She needed to talk to Mary. The other ladies would be going back to their rooms now to get ready, and it would give her another chance to pry. Though, Shea was pretty sure that Mary was the one who’d broken into Cross’s room. And now she was also certain that she’d done it at Hamilton’s behest.
Yawning wide, Shea yanked the door open.
Mr. Daley stood ready for the day, with his hands in his pockets and a beaming smile. “Cousin Elizabeth, don’t you look charming first thing in the morning.”
Her gaze fell on his cravat and blurred. She blinked. Dang, those things are big.
Daley cleared his throat and pointed to his face. “My eyes are up here.”
She shook her head to get rid of her grogginess. “What do you want?” She remembered her nightgown and crossed her arms over her chest. Maybe he was her cousin here, but in the real world, he was not.
“Who is it?” Smith’s chipper voice called.
Who was that happy right after they woke up? It wasn’t natural. Shea rubbed her eyes.
Daley stepped forward. Shea stepped back. His eyes widened in plain delight as he took in the sight before him. “Oh, how cozy.”
Smith squealed and pulled the blankets over her chest. Cross groaned and rolled over.
Gray, somehow miraculously wide awake, pushed the blankets down to expose her legs. She ran her hand through her dark hair and waved. “Mr. Daley.”
He nodded.
Feeling bewildered, Shea glanced between the two. Why was this happening? She shook her head to clear her thoughts, placed her hand on Mr. Daley’s chest, and pushed him back into the hall. She pulled the door closed behind them.
His hand went to hers where it rested on his chest, and she ripped it away.
“Now I can start my day,” he said infusing innuendo into his tone. At first, she thought he was talking about Miss Gray, but then decided that he probably meant the bed full of women.
Still, she found herself beyond irritated and wanting to accuse him of something. “Please tell me you didn’t wake me up to flirt with Miss Gray?”
He rolled back on his heels and grinned his self-satisfied grin. “I didn’t wake you up to flirt with Miss Gray.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Are you just saying that because I told you to?”
“Am I?” His eyes crinkled a little in the corners.
“What do you want?” she barked.
He let out a low whistle. “Someone’s not a morning person.”
She turned to retreat, and pretend this never happened.
He grabbed her arm. “My aunt sent me to inform you that Mary will not be with you this morning. Jessica will attend to you as soon as she’s done helping Miss Cross.”
“Oh,” Shea said. “What happened to Mary?”
“It’s very exciting, but I wouldn’t dare steal my aunt’s thunder. I’m sure she’ll explain the whole embarrassing ordeal to you after breakfast.”
“Embarrassing?”
He tapped the side of his nose and winked before walking off.
Mr. Rafferty had done that same thing the other day. She went back into her room. The other ladies were up now, and Miss Smith and Miss Cross were both staring expectantly. Miss Gray’s dark glare and stiff upper lip expressed a different emotion.
“Mary, won’t be able to help me get ready this morning.” She turned to Cross who was stretching her arms in front of her. “I guess I’m sharing Jessica with you.”
“Who’s Jessica?” Cross asked. “Mary was my chambermaid too.”
Aha! Mary had easy access to Cross’s room, and now after a secret rendezvous in the middle of the night with Hamilton, she was gone. That’s it; she was going to talk to Cross before she left this room. She needed to know what was on that flash drive. She also thought she should talk to Hamilton. Yesterday he and Mary had been in the house when the rest of the actors had been out. She remembered hearing them talk right before he’d bandaged her finger. They’d had time to prepare.
Talking with Cross would be easy enough—the petite woman was still in bed while Miss Gray and Miss Smith were already gathering their stuff. She was glad that Cross wasn’t a morning person either.
“If we’re sharing a chambermaid I’d better hurry on back to my room.” Cross scooted to the edge of the bed and put her slippers on.
“Someone broke into your room, didn’t they?” Best to be upfront.
Cross gave her an are-you-crazy look. “No, I told you, I’m just messy.”
