by Lois Winston
“What’s wrong?” Adam glanced at Scarlet in the rearview.
“Nothing.”
“Really? You look upset. What is it?”
“You’ve had a tail since we left the village.”
“Seriously?”
Trina turned in her seat and stared. “Where?”
“Black Cadillac Escalade.”
“Maybe they’re with the wedding party,” Adam said.
“Maybe.”
But Scarlet didn’t believe that. She had that feeling in her gut. There was something about the way the vehicle moved, as though the driver wanted to stay close but not too close. Scarlet shifted in her seat so she could look from the corner of her eye. The top of the windshield was tinted, so it wasn’t possible to see anyone’s faces and they were too far away to read a license plate.
“What do you want me to do?” Adam asked.
“Nothing for now.”
They drove along in tense silence, and Scarlet skimmed her gaze over the snow-covered fir trees. The sun was getting low, making everything gray and shadowy.
“See that road up ahead? Hang a left,” Scarlet said.
Adam hung a left.
The Escalade followed.
“There’s a private drive just before the curve. Turn in there,” Scarlet told him.
Adam slowed and turned into the driveway. The Escalade sped past. Scarlet tried to make out the passengers inside, but the windows were too dark.
“We good?” Adam asked.
“Looks like.”
He reversed onto the road and retraced his route back to the highway.
“Uh-oh,” Trina said.
Scarlet checked the mirror. “Shit, again?”
“What do I do?” Adam asked. He wasn’t really in a panic, he sounded too excited to be afraid. “Should I try to outrun him?”
“Absolutely not,” Scarlet said. “There’s probably black ice all through here.”
“He’s still following.” Adam hit the gas.
“He?”
“Isn’t it a man driving?”
“I can’t tell. Can you?”
They approached a curve.
“Careful,” Scarlet warned.
“Don’t worry. I’ve done some stunt driving.”
“Slow down, Adam,” she said, but it was too late. They skidded into the turn and the back of the car fishtailed.
“Adam!” Trina screamed.
Scarlet’s stomach dropped. They glided into a spin and she glanced out the window to see a tree trunk flying at her. She tried to lurch away, but her seatbelt kept her in place as they crashed into a tree with a deafening crunch of metal.
“Holy shit!” Adam yelped.
Scarlet blinked down at her feet, breathing hard. Everything was darker now. The entire left side of the SUV was up against a snow bank. Scarlet reached around the side airbag that had deployed and tried her door. Stuck.
“Oh, shit. Trina?” Adam reached across the front seat, and Trina shook him off.
“I’m fine! God, Adam! What the hell were you thinking taking that turn so fast?” Trina pushed open her door.
Scarlet unbuckled her seatbelt and squirmed to the other side. She glanced out the back window to see the Escalade pulling over on the shoulder behind them.
“Everyone stay here.” Scarlet reached for the gun tucked under her jacket.
But Trina was already out, and Adam was sliding over the console to follow her.
“Adam, wait!” She was going to kill him if he didn’t get himself killed first.
Scarlet scrambled out just as the Escalade’s doors popped open. A woman in a hot pink ski suit launched herself at Adam.
“Adam? Are you okay?” She threw her arms around him, then quickly stepped back. “Oh my God, I thought you were dead! Is everyone all right?”
More women emerged from the Escalade. It was like a clown car for ski bunnies. Soon Adam was surrounded by no fewer than five fawning women. He seemed to know at least one of them, and Scarlet tucked her gun away—but kept her hand on her hip, the grip of her .45 within easy reach.
“I knew it was you when I saw you on the slopes, Adam! I can’t believe you remember me.” The woman in pink beamed at her girlfriends. “We took this improv class together, like, three years ago. Before Adam’s first film.”
Trina stood off to the side with her phone out, looking pissed. “I’m calling the lodge,” she announced. “They can send someone to get us.”
Scarlet stepped away from the crowd and watched as Adam chatted with his admirers, seemingly unfazed by his wrecked vehicle. Trina finished her call and then trudged through the snow to Scarlet.
