Page 34 of Bad Seed

“Welcome to Jubilee, Ms. Banks. I’m Kevin with the hotel concierge. I’ll get your luggage. Just follow me.”

The pilot was right. It was cold—Chicago cold. She followed the concierge to the car and was soon seated in the back seat of a very warm and comfortable Lexus.

Ray Caldwell is class all the way, she thought as she ran her hand across the luxurious leather, then caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window and sighed. On a good day, her curls were unruly, but right now her hair was in chaos. She hastily finger-combed it back into place as Kevin jumped into the driver’s seat.

“All set, ma’am?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you,” Harley said, then sat back and enjoyed the brief ride from the heliport to the Serenity Inn.

***

Liz Devon was waiting just inside the entrance, but when she saw the woman getting out of the car, she couldn’t help but stare. She’d been imagining all morning what a corporate PI with an accounting degree might look like, but a runway model had never entered her mind.

Harley Banks was stunning. A slim angular face with cheekbones to die for, almond-shaped eyes beneath black, perfectly arched brows, and full lips completely devoid of color, with thick tumbling curls so black they looked blue.

The moment she entered the lobby, Liz stepped forward.

“Ms. Banks, I’m Liz Devon, Ray Caldwell’s daughter and the event coordinator for the hotel. I’ve already checked you in. Your suite is ready and waiting. Kevin will take your bags to your room. You’re on the eighth floor. Our main dining area is on the tenth floor. The views from your room and our dining area are spectacular.”

“Wonderful,” Harley said as she fell into step beside her.

“How was your flight?” Liz asked as they headed for the elevators.

Harley arched a brow. “Fast.”

Liz smiled. “Let me guess. Dad chartered a Sikorsky. He loves to travel in those.”

“That he did,” Harley said. “I have to admit, the location of Jubilee as a tourist attraction is surprising, actually quite unusual. I would have thought there would be more tourist features farther up the mountain. I noticed as I was researching the place that hiking up there is not an option, either.”

“This place was settled by a Scottish trapper in the early 1800s. He settled here and built a little cabin that became a trading post for furs. Took a Chickasaw woman for a wife, and as the years passed, a little community grew. They named it Jubilee. The people who live on Pope Mountain are all descendants of three original families: Pope, Glass, and Cauley. They work in Jubilee and help foster the tourist industry, but they treasure and protect their privacy, too, and the mountain is off-limits to tourists. The town itself is owned by a corporation that controls the growth of Jubilee, because enlarging it would also mean destroying its natural beauty. And controlling it in this way actually makes sense. Our head pastry chef is Brendan Pope. We were really fortunate to bring him in. He’s classically trained and has quite a following. He’s a really nice guy. You’ll meet him and all the rest of the staff soon enough.”

Harley was listening without comment, absorbing everything around her. The little gift shops, a jewelry shop, the small coffee shop off the lobby, a café-style restaurant for casual dining, a barber/beauty shop, and signs directing to the gym, the indoor pool, and a spa.It had all of the amenities, but she was curious about the rooms.

Their conversation ended when they got on the elevator with some other guests, and when they finally reached the eighth floor, they exited.

“It’s just down the hall to your right. Room 800.” Liz swiped the key card, then opened the door and stepped inside to let Harley enter.

Her bags were already on the bed in the adjoining room. The curtains had been pulled away from the sliders leading out to a small balcony, and the view of Pope Mountain was right before her. There was a coffee bar and mini-fridge, a living area with a big-screen TV and comfortable-looking furniture, and they’d set up a whole workspace against one wall, with a hotel computer and a printer/scanner so she could access all she needed.

Harley was impressed. “This is comparable to any of the finer hotels I’ve ever been in. Your father knows his stuff.”

Liz nodded. “He’s been in real estate and hotels all of my life.” She pulled a small notebook from her pocket and handed it to Harley. “This is the log-on info you’ll need, along with a password already preset for you. There’s also a list of every link connected to the hotel, including banking. Our bank has been notified that an audit will be happening, and you have view-only approval to access whatever information you need to see there. If there’s anything we’vemissed, just call me. Oh…beside your room being comped, you have free rein to eat wherever you wish here in the hotel, or use room service. Just sign your room number to the bills and they’ll be covered by the hotel, too. Enjoy the gym, pool, and spa as well, and don’t hesitate to try out the main dining room at your pleasure. Try some of Brendan Pope’s breads and desserts, as well as the food of Chef Randolph, our chef de cuisine.”

“What about Larry Beaumont, the hotel manager, and his daughter, Justine?” Harley asked.

Liz rolled her eyes. “Ask Beaumont anything you need to know, but he gets no information about you other than you’re here to audit, and I’m your contact. As of yesterday, his daughter, Justine, was jailed on numerous charges, including drunk and disorderly and assault, and Larry isn’t forthcoming with what’s happening. Personally, I’m just hoping her behavior doesn’t fall back on the hotel, since this is where she was living when all this happened.”

Harley didn’t let on that she already knew. “You have a plate full here, don’t you?”

Liz’s shoulders slumped. “You have no idea. Now, I’ll let you get settled. This is my card with contact information when I’m not on-site. Otherwise, I’ll likely be on the premises during the day. I hope you are comfortable here.”

“Thank you,” Harley said. “I’m sure I will be.”

Liz let herself out, and Harley turned the dead boltand fastened the security chain for added security, then turned around and looked at the luggage on the bed.

“Here we go again,” she said, and began unpacking.

***

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