Wicked Women Whodunit

by Davidson, MaryJanice

  “Can we make calls from the house?” asked Kim, the blonde who’d given Heather the challenging look earlier. Chewing a wad of gum, she kicked off her shoes to display her scarlet toenails. Heather wondered what her dream business could be; the girl looked as though she’d rather spend the week sunbathing.

  “Using cell phones is forbidden for the duration of the show,” Logan replied. “That means you’ll want to establish local phone service as soon as possible. Nor are you allowed to use any instructional manuals while you’re here. That includes books on how to set up a bed-and-breakfast, menu planners, fix-it guides. You’re to rely on each other’s resources. Violating the rules is immediate grounds for disqualification.

  “Each night at eight, we’ll gather here to discuss your accomplishments. Beginning tomorrow evening, TV viewers will vote on your business abilities, and whoever drops the ball gets booted out. At the end, the best professional wins this house. You may sell it to set up your dream enterprise or keep it to run as your own. With its prime location, it’s valued at over five million dollars. Questions?”

  Heather raised her hand. “Where are the cameras located?”

  “You’re fair game to be filmed anywhere, except in the bathroom,” Tanya answered with a grin. Their co-producer wore her swirled golden hair in the classic style of a television anchorwoman. “At this point, we’ll be going behind the scenes. Our production van is parked next door on the neighbor’s property we’re renting. Logan, we’re outta here. Good luck.”

  Heather exchanged glances with Rex. His teasing glimmer indicated he didn’t think he’d be the one to get the shaft. You just wait and see, she told him silently.

  They’d started early, and by noon, everyone was hungry. The crew members had filed away to silent positions, until the eight of them faced each other.

  “Cripes, there’s no food in the refrigerator,” exclaimed Sarah Jane Craig. A short blonde with a pixie cut, she’d traipsed into the kitchen ahead of everyone else.

  “Yo, babe, we gotta remedy that fast,” said Dave Molina with a grin. His heavy-lidded eyes gave him a perpetual hungover look. That might not be so far from the mark, Heather mused, regarding his black shirt open nearly to his waist. His jeans were slung so low over his hips that his briefs showed.

  “Somebody has to go shopping,” Gary Friedman remarked. “We need a lot of things, not just food.” His serious demeanor went along with his collared blue shirt and black trousers.

  “I’ll do it,” Jonathan Walker offered. “Give me a list.” His ruddy complexion contrasted with his spiked pale blond hair that showed darker roots.

  “Oh, I love lists,” squealed Michelle, whose dark eyes sparkled with excitement.

  “Wait, we need a plan,” Rex said in an authoritative voice. “We should figure out who’s going to do what.”

  This dissolved into a round of bickering. Brushing a strand of hair from her eyes, Heather stepped forward. “Wait a minute, guys. Why don’t we start by dividing up each category? For example, supplies should include not only food, but also things like soaps and shampoos for our guest baths, linens, even dishes. Did you notice that the kitchen cupboards are bare?”

  “You’re right,” Gary cut in. “Michelle, take this down. We need someone on marketing and advertising to keep the rooms filled. Then there’s guest registration. Do we want to use a sign-in book or find a computer program that can do this?”

  “First we have to get a computer,” Rex pointed out. “Don’t forget, we have to work these things into the budget. Who’s good with numbers?”

  Jon waved a hand. “I’ll do procurement and keep the books.”

  Dave ran out to get pizza and drinks while they continued their debate.

  “What about cooking and cleaning? I hope we aren’t expected to do it ourselves,” Kim said with a sexy pout.

  “I’d love to be in charge of meals,” Sarah offered. “I want to be the winner so I can open my own restaurant.”

  “Good, then you can clean up after lunch,” Gary told her with a sneer.

  An hour later, they sat around the dining room table, littered with empty pizza cartons and soda cans. The room held four other smaller square tables, none of which looked inviting with their plain wooden tops. They begged for tablecloths and decorative accessories, Heather thought to herself.

