Page 34 of Dirty Liars

“I can check all of those for you now, sir,” Jeremy said helpfully, moving to his computer and typing quickly. “It does seem that Aidan Chisholm is working until three o’clock today. It looks as if he’s doing delivery service on the golf course. I can check out a golf cart for you so you can meet him there.”

“That would be great, thanks,” Jack said.

Jeremy typed something else into his computer and then reached below the counter and got a sheet of paper from the printer. “Here’s a map and the room assignment for Mr. and Mrs. Kelso. If there’s anything else I can do for you please let me know. The golf cart will be waiting for you out front.”

We thanked him again and headed back into the lobby. “This resort really lives up to the hype. No wonder there’s an eight-month waiting list.”

“Maybe we should come here for a babymoon,” he said.

“What’s a babymoon?”

“It’s when the soon-to-be parents get away for one last hoorah before the baby comes,” Jack explained.

“I’m always open to going anywhere with you,” I said. “Maybe we could go before I start looking like a beached whale. That sounds a lot more fun than waiting until right before things get critical.”

“Maybe we could go now and later,” Jack said. “We’re not limited on how many times we can go.”

“The dead bodies waiting for us might have something to say about that,” I said as we made our way back outside. Jeremy had been remarkably efficient as there was a golf cart waiting for us at the entrance.

“We don’t have to save the world,” Jack said. “I’ve got a good team of investigators. And if you’re not available for autopsies then the bodies can always go to the state lab. They’re going to have to get used to you being out for a while after the baby comes. So let’s take the trips while we can.”

“Don’t you think it’s weird to pay money to go to a resort that’s twenty minutes from the house?” I asked. “Kind of takes the excitement out of it.”

“You’re probably right,” he said. “It’s too easy to think about work when we stay close.”

There was a digital map on the dashboard of the golf cart that had been pre-programmed to show us how to get to the golf course.

We drove along the narrow pathway, passing the archery field and another area that was lined with ATVs for off-road adventures. The golf course was on the other side of the property and we wound our way toward the flashing dot on the GPS.

“I’m guessing the flashing dot is Aidan’s golf cart?” I asked.

“I hope so,” Jack said. “Otherwise we’ll probably be introducing ourselves to some very confused golfers.”

“I guess a double homicide didn’t discourage too many guests from staying on the property,” I said.

“I can’t imagine it would,” Jack said. “It’s not like this is a seedy motel on the edge of town. This is high profile and sensationalized. I’m sure anyone who checked out early was immediately replaced by another guest. At their very core, people are just nosy. We’ve probably got a dozen eyes on us right now.”

I snickered and watched as we drew closer to a bright red golf cart with a scalloped awning. It was longer than the regular carts to transport guests, and it had shelves down the side like a metal tool chest and drinks sitting in a cavern of ice in the back.

“That must be him,” I said, noticing the young man in pressed khakis and a white shirt with blue trim that the food service workers wore. “Good-looking kid. Doesn’t look like he’s ever been in trouble a day in his life.”

“He reminds me of Eddie Haskell,” Jack said. “Why don’t we see what he has to say?”

The kid noticed us immediately and stood next to his cart, nodding politely to resort guests as they passed by. He was tall and broad shouldered, and I could see how he’d be an asset to the rowing team. His hair was a dark auburn and there was a smattering of freckles across his tanned face. He was a handsome kid who looked like he belonged in a 1950s soda shop.

“Aidan Chisolm?” Jack asked, showing his badge discreetly.

“That’s me,” he said. “Dorinda said you stopped by to talk to her. She figured you might do the same for me.”

I saw a crack in his exterior when he looked at each of us nervously, and neither Jack nor I said anything. People weren’t always comfortable with silence, and usually felt the need to fill it with something.

“I guess I know what you’re here to talk to me about,” Aidan said, looking around to see if there was anyone close by.

“Why don’t you tell us,” Jack said.

“All of the golf carts are tracked,” he said. “I figured you probably noticed I stayed a little longer than I should have at the villa where those people were murdered.” His face turned scarlet, making his freckles stand out across the bridge of his nose and cheeks.

“You doing drugs?” Jack asked. “We found a couple of joints that had been tossed off the back deck.”

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