Cadaver at the Con

by Winnie Reed

  I was there for work, wasn’t I? Not for fun.

  I made it a point to smile wide at the people I passed on my way to the elevator, anyway, and at everybody waiting in line to register for the conference. Maybe this was how I’d spend the entire weekend. Standing in line.

  I’d done worse.

  Once I had my name badge, with Deidre’s newest book tucked firmly under my arm, I wove my way through what seemed like a million excited people and eventually found the conference room where the signing was to take place.

  The woman of the hour hadn’t arrived yet, but there were already throngs of happy fans waiting to meet their idol. There’d be no missing her once she showed up, thanks to the bigger-than-life banner tacked to the wall behind her table. A banner depicting a middle-aged woman with windblown blonde hair, her head tilted back just a little, her ruby lips parted to show perfect, white teeth. She was about to laugh because gosh, life was just so great and wasn’t she lucky to be one of the most popular authors in the whole world?

  Deidre Price had published twelve bestsellers, and all twelve of them were displayed in hardcover form along the length of the table behind which she’d be sitting when the signing started. All around me, the fans waiting in line talked about what her books meant to them.

  While I couldn’t consider myself a fan, per se, I’d read a few of her books and liked them well enough. I could relate to the praise of her ear for dialogue, how realistic her characters seemed. She had a talent for drawing emotion from a situation without manipulating the reader or making a scene feel rushed or cheapened.

  “I swear, her books have changed my life,” one woman gushed. “I was just divorced after thirteen years. I had no idea where to go, what to do. I was sure my life was over, that I wasted all that time and got nowhere. But then…”

  “You read about Bianca and how she reinvented herself,” another woman finished for her, eyes wide. She carried the newest Deidre book, holding it against her chest. “I know. I felt the same way.”

  Bianca Lawrence was the heroine of seven books in a series which hadn’t seen a new release in two years. I’d read the first two and could understand why a recently divorced woman who felt like she had nowhere to go would cling to a feisty, resourceful character who started an interior design business when her husband left her with an empty resume and an even emptier bank account.

  Bianca and her challenges and misadventures hadn’t spoken much to me, though. Probably because I was too young at the time. Too hopeful. I hadn’t been cheated on by Landon yet, either. Maybe it was time to pick those books up again…

  A buzz rose up over the room, and I could just make out a door opening behind the display table when I craned my neck to see around the people in front of me. When a woman who looked a heck of a lot like the woman on the banner emerged, just about everybody in line broke out in thunderous applause. I thought the divorcee in front of me might’ve been crying a little as she clapped.

  What would it be like to write something that left a person crying? Something that really reached out and gripped a reader, something they’d carry in their heart for always? I highly doubted anything I’d ever write would make that sort of an impression. I was passionate about food, especially good food that didn’t necessarily have to be fancy, but nobody cried over the review of a new restaurant.

  Except maybe the owner of said restaurant.

  The line started creeping forward by inches as one fan after another had their books signed, posed for pictures, praised Deidre up and down. She enjoyed it, or at least gave a good impression of enjoying it. I guessed I would, too, if that were me. Who wouldn’t want to meet the people whose lives they touched?

  Another thing I didn’t have the joy of doing. Jeez, I was depressing myself.

  My eyes wandered around the room, probably because I was looking for something to distract myself with.

  And who did I find but the guy from earlier? Still wearing a cap, still looking shifty. His fists were in the pockets of his khakis, clenched tight.

  He was staring at Deidre, I noticed. Glaring at her. His sharp jaw tightened. Even from halfway across the room, I sensed the tension all through him.

  What was his deal? He wasn’t wearing a badge the way almost everybody else was. Either he hadn’t found the time to register yet, or he wasn’t an attendee at all.

  It didn’t matter. I didn’t like the look of him, and I sure didn’t like the way he looked at her. Between the death glare he was shooting toward that table and the memory of how he’d treated Georgia, I wondered if somebody ought to mention him to security. For real, this time, not just as a threat.

  “Emma! Psst! Emma!” There they were, my aunties, standing near the back of the room. They must’ve just gotten in the line which snaked back and forth, and both of them were holding books to be signed.

  I tried to be inconspicuous about waving them over, one eye on the mystery man. If I could follow him, or at least let him know he wasn’t getting away with his stalking without anybody noticing, he might think twice about being a creep.

  “What do you want?” Trixie called out when I waved again. “We’re in line!” She even cupped her hands around her mouth to be heard.

  So much for being inconspicuous.

  “Would you come here, please?” I called out, withering a little when I felt the red-hot gaze of countless diehard fans on me.

  “No cutting,” one of them hissed, an older woman who looked about ready to cut me, no matter her feelings about line placement.

  “I—I have to go the bathroom and I want them to take my place,” I hissed back. “I’m too excited. I always get this way when I’m excited.” Sure, because telling everybody in earshot that I was incontinent when I got excited wasn’t humiliating at all.

  But it was better than starting a fight when Trixie and Nell slid into my place. I handed Nell my book. “Would you have her sign it for me?” I whispered, still watching my mystery man. He’d moved to another spot but was still watching Deidre.