  “Never mind the guests. Our most immediate need is to provide for ourselves in the upcoming week,” she said. “Our beds have no sheets on them. Someone has to go to Target to buy some cheap stuff just for us. Meanwhile, do we want to design a theme with a logo? We could coordinate table linens, sheets and towels, guest toiletries. I’d be happy to take charge of the marketing angle along with advertising.”

  They finished assigning duties. While Sarah and Jon went shopping, the others got to work on their individual jobs.

  Heather decided to write a blurb about the house before placing any ads. First she had to get a better idea of its amenities. Furniture had been provided, but not much else.

  Upstairs, she’d just entered one of the larger bedrooms when she found Rex stalking her heels.

  “What is it?” she asked, whirling to face him.

  “I need to make sure things are working properly,” he said with a disarming grin. “If I’m in charge of maintenance, we don’t want the lights going out at inappropriate moments.”

  His suggestive glance told her what he might do under such circumstances. Heat swamped her senses. Resisting his appeal could prove to be difficult.

  “Logan said this place is less than two years old,” she replied, moistening her lips.

  His gaze followed her movements. “Looks pretty good, doesn’t it? But then, things aren’t always what they seem.”

  “Like some of us? Gary dresses as though he works in an office, but if he bosses people around the way he does our team, he wouldn’t last long in a management position.”

  “His fingers are grease-stained. I don’t think he has an office job. Besides, if he had the money to set up his own business, he wouldn’t be here. What do you do?” Rex asked.

  “I’m a real estate agent. I’ve always loved houses. This one is wonderful.” She couldn’t keep the wistful note from her voice. “I’ve always dreamed of owning a bed-and-breakfast.”

  “Yeah? My goal is to captain a charter fishing boat. I want to live on one of those yachts.”

  “So you’d sell the house?”

  “Definitely.”

  “But this place is so beautiful. If it were mine, I’d, well, cherish it.”

  “People should be cherished, not buildings.” He stepped farther inside the room, closing the distance between them. She wondered if the microphones were picking up their conversation. “What do you do for a living now?” she asked.

  “I’m in furniture repair and restoration. It’s my father’s business.”

  She heard the hard edge in his tone. “I gather that’s not what you expect to do for your whole life.”

  “No, but I can’t deny the skills it’s given me. They’ll come in handy when I’m fixing my boat.”

  What other skills do you possess? her naughty mind wanted to ask.

  She stood by a wall. Reaching around her, Rex inspected the molding, caressing the wood with his strong hands. Heather imagined what it would be like to feel those hands on her body. Her knees weakened, especially when he turned his attention to her and laid his palm on her shoulder.

  “You know, you seem more sincere than the other women,” he said, his voice husky. “I see fire in your eyes when you talk about running this place.”

  You should see the fire racing through my veins. Her pulse thrummed in her ears as she sniffed his sandalwood cologne. “If you’re trying to distract me, it won’t work,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t notice how weak her protest sounded.

  “No?” He reached a hand to trace the outline of her mouth. “All’s fair in love and war, isn’t it?”

  “Only if you consider this a battleground.�
�

  “I do, and if you’re smart, you will also. Stay on guard. I wouldn’t put it past Logan to throw a few wrenches into the works.”

  Two

  “What do you mean?” Heather asked.

  “Did you ever watch ‘The Bachelor?’ One of the girls was a spy who told the bachelor everything they said about him behind his back.”

  “Are you suggesting someone among us might be a plant?”

  “You never know.” Cupping her chin, Rex tilted her face upward. “Tell me, Heather, do you have a boyfriend?”

  Her skin flushed. “No, I don’t, but that’s irrelevant. My personal status has nothing to do with the job that’s required.”

  “The rules don’t say anything about our remaining celibate. I’m single, too.”

  Lost in Logan’s mesmerizing stare, Heather gradually became aware of a splashing noise. “Do you hear that?”

