Moonlighting in Vermont (11 page)

Vera’s death had me stumped. Lieutenant Brooks was nuts. Not only did I not have anything to gain by killing Vera, I was losing. People in town had started to stare at me. Jim had stopped seeing me. Lucy Howe had written about it in the paper.

I shook my head and puffed out some air. I finished the guest towels and started in on a pile of rags. The rags were mostly worn-out towels that had been hacked into pieces and hemmed. I’d made a significant dent in the pile when Dotty came across the room to see me.

“The kitchen needs someone to come down and clean up some ash that blew out of the hearth. And they need more wood. Check the common rooms, and pick up the treats before you come back up the hill.”

“Okay.” This was a fairly normal request. At least she hadn’t asked me to clean the office, as well.
“And Bree,” Dotty called as I walked away. “Take a Jeep. We’ve got a busy night tonight, so I want you back as soon as possible.”
“Yes, boss.” I wondered if it was hard for her to be doing her sister’s job.
I drove a Jeep down the steep hill to the main building and parked in the kitchen lot. I slid through the busy kitchen, avoiding being trampled by the servers and sous chefs who were starting to prepare for dinner. Knives were flashing over vegetables, butter was being whipped, glasses shined. The air smelled of roasting poultry, and I guessed duck was on the menu.
“Bree!” The kitchen manager snapped at me. “You’re in the way. Move on through.”
I slipped through the anteroom between the kitchen and the dining room. It was a quiet space that kept the kitchen noise from reaching the guests. The wine steward was decanting a bottle of merlot. I nodded hello and pushed through to the refectory, a large, high-vaulted room with wood beams in the ceiling and huge stone fireplaces at each end. The long walls held floor-to-ceiling windows. One side looked out over the terrace and the fields beyond. The other showcased a small, informal courtyard filled with fall color. Tables were scattered throughout the room.
Black powder dusted the hearth and floor around the nearest fireplace. When the wind came down the hill at just the right angle, it would force air down the chimney, sending sparks and soot into the room. A panel in the wall hid a camouflaged latch that popped open the door to a hidden cupboard. Inside the cupboard was the hose to a whole-house vacuum system that helped us keep the place clean. I flipped the switch to activate the suction, pulled the hose over to the fireplace, and sucked the soot away. I flipped off the suction, rolled the hose, and stowed it back behind the panel.
Turning around, I ran smack into Gunnar Ericson. He reached out and grabbed my shoulders before I could fall back into the fireplace. I tried to step back away from him, but he held on, forcing me to choose between rudely pulling away and standing still, face-to-face with a guest.
Both options were unacceptable. The first was downright rude. The second was against Inn policy. House elves shall not act as if they are of equal status to guests. I chose not to be rude and stood smiling at Gunnar. I didn’t, however, speak to him, as that would be breaking the biggest rule: A staff member never speaks to a guest unless the guest speaks first. Gunnar smiled his movie star smile at me and tilted his head just slightly. I caught myself wondering if he had a normal smile for his mom and dad, or if they were subjected to the star treatment, as well.
“Before I let you go, you have to promise you won’t go scooting off like last time.”
Was it my imagination, or was his European accent getting thicker? “Okay.” Another hotel rule: If a guest asks you to do something, do it.
Gunnar let go of my shoulders, and I took a step back. I wasn’t particularly comfortable with this man in my personal space. Surely he’d learned to stay out of other people’s personal space in kindergarten. I stood waiting to be released from his presence and repressed a shiver.
“You certainly are elusive. I had to bribe one of the kitchen staff to call me if they saw you around. I spent hours hanging around here waiting. Very boring.”
“I only work part-time.” I put on my best be-nice-tothe-guests smile. It apparently hadn’t occurred to him to find out where I live or check for me in town. That was fine with me. I didn’t want him showing up on my doorstep.
“You know, I’m going to keep asking until you accept, so you might as well say yes. I’d like you to have dinner with me in my cottage. Tomorrow night?”
I was spared rejecting Gunnar by the appearance of Brian. He whipped around the door from the kitchen, his eyes catching us standing by the unlit fire.
“There you are, Bree. Dotty is wondering where you are. Why didn’t you bring a radio with you? She’s frantic.”
“Sorry. I didn’t think of it. She could have called down to the kitchen, if she needed me. She knows where I am.”
“Well, get back up the hill right now.” Brian turned to Gunnar. “Mr. Ericson, is there something I can do to help you? I’m sorry to pull Bree away, but she’s needed.”
I scooted out the door.
Dotty wasn’t really looking for me. Turns out the sous chef Ericson had bribed developed a conscience and told Brian I was cornered in the dining room. We still had at least thirty minutes until guests started vacating their rooms for dinner, so Dotty sent me down to the spa with clean linen.
I parked the Jeep in front of the pub, a big, log building with an open bar, huge TV, pool table and fireplace where guests could go to relax. It sat above the spa, and often the male guests would chug their favorite beer or hard liquor and watch the projection TV while their escorts were pampered below.
I took the path that ran alongside the building and schlepped the tubs of towels and robes down the stone stairs, past the door to the exercise room at the entrance of the spa. Janine, the receptionist for the spa, was sitting behind a desk just inside the door. A pert blond in her early twenties, her skin testified to regular spa treatments.
“Hey, Bree. Got towels for us? That’s great. I thought the spa goddess …” She tilted her head toward the door of one of the treatment rooms. “…was going to blow a gasket. She was stomping around here earlier, making all kinds of noise.” Janine motioned me to come closer. “You should have seen it. She was in full tantrum, raving and stomping her feet, when a guest walked in. I thought she would choke!” Janine snorted. “Her face turned all red, and then its all, “Well, how are you today? What can we do for you?” Sweet as honey. And you know that guest had seen her having a fit. There’s no way she could have missed it!” Janine laughed. “What I wouldn’t give to see that lady report her highness to the boss!”
I backed away from Janine, smiling. “I’ve got to get this stuff put away before I get caught out here.” Janine nodded, and I slipped into the changing rooms. I stacked towels and slid the rolled robes into cubbies. In the spa ladies’ prep room, I stacked face clothes and towels and slippers for clients’ use. Then I grabbed my empty bin and headed back out to the entrance to escape Janine.
“Hey, Bree?” She stopped me as I walked past the reception desk.
“Sorry, Janine. I’ve got to get back up the hill. Turn down will start any minute.”
“Cool. Then it’s time for me to get out of here. But wait a sec, I’ve got something good to tell you. The boss worked up a new whole day spa treatment for the guests, and they’re trying it out on the office and dining room staff. She never thinks to ask the housekeeping staff, but I asked Brian, and he said of course the housekeeping staff could have appointments. You’re pretty free on Wednesdays, aren’t you? Do you want me to make you an appointment for next week?”
“Do you have room for two on that Wednesday? I’d love to be able to bring Meg Maverick. Could you swing that?”
“Oh, sure, the spa ladies don’t know who works here, really. They are ‘professionals’ and don’t hang out with the rest of us. They’d never know. And I don’t think Brian would mind. He really likes you.”
“We’re just old friends. I’d really appreciate it if you’d fit Meg and me in. Meg’s been really stressed lately, and it would be good for her.”
“And you, too.” Janine handed me an appointment card. “You found Vera dead.” Janine shivered. “And now everybody talks about you behind your back.”
Oh, great, like I needed to know that. “I gotta go now, Janine. Thanks.” I waved the little card at her as I onehanded the laundry bin through the door. I headed back up the stone steps, planning to take a quick look in at the pub to see that everything was in order. Gunnar was standing at the back entrance blocking the door. He appeared to be talking to himself. As I started backing away, he turned toward me, and I saw that he was holding a cell phone. He scowled at me. I hot-footed it around the building and checked the pub via the other door.

