Christy Barritt - Squeaky Clean 04 - Dirty Deeds

by Christy Barritt

  A promise is sacred. I think I’d just read that in my devotional last week. It signifies trust.

  “You’ve got to be able to do more than what’s currently being done. I’ll pay whatever your cost. Money isn’t a problem.”

  I had to get out of this somehow. “But Clint—”

  Mrs. Harrington raised her index finger, one with a very pointy red fingernail, I might add, up in the air. “Clint is her boyfriend. I am her mother. I’m the one calling the shots here, no matter what that redneck thinks.”

  I sucked in a long, deep breath. “I see.”

  “Will you do it?”

  How could I say no to someone in need? It wasn’t like I needed to go undercover or anything. I could simply look around on the web, ask a few questions, keep my ears open. It wouldn’t be investigating by the strictest definition.

  I knew in my heart I was trying to justify things, though. I knew I should say no, or at least talk to Riley first about revising my promise.

  But then a tear trickled down Jackie’s mom’s face.

  I thought about my own brother who’d been kidnapped, only to reappear in my life nearly twenty years later. I remembered my family’s grief, how his disappearance had torn us apart. We’d never been the same afterward.

  My dad started drinking to drown his guilt. My mom worked two jobs to make up for my dad’s bad decisions. I began the endless task of trying to right my mistakes since I’d been the one watching him when he was taken.

  Mrs. Harrington grabbed my arm. “Please, Gabby. If it makes you feel better, we wouldn’t have to tell anyone. It would just be between you and me.”

  Her words drove away my doubts. This could be our secret. No one would have to know except Mrs. Harrington and me. I could do this, and Riley would never have to know.

  I nodded. “I’ll do it.”

  She sniffled and wiped away her tear using a tissue she pulled from her purse. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.” She let go of the button long enough for the elevator to start its ascent, only to press it again. We jerked to a stop. “I’ve called the police, as well.”

  “You did?” I blinked in surprise. How did Clint feel about that? But she was right. This should be her call. She was Jackie’s mom.

  “So why do you need me?”

  She raised her pointy little chin in what I would call defiance. “I trust you more than the police. Besides, my first husband used to always say two heads were better than one. Maybe between you and law enforcement officials, one of you will discover something.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  “If you find out any information, I’m in room 4561.”

  She let go of the button. We started moving. Until she pressed it again. My stomach dipped. We’d probably moved a whole four inches since I stepped foot inside this elevator.

  That was getting really old.

  “I should tell you that they’re in your room right now.”

  “What was that?” I put my hand on the mirrored wall, trying to brace myself for any more sudden moves or stops.

  “The police. They’re searching your room. I thought you should know.”

  So much for that relaxing evening.

  ***

  “I do apologize for this inconvenience, but since this room is now part of a potential crime scene, we’re going to have to move you to a new room.”

  I stared at the man standing in my doorway. He was the same person who’d greeted us at our breakfast table our first morning here. I glanced at his nametag and read “Bentley Allen.” I wondered if he was related to the Allens who’d founded Allendale.

  Manners, Gabby. Manners. I sucked in a deep, calming breath. “It’s no problem. I only want what’s best for this investigation.”

  I just gave myself another mental point for letting courtesy win over snarkiness.

  It was the small victories I’d learned to hold on to.

  The police were all over my suite like ants on a slice of watermelon. They wanted me to leave everything until the scene was officially cleared. Thankfully, I had some makeup stashed away in my purse, but everything else I would have to do without.

  That meant that in the morning, I could take my skinny little wallet down to one of the overpriced gift shops downstairs and pick out some nice nautical wear, which was all they seemed to sell here. Well, that and golf shirts. At least I’d fit in better if I dressed liked the masses.

  Riley arrived just as Bentley was leading me to a new room, apparently the only open suite in the whole place. I filled Riley in on what had happened as we climbed the stairs. Bentley led me up one floor to a new suite that was nearly identical to my old one. Same couch, two wingback chairs, a coffee table, TV, and breakfast nook. It had two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.

  Riley and I ate our dinner while watching the news and then stepped out onto the balcony for some fresh air. The beautiful mountains were only shadows on the horizon since night had fallen. From behind me, Riley slipped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. For a moment, I felt blissful and safe. I forgot about everything else that was happening.

  “So, Gabby, about my old life … ”

  I turned around, relieved that he might finally be opening up. Maybe that unsettled feeling would finally leave my gut. “Yes?”

  “There are some things that I haven’t told you. Mostly because I’m not proud of them.”

  “You can tell me anything, Riley.”

  He looked off in the distance. I could tell by the set of his shoulders, by the strain in his eyes, that he really felt burdened by whatever it was he had to share. “You know I grew up in a Christian home, right?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, you’ve talked about that a lot.”

  “In college, I was determined to stay on the straight and narrow. I found an on-campus group for Christians. I attended a church that was close by.”

  Just as I’d imagined.

  He drew in a deep breath. “But then I became friends with this guy named Scoggins.”

  “I’ve never heard you mention him before.”

  Riley rubbed a hand over his forehead. “Yeah, I don’t talk about him a lot. Scoggins was a really fun guy. He was my roommate my junior year and was the ‘life of the party’ type of person.”

