A Plain Malice: An Appleseed Creek Mystery (Appleseed Creek Mystery Series Book 4) by Amanda Flower Page A

I brought here earlier today. I went upstairs to check on her and she didn’t answer her door.”
    Jane stacked papers on the counter. “I know who you mean. You can’t find her because she’s checked out.”
    I flattened my hands on the dark wood countertop. “Checked out?”
    The travelers waiting for the elevator stared at me in concern.
    I lowered my voice. “How could you let her do that?”
    Jane blinked at me. “What do you mean I let her? She paid for her night here even though she didn’t stay. It wasn’t like I could tie her down and tell her not to leave. If a guest pays, I don’t ask questions.”
    “Where did she go? She doesn’t know anyone here and could get lost?”
    She slid the papers in a manila folder. “I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”
    “How did she leave here? On foot? She didn’t have a car. We are still a few miles from town.” Worry for Pearl’s safety grew in the pit of my stomach.
    “I called her a cab.”
    “A cab. Appleseed Creek has a cab?”
    “The cab company was from Mount Vernon.”
    “Can I see her room?” I asked.
    Jane frowned. “It’s already been cleaned for the next guest.”
    “Humor me , Jane. This elderly woman just lost her closest relative and doesn’t know a soul in Ohio. She’s traveling alone and scared.”
    “Maybe I should have stopped her. She was determined to leave. I have to stay here while the other gue sts have questions. Can you check the room yourself?” She went to the back wall and selected one of the keys. She dropped it in my hand.
    “Did she take her luggage with her?”
    “Yes.” She pointed at her feet. “She left her cousin’s though. She asked me to have it loaded on the bus. It’s down here.”
    I leaned over the counter and saw Cheetos sleeping on top of Ruby’s suitcase.
    I held up the key. “I’ll bring this back as soon as I check the room.” I spun around and dashed down the hallway.
    At Pearl’s room, I slid the key into the lock. The door swung open. The room was just as it appeared when Pearl and I arrived a few hours ago. Everything looked exactly the same as it had before with the exception of the absence of Pearl’s and Ruby’s luggage.
    It should have occurred to me that this might happen. I kicked myself for leaving her on her own. Where would the cabby take her? All the way to the Columbus airport?
    I slipped my Smartphone out of my jacket pocket, knowing what I had to do next. Chief Rose would not be pleased.

     
    Chapter Eleven
     
    “She left?” the police chief bellowed. “You shouldn’t have left her alone!”
    I stood in a small corner of the lobby and held my phone away from my ear to avoid bursting my eardrum. “You told me to return to the bus.”
    There was a pause. “Oh, right .” She ground her teeth. “She couldn’t have gone too far, and there are two taxis companies in Mount Vernon. I’ll have Nottingham track her down.”
    “Do you think she ran out of guilt?” I hated that my voice sounded so hopeful, but someone to divert the investigation’s focus from Mr. Troyer was welcome.
    “Nice try. Troyer’s father is still a suspect.”
    I sighed. It seemed the chief had me figured out. I said good-bye and slipped my phone into my pocket. Now, all I wanted to do was go home. My car was still at the Troyers’ farm where I left it that morning, which seemed so long ago. I called Timothy.
    There was a smile in his voice. “You need a lift?”
    “Yes,” I said relieved.
    “All right,” he said. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
    I waited in the flower garden to the right of the building, the early spring flowers: tulips, small Dutch irises, and more daffodils were in bloom. By June, the garden would be awash with colorful annuals and perennials. I touched the petal of a bright red tulip. It was hard to believe in August I would have lived in Appleseed Creek for one year. Originally I’d planned to be in and out of the rural town within that time. I took the job at