Carolyn Arnold - McKinley 02 - Vacation is Murder (9 page)

On The Trail

SEAN SAT BESIDE SARA ON the bed, angling the glass and comparing the lipstick shades. “I agree. They are a match.”

“So now we know that Amelia Wolfe was in the Spencers’ hotel room,” Sara said, straightening her legs out and letting them dangle over the edge of the bed.

“There’s no way a woman Amelia’s size could forcibly make Earl leave the room.”

“Maybe the wine was drugged, but then again, only her glass was missing any.”

“This man in the beer t-shirt, I think he’s more the culprit than Amelia Wolfe. Maybe she was warning Earl about this guy?”

“Could be, but it’s pretty brazen of Earl to have her in his hotel room. Catherine could have come up at any time. And it still doesn’t explain Amelia’s intention for following him to Mexico.”

“Yeah, good points. As for Catherine, he could have dismissed it by explaining that he ran into an employee.”

“Do you think their rendezvous was planned with Catherine just downstairs?” The way Sara was peering into his eyes, she was deep in thought.

“My gut tells me no. Maybe she came to warn him about this Bud guy.”

“She wrote
Dar
in her book, do you think it’s the first three letters of his name?”

Sean bobbed his head side to side. “Could be, but a few come to mind. Darrel, Darrick, Daren.”

“True, and that doesn’t get us any closer right now. Amelia could have poured the wine to calm her nerves. Maybe she knew Bud was going to come after Earl.”

“But there was no evidence of a struggle.”

Sara bit her lip. “So she convinced him to go along. Or, if he was drugged and hoisted on the shoulder of another man, it would just appear to others that he’d had too much to drink. No one would look twice.”

“True, darling, and it doesn’t mean the wine was drugged. Maybe she drank because of what this man was making her do. He needed her to get to Earl.”

“Or we’re thinking of this the wrong way. Earl could have been threatened and forced to leave peacefully.”

“And I think Amelia left her things for us to find. She’s not in control of what’s going on. She either came all the way to Mexico to warn Earl or this guy was a surprise.”

“I tend to agree with you, Sean. I’d also wager that Earl told her about us—Catherine knew we were cops, and Earl could have told Amelia too. She knew we were on our honeymoon, remember?”

“Ah, yes, and the cop thing would explain the clue she left behind. There is one thing, though. Earl must not have known about Bud when he wrote that letter to his wife, or he would have mentioned it.”

“Yes, that is interesting. So, Amelia has wine in the room and talks to Earl, warns him.”

“At what point did Earl write that letter?”

“Maybe he saw Amelia in the bar last night and that’s why he went up to the room ahead of his wife.”

“Not too bright, though, why not stay in the bar area, around others?”

“He needed to write that letter for Catherine. He couldn’t say it to her face.”

“Let’s be honest, the guy isn’t the best communicator.”

“True.” Sara laughed.

“Let’s focus on the entire picture. Earl comes up to confess the affair because he got spooked that his mistress showed up in Cancun.”

“And he could have slipped it into her purse then because she didn’t have one with her at dinner.”

“All right, so her purse was in the room. Going back to Earl’s mistress, we know that she was after fifty thousand, but why follow him all the way to Cancun for it?
I admit that would freak me out, too. He excuses himself to go up and write the letter.”

“He feels he’s in danger.”

Sean thought back to what Earl had said to him on their evening walk. “He was already feeling that way last night after dinner.”

“Here’s a question, though, why answer the door if he saw her there? If he was leery, why let her in?”

Sean shrugged his shoulders. “He could have told himself he was making too much out of it. Maybe he still had feelings for her?”

“I don’t know, yet, but I guess we’ll find out. First, we have to figure out where this guy took Amelia—I see it on your face, you’re on to something.”

Sean pointed at the white sunhat lying on the bed.

“Let’s hope it works.”

Face-Off

AMELIA BUCKED AGAINST THE VISE-LIKE grip he had on her wrists. “You’re not going to get away with this. They’ll come after me.”

He pushed her onto a spindle-backed chair and pulled a bunch of rope from the corner of the bed. “You make a move, it will be your last one.”

“They will come.”

He laughed as he worked at tying her around the torso, securing her wrists to the arms of the chair, pulling extra tight on the last hand.

She yelped as pain flashed white over her vision. She worked to steady her breathing, willing the rush of adrenaline to ebb away.

“They’re cops from New York,” she said.

He dropped on the corner of the bed, and a certain light crept into his eyes causing her stomach to heave.

“They
were
cops, Mia, you should get your facts together.”

“No, they
are
. Earl told me.”

“Then he’s misinformed. In fact, they aren’t even from The Big Apple, they’re from a smaller city in the
state
of New York—Albany. But really, all of that is tediously boring news.”

He paced around her.

She willed her mind clear of all the colliding thoughts that were assaulting her from many directions. She glanced at her bonds and attempted to lift her arms. There was no movement.

“As you can tell, I’ve done my homework on the couple. The Internet really was a glorious invention. It lets anyone know anything about anyone. Really there is no privacy for any of us.”

She looked over a shoulder when he went behind her.

