Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 4 - 6

by Danielle Collins

  Making her way around to the side window facing the front, she noticed that everything seemed to be in order. She even tested it but it didn’t budge, the seal unbroken. She walked around counter-clockwise, noting the large set of glass windows that could not be opened. They looked in order as well. When she reached the back, she noticed that there was the same type of lock as the front door. This door led to a small, screened-in porch, though the door to the porch was the crude type without a lock. All windows there and on the other sides of the cabin were untouched.

  Sighing, she placed her fists on her hips and looked around. The woods behind the cabin were dense and foliage had grown thickly in most places. It didn’t look easy to approach through, but maybe…

  On a whim, she made her way to the tree line and walked the perimeter where the grass was mowed from one end to the other. At the far side, she saw what she was looking for. A concealed path. It was small and little used, but it was a path. She thought that whoever had made it would assume someone would take it for a deer trail, but Margot noted a few broken branches in a wider path than a deer’s hoof would make, and even the print of a boot heel.

  It was nothing conclusive, but it was something.

  Margot walked around the corner of CeCe’s cabin and ran into someone who let out a grunt and a rush of air even as her hands flew up to block the attacker. Her Krav Maga classes had instilled a fast response time for situations like this and she was prepared to defend herself when her eyes registered that she knew the person in front of her.

  “Mister Homes?”

  Matt Homes stared back at her, his eyes flicking down to her hands raised in a defensive pose. “Uh, should I be worried?” he said with a forced laughed.

  She relaxed her stance, though the underlying tension remained. What was he doing here so close to CeCe’s cabin?

  “I thought you and Sarah were on the other side of the complex?” she said, bluffing.

  “We are,” he said, looking confused that she would know that, “but I was out for a walk.”

  She tried to pick up on any deception beneath the words, but she couldn’t tell if he was telling the truth or not. “Probably should head back to the cabin to change for breakfast, though.” He forced an uneasy smile, indicating his sweaty workout clothes, and took a step back.

  Margot merely watched him, finding that sometimes silence brought out more information than words, but he didn’t say anything else, just turned and hustled away toward the other side of the resort complex.

  Odd.

  She glanced back at the nearly hidden trail she’d uncovered, then at the cabin again. She knew where she needed to go next.

  The front desk staff looked bright and cheery despite the early hour of the morning.

  “Hello, Missus. Durand,” Chuck said, his wide grin overly bright. “How can I help you?”

  She flashed a smile of her own and leaned against the counter made of smoothed burl wood. It was impressive and added a rustic touch to the space. Now that she’d met Lela Wilkinson, she wondered if she had picked it out. The woman seemed to have excellent taste.

  “I was wondering if you could help me with a strange question.”

  Chuck leaned forward, peering around as if checking that no one was within earshot of their conversation. “You can expect my greatest confidence.”

  “I’m sure.” She smiled and picked up her room key. “Who has access to my room?”

  His expression clouded immediately. “Why? Was something wrong? Something missing?”

  “Missing? No, but have other guests reported thefts?”

  He looked as if he regretted saying anything. “I’m afraid I'm not at liberty to say.”

  “Chuck…” Margot leaned forward and looked him in the eye. “I’m merely asking out of curiosity. If I wanted to get into someone else’s cabin, there wouldn’t be a way, would there?”

  He cringed again, but she widened her smile and he seemed to consent. “I mean, you are a friend of CeCe’s so…no. It’s not easy. We’ve ensured the safety of our guests—many who pay quite a bit to vacation here—by ensuring that both of their doors, front and back, are ensured with a key-coded, tamper-proof lock. The only people with access are our cleaning staff, who are expertly vetted, mind you.”

  “Surely you or someone at the check-in desk has access?”

  “Not necessarily.” He looked around again before refocusing on her. “Any key we’ve made is registered in our system. It’s impossible to make one without it being entered into the system. And further--” He leaned even closer. “--we have a log that shows when the keys are used.”

  “An electronic log?”

