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“I’m going to ask Zack to help as well, but I’ll have to catch him after lunch.” Kylie continued.
I caught sight of Zack running dishes to the table on a cart and off again to the kitchens. I took a look around, nobody was paying any attention to us. Good.
Kylie leaned close, “I can fill Zack in. Tell me the names you want us to listen for info on.” She was rushed so I quickly ran down my list with ex-hubby Bryce and lawsuit-Chris at the top. I know Detective Larson was only interested in the Bryce and Chris, but I was saving him the trouble of adding to the list later. I’m doing him a favor, really. I’m thoughtful that way. See my halo?
“Either Zack or I will come by your room later and tell you what we have from today. What time should we meet?” She was shuffling items to look busy since she had finished the meat station. She glanced around a few times, her eyes following people.
“Would ten be too late? I know you have long days starting with breakfast rush.”
“We aren’t allowed in a guest’s rooms so be ready to open the door and let us in, so we aren’t seen.” The din of people talking over each other was growing louder, even some raucous laughter contributed to the noise.
Back at my table I tried to breathe deep and relax, but I kept watching for Zack. He was doing the legwork of the crew and once the buffet table was open, conference attendees descended in a wave. I saw Kylie pull him aside to talk. I lost sight of them though and didn’t witness his reaction.
Between bites of Chicken Cordon Bleu, I looked for an opening to steer the conversation. I almost hated to spoil enjoyment of my lunch with thoughts of violence.
Talk at the table was focused on the weather and concerns on being stuck into next week. I couldn’t imagine the weather staying bad for that long; Colorado’s storms usually hit and ran letting roads clear before another storm and thus providing a reprieve.
“What about the murder, won’t we have to stay for the investigation of the murder?” I jumped at my opportunity, hoping to turn the conversation toward the murder. The police couldn’t actually hold us to investigate, but if I was very lucky it would at least get the conversation flowing in the direction of the murder.
“I don’t think they can force us to stay. It just doesn’t seem real though, a murder in such a reputable establishment.” Said a man in his fifties who wore a business suit and an aloof aura. Most attendees were dressed in nice jeans or khakis and sweaters. It seemed what he really meant was murder didn’t happen among the wealthy and he was shocked, just shocked. I wanted to snort out loud at his naiveté and pretension. I held back rather than embarrass myself.
“I’d have thought somebody would’ve seen or known something and an arrest made by now.” I resisted telling them to work with me and talk already.
“Oh, I think the problem is who to focus on, there are a plethora of suspects. You either loved Kara or hated her from what I’ve heard.” I wanted to kiss the matronly woman with curly graying hair who offered up that gem. She wore impeccable jeans with a seam ironed down the front. Her voice was melodic but hinted at steel underneath.
I nodded my head in agreement and looked at the others while taking the last bite of my chicken. I turned my coffee mug right side up to indicate I wanted coffee now that I’d finished the entrée.
One woman, Nancy I think, leaned in and said, “Well, the friend that she betrayed sure has plenty to say about her. I listened for fifteen minutes as she ranted about what a horrible person she’d been. She has an abundance of pent-up anger. I have to wonder where she was when the Caine woman went flying down three stories to her death.”
“I think she closed the bar that night getting plenty polluted from what I heard. That was around two. I also heard she left alone, so no alibi for her.” The matronly woman replied.
The horses were out of the gate, so to speak. They were nearly talking over each other and I struggled not to miss anything. I didn’t want to take notes in front of them, so I would have to jot this down after lunch.
“What about that self-righteous newspaper guy? After a few drinks, he had some choice words about how evil that woman was and some vendetta he swears she had against him. Him being so morally upstanding, I was surprised at his language.”
“Oh, his wife’ll be his alibi, you can count on that.”
“Sure, but where was he? He left the bar about midnight.”
“I heard both he and his wife were at the Jacuzzi for a little while, but that doesn’t count for the critical two through four a.m. time period.”
“You heard about that other realtor arguing with her, didn’t you? Wonder where he was?”
“Oh, I hear somebody saw him in the exercise room jogging on the treadmill around ten-thirty last night.”
“His wife’ll probably be his alibi too, no matter what.”
Tammy leaned toward me and whispered, “You seem particularly interested in the murder.”
My mouth went dry and I choked. This time I didn’t have to work for the deer-in-headlights-look, I could feel my eyes were big against my will. Was I that obvious?
“Oh, I assisted in a murder investigation that took place last fall at my home resort.” I didn’t feel it necessary to share that I had been the main suspect and the police hadn’t blessed my poking around.
“Really? You assisted the police?” Surprise was evident from her raised eyebrows to her cocked head.
“Who knows, somebody may know an important tidbit and they don’t realize it. I like to help the police whenever I can.” Hey, I am helpful. I held my breath to see if she accepted my explanation.
Tammy’s mouth gave way to the slightest smile, just a fraction more than Mona Lisa succumbed to, but not by much.
“I’ll keep my ears tuned to the chatter, then. What should I pay attention to?” Her eyes had a spark of...mischief. This was a surprise development.
I shared the persons of interest. “Nothing more than listen and report.” I felt duty-bound to clarify. She winked, actually winked at me.
