Dangerous Secret [The Pinnacles of Power Prequel] (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Jessica Lauryn

  She had to question him. But, what would she ask? Moreover, was she prepared for what she would find? If it was all a crazy hunch, she’d blow her chances of getting a reference from this place for sure. But on the odd chance that the card belonged to the same Christopher Barrows, she might finally learn why her father was killed.

  Taking a towel from the shelf, Abigail reasoned that the man who’d stopped in today didn’t seem like the vengeful type. In fact, he was being sweet. Sweeter than any guy she’d met in a long time. Perhaps she could trust him not to tattle on her, and to tell her the truth about what she’d seen in his pocket. At least, maybe if she broached the subject very carefully she could.

  Abigail glanced in the mirror frame beside the door. She ran her shaky fingers through her hair and picked up a couple of clean rags. Lifting her chin, she took a deep breath and stepped through the door.

  Looking around the room, she blinked twice. The ice cream parlor was empty, the business card no longer on the counter.

  Her handsome customer was gone.

  Chapter 2

  The air was exceptionally warm as Abigail stepped out the front door of her house. Coming past the wooden bench and the hydrangea bushes, she observed that the sky was very clear. The peak of Cathedral Ledge could easily be seen from her mother’s small porch. A rare occurrence for early April—it was definitely going to be a hot summer.

  Driving along the wooded back roads near her home, Abigail marveled at how life in North Conway had become almost predictable. She had been living in the rural town since she was eight years old. Both her mom and her dad had wanted to get out of the city, and, being too young to argue, she and her older brothers Matt and Sam had come along for the ride. There’d been the plus sides to living in the mountains—kayaking in the summers, hiking to view points that few people in the world had seen. But the older she got, the more Abigail wished for a shakeup to what had become her everyday life. Or at least, she longed for the magic North Conway had seemed to possess before her father was killed.

  A senior in high school, Abigail had been in gym class when she’d gotten the news about her dad. Her father had said he would be doing an inventory at his restaurant, so she hadn’t been surprised when he didn’t come home the night before. When the principal and guidance counselor told Abigail’s teacher they needed to speak with her privately, Abigail had begun to shake and her heart had never pounded so hard in her chest. Seeing her mom in the hallway, the distraught look in her eyes, she’d begun to cry hysterically. She hadn’t stopped crying for more than a week.

  Life had never been the same after that moment. Abigail had somehow graduated high school, and even kept her place on the swim team. But she’d had to push herself with everything she had to finish that final semester. Her mom, who’d been working to finish her own teaching degree, had been forced to drop out of school and go to work as a clerk in her friend Margaret’s gift shop. Eventually Alice MacKenzie had opened a store of her own. But that was more than five years later, long after she’d left her real dreams behind her.

  Very much in need of something to do to keep her mind off of the way her life had so abruptly changed, Abigail had spent a good portion of her late teen years helping her mother around her store. When that wasn’t enough of a distraction, she’d helped her brothers, who were getting settled into their new homes. Sam had stayed relatively local after moving out, but Matt, who had never been the same since their father’s death, relocated to the west coast with his high school sweetheart, Lucy.

  Abigail hated being so far away from Matt, even five years after the fact. But his absence wasn’t the source of her daily nightmares. Her dad had been her protector, the man who’d been there every day, keeping their family safe and secure. Without him, life and everything that came with it was a thousand times scarier. Seeing Christopher Barrows’s business card in the ice cream parlor a few weeks ago had brought that fear to life with a vengeance. At the time, she’d believed she must have seen it for a reason. But in dwelling on it, she’d felt as though her father had died all over again.

  Obviously Abigail had been wrong about the card. The so-called murder that had taken place at the Washington Valley Hotel was actually a suicide, according to the official police record. The word on the street was that the cops had been trying to cover up a botched investigation, and Abigail had come to accept that the only connection between the business card and her dad’s murder was her overactive imagination.