“They’re sending someone,” she said. “We’re only about a mile away.” She looked over at the Escalade, where Adam’s aspiring actress friend was posing for a selfie with him. All her friends had their phones out now, eagerly awaiting their turns.
“How long?” Scarlet asked.
“He said ten minutes.” Trina sighed. “Just enough time for a photo op.”
~*~
Scarlet was surprised to see Krista in the living room typing on her small laptop. She immediately closed it and jumped to her feet.
Scarlet eyed her partner and knew something was up.
“Adam, do you know where your room card keys are?” Krista demanded.
He stared at her. “Sure.”
“All eight of them?”
“Eight?”
“It’s a simple question.”
Scarlet said, “I have one. Krista has one. You have six?”
“I—I guess so.” His brows creased. “Dave and Trina and I each got two when we checked in. I gave one of mine to Tiffany so she could use the hot tub. Oh, and I forgot my key last night, so I got another one.”
“That’s seven.” Nine including her and Krista. “Nine—” She glanced at Krista.
“The jackass at the desk lied to me,” Krista mumbled. “Or he just made up a number.”
“It must be in my room or something,” Adam continued, oblivious to the brief exchange between her and Krista.
“Someone came in while I was here,” Krista said. “They ran out before I could see who it was.”
“Tiffany.”
“No, she was getting a manicure. And it wasn’t Dave—I tracked him down in the business center. Trina was with you. Did you give a key to anyone else?”
“No,” Adam said.
“Trina?” Krista looked at her.
“Of course not!”
Scarlet’s instincts twitched. Her tone was off.
“Where are your keys?” she asked Trina.
“What?”
“Simple question,” Scarlet said. “Where are your card keys? You were issued two.”
“I—why?”
“Because someone came in who had a key,” Krista snapped. “And they were looking for something.”
“It wasn’t me.”
“Don’t be dense,” Scarlet said. “You were with me. But where are your keys? We used mine to get into the elevator.”
“Probably in my room,” she said.
“Find them. Now,” Scarlet said.
Trina’s eyes widened and she looked at Adam. “Adam! What’s going on? This is ridiculous.”
“Krista, is it really necessary to be mean to Trina? She didn’t do anything.” He was whining. The guy just did not like confrontation.
Krista pointed to Trina’s room. She left in a huff.
Adam bit his lip. “Krista, maybe I was wrong—”
“No, you were right. Someone came in here. It wasn’t hotel staff. I met the head housekeeper personally after I caught someone running through the place. Whoever came in didn’t use the elevator, and they need a key to get into the third floor. The front desk issued eight keys—though you just said you got an extra, which makes nine. The manager won’t let me cancel them, so you’re going to go down to the lobby with me right now and ask him to cancel all keys and re-issue only five—and you’re not go
ing to give them to anyone. You’re not going to lose them. You’re not going to leave anyone in the suite alone who isn’t sleeping here. Understand?”
“Yes, but—”
“No buts.” Krista glanced at Scarlet. “How was the skiing?”
“Just peachy. Right up until Adam’s paparazzi ran us off the road.”
“What?”
“It was nothing,” Adam said. “Someone recognized me as we were leaving the slopes and wanted a picture.”
“It wasn’t nothing.” Scarlet looked at Krista. “His car had to be towed to a place in town.”
Adam waved her off. “It’s just a dent. Anyway, insurance will cover it.”
Krista looked at Scarlet. “You think this had anything to do with everything else?”
“Doubtful. The wreck was Adam’s fault. But I’m going to run everyone’s names by Mac, see if anything funny pops up.”
Krista turned to Adam. “Until we know exactly what’s going on, you need to stop arguing with me and start taking this seriously.”
Trina came out of her room. “Here,” she said and threw her keys at Krista. They fell at her feet. Krista didn’t pick them up.
“We’re issuing new cards, so those won’t work anymore.”
“Then why did you make me find them?” Trina said.
Krista ignored her and said, “Adam, let’s go.”
