The snoop inside just wouldn’t die. I supposed being nosy was just like breathing to me. I just had to fish for more information. Besides, if Riley and I broke up—the thought caused something hard and sharp to lodge in my chest—snooping would be all I had left.
That’s why I found myself saying, “This area seems so peaceful and safe, but I heard about that girl they found dead on the trail.”
He shrugged. “It’s still safe. I’m sure she just fell. That’s why you should never hike alone. There’s no one to get help for you if you need it.”
“Are you sure it was an accident?”
He cocked his head. “Did you hear otherwise?” Of course the hotel wouldn’t want people to know the truth. It would make them look bad.
“I heard she was murdered.”
One of his shoulders popped up. “Don’t believe all the tales you hear. This area is truly one of the safest around. I don’t even lock my doors at night. That’s how safe I feel.”
I nodded. “That’s good to know.”
I said goodbye and wandered back inside. Who had Clint said I should investigate? Doug Matthews, an associate of Jackie’s who was here this week, as well as Derek “Playboy” Waters. Both had known Jackie was going on a hike, both were here, and both had some type of disagreement with Jackie in the past.
I had no idea what Doug looked like, so I decided to leave him a message at the front desk. I asked him to meet me before breakfast down here in the lobby and that I was a friend of Jackie’s.
I suddenly got a second wind, so I decided to wander down to the wing where Deanna usually worked. I needed a friend. Deanna was the closest thing I had right now.
I remembered the masked man I’d seen last time I was down this way and shivered.
Just because things looked perfect on the outside didn’t mean they were. This hotel was a case in point. Something was going on here, something secret and sinister. Riley’s friends were Exhibit B on my list. By the world’s standards, they had everything. In reality, they each seemed to be hiding something.
As I walked down the hallway, I saw no sign of Deanna. No carts. No piney scents. No one mumbling, “I could get in so much trouble for this.”
My throat went dry when I spotted the elevator leading down to the breezeway where I’d seen the masked man last time. Did I dare?
I knew one thing: If I traveled down to the lower level, I wasn’t taking the elevator. I’d take the stairs.
With this whole area being under construction, I doubted very many people came down this way. Why would they? What had Deanna told me? That beyond this wing, there was only an old maintenance shed that wasn’t used anymore and miles and miles of woods?
Why had that masked man been down here, then?
I took each step slowly, carefully, trying not to make a sound. My throat felt dry and tight. I tried to ignore the tremble in my hand as it found the railing so I could steady myself.
This was not a good idea. When had that ever stopped me before, though?
I reached the landing and stared at the door that would lead to the breezeway. Maybe I’d just take a peek. I wouldn’t do anything foolish or to put myself in danger. I could do this.
Slowly, I pushed the door open, praying it wouldn’t creak. It didn’t. I stuck my head out, just enough to peer both ways.
Nothing.
I held my breath as I stepped out. I stood there a moment, listening for something, a sign that someone else was down here. All I heard was silence.
As I glanced at the plastic covering a couple of windows and the caution tape over a nearby doorway, I reminded myself that this was a construction site. Clint worked in construction. Was that just a coincidence? Perhaps he’d told one of his friends about how rich Jackie was, and they’d betrayed him. Come here to Allendale. Pretended to be working down here, all the while plotting on how to get Jackie’s money.
I shook my head. I didn’t think so. I had to keep my mind open to all possibilities, though.
I crept forward, and the breezeway came into view. My skin crawled just looking at it. I stayed close to the wall and crept toward a nearby window. I snuck a glimpse out of it.
Outside, I mostly saw the darkness. Beyond the well-manicured lawn surrounding Allendale stood the forest, mighty and strong. Just beyond that, I caught a glimpse of the old maintenance shed. I wondered why it was no longer used. What had Deanna said? Something about a fire several years ago and that as soon as they finished renovating this wing, they’d tear that old one down.
I watched for movement, for a sign of something outside. But I saw nothing. Only the wind swaying the tree branches. Thunder suddenly rattled the building, including the eerie breezeway. The glass panes seemed to clatter together at the booming sound.
As lightning lit the sky, I expected to see a figure appear down the hallway. There was nothing, no one.
I turned to walk away, and my foot hit a piece of the plastic. The rumpling sound made my blood freeze.
I stopped, as still as a statue, and listened. Still nothing.
Or was that a thump?
My heart pounded in my ears. Maybe I was just hearing my own heartbeat.
My lungs tightened. That was it. It was my heart thumping. Nothing else.
Another sound hit my ears. That wasn’t my heart this time. Someone was on the other end of the breezeway.
As lightning lit the sky again, something beneath the plastic caught my eye. I scooped down and picked up a small metal plate with some numbers engraved on it. The top of the piece was broken off.
What could this be? I didn’t know if it was a clue or not, but I stuck it in my pocket, opened the door to the stairway, and slipped inside.
As soon as the door closed, I ran for my life back to the main floor, not stopping until I reached my room.
