Devil's Lair

by Sarah Barrie

  CHAPTER

  29

  ‘Morning,’ Tess said, popping her head into reception. ‘I’m off early with a group to Mt Field. Is everything under control?’

  ‘Yeah, it’s fine.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  Connor ran his hand over his head. ‘I just said so.’

  ‘So why are you down here? Where’s Callie?’

  ‘I don’t know. I’m not even sure she’ll turn up.’

  Tess slipped through the door and closed it. ‘Did something happen?’

  ‘Apparently I need to give her some space.’

  Tess hesitated. ‘You know, I realise you don’t need your little sister giving you words of wisdom when it comes to your personal life, but as that’s never stopped me before I’m going to say that given recent findings, I think it would be just about impossible to be able to focus on a new relationship.’

  ‘I realise that. It doesn’t make it any easier.’ When the phone rang he sent Tess an apologetic smile. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘All right. I’ll see you later.’

  Connor answered the phone, and his sniffling head chef told him she really wasn’t feeling well. He told her to soldier on and get herself in here or he was finding a replacement. Enough was enough.

  ‘Morning.’ Callie burst through the door like a lightning bolt and slid straight behind the desk.

  ‘Where have you been? I’ve got every man and his dog home sick.’

  She barely spared him a glance as she spoke at a million miles an hour. ‘They’re not all sick, some of them are just worried about what happened to Kaicey. You need to address this. Properly. The rumours currently circulating are worse than facts. You’re putting out an email this afternoon, outlining changes to the rosters and strategies that will make your staff feel safe. The ones who don’t have the flu will come back.’

  ‘I’m what? You don’t think you should have given me a heads-up?’

  She looked him levelly in the eye. ‘I’m giving you one now.’

  ‘Any idea what I’m supposed to be telling them? Indy doesn’t want any more details of the case getting out yet.’

  ‘I spoke to Indy. This is her advice. I thought you must have known. They don’t need details, they need to know why it’s not going to happen to them.’

  ‘And how am I going to convince them of that?’

  ‘Indy suggested keeping two late staff on each area together at all times. No one person is on lock up. And increasing security surveillance, temporarily employing a security guard to be visible around the guesthouse from dusk until dawn.’

  Connor was too pissed off generally to want to admit Callie had it under control, so he looked for the flaw. ‘And how are we going to do that when I can’t get anyone to come in?’

  ‘I told you. They’ll come back when they feel safe. We can cope with who we have for one day.’

  ‘Great, especially if those who are on don’t decide to come in late.’

  Her eyes flashed at that and he had a moment to think, Uh-oh, before she snapped.

  ‘I’ve been here since six cleaning rooms because Gemma didn’t want to be here.’

  He closed his eyes and took a breath. ‘I’m sorry. That’s not part of your job.’

  ‘None of this is part of my job, is it? And yet here I am.’ She stood up. ‘I’ll be back.’

  ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘To get a coffee.’

  * * *

  Callie almost collapsed on the other side of the door. She’d done it. She’d spoken to Connor without breaking down, had been efficient and businesslike and gotten out of there again before there was any chance of getting off topic. Now she just had to keep it up indefinitely.

  Connor had looked pale and drawn, tired around the eyes. The staff shortage wouldn’t be helping with that and neither, probably, was she. She didn’t deliberately stay out of his way all day either, they just didn’t happen to cross paths again. Whether that was by accident or intention, she wasn’t sure, but by the time she had a good chance to think about it, it was almost time to go back to the cottage. So she’d leave it today. She’d created the divide, and she’d have to suffer through it.

  She locked reception. The foyer and first guest lounge were sparkling and warm, inviting. On the wall, the brochure display was full and tidy. The enormous windows that showed off the mountains were spotless and late afternoon colours tinted the sky. Beyond reception, the guest lounge, with its gleaming floors and raging fire, deep, soft lounges and sprawling floor rugs, promised comfort and relaxation. The firewood was neatly stacked, the lights dimmed just enough for atmosphere. A few patrons were scattered around, holding delicate glasses filled with good quality wine or nursing generous mugs of tea or coffee, perhaps hot chocolate.

