by Lena Gregory
“Savannah called earlier. She said you found a box of folders Bradley left. Is that the box on the counter in the kitchen?”
“Yes.”
“All right. Call Savannah to pick you up. I don’t want you alone until I figure out what’s going on.” He started to walk away.
“Who died and left you in charge?” she yelled after him.
He turned back slowly and met her gaze. “Bradley Remington and Don Reynolds. So far.”
At least this time she resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at his retreating back, leaving herself with some small shred of dignity. She got back into the car, slammed the door harder than necessary, and gave in and dialed Savannah’s number.
She picked up on the first ring. “Are you okay? What’s going on? I’ve been calling you for the past ten minutes. You didn’t answer, so I tried Hunt, and he didn’t answer, and I was—”
“Savannah.”
“What?”
“Stop rambling, so I can tell you what happened.”
“Sorry. Is everything okay?”
“No. Hunt found Bradley’s attorney in my yard.”
“What was he doing there?”
“I have no idea.”
“Well, did you ask him?”
“No.”
“What did Hunt say? He would have asked him.”
“I’m sure he would have, if Reynolds was still alive to ask.”
Savannah gasped.
“Hunt won’t let me go into the house. He suggested I call you to pick me up, but could we just meet somewhere?” An idea was beginning to take form, an idea Hunt would be furious about if he knew, and even more furious she was involving Savannah. “How many hotels and motels are in the area?”
“One hotel, two small motels, and a couple of bed and breakfasts. But you are not staying at a hotel. You can stay with me. I’ll be right there to get you.”
“That’s okay. I’m not planning to stay at the hotels, I’m just looking for someone. Could you do me a favor, though, and make a list of any lodgings you can find and their addresses? I’m leaving now, so I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.”
“Didn’t Hunt say I should come pick you up?”
“Yup.” She disconnected before Savannah could argue. Hopefully, she’d do what she’d asked. She had a feeling there was little to no chance Hunt was going to share whatever was on that flash drive any time soon. And there was absolutely no chance Gia was going to sit by while a bunch of detectives smeared her name and cast suspicion on her. Again.
If Don Reynolds was in town for any longer than one day, he’d need a place to stay. If she could find where he was staying and get into his room, she might be able to find out what he was doing there.
She petted Thor, sent him into the back seat, and started the car.
Police vehicles now lined both sides of the street, and portable lights had been set up on her front and back lawn. Half the police force milled around her yard. She searched for Hunt among them. She spotted him by the front walkway, pointing toward the garage.
She shifted into gear and started to pull away.
Hunt looked over at her.
She waved as she pulled out. She’d trusted the police the last time, and by the time they reluctantly cleared her, it had been too late to save her reputation. She wouldn’t let that happen again. Time to take matters into her own hands.
Chapter 20
Gia reached across the passenger seat and held her hand out for the paper Savannah held. “Is that the list of hotels?”
Savannah leaned into the passenger side window and clutched the list tighter. “Are you out of your mind? You can’t go to that attorney’s hotel. Hunt will kill you. Then he’ll kill me for helping you.”
“I don’t want you to help me any more than you already have. All I need from you is the list, and if you wouldn’t mind watching Thor for a little while, that would be a big help.”
Savannah contemplated her for a moment.
She should have just looked them up herself. If she hadn’t said anything to Savannah, there’d be no witnesses to her lack of judgment. She’d just figured it would be easier for Savannah to do it since she knew the area.
“Fine. I’ll let you have the list, but I’m coming with you.”
“For the last time, I can’t take you with me, Savannah.”
“Then you don’t get the list.” She crumpled the paper and stood up.
“Oh, fine.” She held out a hand. It was a fight she wasn’t going to win. When Savannah dug in her heels, she could be stubborn as they come.
“Fine, what?” Savannah offered her sweetest smile, the one that meant you were treading on dangerous territory.
“Oh, just get in.” She shoved open the passenger door.
Savannah hopped in, dialed, and pressed her phone to her ear. “Hey, Joey. Can you do me a favor?”
Joey’s tinny laughter echoed through the car.
“Ha, ha. It’s not really a favor for me. It’s for Gia. Can you watch Thor for a little while?” She paused for a second. “Thanks. We’re out front.” She hung up and smirked at Gia. “Not that I don’t trust you to wait for me, but my brother will be right out to get him.”
“Give me the list.”
She smoothed the crumpled paper on the dashboard. “I wrote down the phone numbers too. I’ll take the bigger ones, and you take the bed and breakfasts. I don’t want to take a chance of getting someone I know on the phone and having Hunt find out I called.”
“We definitely do not want that to happen.” Gia started on her half of the list.
A knock on the window stopped her mid-dial. She rolled down the window. “Hey, Joey. Thank you for keeping him for me.”
“No problem. Savannah told me you got a dog.” He opened the back door and scooped Thor into his arms. “Oh, wow. He’s gorgeous.”
