Page 77 of Colton's Last Resort

“You look tired, Laura,” Tallulah murmured, studying her.

“Things have been busy,” Laura said by way of excuse.

“Yes, they have,” Tallulah agreed.

“Do you want to have coffee with me?” Laura asked, already reaching for the Keurig she’d tucked lovingly into the corner with mugs with the Mariposa logo.

“I would,” Tallulah admitted, “but I have something I need to speak with you about.”

“I’m all ears,” Laura said, easing back into her chair.

Tallulah folded her hands carefully in her lap. “It’s about Bella.”

“The maid?”

“Yes,” Tallulah said. “She came to me this morning in tears and handed in her resignation.”

Laura blinked in surprise. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“So was I,” Tallulah stated. “She’s wonderful at her job, and she’s a good girl.”

“Did she give you a reason for leaving?” Laura asked.

“Not at first,” Tallulah said. Her dark eyes flickered. “But when pressed, the story came out.”

“‘Story’?” That didn’t sound good.

“She says she was assaulted,” Tallulah said quickly, as if in a hurry to get the words out. “By a guest.”

Laura stiffened. “Assaulted?”

“Yes,” Tallulah replied. “It happened Friday, and she didn’t tell anyone. She didn’t tell me.”

Laura wrapped her hand over the edge of the desk. “Tallulah, what kind of assault was it? Did she say?”

Tallulah’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, Laura. She said she was manhandled, sexually. She was cleaning Bungalow Three because she thought the guests there were out for the day and she was attacked.”

“Bungalow Three.” Laura bit down on the urge to scream. “That’s where—”

“The Ferradays,” Tallulah confirmed with a nod.

“Which one?” Laura asked and heard her voice drop low where anger coiled.

“The younger,” Tallulah answered. “And after what she told me, I’m in a mind to march down there and pour boiling water over his head.”

Laura pushed back from the desk. She stood. “We need to report this.”

“She doesn’t want to involve police,” Tallulah said. “I could hardly get her to talk to me.”

“You don’t understand,” Laura said as she picked up her phone and dialed Noah’s number. “This has happened before.”

“With the maids?” Tallulah asked, shocked.

“No,” Laura said. “Back in Connecticut, where the Ferradays live when they’re not here.”

“You knew this?” Tallulah stared at her, aghast.

Laura hated herself for it. “He’s already under investigation. That’s why his father brought him here. Probably in hopes that things would quiet in his absence.” She swallowed hard. “Tallulah. I didn’t think he’d do something like this. I’m so sorry.”

---