  His head jerked up, his nostrils flaring. “Sounds like water spilling.” Spinning around, he lunged out the door.

  Heather followed him two doors down to number six, where she couldn’t help admiring the cherry king-size bedroom suite.

  Rex cursed from the bathroom. “The toilet’s overflowing. The floor is flooded. Get a mop.”

  Heather raised her hands. “We don’t have a mop. Did you tell Jon to get cleaning supplies?” She watched his butt tighten as he crouched to shut off the water faucet. Nice view, by golly. His sinewy arm muscles contracted while he wrestled off the porcelain tank cover and fiddled with the plumbing.

  “No, but I have to visit a hardware store to get what I need anyway. Is there a Home Depot nearby?”

  “I’m not familiar with this area. I’ll tell you what, let’s go into town together. I’d like to ask the merchants if there’s a community newsletter and what they do for local advertising. We should get on the national B&B listings and into travel guidebooks, too, but that may take some time.”

  “I think Jon planned to pick up a computer at Best Buy. You can check out hotel reservation links on the Internet.”

  “We’ll need a Web page, also. I can design a temporary site using WordPress. But Dave has to set up his registration program on the computer. I hope he told Jon to buy Microsoft Office. All this is going to take time to install.”

  Rex straightened his spine, shaking out his wet hands after looking futilely for a towel. “Speak of the devil.”

  “Hey, what are you guys doing in my room?” Dave demanded, hooking his thumbs into his jeans waistband.

  “Take a look,” Heather said.

  She backed away from the bathroom door to give him a glance inside, but he stepped behind her and encircled her with his arms. “Maybe you wanted to get me alone, and he butted in, huh babe?”

  She shook him off. “Not quite.”

  “So what gives?” His lecherous grin turned her stomach.

  “Your toilet got stuffed. There’s water all over your floor, and we’ve nothing to dry it with.”

  He jabbed a stubby finger at Rex. “That’s his problem. He’s maintenance. Where’s your plunger, man?”

  Rex looked as though he’d like to plunge his fingers down Dave’s throat. “I’m going into town to get supplies. I have a feeling this won’t be the last of our troubles.”

  She remembered his warning about Logan but thought it more likely that another contestant had tampered with the plumbing, hoping to disqualify Rex if he fumbled. Her glance met Dave’s. “Aren’t you supposed to be working with Michelle on listing our priorities?”

  “She’s down by the lake, looking at the possibility for a dock.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Rex said. “Maybe I should help her. I know about boats.”

  “No way. We’re going into town.” Heather grabbed his arm and pulled him close. Too close. She felt his body heat radiate toward her.

  Dave gave them a speculative glance. “You’d better have this, like, fixed by tonight,” he said to Rex. “We don’t want no stains on the floor when our guests get here.”

  “Don’t worry, buddy. I’ll have it as good as new.”

  On their way downstairs, Heather prodded him. “I’ll bet you already have in mind the kind of sport fishing boat you want.”

  “I can show you a picture.” He drew a brochure from his back pocket. Its print had faded, and its creases were worn as though it had been unfolded many times.

  “Wow, this is beautiful,” Heather said, studying the sleek craft while alternately watching her footing on the stairs.

  “It’s a forty-five-foot Hatteras. Has two cabins, a salon, and a fully equipped galley. Here’s the flybridge, and this is the cockpit. See this? It’s a live-bait well.”

  She thought of squiggly creatures and shuddered. “Boating isn’t my thing. I’ve always been afraid of drowning at sea.”

  “You’re just a green landlubber. You’d love her if you saw her in person,” he added with a grin.

  He spoke of his dream vessel as though it were a woman. “Have you ever been married?” she blurted, wondering if his boat held more importance to him than a wife.

  “Nope. You?” At the foot of the stairs, he slanted an amused glance her way.

  “No, I’ve been too busy to give time to a relationship. Besides, I haven’t met anyone who—”

  “What?”

  Could give me the security I need. “I’m still waiting to meet the right person,” she said, shrugging.