Thor wiggled wildly and licked Joey’s cheek.
He laughed. “Better not be gone too long, or you might not get this big fella back.”
Gia petted Thor’s head. “You be good, Thor, and I’ll be back in a little while.”
He licked her hand.
“See ya in a few.” Joey waved over his shoulder as he trotted off with Thor.
Savannah hung up her cell and crossed the second name off her list, then dialed the next number.
Gia struck out at the first bed and breakfast, then dialed the second on the list. She waited for the clerk to pick up.
Savannah hung up and shook her head.
“Boggy Creek Bed and Breakfast. How can I help you?”
“Hi. I’m trying to reach a friend of mine who’s staying with you.”
“What is your friend’s name?”
“Don Reynolds.”
“Umm…” The sound of keys tapping came over the line. “Yup, he’s staying with us. Would you like me to put you through to his room?”
“Oh, uh…” She hadn’t given any thought to what she’d do if she found him. Leaving a voice mail didn’t seem like a good idea. She had to figure Hunt would eventually get around to listening to it, and that would be rough to explain. “You know what? I’ll think I’ll surprise him and stop by and say hello.”
“Are you sure?” A slight note of suspicion had crept into the clerk’s tone. She probably thought Gia was Mrs. Reynolds trying to catch her husband cheating. Well…better that than knowing the truth.
“Positive. Thank you for your help.” She disconnected before the woman could ask any more questions.
“Where’d you find him?”
“Boggy Creek Bed and Breakfast. Do you know where it is?”
“Yes, actually. It’s on the outskirts of town, not far from your development and surrounded by woods.”
Gia shifted the car into gear and backed out of the driveway.
“To see if I can find anything out at the B&B.”
“You do know this is crazy, right?”
“Yup.”
“Hunt will eventually go out there and search his room.”
“I know. That’s why I have to hurry. Hunt’s probably closer than we are.” She hit the accelerator. “If we don’t get there first, I’ll lose my chance. Do you want me to let you out?”
“No. I’m in, but…” She bit her lower lip. “Do you think it’s dangerous?”
“He’s already dead, so I figure whoever killed him probably took off. Why hang around after the police are already all over the crime scene?”
“I guess that makes sense.”
They drove in silence. Despite her assurances to Savannah, she couldn’t help having misgivings. This could be a really bad idea. But what else could she do? Trust the police again? Not after what happened the last time. She didn’t have the strength to go through another trial, cameras flashing in her face every time she turned around. Besides, even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to stay in Boggy Creek, it should be her choice. She didn’t want to be forced to flee another home because of circumstances beyond her control.
Savannah pointed to a dirt road on the right. “It’s up there.”
Gia slowed. “If you want, I’ll park down the road and you can wait in the car.”
“Heck no.”
She was going to owe Savannah big time when all of this was said and done. She might even have to give in and head to the Keys with her for a weekend of rest and relaxation.
Gia followed the dirt road as it wound through the forest, then opened up into a large clearing. An old southern mansion stood amid lush gardens. Large trees draped in moss lined the small circular parking lot. “Is this it?”
“Yes.”
“No police cars. I guess, that’s a good sign.” She backed into a spot in the darkest corner of the parking lot—just in case she had to make a quick getaway—and parked. “Ready?”
“Do you have any sort of a plan?”
“Like what?”
Savannah rolled her eyes. “I don’t know, but they’re not going to just let you waltz up to his room and have a look around.”
“Hmm…true.”
“Do you have a piece of paper lying around?”
Gia dug through her purse for her notepad. “What are you going to do?”
“This is crazy, you know that, right?”
“You might have mentioned it.”
“Yeah, well, I just want to make sure you realize it, so I can say I told you so when things don’t work out.”
“Ha ha.” Gia handed her the notepad and a pen.
Savannah scribbled, Just stopped by to say hello, then signed it with an L surrounded by a fancy heart and ripped the page off the pad.
“What’s the L stand for? Lover?”
“No. Lunatic,” she huffed and folded the note in half. “Let’s go, before I change my mind.”
Gia hopped out of the car and they strode toward the front entrance.
Lanterns on arched poles lined the cobblestone walkway. Paddle fans turned lazily on both the wraparound porch and balcony ceilings. Rocking chairs and checkerboard tables sat sporadically across the porch. “This is beautiful.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Have you stayed here before?”
“Once, when I first returned to Florida and needed peace and quiet for a little while.”
Forget the Keys. She could easily be talked into spending a weekend at the old mansion.
Savannah held the big front door open for Gia to precede her. She leaned close and pitched her voice low. “Let me do the talking.”
No problem, since Gia had no idea what to say. She scanned the lobby. Ornate moldings, white columns, traditional furnishings. A curved stairway separated halfway up, each side leading to its own wing. No crime scene tape. Hopefully, that meant they’d beaten Hunt.
Savannah strode across the lobby to a small desk in the far corner.