  Knowing she’d played a part in everything running so smoothly gave Callie a real sense of satisfaction, of peace. For everything that had gone wrong in the last few days, the guests were tucked in for the evening, warming themselves after the adventures of the day, relaxing before dinner. Everything was as it should be. She’d just check the kitchen was in order, then go home and maybe treat herself to a glass of something red, something mellow, like a nicely aged merlot. Or lighter, like the pinot she’d sampled with Paisley a few nights ago.

  She smiled at several patrons as she crossed the lounge, spoke briefly to a couple who wanted to thank her for the complimentary bubbles for the fiftieth wedding anniversary. She found both dining areas immaculate, and was still smiling as she pushed through the double doors into the kitchen.

  The chaos was palpable. Amy the kitchenhand and one of the temp agency fill-ins were frantically preparing food. Clarissa was in the corner. She looked like death, her voice alternating between a crackle and non-existent as she barked out orders.

  ‘What’s going on?’

  Clarissa slipped from her perch and Callie threw up her hand in a stop signal. ‘Not a step closer. Why are you even in this kitchen?’

  ‘She tried to call in sick,’ Amy said, ‘but Leeza’s got it worse and Connor said he’d replace her unless she made it in.’

  Callie recited several very bad words in her head as she thought that through. ‘Okay. Have you been anywhere near any of this food?’

  Clarissa shook her head and pointed to the corner.

  ‘Good. Go home.’

  ‘We have twenty people booked for fine dining tonight! We’re trying to prep for service. We can’t do this,’ Amy said.

  ‘And we can’t risk infecting this food with whatever apocalyptic germs Clarissa is carrying.’

  ‘That’s why I’m in the corner,’ she croaked.

  ‘I appreciate the loyalty, Clarissa, but hygiene comes first. Point me in the direction of the restaurant bookings and go home. You will not lose your job.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘I’m going to reschedule as many of these bookings as possible and the rest, Amy and I are going to handle.’

  ‘I can’t.’

  ‘You’ve assisted, right? Watched Clarissa and Leeza work?’

  ‘Yes, but I can only do three of the dishes. Maybe a couple more but not as well as they can.’

  ‘Are the desserts already prepped?’

  ‘Ready for plating as we need them.’

  ‘Then we can do this.’ Callie collected a clean apron from the supply cupboard and dropped it over her head, tying it around her waist before drowning her hands in sanitiser.

  ‘People are starting to gather at the entrance,’ Michelle, the temp, said.

  ‘Go seat them.’

  ‘You’re not a chef!’ Amy said.

  ‘I’ll have you know I’m a damn good cook! I’ve run a successful bed and breakfast.’

  ‘That’s not exactly fine—’

  ‘It’s exactly enough for tonight. We’ll reduce the menu to suit what we can do. Michelle, get Amy to show you which dishes she can handle then explain the situation to the guests and reschedule anyone who doesn�
�t mind.’ Callie dried her hands and blew out a breath, scanned the benches. ‘Let’s get this done.’

  * * *

  Connor didn’t see Callie again all day, and when he hadn’t been able to find her at the time she normally would have left, he assumed she’d gone home, still pissed off. He certainly hadn’t given her a reason not to be; he was feeling a bit that way himself. He hadn’t needed the lecture about Jules. Even if Callie made a few good points, given him something to think about. And that had been the tone of the argument that had played through his head most of the night.

  Then somehow yesterday had rolled into today and he still couldn’t decide what to do about it. He answered two calls, one of which was another sick employee, and hung up with a curse. Where was Callie anyway? He wouldn’t make the mistake of assuming she wasn’t here. Not two days in a row. The phone rang yet again. He was tempted not to answer it.

  ‘Connor, it’s Mitchell Marks from the fine dining review.’

  Hell—this was the last thing he needed. He’d been chasing this guy for months and he decides to get in touch now? ‘Mitchell, how are you?’

  ‘I brought in a reviewer last night.’

  He held his breath on a curse. ‘And?’