“Then why did you immediately scurry under your bed looking for that flash drive you had hidden under there?”
Cross bit her lip and stared at her feet. She seemed so vulnerable all of a sudden; it felt weird. Cross was the last person Shea would ever have called vulnerable. She seemed so tough most the time.
“I wouldn’t have asked,” Shea said, “but you were freaked. If someone is breaking into rooms and stealing things, then we need to tell Mrs. Rafferty. Don’t you think?” She sat in a wooden chair that stood by the full-length mirror.
Cross straightened her tiny shoulders and looked at Shea with her deep brown and now determined eyes. “No, I don’t think. I went through my room. Nothing was missing.”
Yes! She’s talking. “So, someone did break in?”
Cross gave her a wary look, then crossed her arms. “Do you know who I am?”
Was she threatening her? Shea wasn’t sure. “Um—”
“It’s been nice not being recognized... I’m an actress. Pretty big in the indie-circles. I came to do research for a role I was offered, and—” Cross bit her lip and her eyes glossed over.
“And?”
“To get away from my ex-boyfriend. He’s been all over the news, and I just wanted to be somewhere the news wasn’t. We broke up months ago, and then somehow the night before I come here I get a package from him at my hotel in Sacramento with a thumb drive in it. When I saw my room had been broken into I assumed it was a fan looking for a souvenir, but I had to be sure the thumb drive was still where I’d left it. I had no reason to think it wouldn’t be, but I panicked.” She sniffed. “I don’t know why he couldn’t just send me a letter. He’s so cryptic.”
A prickly, tingly sensation ran its way from the top of Shea’s head all the way down to her toes. “What’s on the drive?”
Cross shrugged. “Not a clue. I didn’t have my computer with me because I was coming here. I’m guessing an apology. He’s been trying to get back with me since I walked out on him. Sending me flowers, and candy, big teddy bears. He won’t drop it.”
Her spine stiffened. Why hadn’t they heard about any of these gifts prior? If the man was so intent on getting her back, wouldn’t they have found him from one of his gifts by now? And he was in Sacramento the night before she came here. Could it be? “Is he an actor too? Would I know him?”
“Not an actor—a studio executive. Brian Peltier?”
“Of Lock Studios?” It took everything in her to keep from gasping, though she nearly fell out of her chair. Brian Peltier was the man who was murdered in Sacramento two nights before she’d come here. His murder was the one causing all the problems between SacPD, LAPD, and the FBI. And before he’d died, he’d gone to Cross’s hotel and had left her a flash drive?
Why would he leave witness protection to bring her a flash drive? If she were in his shoes, why would she do it? Because he thought he was going to die and wanted whatever was on that flash drive to be safe. That’s why.
Cross smiled, then frowned. “Yes. I’m not surprised you’ve heard of him. He’s quite the eligible bachelor.”
“Oh, no, I’m not, I mean—” Wait, huh? No. She shook her head. “I have a friend who’s a fan of Lock Studio’s movies.”
Cross eyed her warily. “You’ve seen him though, right? Pictures?”
Shea tried to picture him but got nothing. “No, sorry. Why?”
Cross’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want to get back together with him, but it’s hard. I did love him,
and he’s so persistent. I’m just so done with cheaters. Why is finding a nice guy so hard?”
Double crap, you still love him. And he’s dead. And you have no idea. What am I going to do?
“It’d be so much easier if I was interested in someone. Even here.” Cross threw her arms up. “The men here are so good looking and charming, and I feel nothing. What is wrong with me?”
“Nothing. They’re actors. I’m having a hard time getting into the role playing too. When you know everything they’re saying is fake, that they’re being paid to flirt with you, it loses its charm.”
“Miss Smith and Miss Gray are into it.”
Shea chuckled. “It doesn’t surprise me. This place has to appeal to lots of women. Otherwise it would have gone out of business a long time ago.” Shea could guess why it appeared so easy for Smith and Gray. Smith was young and naive. Gray was, well, not here for the romance of it, but for the lust of it, if her trip to Daley’s door last night were any sign.