  He nodded. “It’s really for our patrons’ safety as much as it is for our staff standards. Each member of our staff has an access card that can be ‘loaded’ with access so it can be tracked.”

  Margot frowned. “Can you explain that?”

  “Sure,” he said, shrugging. “I could load access to your room onto my staff card. I already have main door access as well as a few other locations for my job, but I could have your cabin coded onto my card. Not that I would,” he added quickly, heat rising up his cheeks.

  She ignored the blush. “And if you accessed my cabin, it would show up?”

  He nodded. “Yes. We don’t often need to do this, but we can condense our access points per staff member, cabin, area, or whatever criteria. It’s actually helped to greatly reduce laziness in our staff, knowing we can check when they swipe into a cabin for cleaning, as well as theft…” he trailed off and cringed.

  “Have things gone missing then?”

  He shrugged. “Some guests have mentioned a few things, but it seems impossible. There’s no irregular entries to be found.”

  Margot thought through what he’d said, but couldn’t see a way around the reality that somehow someone was gaining access to CeCe’s cabin. She wanted to ask Chuck for a readout to her friend’s cabin, but had a feeling that wouldn’t be possible—at least not yet.

  “Seems like a complex system,” she mused.

  “Oh it is!” he said eagerly, as if happy she wasn’t pushing the theft aspect of the conversation. “In fact, it was created by—”

  “There you are, Margot!” CeCe came into the foyer area, smiling. “I’ve saved you a seat for breakfast and I’m going to join you.”

  Margot looked back at Chuck and gave him a grateful grin before following her friend into the already crowded dining hall. It might be time for breakfast, but the last thing on her mind was how fluffy the eggs were. No, she was much more concerned with the reality that someone was gaining access to CeCe’s cabin—as well as others—without leaving a trail.

  One thing she knew for certain—it wasn’t a ghost. Now to prove that.

  Chapter 5

  Breakfast had filled her up so much that, when asked about sitting and reading in the lodge with CeCe for a little while during her break, Margot regretfully refrained.

  “I have to walk off this breakfast or I won’t be hungry for lunch,” she’d quipped. CeCe, still looking tired from her restless night of sleep, waved her on with a warning to stay on the paths.

  Margot didn’t need to be told twice. As she slipped off her light sweater, enjoying the warmth from the vigorous walk on the bark path that led around the entire complex, her mind began to wander.

  There was absolutely no way anyone could get into CeCe’s room without an access card. All entries would be logged in the computer if it were someone with a card. She knew that her next move had to be getting a look into the computer, but she had a feeling that wasn’t going to be easy. She’d either have to resort to some very sneaky measures to get Chuck away from the front desk and hope that she could find her way around the program or she could ask CeCe to talk to Lela and Stan.

  Margot had a feeling that, where CeCe was concerned, they would completely understand and want to look into her cabin’s access. In fact, if Margot had read them correctly, she had a feeling they w
ould want nothing more than to protect CeCe to the fullest extent.

  Was that why CeCe hadn’t said anything to them yet? Why she’d insisted Margot come up to the resort on the hopes that she could figure out who was tormenting her friend? But didn’t CeCe realize that it would likely be a case for the police if it were Rick? And if it wasn't…

  That thought caused Margot to stop. If it wasn’t Rick, who was it? She realized that she’d been so focused on CeCe’s insistence that it was her ex-husband come back to, in essence, haunt her, she hadn’t allowed her mind to think outside of that box. She knew better than that.

  Margot continued her walk, her mind flitting around possibilities. Was someone here at the camp interested in scaring CeCe away? Margot made a mental note to talk to those in the kitchen. Was it possible that someone was vying for her job? CeCe hadn’t mentioned anyone, but it was possible she didn’t know.

  Or, was it possible someone was truly stalking her—possibly a male coworker that CeCe didn’t realize was interested in her? He could see his little gifts as a means to connect with her. Then again, that seemed unlikely as well considering the similar nature of the gifts to what Rick had given CeCe. That was something that truly bothered Margot. It was the biggest connection to Rick and made it almost impossible to see any other alternative.