  It was a perfect time to be starting a new job, as she was in serious need of a new focus. Though it had taken a little longer than the manager had said, she’d waited patiently for the Washington Valley Hotel to be ready for its new staff. Then, when she’d been given the high sign, she gave Mr. Gibbons her two weeks’ notice. The day she’d walked through the ice cream parlor doors, she’d felt as though a new chapter in her life had begun. And the possibilities of what she was going to do during that chapter were limitless.

  Of course, it hadn’t been easy saying good-bye to a steady income. In fact, it had been one of the most difficult things Abigail had ever done. But the potential reward of doubling her salary had pushed her to make the much-needed change, and in the end it looked like it was going to pay off. Besides, her days of being afraid were a thing of the past. She’d been given an opportunity. And it was an opportunity that she intended to make the very most of.

  As Abigail came around the curve of Crawford Notch Road, Julia’s dad’s house came into view. The cottage was nestled between several tall pine trees and it stood a good distance back from the road. Its red-brick chimney let people driving by know of its existence. The river behind it could barely be seen at all.

  Abigail and Julia had met on the high school swim team during their junior year, right after Julia moved to town. They’d been attached at the hip ever since. Julia was six months older, and she never let Abigail forget it. Julia was anxious to get a place of her own, whereas Abigail didn’t mind the thought of staying home a few more years. She hated being alone—always had, always would.

  “There’s one I didn’t see coming,” she said a few minutes later, as Julia climbed into the passenger side of her car.

  Julia, whose typical ensemble consisted of a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, was wearing a black suit jacket and matching pants. She wore a dressy white shirt beneath the jacket, and she’d swept her wavy red hair into an updo that made her look about ten years older than she actually was. Her dark blue eyes and creamy complexion were the only things about her that Abigail even recognized.

  “Too much?” Julia asked, sitting back carefully as though trying to avoid wrinkling her fancy clothes. “I was going for professional. My references all came back okay, but the general manager didn’t seem especially talkative during our second interview. I figure it never hurts to make a good first impression, even if it is the third time you’re meeting a person.”

  Not a bad idea, Abigail thought, looking down at her own cotton shirt and slacks. She glanced at her reflection, her mid-length blonde hair that was looking so-so, and pale face complimented by a minimal amount of makeup. If she had the time she’d probably just go back home and change. Her hard-edged best friend was actually wearing lip gloss. And the car reeked of cheap perfume. Just what exactly was up with Julia, anyway?

  Abigail’s body tensed as she pulled her car out of Julia’s driveway. First impressions weren’t exactly her strong suit. Though it had been almost two months, she still cringed every time she thought back on that day at the ice cream parlor, when that incredibly gorgeous guy had walked in and she’d exploded his milkshake all over him. It had to be one of the most embarrassing moments of her twenty-three years of existence.

  “You’re not thinking about it again, are you?” Julia asked.

  Abigail forged an innocent expression. “It?”

  “Black hair, blue eyes. Do I really have to draw you a picture, Abigail?”

  No, the picture was already in her mind in full Technicolor.
Abigail avoided her friend’s eyes.

  “Come on, Abs. Your milkshake-mishap is nothing compared to some of the embarrassing stuff I’ve done. As far as Mr. Baby Blues is concerned, you’ve lived in North Conway since grade school and this is the first time you’ve seen him. He was probably here on vacation, and from the sound of his wardrobe selections, trying to get a jump on fishing season. Seriously. Just chill.”

  Abigail had to admit that Julia had a point. North Conway wasn’t heavily populated, and it was a very popular vacation spot. It was more than likely that the man had only been staying in town a short while. There was no reason to believe that he lived there. Not when nearly everyone they knew had moved out of state after college.