  ‘And it wasn’t what we were expecting. I don’t think I’d be too keen to pick up the paper on Friday morning if I were you.’

  ‘Damn it,’ Connor said quietly.

  ‘Look, don’t get me wrong, what we ate was very well prepared and well cooked. But the menu we were promised wasn’t offered. We were told that if we wanted to sample the complicated dishes we’d have to reschedule. Marcus doesn’t do rescheduling.’

  ‘Mitchell, look, a staff member was murdered here last week and half of the employees are barely turning up for work. On top of that, the rest of our employees have come down with some horrible virus.’

  ‘I see.’ There was a long pause, a loud sigh. ‘Maybe under the circumstances I can keep it out of the paper. But don’t hold your breath for another chance.’

  Callie came in, waited.

  ‘Thanks, I appreciate it. Please apologise on our behalf.’ He put down his phone. ‘What’s up?’

  ‘I need to know if Amy is coming in today.’

  ‘No, she just called. Swears she has the flu.’

  ‘Okay.’

  ‘A heads-up you were leaving last night might have been good,’ he said when she would have left.

  ‘I was tired. Who was that?’

  ‘That was our chance at making a name for our restaurant far and wide. Which was blown because half the menu was missing.’ He saw some of the colour leave her cheeks, wondered why that meant so much to her. ‘I’m going to find Clarissa, ask her for answers.’

  ‘She wasn’t there. She went home.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I sent her home.’ Callie swept out of the room.

  He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Callie had ruined everything? He found her in room five taking out her mood on the furniture. Apparently, the cleaner hadn’t finished all the rooms.

  ‘Listen, sweetheart, I’m still the boss here. I told Clarissa she had to come in.’

  ‘I don’t really care, sweetheart! You told a sick employee that she had to work. In the kitchen! The kitchen! It’s just lucky she had the sense to stay in the corner away from the food. I’m telling you, my life flashed before my eyes just looking at her from across the room. I literally had to force my hand not to dig into my purse for a tissue or cover my entire head with the nearest tea towel to avoid airborne contamination and you thought it would be okay to have her handle food and prepare meals?’

  He took a minute to consider whether or not to accuse her of exaggerating. The look on her face had him deciding against it. ‘I didn’t realise she was that bad.’

  ‘No, you didn’t. But you should have checked. You should have known.’

  Connor lifted his hands in defeat. ‘Okay. You’re right, I should have. I thought she just didn’t want to come in because of Kaicey. But—’

  ‘And instead of being a dick you should be thanking me.’

  ‘What did you call me?’

  ‘I called you a dick. And that’s kind, comparatively, to what I’d like to call you.’

  ‘I’m trying to apologise.’

  ‘Is it as painful to do as it is to watch?’

  He felt his own temper boiling back to the surface. ‘Right now? Absolutely. Would you please stop fluffing pillows and talk to me?’

  ‘Fine.’ She tossed the pillow in her hand haphazardly onto the bed. ‘It’s your motel.’

  ‘Guesthouse.’

  Her fingers squeezed into a tight fist and back. Twice. Apparently needing something to do with them that didn’t involve wrapping them around his neck, she began tidying up the table.

  ‘Now what are you doing?’

  ‘The stationery wasn’t where it was supposed to be.’

  ‘By what?’ he asked, as she put it all back almost exactly where it was. ‘Three millimetres? I didn’t realise you were OCD as well.’

  Callie turned around, the look on her face pure fury. ‘As well as what?’

  ‘Uh …’ For some reason the whole situation suddenly had a ridiculous edge to it that could have—but thankfully didn’t—made him laugh. ‘Forgiving?’

  ‘You’d damn well want to hope I’m “forgiving”, because I don’t need to be here! And if I wasn’t, you wouldn’t be getting a bad review, you’d be getting your kitchen closed! Oh my God, are you smiling?’

  ‘No,’ he said very absolutely. ‘I wouldn’t dare.’