Adam followed Krista to the elevator. Trina huffed out a breath and stalked back to her room. Scarlet stayed in the foyer, soaking up all the drama.
“Oh,” Adam said as he and Krista stepped into the elevator, “I have dinner reservations at eight at the Treeline.”
“For who?”
“Us. To catch up.”
“No.” Krista shot Scarlet a panicked look. Scarlet grinned.
“It’ll be fun,” Adam said. “You can bring your friend, too. I don’t mind.”
“Wow,” Scarlet said, “I feel so wanted.”
The sarcasm was lost on Adam as the door whisked shut.
~*~
Mr. Oliver was his usual stuffy and condescending self, but at least he did exactly what Krista asked. All existing card keys were cancelled and he issued Adam five new keys. Krista grabbed them out of his hand and handed one to Adam. “Keep this in your wallet,” she said.
“Let’s have a drink.”
“Let’s find Dave and give him his key.” She had no idea why Adam’s manager had been working in the business center earlier when he had a laptop in the suite. Adam followed her down the wing that housed the offices for both staff and guests. A quick glance through the glass window showed the room empty and all computers dark.
“Call him,” Krista told Adam.
“Relax, Kay. Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
She wanted to pull her hair out. “Stop questioning me. Something is going on, and until I figure out exactly what it is, Scarlet and I are sticking to you. Now call Dave.”
Adam obeyed her—finally—and found out that Dave had caught a ride into town with a shuttle from the lodge.
“Why?” Krista asked.
“He didn’t say.”
“And you didn’t ask?”
He shrugged. “Maybe he’s picking up a rental car for us since mine could be in the shop for a while.”
Typical Adam—making a mess and leaving someone else to pick up the pieces.
“Well, when’s he coming back?” Krista asked.
“An hour or so.”
“Text him—I want a sit down with you, Trina and Dave in one hour in the suite.”
~*~
An hour later, Krista stared at the three and laid down the law.
“We don’t know what’s going on, but someone came into this suite not knowing I was here. When he heard me, he left. He must have had a card key—either he works in the hotel, or he stole the one Adam lost. Or one of you gave him a key.” She looked pointedly from Trina to Dave.
“How dare you!” Trina exclaimed.
“The lady doth protest too much,” Scarlet said in a loud stage whisper.
Trina glared at her, and Krista rubbed her eyes. This case involved entirely too much drama—even Scarlet was quoting Shakespeare. Krista focused her attention on Adam.
“Our colleague in Orange County is working on the notes and the champagne bottle and seeing if we can get any surveillance from Adam’s apartment the night the bottle showed up,” Krista said. “Until we know who came in here—and I know it wasn’t Trina because she was with Adam and Scarlet, and I know it wasn’t Dave because he was in the business center—you all have to be extra careful. The fan girl in the Escalade could have been just a fan girl, or she could have been someone more dangerous.”
Adam wanted to argue, but one look from her and his mouth snapped shut.
“Any questions?” Scarlet asked.
Adam was sulking. Krista didn’t like being the meanie, but he needed to understand that he could be in danger. The unknown intruder bothered her. She didn’t think he was dangerous—he’d taken off at the first sound of her—but until she knew what he wanted, she had to do her best to protect Adam.
Even if that meant protecting him from himself.
Adam raised his hand. Scarlet slumped back in her chair, looking exasperated.
“What, Adam?” Krista said.
“Our reservations are at eight. We really need to go. The wedding party rented out most of the restaurant and I was lucky to get the table.”
Dave said, “Trina and I are staying here. We have scripts to review.”
“Scarlet will take you,” Krista said. No way was she dining alone with Adam.
“But you promised, Kay. That we could catch up. I want to know what’s going on with you. I want to know what it’s like being a private eye. It sounds fun. I haven’t played a private eye yet, but I’ll bet I could learn a lot from you.”
Scarlet saved her. “We’re both going. You’re the one who’s the target.”
“But what if that guy comes back when you’re not here?” Dave said.