  It was disappointing, but her not seeing that guy again would be for the best. Not only had she completely embarrassed herself in front of him, but the business card he was carrying had caused her a lot of unnecessary angst, not to mention it had gotten her overly excited about nothing. What she needed to do was to focus on her new job. The manager had explained that the new staff was being hired on a trial basis, that they’d help out with the grand reopening and if they did a good job they could stay on afterward. And even with the risks involved with that sort of arrangement, Abigail still hadn’t been able to turn down the money they were offering. She needed to prove to the hotel managers what a valuable employee she was. It was the only way she was ever going to earn her early childhood education degree. And that was the only way she was going to get the job of her dreams.

  As she turned off the highway, Abigail drove onto what was a relatively steep hill. She had to shift her car into low gear, which was something she’d done only one other time since purchasing it. Reaching the top, she saw a large wooden sign, carved into which were the images of two black bears and the name, “Washington Valley Hotel.”

  Behind the sign, and the forest of trees behind it, stood a very large clearing. As Abigail drove through it, she saw that the hotel consisted of four large buildings. The smallest, which was positioned far out in front of the others, had dark-green doors that were in need of a serious paint job. The three buildings behind it—each one longer and taller than the one in front of it—contained a series of doors and shutters that needed to be repainted as well.

  The hotel certainly had no shortage of rooms. It had that quaint North Conway feel to it, but it was significantly larger than the other hotels along the highway. Its buildings all centered around a swimming pool, which was drained of water and appeared to be as much in need of attention as the rest of the property. There were Adirondack lounge chairs stacked up on the patio, all of which were dirty, and a playground with a slide and no swings.

  To the left of it all, in what was apparently the parking lot, stood a large group of people. Catching sight of the man who’d interviewed her, Abigail pulled into the first open parking space. She took a deep breath as she turned off her engine and walked across the pavement with Julia.

  As they approached the group, Mark Becker raised his eyebrows in their direction. Mark was tall, strikingly so, and had a head that towered above everyone else’s. His thick, sandy-blond hair caught the glint of the sun. With dimples and light green eyes, Abigail imagined he was the epitome of what the thirty-something crowd of women would find attractive. She smiled in his direction as he came toward her and Julia.

  “Abigail. Julia.” Mark greeted them with firm handshakes. “We’re very glad to have you ladies here. Welcome aboard.” With an exaggerated frown, he added, “You are both aware that you’re five minutes late?”

  “That was my bad,” Julia volunteered. “I have to have my morning coffee. I’m absolutely no good without it.”

  “Well, we’ll have to make sure we have the break room stocked with plenty of coffee. I wouldn’t want my employees petering out when there’s work to be done.” Mark cracked an unexpected smile.

  His eyes veered in the direction of a young woman with long, icy-blonde hair. The girl had way too much cleavage, and looked more like she was about to work the night scene than any sort of day job. She was wearing a very short skirt and carrying a purse that was probably worth as much money as Abigail’s car.

  His gaze trailing from her pink high-heeled shoes to her enormously long eyelashes, Mark said, “Kimberly Russell. Very nice to see you here, so bright and early. And looking quite lovely, I might add.”

  “Why, thank you, Mark.” Kimberly, who was several inches taller than Julia and practically towered over Abigail, extended a bright smile. “You’re not looking so bad yourself.”

  “Oh, this is gonna be fun,” Julia muttered under her breath. She gazed in Abigail’s direction, making no effort to hide the fact that she was rolling her eyes.

  Abigail shot her friend a knowing smile. The outfit was definitely over-the-top, as was the flirting. Kimberly was the spitting image of every cheerleader she and Julia had tried to avoid in high school. Not that it mattered. She had much more important things to focus on than what some underdressed barfly tried to get away with wearing in the workplace.

  A man wearing the same shirt as Mark’s, a navy polo with the hotel’s insignia stitched into the breast pocket, approached Abigail and Julia. His hair was blond, like the manager’s, but darker and wavier. He was nicely built, clearly spent a lot of time at the gym, and had a handsome, distinguishable smile. Abigail felt her cheeks flushing as he came beside her.