  I didn’t miss the “was.” I gripped the railing, a nudge of anxiety growing in my gut. Where was this conversation going? My anxiety didn’t overshadow my curiosity. I really wanted to know about this part of Riley.

  “Then there was—”

  A rapping sound stopped him mid-sentence.

  I wanted to strangle whoever was knocking at the door. “You didn’t order room service, did you?”

  He hung his head a moment, his gaze heavy. “We’ll finish this later?”

  I nodded, feeling equally as disappointed. “Yep.”

  I walked with Riley to open the door. Lane stood on the other side, a wide, semi-goofy smile on his oversized head.

  “Lane, what are you doing here?” Riley’s eyebrows went together in confusion.

  Lane’s grin widened. “My fiancée just got here, but apparently there are no more rooms open at Allendale. She’s never had a problem with that when she’s stayed here before. Anyway, since we’re doing this whole ‘morality’ thing and no one is living in sin, or whatever it’s called nowadays, I was wondering if she could stay with Gabby?”

  Riley glanced at me. That was my cue to take charge. I appreciated Riley not speaking for me.

  “Of course that’s fine,” I told Lane. I hoped his fiancée would be quiet and mind her own business. I didn’t need any more drama during my stay here.

  He rubbed his hands together as if he was about to take a gamble. “Great. Because she’s here. I can’t wait for you to meet her.” He reached toward the wall and pulled someone forward.

  A blonde—tall, skinny, and gorgeous—appeared.

  My mouth dropped open. This wasn’t just any tall, skinny, gorg
eous blonde.

  This was Veronica Laskin. Riley’s ex-fiancée.

  You had to be kidding me.

  CHAPTER 14

  “Riley?” Veronica asked, her eyes widening.

  “Veronica?” Riley just stared—like any male would do if they encountered someone who looked like Veronica.

  “You guys know each other?” Lane asked, scratching his head. “What a small world.”

  “Yeah, you could say that,” Riley mumbled. He took a step back, looking uncertain as to whether or not he should hug her or run the other way.

  I voted for running the other way.

  I thought back quickly, trying to remember what Riley had told me and do some quick calculations. He’d started dating Veronica after law school, I think. So how had Lane met the woman?

  “It’s been forever,” Veronica purred. She glanced at me. “Gabby? What are you doing here?”

  I almost muttered that I was part of the cleaning staff. Thankfully, Riley beat me to the start. “We’re engaged,” he explained.

  Veronica’s eyelashes fluttered. “Engaged? Well, well, well. What a surprise.”

  “Is it okay if we come in?” Lane asked.

  I didn’t want to move, but Riley nudged me back some so Lane and Veronica could flood inside. Two bellhops, each tugging carts loaded with suitcases, came with them. Veronica strutted across the carpet, perched on the couch, and waited as Lane tipped them.

  Thankfully, my views on God had changed recently, otherwise, I’d think He was like a cosmic joker the way He arranged things in my life sometimes. I couldn’t think of one person I’d like to stay with less than this woman.

  After Lane got all of the bags inside, he sat down beside his fiancée. His fingers intertwined with hers. I couldn’t help but notice that he was a good two inches shorter than his future wife—not that there was anything wrong with that.

  But there was something wrong with this whole scenario.

  With the couch taken, that left Riley to sit in one wing back chair and me to sit in the other one halfway across the room.

  “So, how do you all know each other?” Lane asked. “I had no idea.”

  Riley and Veronica glanced at each other. Could anyone say awkward?

  Finally, Riley spoke. “We go way back. I actually worked at her father’s law firm right out of college. We met over dinner at his house one night.”

  “No way! What a small world.”

  I waited for someone to say they’d been engaged at one time, but no one offered the information.

  I cleared my throat, wishing I’d taken more time to do my makeup. “How about the two of you? How’d you and Lane meet?”

  Veronica smiled at Lane. Was it my imagination, or did her grin not quite reach her eyes? “We met at a gala up in D.C. I like to call it love at first sight.”

  “We met over the punchbowl. I entranced her with my love of numbers.”

  Love of numbers? I doubted that. Maybe because Veronica had dollar signs in her eyes? She loved large numbers in banking accounts? That seemed more likely.

  Veronica giggled. “I just thought he was cute as he stood there and started talking about all of his calculations of an upcoming election. I knew he had a good head on his shoulders.”

  “I couldn’t believe she’d give me the time of day,” Lane continued. “I mean, look at her. Do women get any more gorgeous than this?”

  I felt liked chopped liver sitting over in my wingback chair—alone and obviously not as gorgeous as Veronica. I couldn’t even bring myself to glance at Riley. Surely he’d see the resentment in my eyes.

  “See, isn’t he sweet?” Veronica crooned.

  They rubbed noses and giggled for a moment until I thought I would barf.

  I had to get out of here. I stood and yawned. “Man, as much as I’d love to stay out here and chat, I’m just exhausted. A long day at a resort will do that to you. Anyway, good to see everyone.” I nodded toward my bedroom. “But I’m going to have to say goodnight.”