  As Margot turned the corner of a building, she nearly ran headlong into Ron Durk and Jenny Blane.

  “Watch it,” Ron said, then, “oh, it’s you Margot. What are you doing back here?”

  She wanted to say she could ask him the same thing, but they both looked startled. “I was just out on a walk. Trying to work off some of those heavy calories from breakfast.”

  “Didn’t you say you’re a baker?” Jenny said. “I mean, I’d think you were used to eating a lot.” She forced a smile but it didn’t reach her eyes.

  “I learned a long time ago to sample my treats, not to eat them every day.”

  Though she did remember a time in college when she gained almost twenty pounds while they were learning to make her favorite dessert, crème brûlée. It had taken a lot of hard work, some very encouraging friends, and a mentor who had been down the same path to help her see a healthier approach to being a baker.

  “Oh,” Jenny said, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “What are you two doing out here?” she asked, her tone bright.

  “Just talking a walk,” Ron said, shifting weight on his feet and scratching the side of his nose. “We’re going horseback riding later,” he blurted.

  “Oh, sounds exciting,” she said, looking between them and again trying to decipher their relationship. “I suppose I’d better keep going—got to keep the heart rate up and all.”

  “Sure, sure,” Ron said, waving her on. Jenny merely watched her go without a word.

  Odd.

  Margot tried to yank her thoughts back to the present, but she just couldn’t. Instead, she pulled out her phone and checked for messages. It was odd to be out in the middle of nature like this and yet still have internet access. It wasn’t perfect coverage, but enough to send and receive emails.

  As she opened the app, she was pleased to see a reply waiting for her from Adam. Rather than risk walking and reading at the same time, she put the phone away and fast-walked the rest of the way back to the lobby.

  Breathing hard but excited to see what he’d said, she ordered an iced coffee and sat in an overstuffed leather chair at the back of the lodge.

  Once the waiter had brought her coffee out, she took a long sip and then brought up Adam’s email.

  Hey Margie,

  Great to hear from you, though I’m already worried about what you sent me. First off, you’re supposed to be having a relaxing weekend! But, I’ll save the lecture for another email.

  Secondly, I ran the name you sent me and I find the results odd, if not a bit distressing. Rick Moody disappeared about 2 weeks ago.

  Margot looked up from the email, her eyes wide. That would slightly coincide with when CeCe’s stalker had reappeared.

  I phoned his last place of employment as well as his former landlord. Both said he up and left without a word. No warning and nothing removed from his apartment, as far as the landlord could tell.

  So, here’s the part where I warn you not to stick your nose into risky business—and here’s the same part where you ignore me.

  DON’T IGNORE ME, MARGIE!

  But I know you will, so please be careful and contact me the soonest chance you get. I want to hear from your lips that you’re all right and not neck-deep in a mystery.

  With love,

  A

  She barely contained her smile at the remainder of his email. Of course he would worry, and yet he knew her so well. Letting out an uncharacteristic, girlish sigh, she leaned back and took another sip of her iced coffee.

  Rick had disappeared without a trace and no one knew anything about it. Was it possible that he’d come up here to find CeCe?

  The lunch crowd was thinning when Margot said good-bye to CeCe. She’d looked absolutely exhausted after serving lunch and had told Margot she’d gotten permission from Lela to take a nap in their spare bedroom.

  Margot watched now as her friend climbed the stairs, her shoulders slumping. She hadn’t had a chance to share the news about Rick with her yet, but she’d also thought it might be better that way. The less CeCe had on her mind now, the better she would sleep during her nap in the safety of the Wilkinsons’ apartment.

  Her gaze wandered to the staff that was now hustling out of the kitchen to pick up plates to be washed. As the door swung open, she saw a man yelling at a girl—it looked like Alice, their sweet server from the first night. Then the door swung shut again. She wondered what the matter was. She took a step in the direction of the kitchen just as Alice burst out, a hand wiping away a tear, as she raced past the other workers toward the bathroom. Margot considered intercepting her, but she could clearly see the woman wanted privacy.