  “Hey, slick. Long time no see. So”—Julia turned to Abigail—“this is my very best friend in the world, Abigail MacKenzie. Abs is just amazing. Did I tell you she’s studying to be a teacher, too? She’s great with kids. Really she’s great with everything. She’ll definitely be a wonderful addition to your chain gang.”

  “Thank you for that insight, Julia. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Abigail.”

  “It’s nice to meet you as well,” Abigail said, sneaking a look at Julia over her shoulder. It had been a while, but she got the distinct feeling her friend was trying to set her up. She typically hated when Julia butted into her business, but in this case, she might be willing to make an exception.

  “Will everyone please follow me to the lobby,” Mark said several moments later.

  The crowd made its way up the hill and onto the sidewalk. As they approached the building positioned closest to the highway, Abigail observed that the structure was rather homey in spite of its size. A porch, furnished with old-fashioned country decor, stood in front of the lobby. Along the shaded section of cement were a long black bench and a pile of firewood, which appeared to be freshly chopped.

  Mark stood in front of the door. He whistled, succeeding in getting the chatterers to quiet down. “At this time, I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to all of you. From the bottom of my heart, I want to tell you all how happy we are that you’ve decided to work at the Washington Valley Hotel.” After a brief introduction and an opportunity for a few more handshakes, he said, “Now that you’ve all had chance to meet one another, I’d like to introduce you to your team leaders. Of course, I’m Mark Becker, your general manager. And this is Shane Dempsey, your assistant manager.” He pointed to the man Julia had introduced Abigail to moments before.

  As Mark introduced the housekeeping manager and the maintenance manager, Abigail’s ears began to perk up. She was part of a real team, nothing at all like “Ice Cream Hell.” Maybe the hotel would actually be a place where she could make something of her young life. She’d be making a decent amount of money, and she would undoubtedly develop some skills that she could take with her after she left. The opportunity seemed invaluable, even if she wasn’t going to get to put away a murderer.

  “And last but not least…”

  An engine roared as a car sped past them to the top of the hill. It was an expensive looking vehicle, a shiny red sports car with large wheels and big, flashy headlights. The car, which looked more like a race car than something anyone ought to be driving to work in, screeched as it pulled into the last vacant parking space. As the
group stared at it in awe, Abigail turned her attention back to Mark.

  Their new leader had yet to introduce the front desk manager. She was glad to know who the other managers were but Abigail was particularly curious about her own supervisor. She really hoped they liked one another. During the short while she’d been a part of the workforce, she’d learned that getting along with the person above her was possibly the most important thing of all.

  “Nice of you to join us, Mr. Newberry,” Mark said. “We were beginning to think that you’d forgotten about us.”

  “No, sir,” a deep male voice answered.

  The crowd stepped aside as the owner of the sports car made his way through to the front. Only the top of his head was visible, but he was tall as well, and had to be to be seen in such a large crowd. As he got to the front of the group, Abigail saw that he had black hair and he was wearing a very expensive looking suit jacket over the hotel polo, second dressiest only to Julia’s pants suit. As he turned and faced the group, she gasped. Her body trembled. She almost dropped her purse on the ground.

  It was the man from the ice cream parlor! The man who was not only the biggest heartthrob she had ever set eyes on, but also the one she had completely humiliated herself in front of. How could this be happening? What in the world could she have done to deserve it?

  “Sorry,” the man said as he stepped beside Mark. “I was stuck in traffic.”

  Mark cleared his throat loudly as he faced the group. “Everyone, this is Ryan Newberry. Your front desk supervisor.”

  Abigail crouched as low to the ground as she could. It had been so many weeks since the incident that she had practically convinced herself it hadn’t happened. She’d thought this guy was a tourist, that his only connection to North Conway was a fetish for freshwater bass. Not only was he a local, but he was going to be working in the same place she was. Moreover, he was going to be her boss!