Dangerous Secrets by L. L. Bartlett, Kelly McClymer, Shirley Hailstock, C. B. Pratt Page A

our door, but that didn′t stop me.
With a little finesse, Maggie′s hairpin let me inside the first room.
    As Susan had said, the rooms were in various
stages of renovation. Two had no plumbing fixtures; none had carpet, exposing
wide pine plank floors—and all of them were bigger than the cell Maggie and I
shared.
    I opened a window overlooking the back of the
property, stuck my head outside and saw metal escape ladders from all three
back rooms. None of them were extended. It would have been impossible not to hear
the rattle of metal if the person who′d pushed me down the stairs had
used one of them to escape. The hot tub and pool were visible from this vantage
point. If any of the guests had seen Eileen floating face down two nights
before, they hadn′t said so.
    The room next to ours was the biggest, and
might well be the best in the inn when finished. Zack and Susan planned to
install a gas fire, as a brochure for one was taped to the wall. A layer of
drywall dust covered the floor. Footprints marred it, but it was impossible to
tell the number of people who’d stomped around or how long ago they′d
been made. My attacker could have stood in that room and simply waited until we
went to sleep before escaping by way of the main staircase. I closed my eyes,
concentrating, hoping to soak in the residual aura from the last person
who′d been in the room.
    I got nothing.
    Signs of life from the floor below made me
check my watch and realize I′d been gone for almost an hour. I headed
back to our room.
    Maggie was awake, sitting on the edge of the
bed, brushing her hair dry. ‶ Where did you go?″
    ‶ Just to check out the other
rooms on this floor.″
    ‶ And?″
    I shrugged. ‶ Nothing.″
    ‶ Good. I don′t need any
more surprises. What are we doing today? I mean, can we go someplace? I need to
get away from here.″
    ‶ How about ice cream at Ben and
Jerry′s?″
    Her smile was dazzling. ‶ Sounds
wonderful.″
    I sat beside her on the bed and kissed her.
Then I kissed her again. And again. And we started the day all over again ...
together.
    We made it to the dining room about halfway
through the breakfast rush. Richard had beaten us there, and was seated with
the Andolinas. An empty plate sat before him, along with a half-filled coffee
cup. Kay Andolina was in her glory in the midst of an anecdote, telling it with
great delight. Richard′s glazed expression was one I recognized from
other occasions: bored to death. I felt a little sorry for him, but that
didn′t keep me from smiling at his predicament.
    We grabbed coffee and parked at a table nearby.
The atmosphere wasn′t so grim this morning. Zack, Nadine, and Adam were
in the kitchen once again bantering back and forth. I decided against an
entree, but went through the buffet and grabbed scrambled eggs and sausages.
Maggie stuck with her favorite Western omelet and toast.
    We′d almost finished eating by the time
the Andolinas got up, leaving Richard with his cold coffee. He sat alone for a
few minutes, staring out the window before getting up. He paused briefly at the
table where the Canadian couple sat, spoke to them, again in French, and must
have made a wonderful joke because they broke out in delighted laughter. I was
working on my third cup of coffee when he finally made it to our table.
    ‶ My, we′re popular with
the other guests.″
    He ignored my comment. ‶ You′re looking
better. How do you feel?″
    ‶ I′ve got a bit of
headache, but it′s the kind I′m used to having.″
    ‶ Did you take your
medication?″
    ‶ Of course. It′s already
fading.″
    ‶ Good. Then maybe you′ll
feel like exploring the area.″
    ‶ Sounds like a plan. Meet me out
in the garden in ten minutes and we′ll talk.″
    ‶ Okay.″
    He wandered off and I sipped my coffee.
    The Canadian couple finished their breakfasts
and got up. I was surprised when they stopped to speak to us.
    ‶ How are you today?″ the
woman asked in only slightly