Traci Tyne Hilton - Mitzi Neuhaus 03 - Buyer's Remorse by Traci Tyne Hilton Page A

looks fine, Mitzy.” He picked up a hand towel and hung it back up. He picked something else up and turned it in his hand a few times before tossing it in the trash. “What was that?” Mitzy asked, looking into the garbage.
    “I don’t know. Soap dish?”
    Mitzy leaned over and looked in the trash basket. A piece of misty blue ceramic sat alone in the empty bin. “That’s no soap dish.”
    Alonzo looked again.
    “Shoot. How long has that been in here?”
    “Who can tell?”
    “I suggest we leave now. The light may or may not have been turned on by the cat, but you’re right. That’s no soap dish.”
    Mitzy used a paper towel to collect the shard and put it in her pocket. She had a feeling she’d be needing it as evidence.

Alonzo brought Mitzy straight back to the inn. He took her into Carmella’s office behind the front desk. Carmella gave Mitzy a coffee and made her sit in the big desk chair.
    “I don’t think this was truly necessary,” Mitzy said.
    “First a threatening message then an office break in? What about ‘you’re in danger’ don’t you get?”
    “I just mean that we didn’t have to rush straight here.”
    “What did you want to do? Go see a movie?”
    “Well no, of course not. It’s just…I don’t know. I don’t really want another early night.”
    “And I don’t want you to get your head smashed in.” Alonzo turned away from Mitzy and addressed his sister. “Carmella, you gotta take Mitzy home with you tonight.”
    “What do you mean I gotta take Mitzy home with me? She’s staying here at the hotel. She’s safe. Surely you’re about ready to go home to your mom’s, aren’t you?”
    Mitzy shook her head. She wanted to throttle Alonzo for walking into the inn and demanding that Carmella take her home. She was an owner of the inn and she was also Carmella’s landlord. She did not need Alonzo telling her where to sleep at night.
    “Al, I’m fine. I don’t need to get in their way.”
    “You won’t be in the way,” Alonzo said. “I don’t want you sleeping here by yourself.”
    “She’d hardly be by herself. The night staff is here and the hotel is almost booked completely full.”
    “Carmella, her office was vandalized and someone left threatening messages on the answering machine at her parents’ house. I want her at your house tonight with Diego there. It’s much safer than being here with this place full of strangers.”
    “I will be fine here. There is no reason at all that I need to sleep next door. Carmella, don’t stress. I’ll stay here.”
    “You could come. I’d hardly kick you out of your own house. But it’s a small place.”
    “I know. You guys were really awesome to move there so you could be closer to the inn. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. Your house is so much bigger.”
    “Yeah, but it’s got a renter in it so we’re good. I don’t mind having the smaller place to take care of now that I’ve got the inn to run. Diego Jr. can just use the yard here. This property is bigger than ours. But really, wouldn’t you be more comfortable here at the inn?”
    “I would. Thank you for understanding.”
    “You girls are impossible. This isn’t about being comfortable, it’s about being alive.” Alonzo shoved the chair in front of him into the counter top. It skidded on the kitchen floor and stopped with a thud. “Did you hear a word I said Carmella? Vandals and threats. She can’t stay here alone.”
    “Quiet your voice down!” Carmella shouted at her brother. “Do you want all of the guests to check out? We want this massive wedding party to be perfect.”
    At the same time Mitzy lit into Alonzo. “It’s my life to keep alive, Alonzo, and if you think for a minute you can tell me where to sleep at night you have another think coming!”
    The kitchen door swung open and a young girl with a sweeper came in, head lowered. “There are guests at the desk, who, um, have some questions,” she mumbled.
    “Could they hear us