Page 23 of Trouble Walked In

She nodded. She didn’t trust herself to speak. She had an annoying habit of crying when she was pissed off, and she could already feel the tears forming.

Carrie said, “And you can’t give the money back?”

Lizzie shook her head. “I used his deposit to pay the plumber.”

“Oh. That’s slick. Well played.” Carrie nodded appreciatively. “Smart, really.”

Lizzie glared at her.

“Well, you have to give him props for creativity, at least. You could have just tossed him back out again. Really the only way it would’ve worked is if he knew you needed the money.” Carrie’s eyes narrowed. “Did he?”

“I don’t see how he could have, but I wouldn’t put it past him. He has a way of finding out things that’s almost supernatural.” She thought about the phone call. She hadn’t recognized the voice of the woman making the reservation at the time, but now that she thought about it, there was a familiar phrase here and there in the conversation that should have tipped her off. “It was Morgan. I’d bet on it. Damn, the two of them together arereallyannoying.”

“Morgan?”

“His assistant. I bet anything it was her making the reservation. I thought the voice sounded odd, but I just figured she had a cold or something.” She went back over the conversation again in her head and nodded with more certainty. “It was her. She was super friendly, asked a lot of questions. I should have known.”

Lizzie groaned and put her head down on the desk.

“I think you’re stuck,” Carrie said. “If you can’t give him a refund, you’re going to have to let him stay.”

Lizzie glared at the list of rooms she kept on the wall next to the desk. “Can I put him in the storage shed?”

Carrie gave an approving nod. “Interesting, and I like where your head is at, but I’d say no. Pretty sure that would affect your ratings. You could put him in the Closet, though. It’s the smallest room, in the worst location, but itisa room. Technically. That’d serve him right.”

Carrie’s suggestion sparked an idea so good, Lizzie’s grin made her face hurt. “It’s not the worst location. Not right now.”

Carrie eyed her with suspicion. “What do you mean? You can’t put him in a dog house. We don’t have one.”

“No, no. He’ll stay inside the inn, just like we promised.” Lizzie opened the drawer where she stored the room keys and dropped the one she’d been carrying around in her pocket allday into it. She plucked out another old-fashioned-looking key with a white ribbon embellished with miniature red roses. “In fact, he’ll stay in one of the very best rooms.”

Lizzie dangled the key for Carrie’s inspection and waited for the reaction.

Carrie peered at it. “The Rose Room? You can’t put him in the Rose Room.”

“Why not? The plumbing’s fixed. The water’s on. The toilet works and everything.”

Carrie stared at her like she’d grown a third eye. “I saw it last night. The walls are still all torn up.”

“Still smells delightful too. They haven’t done the odor treatment yet.” Lizzie beamed.

“Oh, this is not a good idea.” Carrie chuckled. “I love it.”

Lizzie rubbed her cheeks as she walked through the kitchen to get rid of the smirk.

“You want to give him these?” Carrie pointed to the little plate of double chocolate chip cookies she’d arranged.

“No,” Lizzie said. “Give them to the crew.”

She opened the door and found Renic where she’d left him in the middle of the entry. He’d put his bag down but otherwise had stayed put, which was surprising.

Carrie followed her out. The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder to contemplate the new arrival.

Carrie leaned close and whispered, “Damn. You kickedthatout?”

“Hush,” Lizzie hissed.

Carrie’s eyes sparkled with glee that Lizzie wished she’d tone down. She didn’t want Renic suspecting anything until it was too late. What was good for the goose and all that.

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