* * * * *
“Bree.” Dotty called to me as I walked back into the laundry. “Brian wants to see you down in the office. Now.” I hopped a ride back down the hill with one of the other girls. She was grim, no doubt figuring she’d be picking up the slack while I was with Brian.

Brian was sitting at his desk. I plopped into the chair opposite him. “So what’s up?” I asked.
“Miles Brooks has been around asking about you again. That shit won’t listen to anything I tell him. If you have any idea how to prove your innocence, this would be a great time to tell me.”
I dropped my head and looked at my hands, which lay idle in my lap. Air puffed out between my lips. “I told them everything, Brian. There isn’t anything else.” I felt like I had a rock in my stomach, and I wanted to go home and crawl into bed forever.
“I want you to come with me to the cottage where Vera died. The police tape is down, and I think we’d better take a look and see if there is anything unusual about that closet.”
“Why not take Dotty?” I really didn’t want to go back there. “She must have an inventory sheet for that room.”
“I tried taking Dotty down there. She burst into tears and ran out of the cottage. I don’t think she’s going to be any help. Come on.”
My stomach started churning when we reached the door of the housekeeping closet, but once we were inside, I started feeling better. There was no sign that anyone had bled and died in this room. It looked the same as it had a hundred times before.
“I want you to look carefully and tell me if anything is out of place or missing. Lieutenant Brooks was asking if anything was unusual. Dotty’s too distressed to tell me. It’s up to you.”
I looked around the room. The shelves were stocked with all the usual stuff. On one wall the towels, sheets, washcloths, candles, matches, extra duvet cover and extra feather bed lived. Light bulbs, coasters, treat plates, glasses and doilies sat on a shelf over the sink. Cleaning supplies on the bottom shelves. Extra pillows. Extra beverages for the refrigerator. The carafes that I’d been coming to retrieve when I’d found Vera. Everything seemed to be in place. Almost.
“Looks to me like everything's here. Except there isn’t supposed to be an empty spot on the top shelf. I can’t think of what goes there, but something does.”
“You sure you can’t remember?”
I closed my eyes and tried to picture the room, but the image wouldn’t come to me. I opened my eyes and shook my head. “Nope, nothing.”
We drove back up the hill and I joined the house-elf brigade.