CHAPTER 27
I’d snuck into my room last night and fallen into bed. I’d gotten maybe four hours of sleep before my alarm went off. The loud, echoing thunder outside hadn’t helped, but the smattering of rain against my window did.
I didn’t know how Deanna did this every day. My body was crying out for rest. Maybe I’d come back after everyone else was at the conference and take a nap. It could only help me to think more clearly.
I quickly took a shower and threw on the nautical outfit. I was going to have to go shopping again. I couldn’t ask housekeeping to keep washing these two outfits over and over each day. The thought of buying any more clothes here pained me, however. What I wouldn’t do for a mall to be nearby. I’d even take a thrift store to the shops they had here.
Thoughts of Riley and Jackie slammed into my mind. Anxiety began to ricochet through my gut. Would Riley seek me out today? Would he want to talk? Or did he need space?
Would he avoid me if I ran into him? I couldn’t stand the thought of that. But I’d told him I would give him some room, no matter how painful that might be.
I was sure Veronica had to feel really proud of herself. I took full responsibility for my actions, but Veronica had been looking for something—anything—to be the damning piece of evidence that sealed my fate. Certainly she didn’t want Riley back. I mean, she had Lane. So what was up with that? Was the woman simply vindictive? She’d even gone as far as to lie about her and Riley’s break up.
I ran a finger under my eyes. Maybe I should splurge and go down to the spa. Maybe they could help freshen me up a bit.
I sighed and grabbed my purse. I had to run and see if Doug was going to meet with me this morning. Before I stepped into the hallway, my phone rang. I paused and glanced at the number. I didn’t recognize the area code.
Hesitantly—and against my better judgment, most likely—I put the phone to my ear. “This is Gabby.”
“Ms. St. Claire? Gabby St. Claire?”
My spine muscles pinched. If I weren’t in so much trouble all the time, maybe I wouldn’t be gripped with worry every time I got a call like this. “Speaking.”
“This is Sue Smith
. I work for the Medical Examiner here in Kansas City.”
My spine went from pinched to ramrod straight. “Yes, Ms. Smith. What can I do for you?”
“We got your application, and I wanted to let you know that we’d like to do a job interview with you. We’ve narrowed down our selection to just two people. You’re one of them.”
I blinked, dumbfounded. I’d applied for the job on a whim, not thinking I’d ever hear anything about it. It had happened on that first day when I’d found out I was being let go from my previously held position.
“Are you still there?”
I rattled my head back and forth. “Yes, I’m here. Thank you for calling.”
“We were very impressed by your credentials and by your endorsements. We’d like to set up a time for a Skype interview. Maybe next week? Wednesday is the exact date we’re looking at.”
“Wednesday sounds wonderful.”
She offered a few more details, and we hung up.
I stood there, still dumbfounded. Kansas City? Could I really move across the country? Did I even want to? Where would that leave Riley and me?
I shook my head. I couldn’t think about it now. I had to go meet Doug. Just as I stepped into the hallway, I heard Veronica’s bedroom door open. Thank goodness I was gone before she emerged. I really didn’t want to talk with that woman. In fact, if I had a car, I might toy with the idea of packing up and leaving. But I didn’t have a car, and Jackie’s murder still hung over my head. I hated leaving things unfinished.
I hurried downstairs and to the library.
Please be here.
To my surprise, someone was in the room. A tall man with broad shoulders and a round stomach paced there, jingling some change in his pockets as he walked. He stopped when he saw me walk in.
“Gabby?”
I nodded and extended my hand. “That’s me.”
“I’m Doug. What’s this meeting about?”
His directness made me pause for a moment. I had to make sure I handled our talk correctly, or my gut told me this no-nonsense lawyer was going to walk away. “I was the one who found Jackie yesterday.”
He nodded. “Okay. What does that have to do with me?”
“I’ve been asked to look into her death.”
“What are your credentials?”
I wanted to say Is that any of your business? Instead, I said, “I worked for the medical examiner, but I’m on my own now.”
He stared at me, as if uncertain of my level of trustworthiness. Finally, he nodded slowly. “What can I do for you?”
“Jackie was your colleague, correct?”
He nodded. “That’s correct. We worked together at the D.A.’s office down in Atlanta. As soon as her death is ruled a homicide, I’m sure the feds will get involved. The death of an assistant D.A. is never taken lightly, even if the boyfriend has already been arrested.”
“Had any threats been made against her?”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss that.”
“How about you then? Did you have any reason to be upset with her?”
He let out a quick burst of air and then did a half-chuckle, half-coughing thing. “Me? What exactly are you implying?”
“I’m not directly implying anything. I’m just saying that I heard the two of you didn’t always see eye to eye.”
“How in tarnation did you hear that?”
I shrugged. “Look, it’s like this. There are only a limited number of people who could have known who she was and that she was here at Allendale this week. You just happened to be here, know that she was going on a hike, and you could possibly even have motive.”
He shook his head, his finger waving across the air. “I don’t know who you’re talking to, but that is just plain ludicrous. Besides, all the evidence points to the boyfriend. He even admitted to writing that ransom note, last I heard.”