  I offered Riley a little wave before stepping inside my room. I didn’t even bother turning on the lights. Instead, I closed the door and stood there for a moment, breathing in a moment of peace and tranquilly.

  Until I heard the door open behind me. I twirled around, wondering who was interrupting my moment.

  It was … Riley?

  Being in a bedroom alone with me was definitely against his rules. He was all about being proper and pure and avoiding temptation, which I appreciated—and I needed.

  “What are you doing?” I whispered.

  He quietly closed the door behind him and stepped toward me. “I had no idea she was going to be here.”

  “I had no idea I was ever going to see her again.” I’d hoped I’d never see her again.

  “I’m sorry, Gabby. Just when I think things can’t get worse, they do.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  His hand brushed my cheek. “This isn’t going to change anything with us. We’re just going to have to deal with this whole situation the best way we know how. That’s all we can do.”

  I started to say something. Instead, I decided to rest my forehead against his chest and enjoy the feel of his arms around me. I soaked in his familiar scent, and I realized that I couldn’t wait for the day when we didn’t have to say goodnight and go our separate ways. I wanted to be Mrs. Riley Thomas.

  I loved the way he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close, and the way my skin tingled still like it was our first date. I loved that my heart still raced when he was near. Most of all, I loved the fact that he could so easily see through the me everyone else saw and see the real me—flaws and all.

  Veronica was not going to ruin anything for me.

  Like she’d almost done the first time we met. She’d shown up and somehow Vernoica and Riley had decided to give their engagement another try, effectively becoming whom I called “Viley.” It had taken a long time for me to get over the trust issues I’d had with Riley after that. I had trust issues before Veronica showed up the first time. Feeling like Riley had betrayed me back then only compounded my issues.

  Riley pulled back from our embrace, and his lips found mine. His kiss pulled me into some kind of vortex. Maybe it was the darkness. Maybe it was the stress of everything that had gone on. Maybe it was just me getting the best of me.

  But our kiss deepened. It was filled with heat and intensity that scared me. It scared me because it took me back to an old part of my life, a part I was desperately trying to move past. I put my hand firmly on his chest and pushed him back. It took every ounce of willpower in me to do so.

  Riley stepped back, but my world was still spinning. My soul felt like it was reeling. What had just happened?

  “What was that?” I whispered. I stepped back, ran into the bed, and immediately jumped back to my feet.

  “I just wanted to let you know that I love you.”

  “I love you too, but … ” I raked a hand through my hair, waiting for my brain to settle down, and every other part of me, for that matter. “We can’t do that again.”

  He rubbed my arms. “I know, I know.”

  “Is this about Veronica?”

  He shook his head, his features soft as my eyes adjusted to the darkness around me. “It has nothing to do with her. I just can’t wait to marry you one day, Gabby.”

  I nearly reached up and kissed him again.

  But I knew there was no way I could do that, not unless I wanted to get myself into some serious trouble.

  I backed up, careful not to fall back on the bed this time. “You should go.”

  He nodded. “I’ll meet you for breakfast in the morning, okay?”

  “Yeah, for breakfast.”

  He clicked the door shut behind him. I left the lights off still as I listened for any telltale signs that Veronica and Lane were still out there talking. I heard nothing.

  I fell back in bed, trying to control my thoughts. In the very least, I needed to try an
d sleep.

  But all I could do was toss and turn.

  ***

  At 1 a.m., I realized sleep was futile and a waste of time. I was already dressed, thanks to not having any other clothes, so I grabbed my cell phone and my keycard and quietly opened my bedroom door.

  No one was in the living area. Thank goodness. Because I couldn’t take facing Veronica right now. Maybe she was a perfectly nice woman. That didn’t mean I wanted to room with her.

  God, are You trying to teach me something?

  Probably. Because I still had a lot to learn. Like a lot, a lot.

  But at least I knew that now. At least I wasn’t filled with the same arrogance that I had been at one time. I knew I didn’t know everything. Simply knowing that was definitely a step in the right direction.

  I quietly tiptoed to the door, opened it, and snuck into the hallway. Five minutes later, I was down in the same wing where I’d been last night. I wondered if Deanna was down here again. I kept my ears open for the telltale sound of someone else stirring at this hour but heard nothing.

  I started down farther than I went last time, past the area where I’d spotted Clint and his friends talking. I never did find out what that was about, and I had a sneaking suspicion that his friends were somehow involved in all of this. Tomorrow, I’d ask more questions and hopefully figure out some answers.

  At the end of the hallway was an elevator. I paused in front of it and read the sign there. If I went downstairs, I’d find a breezeway and then the pools.

  Why not explore some more?

  I hit the down button, and a moment later the elevator dropped me off.

  I paused at a glass-enclosed breezeway before me. It was long and narrow. In the sunlight, I bet the area was beautiful. But right now, the expanse looked exposed.

  Most likely, my imagination was just working overtime. I was convinced there was nothing scary here except what my mind could conjure up.

  Despite that, my throat felt tight as I started walking through the enclosure. Why was I doing this again? Looking for Deanna? Just being nosy? I wasn’t sure, but I’d already started the journey, so I might as well finish my exploration.