* * * * *

I called Meg about our spa appointment the minute I made it home. Well, the minute after I fed the animals and gave Lucky his customary rubdown. Then I made myself a cup of tea. I sat on my comfy, overstuffed couch. My feet were tucked under Ranger, who had leaned on my legs and then collapsed, as his feet slipped out from under him on the hardwood floor. My feet were trapped under his warm body. Annie was on the couch with her head in my lap, Hank had his head on Ranger’s flank and Diesel was practically sitting on Ranger’s head, his nose on the couch against my other thigh. Annabelle was on the back of the couch, her tail occasionally flicking my head.

I was feeling dejected, despite the four-legged companionship. My life had taken this strange turn, and I couldn’t see how to get it back on track. I didn’t even know what
on track
was. I was working my butt off at two jobs that didn’t really pay enough money to cover the bills. I couldn’t keep a man interested. Thank God, the farm had been paid off before Grandma passed it on to me, but there were still taxes and upkeep. The animals cost me a small fortune to feed.

I pulled my thoughts back to Vera. Me. Jail. I still couldn’t picture what belonged in the missing space in the housekeeping closet. It nagged at me. How ironic if I ended up in prison because of a faulty memory. Could they convict me? Yes. Innocent people got sent to jail all the time. Well, at least you were always hearing about them on the TV. D.N.A. evidence proves so-and-so is innocent after fifty years. Oh, boy.

The tea wasn’t doing its job. My eyes were heavy, and my brain was numb. I pushed Diesel’s head off my leg and pulled my feet out from under Ranger. I laid my head on the cushy arm of the couch and swung my legs up next to Annie. I’d get up in a minute, but for now, I just wanted to lie here.

* * * * *

I was breathing in something humid and stinky. It puffed onto my face with irritating regularity. “Go away.” I didn’t want to open my eyes, but the smell kept coming at me. I squinted reluctantly and found a Boxer snout centimeters from my face. As my eyes opened, Diesel’s tail began to quiver. His eyes opened wider, and he wiggled from head to toe. Then he gave me a big sloppy Boxer kiss. I sat up wiping my face with my sleeve. I was still on the couch, only now the sun was streaming into the room. The other dogs were at the kitchen door making squeaking noises and wagging their tails. I guessed that Max must be out feeding the outside animals. I needed to let him know that I was healthy enough to do that again.

The answering machine was blinking when I walked into the kitchen. I punched the button so I could listen while I was making coffee. "Bree, Lucy told me you saw us together.” It was Jim’s voice on the phone. I stopped short as the message played on. "It’s a misunderstanding, Bree. Call me."

I thought about him walking down the street with his arm around Lucy. A mistake on his part, maybe, but not a misunderstanding. I erased the message.

A little after noon, Meg raised her head from her work. “Do you think we could find anything out while we’re at the spa next Wednesday? Could we snoop around a little? See if we could discover anything Brooks hadn’t noticed.”

“I doubt we’ll find anything that Brooks hasn’t, but who knows. The worst that could happen is I’ll lose my job. I hate that job anyway.”

“Then why do you stay?”
“I need the money to support my animal habit, and besides that, Brian asked me to. He said he needed people he could count on to actually show up at work. I was flattered. More the fool, me.”
Meg laughed. “Guys could always get you to do what they wanted with a little flattery. You’re way too easy.”
“Okay, so I have a bad habit of doing favors for guys who are nice to me. At least I’m not doing favors for nasty guys. Or doing nasty favors for kinky guys. Or doing any favors for married guys.”
“Enough, already.” Meg paused a moment. “Scott said something that bothered me the other day.”
I raised my eyebrows at her.
“He said Tom’s friendship with you could be trouble. He said I should fire you. Why do you think he said that?”
“I don’t know. What do you think?”
“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be asking you.”