Page 2 of Colton's Last Resort

“Show me.”

Again, Rod paused before he walked to the bottom of the table. Lifting the drape, he revealed one long, pale leg with toes still painted pink. Noah tried not to see the unearthly blue tone of the skin around the nails. He craned his neck when Rod showed him the marks on her calves.

“She was dragged,” Noah said as he realized what had happened. Why did the air feel like ice? The cold filled his lungs. They felt wind-burned, and the pain of it made his hands knot into fists.

“That would be my understanding,” Rod agreed. He replaced the sheet gingerly.

“Before or after TOD?” Noah asked.

“After.”

Noah’s brow furrowed. “She was killed somewhere other than the cabana and staged there.” His voice had gone rough, but he kept going, searching. “Were there any items with her at the scene?”

“Fulton noted there was no purse, wallet or cell phone. She was identified by members of Mariposa’s staff.”

“Were her lips blue when you got there?”

“Yes.” Rod nodded. “Her fingernails and toes were discolored as well.”

Noah scraped his knuckles over the thick growth of beard that covered his jawline. “Who found her?”

“From what I understand,” Rod said slowly, “it was a staff member. You’ll have to get the name of the person from Fulton.”

“Who was there when you arrived on scene?” Noah asked curiously.

“There was a small crowd that had been blocked by officers,” Rod told him. “Several members of security, one pool maintenance person and all three of the Coltons.”

“Coltons.” Noah recognized the name, but he let it hang in the air, waiting for Rod to elaborate.

“The siblings,” Rod said. “They own and manage Mariposa. Adam, Laura and Joshua, I believe, are their names.”

“What was your impression of them?” Noah asked, homing in.

Rod considered. “The younger one, Joshua, was quiet. Laura didn’t say much either. She seemed stricken by the whole thing. The oldest one, Adam...”

When Rod paused, Noah narrowed his eyes. “What about him?”

“He did all the talking,” Rod said. “He ordered everyone back and let the uniforms, Fulton, crime scene technicians and myself work. There was no attempt to tamper with the scene. Although I did hear him speaking to Fulton as we readied the body for transport.”

“What did he say?” Noah asked, feeling like a dog with a bone.

“He wanted Fulton’s word that the investigation would remain discreet,” Rod said. “They get some high-profile guests at Mariposa. He didn’t want their privacy or, I expect, their experience hindered.”

The muscles around Noah’s mouth tensed. “A member of their staff is found dead, and the Coltons’ first thought is how it’s going to affect their clientele? Does that seem right to you?”

“I’m not the detective,” Steinbeck noted.

No, Noah considered.I am.“You’ll do a tox screen?”

“It’s routine,” Rod replied. “As it stands, I don’t have a cause of death for you.”

“You’ll keep me informed?” Noah asked.

“I’ll stay in touch.”

Noah forced himself to back away from Allison’s body. Deep in some unbottled canyon, he felt himself scream.

“Have your parents been notified?”

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