I didn’t have far to go. The police cars had gone right around the corner and into the Surfside Resort parking lot. They were currently parked right out front, lights still flashing.
I knew it. My gut didn’t lie. And I knew it had something to do with Thea and why she’d just bolted like the devil himself had been chasing her. I wondered if I could get anything out of the cops. Depended on who was here, for sure, but maybe if Craig was part of this …
I felt kind of bad for thinking that. I didn’t want him to think I was taking advantage of him. Using our connection to try to get info when, truth be told, if he weren’t part of this whole thing because of his job I probably wouldn’t have much contact with him, given the whole awkwardness with him and Lucas. And the fact that I didn’t want to screw things up with Lucas.
I swerved into a parking space at the far corner of the lot. I decided to try my luck inside. Poke around a bit, see if I could find out for sure if she was staying here. I peered inside. Sergeant Ellory and another cop were at the front desk talking to the clerk. I waited until they’d disappeared toward the elevator bank, then strolled inside.
I went up to the front desk, smiling at the woman manning it as if I were merely an innocent bystander looking for a friend. Which was how I’d decided on the way in to play this.
She didn’t look all that friendly, but I figured it was worth a try. Her name tag said her name was Noelle.
“Hi,” I said.
“Checking in?” she asked, barely glancing at me.
“No. I’m meeting a friend who’s staying here. Thea Coleman?”
The woman tapped some keys on her computer, then looked up at me. “Sorry. No one by that name is booked here.”
I frowned. “Really? I’m certain she said this hotel. Would you mind checking again?”
“Well, unless she’s here under an assumed name, one of you must be mistaken.” She glanced up as the door opened again. I didn’t turn around—until I heard the familiar squawk of the police radio. I flinched as Ellory came around the corner.
He did a double take when he saw me. “Maddie,” he said with an amused smile. “Taking a staycation?”
I could feel my face turning red. Before I could defend myself, Noelle rescued me by completely dismissing me.
“Should we go talk in the office?” she asked him, walking over to the end of the counter and dropping her voice so I had to strain to hear her.
Ellory nodded. “Don’t you have to finish with that guest?” he asked, indicating me. If I hadn’t known he was being sarcastic, I’d never be able to tell.
Noelle hurried back over. “Is there something else?” she asked, clearly impatient. “I can’t find that name in my list. Am I spelling it right?” She spelled Coleman out slowly. I watched Ellory’s eyebrows rise, but he didn’t say anything.
“Yes, that’s it. I must’ve been mistaken. Sorry to bother you,” I said, avoiding his eyes. I could still feel his curious gaze on me.
She dismissed me without another word and turned to Ellory. “Right this way,” she said, pointing down the hall from which he’d just come. “We’re going to the third floor.”
As I was left stranded at the counter, my mind raced. “Excuse me,” I called, before I could stop myself. “Sergeant Ellory. Are you looking for Thea? I saw her take off out of the parking lot like someone was chasing her a few minutes ago.”
They both turned and looked at me. Noelle shoved her hands on her hips. “I thought you were meeting her here?”
I ignored her, my gaze locked on Ellory’s face.
Ellory didn’t look amused. Probably because he knew Thea and I would never have made plans to meet up. “One minute please,” he said to Noelle, then took my arm and marched me over to the seating area in the lobby. “Sit,” he said through gritted teeth.
I crossed my arms. “I’d rather stand.”
“What do you think you’re doing, Maddie?” he asked.
“I was curious about where she was staying and what she was driving, if anything,” I said. “I thought I’d at least try to find out. So I came here since it’s the only hotel open right now. And I saw the car. Then she came running out like her hair was on fire and took off.”
“So you came in here to, what? Try to break into her room, like she was trying to break into Holt’s room?” He stopped himself and muttered a curse. “If I see that in the papers tomorrow, I’ll throw you in jail,” he warned when my eyebrows shot up.
“I don’t work for Becky,” I said. “And what do you mean, she was trying to break into Holt’s room?”
“Forget I said anything,” Ellory said, turning to walk away.
No way could I forget that. “So why was she trying to break into Holt’s room?” I persisted. “And now do you believe me that they knew each other?”
Ellory opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. “I never said I didn’t believe you in the first place,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to discuss my theories on the Holt case with you.”
Fair enough. I’d take it.
“I don’t think there’s anything else for you to see here,” he said. “After all, your friend left, right?”
“Sergeant. I know you think it’s none of my business, but this lady…”
“You’re right, Ms. James. It is none of your business.” The friendly first-name basis was gone. “Now if you’ll excuse me—”
The front door flew open and a woman came in. She wore one of those slouchy hats in a baby blue color. I caught a glimpse of curly blond hair pooling around her shoulders. She wore jeans, a long black puffy coat, and gray UGG boots. And she looked distraught.
“Excuse me,” I heard her say to Noelle. “I’m Lexie Holt. I’m here for my husband’s things?”