An older woman turned her book over and propped her glasses on top of her gray hair. “Can I help you, ladies?”
Savannah turned on her most charming smile. “I sure hope so. I’m looking for a friend who’s staying here. Don Reynolds?”
“Oh, are you the young woman I spoke with earlier?” She frowned. “I could have sworn you had a New York accent.”
Gia started to open her mouth.
Savannah stepped on her toes. “Nope. I didn’t call. I thought I’d just pop over and visit.”
“Hmm…popular man, your Mr. Reynolds.”
“Sure is.” She shot the woman an exaggerated wink.
A blush crept up her cheeks. “Yes, well. Let me just ring him and see if he’s in.”
Savannah waited patiently for the woman to hang up, as if she didn’t already know he wouldn’t answer.
“I’m sorry. He’s not answering.”
“No worries. I didn’t really expect to get him, just figured it was worth a shot. Would you mind giving him this?” She held the note out.
“Of course, dear.” The woman took the note from Savannah and stuck it into a small box labeled 204.
Bingo. Gia followed Savannah back across the lobby and out the front door. “Now what?”
“Now we get into room two-oh-four before Hunt does.”
“How are we going to do that with her sitting smack in the middle of the lobby?”
“Oh, please.” She shot Gia a wicked smile. “Don’t even tell me you never snuck in a friend’s window after everyone went to bed when you were a teenager?”
Gia just stared at her. “I grew up in Manhattan. We lived on the ninth floor. Think about that for a minute.”
“Come on, then. I’ll show you how it’s done.” She laughed as she hooked her arm through Gia’s, looked over her shoulder to be sure no one was watching, and detoured off the path and around the side of the house.
Gia kept glancing behind her, but the night remained serene. Bugs chirped, something croaked loudly… She pushed away any thoughts of what might be hiding in the darkness, told herself her sweaty palms had nothing to do with whatever critters might be lurking in the dark and everything to do with the fact she was seriously considering breaking and entering. Despite what a lot of people believed, this would be her first ever illegal act. “Are you sure about this, Savannah?”
She stopped and turned to Gia, studying her in the moonlight. “It’s your call. If you don’t want to get in there, we’ll leave right now. Just say the word, and we’ll go get half a gallon of ice cream and a couple of spoons and sit on the couch and watch old movies. It’ll be just like old times.”
Gia studied the back of the building. Dim lighting lined the porch and balcony that ran all the way around the house. “How are we even going to get up there?”
Savannah toed off her sandals, took something out of her bag and stuffed it into her back pocket, then dropped her bag on top of her shoes. She climbed onto the porch railing, then reached over her head and gripped the second story balcony railings.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Gia mumbled under her breath.
“It’s this or strut through the lobby. Take your choice.” She walked her feet up the pillar, inching her hands up the railings a little at a time, until she could hook her elbow over the top of the railing and hoist herself onto the balcony.
Gia slid her shoes off and tried to follow the exact path Savannah had taken. Her hands slid off the pillar, and she balanced herself atop the porch railing and wiped them on her jeans. There had to be a better way.
“Hurry.”
Gia took a deep breath and tried again.
Savannah leaned over the railing and grabbed her wrists, then helped her climb over.
When she finally had her feet firmly planted on the balcony floor, she looked over the side. “Should I ask how we’re going to get down?”
“Probably not.”
Savannah had already turned away and was counting the windows and doors from the corner of the building. “The layout is really easy. Rooms one through ten are along the back of the house, starting at that end.” She pointed toward the closest corner. “There’s two double windows and a door leading onto the balcony in each room. So this one should be 204.”
She slid a nail file from her pocket and slipped it between the double windows.
“Seriously? That’s it?”
“Old-fashioned locks. Should pop right open.” She stepped back as one window swung wide. “Voila.”
“You’re sure it’s the right room?”
“Only one way to find out.” She climbed into the window and held the lace curtains aside for Gia to follow.
Once they were inside, she closed the window and flipped the hook over to lock it, then pulled the big privacy curtains closed and turned on her phone’s flashlight.
“Do you think it’s safe to turn on the lights?”
“Probably better not to. No sense drawing attention if the clerk walks by for anything.”
Gia turned on her own light. “Do you see a suitcase?”
“No. Try the closet.” Savannah slid the dresser drawers open, then slowly closed them, careful not to make any noise. “Nothing. They’re empty.”
Gia opened a set of louver doors. A small suitcase and a briefcase sat in the middle of the closet floor. “I wonder why he didn’t take the briefcase with him.”
“I don’t know.”
She set the bags on the bed and opened the briefcase. She rifled through the papers as fast as she could while juggling the phone to keep the flashlight beam aimed at what she was reading. Nothing caught her attention. What appeared to be case files, but none of them had Bradley’s name on them. She pointed at the letter head with Don Reynolds’s name embossed in gold script. “At least we know it’s the right room.”
Savannah nodded absently while she dug through his suitcase. “Something seems…wait.”