“Did you think it would be easy?” Cross asked.
“No, not really.” Or at all.
“I did.”
Chapter Twelve
At breakfast, the women took their seats as the men dished up their morning meals. Mr. Daley finished making up two plates of food and sat one at Gray’s place. Miss Gray batted her lashes at him, then turned her gaze on Shea.
Shea pulled her chin back and peered at her hands interlaced in her lap. Crap, she’d been caught staring. She glanced at Daley through her lashes, trying to be conspicuous. His smile widened and she dropped her gaze again. She wondered if he had any other expression than the amused cocky one that always seemed to adorn his handsome face.
Not that it mattered. What did matter was Cross and her connection to Brian Peltier. She thought over the few details that she remembered from his case: he was in witness protection in LA, had run off to Sacramento where he’d been killed. He’d known he was going to die all right. There was no other reason he’d have fled protection. At least not reasonably. She doubted very highly that he would’ve risked his life to make up with Cross. So, what was on the flash drive? And was someone here trying to steal it?
“Elizabeth dear,” Mr. Rafferty said coming up behind her.
She started, her elbow flew into the arm rest of her chair knocking her funny bone. “Ouch.” She grabbed her elbow and rubbed it.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” He rested a hand on her back.
“I’m good.” She squeezed her elbow.
His blue eyes sparkled with amusement. Was she the butt of some joke that she was unaware of? She ran her tongue over her teeth, even though she’d brushed them this morning, just to check for something stuck there, then touched her hair.
“You look spritely this morning,” he said and extended a hand to her. “May I have a word?”
“Of course.” She stood and followed him to a large bay window while trying to figure out how a person could look “spritely.” Then she thought of her predicament and decided to enlist the old man’s help. She stopped him before he moved to the table.
“Mrs. Rafferty is indisposed this morning.” His normally cheerful expression became solemn. “It falls to me to apologize for the absence of Mary this morning. I trust Jessica took good care of you?”
“Yes, thank you.” She kept her voice low. “But… what happened to Mary?”
He looked out the window. “We don’t know. We found a note saying she was leaving and thanking us for the opportunity to have worked here. We did have a toilet flood in the middle of the night that she helped clean up. I suppose after dealing with that kind of thing one too many times, you get fed up.”
A toilet overflowed? Well, that would explain the conversation she’d heard. She’d said she was thorough.
Hadn’t Mary told her how much she loved this place a couple nights ago? This had to be connected to the conversation she’d had with Hamilton the other night. Somehow.
“Are you sure she’s gone?”
“Well, we can’t find her anywhere.” He knit his brow together. “Is everything all right, dear?”
She took a deep breath. “I think Mary may have broken into Miss Cross’s room yesterday.”
He considered her briefly before continuing. “Why didn’t Miss Cross come to me?”
“She doesn’t want to cause a fuss. Listen, I know you are aware of who Miss Cross is. She thought a crazed fan had broken in to steal a souvenir. She’s pretty shaken.”
“If it was Mary, then she’s gone now. Though, I have a hard time picturing the girl stealing anything. But, that’s not why you brought this up, now is it?”
She shook her head. “Does she have security?”
He looked at the dining table, then turned his back more fully to them and whispered. “She does, an unpleasant lot, if you ask me. We told Miss Cross that they would have to stay off the main property if she was to bring them, but they would have seen Mary leave. There’s only one road out of here.”
“I think they should be told what’s happened.”
He stared down his nose at her. “I suppose so. I do wonder why you’re taking such an interest in this.”
Shea swallowed. “It’s just as I said. Miss Cross is freaked out, but she won’t do anything about it. I figured we could tell her bodyguards and then let her know after the fact. She might not be thrilled that we went behind her back, but I bet it’d give her peace of mind.”
“Practical and thoughtful,” he said. “No wonder he likes you.”
