[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.” I got a better look at the man.He was on the shorter side, heavy set, and had blond hair that was shaved close.His round face made him look heavier than he actually was, and maybe even older.I guessed him to be somewhere in his late thirties to early forties.“You from this area?”He shrugged.“From Roanoke, not too far away.”I shivered from the chilly breeze, but immediately thought of Jackie.My shakes intensified as I remembered looking at her lifeless body.My job as a crime scene cleaner meant I worked with the aftermath after the body had been taken away already.Seeing dead bodies … that could shake anyone up.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 27I’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 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]