“This gives me a purpose that is a bit more active. I love to help as well.” That shadow of a smile again accompanied by a definite twinkle in her eyes. Tammy was a gal after my own heart.
I looked around again and saw Zack at the buffet table trying to catch my eye.
“I’m getting some dessert. Can I get you any?” Tammy declined and I headed for the Zack.
“I’m on board,” he said once I was close. “I want to help get this nightmare over. Kylie gave me the names.”
I looked over the dessert as if there was a question in my mind what I would get. “I appreciate the extra ears, just keep this a secret or it won’t work.”
He glanced around again and cleared his throat as somebody headed our direction.
I grabbed a Crème Brûlée and took it back to the table to devour. My coffee cup was full and the bold rich aroma mingled with the vanilla and caramelized sugar crust of the Crème Brûlée making my mouth water. I was going to need that coffee. I would be fighting to stay awake in the afternoon workshops.
I was the last person at my table, finishing up my dessert. I tossed my napkin on the table and headed to the workshop covering multiple-day events and Tammy had already gone to her own session.
I was weary by the time the first day of the conference finally finished. I had absorbed so much information and taken copious notes to share with Chad. I was looking forward to a swim and Jacuzzi time to relax a bit before eating if Porsche could wait that long for dinner.
I was walking with the crowd of fellow conference attendees to the elevators and staircase, moving like cattle coming out of a holding pen, jostling each other, moving around bottlenecks in the flow, and ready to trample anything blocking our path.
My mind was scattered and wandering to the thought of a cocktail when I caught sight of Detective Larson observing the crowd. Our eyes met and he slightly nodded in the general direction of the spa and walked in that direction. I struggled like a salmon going upstream to leave the rushing river of attendees.
I didn’t see Larson anywhere until I ventured into the spa, now busy with people getting seaweed wraps or deep tissue massage. The room used for the interrogations, oh sorry – interviews, was open and Larson waved me in, I shut the door for privacy. He was wearing sky blue ski pants and a heavy sweater; the matching ski jacket was draped over the back of his metal chair. A bolt of apprehension shot through me, could he know about my merry band of helpers?
“I...ahhh...you wanted to talk to me?” I began.
“The storm has pulled my attention so I hope you’ve made some progress today. I already got your news of last night’s cooking class from Porsche.” I studied his face and he looked the same as yesterday, except around the eyes where fatigue was making his crows feet more pronounced and dark circles had begun.
The thought flit through my mind that he wasn’t a pretty boy like Porsche typically dated. He was more the self-assured, mature, and responsible man that she had never shown an interest in before. Oh, sure he was good looking, but in a more rugged woodsman way. I took it as a good sign she was gravitating towards Detective Larson.
“Well, the most fruitful conversations were during lunch.” I opened my notebook to my section for the investigation.
“Folks are noticing Debra Graham has a lot of pent-up anger toward Ms. Caine and she closed the bar that night around two a.m. and left alone. The editor guy, Wade I think, he was ranting about Ms. Caine having a vendetta against him and left the bar that night around midnight with his wife and was then seen at the Jacuzzi but nobody saw anything during the two-to-four time frame.” I took a breath.
“Realtor guy Preston was seen in the exercise room after the argument in the lobby with Kara. But nothing mentioned today on Bryce or Chris Burns.” I closed my notes and looked up.
“Interesting how so far nobody has an alibi except that provided by a significant other. So, nobody is really off my list. I do need to know more about Bryce and Chris though.”
“Well, I have tonight still. I plan on dinner and some time at the pool.” I gave a tight smile.
“They have opened a cash bar at the pool in the interest of keeping guests happy. Maybe that will loosen some tongues to chat with you.”
“Well, I should get going then.” I stood to do just that. I had to keep moving before I ran out of steam.
“I was hoping to ask you about your friend, Ms. Abrams.” He stared at his hands sitting folded on the card table. He finally looked up. “She, ummm, seems interested in me. I just wondered....” He seemed to struggle with finding his words, or maybe the right words. “If she could actually be interested in, you know, a cop?”
Oh crap. I didn’t want to be in the middle of this. “She knows her own mind, and I think she considers a man on more than just their job or career choices.” I wasn’t going to tell him she tends to have short-lived relationships, so if he just wanted to have some fun, she was his girl. Nope, not my place. But I didn’t want him to approach her without understanding her.
“I, ahhhh, well, I should mention....you know she’s leaving when this weekend is over and the roads open again. I just mean to say, enjoy her company while she’s here.”
His face was serious as he nodded, “Right, of course.” Okay then. He never showed the slightest joy over spending time with Porsche, most guys were wondering how they got so lucky. Let’s face it, Porsche was a feminine storm that left men with silly grins on their faces even after she was long gone.
“I’m having dinner with her tonight, then I’ll be doing another few hours of a shift. You’re welcome to join us.” Now his eyes seemed to plead with me. Was he afraid of my best friend?
“Johan, I wouldn’t dream of being a third wheel and interfering in the two of you having time to get to know each other.” I wasn’t about to coddle the strong homicide detective due to meet a velvet tigress. What doesn’t kill you...