Shea frowned. We’re still playing the game right now? Really?
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you.” This had been so much easier than she thought it was going to be.
“They’ll be here after lunch. Do you know where the office is?”
“Yes, Mr. Hamilton got me a band-aid, I mean plaster, yesterday.”
Rafferty smiled. “Considering that we are talking about celebrities and bodyguards I don’t mind you saying band-aid. Honestly, you can say band-aid, or light bulb, or Arnold Schwarzenegger for all I care. I love this place because I love my wife, but even I watch Sunday night football.”
“For shame.” She chuckled.
He tilted his head back and laughed. “Yes, well, don’t tell anyone. Now let me take you to your seat before we start getting the third degree from the group.”
She sat in her usual seat and thanked Mr. Rafferty who sauntered off to the breakfast bar. A moment later a plate appeared in front of her with eggs, meat, potatoes, and toast. Her gaze went up the arm of the man delivering the food and frowned when she saw Daley.
“You need to eat, cousin; you have been picking at your food like a baby bird. It’s not healthy, and if you refuse to sleep as well, you must get your energy from somewhere.”
“I’m not that hungry.” Especially not for what was on that plate. Too heavy. It was more likely to put her in a food coma than to give her energy.
Mr. Hamilton cleared his throat just behind her; he too had a plate of food. He took a step closer and slid the plate down next to the one Daley had given her. Daley had chosen to ignore him and was now taking his seat around the table next to Miss Gray. Hamilton’s plate had toast and fruit. Much more palatable than the plate Daley had given her. She still didn’t particularly feel like eating, but at least Hamilton’s plate wasn’t heavy.
“Uh, thank you,” she said as he took the seat next to her.
“I already got her breakfast.” Daley took a bite of his food. “She needs something solid.”
“Actually,” Shea scowled at Daley, “fruit sounds great.” She pushed the plate Daley had given her forward.
“I’ll take that,” Hamilton said.
This was the first time Hamilton had sat next to her at a meal. He smiled at her. A real honest to goodness, genuine smile. Though it wasn’t huge or anything, but real, yes. It extended to his eyes. Definitely real. It didn’t matter that it made her heart flutter; because he w
as a suspect and she needed to interrogate him.
“Why are you staring at me,” Mr. Hamilton asked.
“Uh…” She wanted to slap herself. She really needed to work on her brain to facial and body expressions sensor. “I can’t remember.” She grabbed her fork. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as she avoided the eyes of the man seated across from her. His shenanigans were getting out of hand. She’d ignore him. Avoidance as a form of defense.
“You look lovely this morning,” Hamilton said. She almost dropped her fork. “I take it you slept well?”
“Well, I had three other women in my bed, and one of them was draped over me most the night, but other than that it was fine.”
A deep chuckle came from Daley. Not able to help it, she glanced up. Their gazes met—his eyes crinkled at the corners. She thought of what she said, and grinned. She tried to stop it, but couldn’t. He laughed again. Then she laughed. Then they were both laughing. Together. Okay, having all those women in one bed had been ridiculous.
She covered her eyes for a second, then faced Hamilton expecting a similar reaction, but his lips were pursed and his glare bore into her. Her stomach twisted. She couldn’t remember reading anything regarding sleepovers or speaking of being in bed with a bunch of women in the booklet. But on second thought that was a statement that would make even the most modern of men sit up straight and pay attention. Daley had paid attention.
Clearly—he was still chortling.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” She turned her attention on her fruit, though she suddenly was suddenly more interested in Daley’s plate.
“Come for a walk with me?” Hamilton smoldered at her. It was disarming. His smolder. She’d never been smoldered at before. She’d seen the other actors smolder, well all but Asher. But she was pretty sure he didn’t know how. Poor actor guy. Even her cousin had smoldered at Miss Gray. This was the first time a smolder had been aimed at her. She’d had criminals smolder at her before, but that was almost always pathetic and funny.
Regencyland- The Bristle Park Murders Page 8