  A glance toward the signing table told me she’d finally noticed him—and some of the flush left her cheeks. A trick of the light, maybe, but I had my doubts.

  Who was this guy?

  I had to find out. I just had to.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Trixie asked when I started off, hoping to keep myself half-hidden in the crowd.

  “She’s gonna pee herself if she doesn’t get to the ladies room,” the old woman informed them in a painfully loud stage whisper that attracted way more attention than I felt comfortable with. I practically crawled away, humiliated, the sound of soft laughter ringing in my ears.

  At least the creep hadn’t heard any of it, as far away as he was and so deeply focused on Deidre. How was I the only person who noticed him? Probably because we’d already made each other’s acquaintance. Everybody else was too busy chatting, discussing their favorite of Deidre’s books and the conference set to begin in the morning.

  I managed to almost reach him before bumping into a woman who carried five hardcover books in her arms. “Oof!” she squealed, almost losing her grip on the whole thing.

  “Sorry, sorry,” I murmured as I helped her keep a grip on the stack. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking.”

  “No, you weren’t,” she snipped, though she wasn’t the one I cared about.

  I cared about him, and he now knew I was tracking him. He snarled at me before slipping through a door leading out to the very crowded hall.

  Dang it! I elbowed my way through one cluster of people after another, my eyes always on the bobbing cap which stuck out above most of the heads around it. Even as I fought my way through so many unwitting people, I remembered that snarl.

  Did I want to get myself wrapped up with a guy who could look that vicious?

  I wasn’t wrapping myself up with him. I was only following him around in hopes of finding out what his problem was and yes, maybe I was wrapping myself up.

  It wasn’t for h
is sake, though, and it wasn’t even for Deidre’s. It was Georgia, who he’d bullied and would probably continue to bully if somebody didn’t put a stop to it. She seemed like a genuinely nice person, and she deserved to enjoy her first conference as an author without this guy lurking around, threatening her.

  I stopped at a crossroads, a wide hallway intersecting with the one I was currently fighting my way down. “No,” I groaned, a hand against my forehead. I’d lost him. The casino was to my left, and if he’d escaped there I didn’t have a chance of finding him. I couldn’t have found an elephant in there if I tried.

  There was no time to do anything but gasp when a hand grabbed my arm from behind, tight enough to hurt.

  “Stay out of this,” a voice growled. I didn’t know the sound of it, but I knew the smell of the breath against the side of my face. So gross.

  “What’s your problem?” I muttered, turning my face away so I wouldn’t have to get hit with the brunt of it. Funny how there were so many people around us but nobody noticed what was going on.

  Funny how I could’ve screamed for help, but didn’t. Because I didn’t think he was really a threat to me? Maybe. Or maybe because I had questions for this guy and didn’t want to scare him off before I got answers.

  “You’re becoming my problem,” he growled. “Don’t make me deal with you, too.”

  “You could deal with a toothbrush. Or mouthwash.” I elbowed him as hard as I could with my free arm and couldn’t help but feel vindicated when he grunted.

  By the time I turned to face him, he was gone again. I had the feeling it was for good this time.

  I’d never felt so completely alone in the middle of so many people, all of them going on with their lives, unaware that I existed.

  Chapter Five

  “What did you do then?”

  I shrugged, even though Deke couldn’t see me over the phone. He was all the way across the country, shooting a beach festival in Malibu. It seemed we couldn’t get our schedules in sync long enough to see each other for more than one afternoon or evening at a time.

  “I went back to the signing, and I met Deidre and told her what a great writer she is. Just like everybody else did who met her today.” I wandered down the hall to the elevator, dressed in my bathing suit and a long, linen coverup. My flipflops slapped against the carpet.

  “Hmm.”

  “Hmm? What was I supposed to do? Chase the guy down?”

  “No, that wouldn’t have been a good idea. It was better for you to leave things there. And you should keep leaving them there.”

  “Forget about it, you mean,” I sighed with a sinking heart.

  “That’s what I mean.”

  Rather than calling the elevator, I leaned against the wall. “I feel bad for Georgia. Maybe I should text her.”

  “Maybe,” he agreed. “She could probably use a friend, this being her first conference. It didn’t start out well, thanks to that guy.”

  “You’re right. I should’ve asked her to come for a swim with me.”

  “But then we wouldn’t get this chance to talk during the only free fifteen minutes I have all day.” Deke chuckled. “I tried to convince Marsha that my little sojourn to France wasn’t a vacation, but she wasn’t buying it. And now, she’s making sure I make up for it. I’ve been booked solid ever since. At least my schedule should clear up starting next week.”

  “That’s good to hear.” I couldn’t help but wonder if this meant we’d be able to spend time together. Would it look clingy if I asked? Yes, it would probably look clingy. He didn’t strike me as the type to enjoy being clung to.

  “It’s good to feel, too,” he added. “I’m exhausted.”

  “You deserve a vacation.” I couldn’t help but wonder why he worked at all. He didn’t need to, with all his money.

  “Maybe I’ll take one.” Heard a smile in his voice, and it made me smile, too. “Maybe I’ll spend some time at the beach next week. In a certain beach town where there’s a certain café that sells truly memorable pastries.”