“We gave you new keys,” Krista said, “and he’s not after you. We don’t even know if he’s after Adam. I had the distinct impression he was looking for something.”
“Like what?” Trina asked.
“If I knew that, I’d figure out who. Just stay alert and hang out in the suite and you’ll be fine. Unless,” Krista said hopefully to Adam, “we cancel the dinner and get room service instead?”
He pouted. “I hate eating in hotel rooms. It’s depressing.”
“Ten minutes,” Scarlet said, standing. “I need to change.”
FIVE
Scarlet wore jeans and a sweater. She didn’t feel the need to dress up, but the jeans were black and the sweater, though ten years old, looked brand new because she’d only worn it twice. When did she need a turtleneck sweater in Newport Beach? Never. The only time she’d worn it she’d been working undercover.
Adam turned on a dime—from pouting and depressed that he was being ordered to change his behavior to happy as a lark when Krista and Scarlet joined him for dinner. He was also dressed in jeans, with a white-T-shirt and dark brown leather bomber style jacket that Scarlet would actually consider killing him for. Of course, she really wouldn’t have much opportunity to wear it in Newport Beach.
He talked about his upcoming movie Moon Drop and then the small role he filmed in South Africa. “It was so cool,” he said. “They flew me out for ten days. It wasn’t a large part—but Dave thought it would be good for me because Larkin Doyle is the director and he’s on the rise. If he likes me, even in a small part, he might cast me in a bigger role later. And with Moon Drop coming out this summer, I’ll finally feel like I’ve done something.”
“You have,” Krista said. “You’ve come a long way.”
“You think so?”
It was clear to Scarlet that Krista’s approval was important to Adam.
“Yes.”
Adam looked from Scarlet to Krista. “So how d
id you two meet?”
“I was a rookie cop in L.A. and Scarlet was my training officer.”
“A cop? Like, a policewoman?”
Damn, he really was out of the loop.
“Yes. I went through the police academy and earned my badge.”
“Wow, Kay. I didn’t know. That’s totally cool. Why’d you leave?”
“Long story,” Krista said. “But Scarlet and I opened Moreno and Hart a little over three years ago. We like it. Right, Scarlet?”
“Right,” Scarlet said. She was busy eating the most incredible lasagna she’d ever tasted. Adam was right, the food was amazing. And she was famished after all the skiing.
Krista rolled her eyes.
“What?” Scarlet said. “I’m hungry.”
Then her phone vibrated. She glanced at the number and swore. Her lasagna would be cold by the time she was done with this call.
“It’s John,” she said to Krista and jumped up, filling her mouth with a huge bite.
She answered right before the call went to voice mail as she walked through the restaurant, which also hosted a huge, loud wedding party. She thought about stepping outside, but it was freezing, so she stood in the lobby, keeping her eye on the entrance.
“Hello,” she said with a mouthful of lasagna.
“Scarlet?”
“Yeah.” She swallowed. “You interrupted food.”
“Do you have eyes on Brock?”
“Krista’s with him. Why?”
“I just left his apartment. It’s been tossed.”
“Seriously?”
“Completely, totally tossed. The garbage has been gone through as well and if the champagne bottle was in there, it’s gone now. However, I found a champagne glass next to the sink and I bagged it, and a champagne cork was in the corner of the living room—probably popped there when he opened it. Maybe there’s residue on it or the glass but it’s been two days. Just going to depend on what, if anything, was used as a poison.”
“No notes?”
“Nope. Mac just left with the cork and the glass. Look, I shouldn’t have let him take it. It’s potential evidence. I sealed it in an evidence bag and he promised to take it directly to that private lab in Orange County. They know procedure, but still, I have to call this into robbery. I have no idea if anything is missing. It’s a decent apartment, near the beach. I talked to the manager about security cameras—there are none. No security to speak of. Robbery will talk to neighbors. But who the fuck leaves their key under the front door mat? No sign of forced entry, so someone must have had a key or knew where he kept it.”