  “You must have kissed a lot of frogs already. Don’t tell me an attractive woman like you doesn’t have guys asking her out.”

  “I never said I don’t date.” Her chin thrust defensively.

  “Then maybe you’re picky.”

  “Oh, and you’re not?”

  His brows drew together. “I don’t want the woman I marry to struggle like my mom. My dad’s business pays the bills, but it doesn’t give him the good things in life.”

  And you think fishing for a living will improve your prospects? “My parents live in West Virginia. Mom hasn’t been well lately, and the doctor says a warmer climate would help her. I want to bring them down to live with me. This place would be ideal.”

  “So you feel obligated to them, just like I feel obligated to my dad.”

  She peered at him closely. “Is that why you haven’t shared your dream with him?”

  “I can’t hurt the old man.”

  “Then let’s hope he doesn’t watch television.”

  “Oh, God, I forgot. We’ve probably been on camera all day.”

  After handing Rex back his brochure, she withdrew her car keys from the purse she’d obtained from her room. “Want me to drive? I’ll tell the others we’re leaving, in case they want us to pick up anything else.”

  Feminine giggles wafted from the family room facing the rear patio. Walking briskly in that direction, Heather spotted Kim folded around Gary, who’d been measuring the room’s dimensions. Noting her arrival, Gary’s face turned beet red while Kim untangled herself.

  “I see you’ve been hard at work,” Heather said in a sarcastic tone. “Rex and I are going into town. He needs some hardware supplies, and I want to talk to the merchants about advertising. Do you guys want us to get anything for you?”

  “Telephones,” Gary replied. “Jon is supposed to call the phone company to set up service, but we need phones in each of the guest rooms in addition to the kitchen and entrance hall. Michelle has some lists from the others as well.”

  “Fine.” She took his requisition sheet, afraid she’d get stuck shopping when she had to advertise their new business venture. Was this a ploy to sabotage her role?

  Tanya waylaid her and Rex when they emerged outside. “You have to take a cameraman with you,” the co-producer said. “Everything you do this week is fair game for our viewers.”

  Heather exchanged guilty glances with Rex. Just how much of their interaction upstairs had been videotaped?

  That evening after dinner, they had a chance to see the first takes. Watching a monitor set up in the
living room, Heather’s jaw dropped when she saw the angle at which she and Rex were caught on film while in the bedroom. It looked as though he were about to kiss her. Her cheeks flushed as the others ribbed them.

  “Whoa, looks like you two couldn’t wait to have fun,” Kim said with a snide undertone. Wearing a leopard tank top with black biker shorts, she lounged on the sofa with a languorous air.

  “You and Gary got pretty close together in the family room,” she couldn’t help snipping back. “We’re in confined quarters here. We’re bound to interact with each other more quickly than under normal circumstances. It’s our teamwork that counts, not what we do on our personal time.”

  As the camera continued to follow them on their trip into town, it focused on their excursion to Lake Osceola where a tour boat ran every morning. Rex had insisted on the detour after they’d completed their tasks. The small body of water wasn’t the ocean that he longed to sail, but she’d seen the yearning on his face. Unfortunately, the way the camera captured the scene, his head angled toward her.

  “Let’s go over what we each accomplished today,” Rex said, and Heather threw him a grateful glance. “Sarah?”

  The short blonde, sitting in an armchair, grinned happily. “I’ve planned our meals for the entire week and created menus for breakfasts when the guests arrive. I’ve made another shopping list for whoever goes into town next. We’ll need a griddle and an electric skillet. Otherwise, I think we’re okay with all those things we bought today.”

  “Did you do what I asked?” Gary said. “Draw up an assignment sheet for each of us to rotate doing dishes? And what about the table linens, did you figure out how frequently they’d have to be washed, and if there’s a commercial linen service that can handle our needs?”

  Sarah’s petite face creased into a frown. “I can’t find out about the linen service until our phones are operational.”