“Did Jackie reject you for a construction worker? Is that why you had a problem with her?”
“Jackie? Me?” His voice climbed a few notches. “You’re off your rocker. No, I’m happily married. I was never interested in Jackie.”
“Then what did you have against her?”
He stopped and blew out a breath through his nose. Finally, he looked at me again. “You want to know the truth? Because I have a feeling you’re not going to stop asking questions until you get it, are you?”
“You know me well, especially when considering you don’t really know me at all.”
“It’s like this. Jackie was blowing it. Big time. She wasn’t cut out to be a D.A.”
“How’d she get a job doing it then?”
He pulled back his lips and shook his head. “Easy. Her mom. Her mom has a lot of money. There’s power in money. She has friends in high places and pulled strings for her in order for her daughter to get a job. I don’t know exactly. I just know Jackie wasn’t hired on merit.”
“How exactly was she so bad?”
“She just made stupid choices. She didn’t think things through. We were in the middle of this huge investigation that involved an auto theft ring. Customs and Border Patrol, the FBI, and other agencies were involved and had been gathering evidence for almost two years. She almost blew it for us by letting some information leak that would have ruined everything.”
“That’s what your disagreement was about?”
“Absolutely. I was the one who walked in on her trying to cut a deal with someone who was in no way trustworthy. He would have gone back and told all of his friends the low down. Jackie didn’t take very kindly to my reprimand.”
“Did she ruin everything?”
Doug shook his head. “No, thank goodness I got to her in time. She still hadn’t forgiven me, though. She thought I purposely embarrassed her because I wanted to get her fired.”
“Didn’t you?”
He sighed again. “Not really. I just didn’t think she was competent. I was hoping she might leave on her own. She only ended up making more work for the rest of us. I can’t be sure, but I don’t think she ever really wanted to be a lawyer anyway. I honestly think she would have been happy just as a stay-at-home mom.”
I nodded. I couldn’t say that I thought this man was a killer. He may have been a terrible co-worker and an arrogant attorney, but nothing gave an indication that he had murder in his eyes. “Is there anything else you might be able to add that would help?”
He shifted and crossed his arms. “Why are you convinced that her boyfriend isn’t behind this?”
“Nothing concrete, just a gut feeling.”
He stared at me another moment before bobbing his head up and down. “I wish I could help. I really do. The last thing I wanted to hear was that she was dead. But I don’t know what else to tell you. I’d find it hard to believe that anyone from Georgia would have followed her here and concocted this scheme.”
He had a point.
He nodded toward the door. “I’ve got to grab some breakfast before the conference starts. Sorry I can’t be of more help.”
He wasn’t the only one who was sorry about that, I thought.
***
After Doug left the library, I sank back into the couch. Well, I sank about as much as someone can sink into something that felt like it was made of upholstered concrete. Where did this leave me now?
My thoughts wandered to Riley. Was he eating breakfast now? I glanced at my watch. No, he should be on his way to his conference. My heart pounded harder at the thought. This trip was supposed to bring us closer together, not pull us apart.
I sighed and reached into my pocket. I pulled out the metal plate I’d found last night. Upon closer inspection, it looked like part of it had been broken off. But seventeen numbers remained.
What could they be? It was too long to be a phone number or a social security number. It almost seemed like some type of serial number.
It had probably just fallen off some of the supplies they used during the construction downstairs, I realized. Despite that, I wasn’t ready
to give this up. I wanted to think on it a while longer, just in case.
I stood and stretched. I’d grab some breakfast and figure out what to do for the rest of the day.
As soon as I stepped into the lobby, I spotted Carol Harrington. My heart thudded in my chest. What that woman must be going through.
I’d intended on stopping by to check on her last night, but then all the chaos with Riley had broken out.
When she saw me, she stepped forward. I hurried to meet her and gave her a quick hug. She sniffled in my arms.
“I heard you found her.”
I nodded. “I’m so sorry. This wasn’t the outcome I wanted.”
“None of us wanted this. This just goes to prove why you shouldn’t get mixed up with the wrong people. If Jacqueline had never met Clint … ” Mrs. Harrington shook her head. “If only I could turn back time and try to convince her to stay away from that man.”
“It might have only driven her further into his arms. Love sometimes works like that.”
She nodded. “I suppose you’re right.”
Just then, I noticed the suitcase at her feet. “You’re leaving?”
“I’d rather grieve in the comfort of my own home. This place … it’s now shrouded with bad memories.” She shook her head and a little gasp escaped. “My life will never be the same, you know.”
“I’m so sorry.” I wished there was something else I could tell her, but I had nothing.
“Keep searching for answers, Gabby.”
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Really?”
She nodded. “You’re the one who found her body, not the police. You’re the one who’s going to be able to get to the bottom of this. I’ll have no peace until I know Jacqueline has justice. I want evidence that will put the final nail into Clint’s coffin.”
“And if it’s not Clint?”
“Justice, Gabby. I want justice.”
Her shoes clicked against the floor as she went out to her car.
Christy Barritt - Squeaky Clean 04 - Dirty Deeds Page 17
