped sideways onto the sand, choking and crying at the same time.

  We’d found Emmy.

  I think I was the one who alerted the resort’s security, stumbling into the main lobby and scaring the few guests who’d congregated in front of the small fire burning in the stone fireplace. Someone guided me to a chair and got me a glass of water, murmuring soothing words as they patted my shoulders and waited for help to arrive. I had no idea where Ellie was; for all I knew, she was still on the beach, keeping a macabre vigil over Emmy’s battered body.

  I really shouldn’t have been in the least surprised to see the familiar figures of Detectives Baird and Fischer as they strode up the resort’s front walkway and into the lobby. I was beginning to feel like the resort albatross, courting disaster and bringing bad luck wherever I went. Logically, I knew none of this
was my fault, but really! What was a girl to think with this many bodies piling up in such a short amount of time?

  I’d sufficiently recovered enough by this time to look around for Ellie, craning my neck to see if she had made it back to the resort. I finally spotted her sitting near the entrance to the main corridor, being comforted by Maria and another gal from the kitchen staff. Bad news sure grew wings at the Miramar, I was discovering.

  ‘So, Ms Burnette,’ a familiar voice intoned. I looked up to see Detective Fischer bearing down on me, notebook in one hand and pen in the other. I felt a stab of disappointment, expecting Detective Baird to be the one who spoke with me. Oh, well: I didn’t own the man. I sure wanted to, though.

  I met the detective’s eyes, a flat blue compared to the dazzling pair of his partner. I was tired, and I wanted to get the questioning over and done with. I took a calming breath in, willing myself to focus.

  ‘Yes, Detective?’ I answered. I wasn’t going to offer anything this time around; he’d have to pull it out of me piecemeal.

  ‘I just need a few basics,’ he began. I managed to keep myself from rolling my eyes; wasn’t that what they all said, right before a big interrogation?

  ‘When did you last see Esmeralda Ruiz?’ He had to check his notes for the name, which surprised me. I figured that by now, he and Detective Baird knew everyone and everything connected to the ill-fated Miramar.

  ‘I saw her this morning, about 6-ish, in the kitchen,’ I offered, watching him scribble the information into his notebook.

  He looked up at me. ‘OK. Did you see her last night?’

  ‘Well, yes, right before you let us go when …’ My voice trailed off. I really didn’t want to talk to him about Miguel. I could still see his body as it jerked and sparked on the bandstand, and it was not a good memory at all.

  He nodded. I guess that jived with his notes.

  ‘Right, that’s it for now, Ms Burnette. Don’t go anywhere; we may need to ask you a few more questions, OK?’ With that, he strode off in the direction of his partner, who was still leaning over Ellie and talking to her.