He reappeared in front, a second later, and bent over the chair, his nose less than an inch from hers. “It turns out Earl’s new friends are wealthier than God. They inherited billions from a business tycoon. It’s all over the news in the area. Maybe Mrs. McKinley would make a more effective bargaining chip. I’m sure her husband would pay handsomely for her safe return.”

“Don’t do this. You can stop now. No one needs to know.”

“No. See, I believe it is too late.”

“They don’t know anything about you. You could walk away as far as they’re concerned.” Her thoughts traced back to the note she had left in her novel. She hoped that the McKinleys had come back to talk to her. If not, were her possessions still on the lounge chair on the beach? She shook the stupid thought. If she didn’t make it out of here alive, it wouldn’t matter.

He straightened and hoisted up his pants.

“I asked you to do one little favor for me, Mia.” He held up an index finger. “Just one. Fifty thousand dollars and I’d leave your life forever, but it proved too much for you to handle so I had to take things into my own hands. You know what else that means, right?”

He pulled a gun from the back of his pants. “Don’t look so shocked. I have my ways of finding like-minded individuals.
Compadres
.” He shrugged. “And it doesn’t hurt that I know a little Spanish.”

He leveled the barrel on her. “Seeing as I don’t need you anymore—”

“Please, no. Don’t do this.” Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Would their warmth be the last thing she’d feel?

For Better Or Worse

SARA WENT TO THE FRONT desk. She spoke a touch of Spanish and could use it to her advantage. They also figured if a man asked after Amelia, they might be cautious and less cooperative, so, Sean took a seat in the lobby area.

Sara greeted the man behind the counter with a sincere smile. “
Buenos días
.”

“
Buenos días.
” He smiled too, leaning over the counter.
“
Te ves lindísima en este vestido.
”

Okay, maybe she didn’t know enough Spanish to carry on a conversation. She smiled at him.

“It means you look beautiful in that dress.”

“Oh.
Gracias.
” She smiled, kindly, even though the man’s true thoughts were disclosed by his ogling. It used to make her uncomfortable, but over the years she’d found ways of working her looks to her advantage. Since he spoke English, she continued in the language she was more accustomed to. “I’m looking for my friend.”

“You’ve lost her? I can be your friend.” Another sly smile.

She batted a hand through the air. “Oh, but you see, I have her hat and need to get it to her. She burns terribly if she doesn’t wear this.” She held it up.

“Why not wear it for the day? Maybe your friend met a man? She could be spending time indoors.”
He
winked
at
her
. “
If you know what
I mean.”

“You mentioned she met a man? Did you see her with one?”

“Maybe. You should find a male friend. I’ll volunteer.”

“Oh, gracias, but no. It’s really important that I find her. She’s got a broken heart and will fall for any line.”

Rejection glazed over his eyes.

“I need to protect her.” She was losing him.

“Ah, but you are an angel.” This time he gave her a goofy grin.

“So, you did see her?”

“Sí. I see everything.” He pointed behind her to the sitting area. “And I know you are with him.”

Sara lowered her eyes, trying to put on an innocent air. “Yes, I am.”

“Why not have him ask me where she is?”

Sara laughed and gestured to Sean. He donned a gaze of confusion but walked over, placing a possessive arm around her waist.

“I am telling you the truth about my friend Amelia.”

“At least you have a name. Come here.” The man gestured for them to follow to the end of the counter. “She went with a man about an hour ago. They were in a hurry.”

Sara placed the hat on her head. “Do you know where they went?”

The Mexican pointed and smiled. “See, it looks good on you.”

Sara glanced at Sean from her peripheral.

The man continued. “They took a taxi.”

“Do you know which taxi she took?” Sean asked.

“Sí, it just happens to be—ah, good timing—that one right there.”

“Gracias.” Sara pranced across the lobby to the overhang.

Sean placed a hand on her shoulder. “Let me handle this, darling.”

“Did you hear what he said?” She ran a hand along the brim of the hat. “He said I look good in this.”

“Sweetheart, he would have said anything.”

Sara scowled for a few seconds before the expression melted.

Sean bent over and spoke through the passenger window of the beat-up sedan. “Excuse me.”

The taxi driver turned to Sean.

“Did you just take a couple from this resort someplace?”

“She is tall and slender, red hair. He is shorter and muscular,” Sara added as she lowered against Sean’s back so she could see into the car.

“No.”

“He was wearing a red beer t-shirt.”

The driver smiled. “Yes. Budweiser
.
Good American beer.”

They didn’t have time to get into a discussion over lager. “So you remember them?”

“No, I said I know Budweiser.”

“You’re sure you never gave them a ride?” Sean pressed the question.

“Maybe another taxi?”

Another sedan came up the drive and into the turnabout.

“Sean.” Sara headed over to the driver’s side of the other taxi, and Sean came up beside her.

“Did you just give a ride to a couple? She’s a beautiful redhead and he was wearing a beer t-shirt?”

The driver looked from her hat, to her eyes. “Yes.”

“We need you to take us where you took them,” Sean said.

“We would be grateful if you would,” Sara added. “She is my friend. I need to return her hat.”

“Ah, makes sense. Does not suit you. But otherwise, you are very beautiful.” He smiled.

“Oh.” Sara took it off and sliced an evil glare at Sean as she did so.