  Checking her phone, Margot saw that it was getting close to her horseback riding lesson anyway. She sucked in a deep breath and made her way to the front doors. Her questions for the kitchen staff would have to wait. It would likely be better this way since tempers could cool and she could speak with Alice privately about what had happened, using the guise of having seen her flee the kitchen earlier.

  Satisfied that she had her next steps in place, she set off for the barn. Before lunch, she’d dressed for the occasion, putting on tall boots she’d borrowed from CeCe, jeans, and a flannel shirt rolled up at the cuffs. She also had a baseball cap on to keep the sun from her eyes. It was warm, the mountain air a bit humid, but she had on a tank top under the flannel should she get too warm.

  Several others joined her trajectory as she neared the stables and she was glad to see Jenny among them.

  “Where’s Ron?” she asked with a forced smile, remembering Jenny’s coldness earlier.

  “I don't know. He said he’d be here, but…” She looked around and shrugged. “You ever ridden before?”

  “Once before. It was a lot of fun. You?”

  Just then the instructor came out, calling for them to draw near for the ground rules.

  “Uh, no, but it’s something to pass the time, you know?” Jenny said and then made her way to where the instructor stood.

  Margot thought about Jenny’s answer and then looked around, again wondering where Ron was. Weren’t they together? Or had she assumed? No, she hadn’t. They had clearly been together that first night at the table, though Jenny never truly looked happy around the older man.

  When they were done with the instructions, they were each paired up with a horse. Margot’s mount was a beautiful buckskin named Sandy. She had a light tan coat, a black mane, and a sweet disposition.

  “Hello, girl,” she said, crooning to the horse who nudged her palm.

  “She’s probably looking for a treat,” an older man said.

  He had on a cowboy hat and boots that looked worn i
n.

  “Didn’t he say not to feed them?”

  The old man winked and pulled a sugar cube from his back pocket. “I’ve been coming here since they opened the place. Name’s Bubb.”

  “Bubb?” Margot’s eyebrows rose.

  The older man laughed. “It’s a nickname, but everyone around here knows me by it.”

  “Nice to meet you, Bubb,” she said with a chuckle. “My name’s Margot.”

  “Nice to meet you too,” he said, stepping forward and extending a hand toward the horse. “Sandy likes the sugar while my horse, Spirit, is a carrots man himself.”

  Margot laughed and looked back to where the instructor was helping a shorter woman get on her horse using a stepstool.

  “I’m pleading the fifth if he finds out my horse got sugar.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m a friend of Kyle’s over there.”

  Just then Kyle called out and told everyone else to mount up. Margot easily pulled herself up into the saddle and then grasped the horn tightly. She’d forgotten how high up being on a horse was.

  At her nervous laugh, Bubb directed Spirit closer. “Don’t worry there, Margot. Spirit and Sandy are good friends. I’ll stick near ya during the trail ride.”

  “Much obliged, sir,” she said in her best southern accent while tipping her baseball cap toward him.

  He laughed and nodded approvingly. They made easy conversation until Kyle directed them toward the trail. Margot noticed that Jenny maneuvered her horse easily behind him, as if she’d been riding for a long time. Maybe Margot had heard her wrong when she said she hadn’t ridden before.

  They were able to take the path two by two and Bubb rode next to Margot, pointing out things of interest along the path.

  “Say, Bubb, you’ve been up here a bunch, right?” she finally interjected.

  “That’s right.”

  “Do people live around here? Like, people not associated with the resort?”

  She thought of the faint trail behind CeCe’s cabin. Either it was used by guests who got lost, resort staff who wanted to go out into the wilderness, or by someone who lived nearby. Any of those options could be cause for closer inspection if they had anything to do with breaking into CeCe’s cabin.