  ‘Damn it, Connor, you drive me—’

  ‘You fixed it,’ he cut in. ‘You fixed it,’ he said again when she’d stopped to take a breath. He approached—carefully—and put his hands on her shoulders. ‘You fixed everything. Forget the review, you saved the evening for the guests, went above and beyond. And you’re exhausted and pissed, because you started at six yesterday and didn’t leave, I’m guessing, till nearly midnight last night. And here you are again. I get it. I was a dick.’

  ‘We’re finally on the same page. Can I fix the pillows now?’

  His smirk just couldn’t be contained. ‘Whatever makes you happy. Just don’t do that.’

  ‘Do what?’

  ‘That face. It kills me.’

  ‘Well, if you’d go away, you wouldn’t have to see it.’

  ‘All right. I do have to go—take care of something. I’ll get back as quickly as I can.’

  ‘I’ll be fine,’ Callie mumbled, already engrossed in what she was doing.

  Connor didn’t doubt it.

  CHAPTER

  30

  So maybe this wasn’t a good idea, Connor thought for the umpteenth time since he’d sat, waiting for Jules to be brought out to speak to him. He hadn’t really had a clue what it was going to take just to get into the maximum-security prison: background security checks, biometric scans, more ID, a PIN … All done at the visitors’ reception centre before he even got into the women’s building. Then he’d walked past a sea of fences, cameras, razor wire, through two sets of gates with more security checks, then inside the next reception area with airport-style checks and the biometric scan again. He almost felt guilty just for being there.

  There was a glass partition between them but it didn’t do anything to diminish the shock of seeing Jules again. She looked thinner, meaner, as though prison life had hardened her even further.

  ‘This was unexpected,’ she said as she sat opposite him.

  ‘Yeah. A bit on my side too.’

  ‘Then why are you here, Connor?’

  ‘Honestly, I don’t know. I thought if I saw you again, had that conversation we should have had before you shot me, it might help …’

  ‘Chase away the demons? Oh,’ she sighed sweetly, ‘are you still feeling guilty?’

  He scowled at that. ‘Did I ever really know you? Did you even ever care about the baby?’

  ‘Of course I
cared! That child would have put your ring on my finger! And the best part?’ She laughed. ‘It wasn’t even yours!’

  ‘What?’ Cold shock spiralled through him. ‘You would have let me believe—’

  ‘Oh, give me a break! You come in here like you’re still all cut up about it while you’re fucking someone else! You look down your nose at me and shack up with a murderer? What the hell do you want, Connor? A there, there?’

  ‘How do you know about Callie?’ he snapped.

  The smile was cold and calculating. Her eyes dropped briefly to a badly drawn tatt on her wrist before returning to his. They were filled with hate. ‘Enjoy it while it lasts.’

  ‘Jules, do one decent thing in your life and tell me what you’re talking about,’ he demanded, but she put the phone down and got up. As she was let out she smiled nastily over her shoulder at him. Then she was gone.

  Connor stood and ran his fingers through his hair. How could he ever have been fooled, ever have considered marrying that woman? He didn’t recognise her at all anymore. He told himself he should never have come, but of course he should have. He’d never have known about the child or the threat to Callie. He tried to memorise the tattoo he’d seen on Jules’s wrist. A rough prison job? She hadn’t had it before. She’d looked at it in a way that made him think it was relevant. He had no idea how, but he intended on telling Indy about the visit as soon as he could get out of here.

  He called Logan from the car, learnt Indy was working, so he drove to the police station and found her talking with Jared in her office.

  ‘How’d it go?’ she asked, inviting Connor in.

  ‘It was … about what you’d expect.’

  ‘You want me to leave you two alone?’ Jared asked.

  ‘No,’ Connor said. ‘You might want to hear this. First up, Jules knows about Callie.’

  ‘Let’s just clarify,’ Indy said slowly. ‘Knows you are seeing someone called Callie, or knows you’re seeing Caroline, former wife of Dale Johnson.’

  ‘Option two. She told me to enjoy it while I could, as though she knew that Callie was in danger.’

  ‘Does anyone other than your close circle of friends and family know about Callie?’ Jared asked.