  “Oh, really?” I bit my lip, trying to contain the giggle bubbling up in my chest. “You should take me to this café. I haven’t had a decent pastry in ages.”

  “Ages? Really?”

  “Okay. Since this morning. Let me pretend to be a person with self-control, would you?”

  “Fine. I’ll play along. So long as you serve me some of those aforementioned pastries when I come by.”

  “Are you kidding? If I so much as mention to my mom that you’re thinking of coming to town, she’ll arrange a welcome party.”

  “Oof. Maybe we’d better keep it a secret, then.” He laughed. “No offense.”

  “None taken, believe me. Mom’s not exactly on the top of my list right now.”

  “Why not?”

  The elevator car arrived, filled with giggling women who seemed like they’d been talking about books over a few cocktails. Good for them. I waited for them to file out into the hall before taking their place.

  “She neglected to mention my Aunt Nell and Auntie Trixie were planning on attending the conference, too. And they’ve already made it a point to find me twice today. Loudly.”

  “Oh, no!” He burst out laughing, laughter which continued much longer than it should have. To the point where I stared at my phone, frowning.

  “I’m glad you think this is hilarious,” I muttered. “Unless a donkey found its way to your hotel room.”

  “No, he left hours ago.” Deke snickered. “Sorry, but that’s so painfully your luck.”

  “Painfully,” I said. “Just the right word. Maybe you should be the writer.”

  “Oh, they mean well. Everybody who loves you means well. And everybody loves you.”

  My face went red. Everybody? I didn’t even want to get my hopes up and imagine he was talking about himself. “Not the dude from earlier,” I pointed out as a way to break the awkwardness.

  “He sounds like a jerk in general, so his opinion doesn’t matter.”

  “Will you really take a vacation in Cape Hope?” I couldn’t help asking.

  “Sure. Why not? I could use some beach time. And I’ve gotta admit, I didn’t get nearly enough time to admire the architecture the last time I was in town. I’ve been wanting to take a long, slow walk through town and soak in the history.”

  Hmm. That didn’t lend itself to long, slow afternoons together. Was it implied that we’d be together during these architecture walks? How was I supposed to know where I stood with this guy when he was so vague?

  “So long as I’m there to serve you, I guess.” I snorted.

  “Is that all you think I’m interested in?”

  “How should I know?” I asked, stepping out of the elevator. The lobby was no less busy than it was when I first got there, with five long lines of guests waiting to check in.

  “Wow, did you just walk into a stampede?”

  I could barely hear Deke over the roar.

  “Don’t change the subject,” I muttered, looking around for signs pointing me to the pool. What a relief when I found my way. Especially since I was able to escape the ear-splitting roar.

  “What was the subject?”

  “You know. Whether all you’re interested in is the food at the café.”

  He left me hanging for a second, the big jerk, going silent. Teasing me, I knew he was teasing me. This was hardly the time for him to develop a sense of humor.

  “You know it’s not all I’m interested in,” he finally sighed. “Emma, would I choose Cape Hope—charming and peaceful though it is—over any other beach in the world if you had nothing to do with the decision? You’ve gotta know I wouldn’t. Even if I do need a little peace and charm in my life.”

  I came to a stop without checking to see whether anybody was behind me who might cause a crash. Lucky for me, if anybody was back there, they paid better attention than I did and managed to sidestep. I might not have noticed if they hadn’t.

  “Oh. Okay.” I could bare
ly whisper. “That sounds good.”

  “I thought so, too,” he whispered back.

  It was like floating in a dream. It wasn’t like I didn’t know he liked me, but when he put it that way—reminding me that he could go anyplace else in the world, because he definitely could—there was no calming the flutter in my chest.

  I stepped out onto the patio surrounding the huge, lit pool. The humid air hit me right in the face, making me long for the cool of the water. There were four pillars, one at each corner of the pool, and a glass ceiling spanned them to cover the water. A nice idea, giving people the chance to swim even if it was rainy and glum outside.

  Only the gate was closed and locked, and the chairs arranged all around the pool were empty. “I didn’t think it was closed this early,” I murmured, looking around for a sign.

  “What?”

  “The pool. I thought it was open until ten, and it’s barely nine. Darn it! Am I ever gonna have the chance to swim, for heaven’s sake? I thought for sure—”

  Movement caught my eye, robbing me of my train of thought. I stood on tiptoe, straining to see.

  “You thought what?” Deke asked. “Emma? You still there?”

  “Hmm? Oh, yeah. I’m still here.” I couldn’t be seeing what I thought I was seeing. I just couldn’t. “I thought I saw something floating in the pool, but it must’ve been a trick of the light.” Only there was hardly any light out there, only the ones underwater which cast an eerie glow over everything every time the water moved.

  “In the pool? Maybe one of those vacuum things that float on top, picking up leaves and such.”

  I saw it again, and this time I couldn’t pretend I was fooling myself. “No. I don’t think so.” I could barely speak over the lump in my throat, the tightness in my chest. Was that a head? Yes, floating face-down.