Page 28 of Tangled
***
“Ski week is coming up, and I want to get lifts two and three serviced before that,” Brad said to Jeanette Falon, his head of maintenance and facilities. He was going through the motions of his day, but his mind was elsewhere. Despite his world having been turned upside down, work still needed to get done.
“We’ve also offered the staff extra hours if they want to pick up additional work. For any gaps in coverage, we’ll reach out to the community,” Jack Nelson, his head of HR, said.
“Do we expect any shortages?” Brad asked.
“Nothing more than the usual,” Jack replied.
“And the bar and kitchen?” he asked, turning to his head of food and beverage.
“Lists and inventory are due tomorrow morning. I’ll be placing the orders by the end of the day,” Sean Calder replied.
“Great, thank you all. Is there anything else we need to cover?” After Christmas and New Year’s, ski week—which spread over three weeks—was their busiest time of the winter season. With schools all over California giving the students a week off, many families made their way to the mountains to enjoy the snow.
There was a round of headshakes, and people started to rise. “Thank you for all the great work, everyone. As always, I’m grateful for this team,” he said. When his dad had handed over the leadership reins, a handful of people had retired at the same time, and it had taken Brad a few years to rebuild it into the team he wanted. Now, though, not only did his key leadership perform above and beyond, but they loved what they did.
“Oh, Andrea, can you stay for a minute?” he called out to his head of security. She nodded and fell back, shutting the door after the last person passed through.
“Everything okay?” she asked. She’d joined the team four years ago at the recommendation of Ethan, who’d served with her in the navy. She was a dichotomy that he enjoyed, and she’d become one of his favorite people to work with. With her boho, hippie looks—she was often seen in long flowy skirts, chunky jewelry, and tunic tops—people tended to underestimate her. But he’d seen her bodycheck a man twice her size and physically remove him from the bar.
“You heard about Maria?” he asked. She nodded. “I can’t get into the details of the investigation, but there’s a person of interest who Ryan and his team have put an APB out on,” he continued. “He was seen on the lodge’s CCTV, and Ryan believeshe followed Maria home after work. His name is Alexei Petrov, and I’d like to circulate his photo to the security team along with a picture of another man, Jason Katz, who may or may not be involved. I’ll have Ryan email them to you.”
She inclined her head. “Want me to increase the patrols?”
He considered the question. Scarlett was safely ensconced in his apartment, but she couldn’t stay there forever. He nodded. “Please. They believe the killing was targeted and not random, so I don’t anticipate any additional problems. But between preparing for ski week and then the actual ski weeks, it’s a good idea.”
“On it,” she said as she pulled her hair into a ponytail, then tied it in a bun at the nape of her neck, her bracelets jingling with the movement. “And if there’s anything else Ryan or the team needs, give me a holler. I knew Maria. She was a good person and will be missed.”
A pang of regret hit Brad. He’d been so focused on Scarlett that he hadn’t considered Maria’s friends here at the lodge. Or what would happen to her body. “She didn’t have any family, but if the staff would like to have a memorial for her, then the lodge will be happy to host one whenever you think it’s appropriate. We’ll also be taking care of her burial or cremation.”
Andrea eyed him, then nodded. “The staff would like that. Particularly her colleagues in the housekeeping department. Before I go, is there anything I should know about the Scarlett Nesanet who is now living in your apartment?”
Brad’s gaze jerked to her in surprise. Although, he should have known better. He’d hired Andrea for a reason, and she would have noticed something like Scarlett in the ATV with him and Ryan. “This doesn’t go anywhere outside these walls,” he said. Andrea nodded. “We think Maria was killed accidentally and that Scarlett—who is, coincidentally, pregnant with my child—was the actual target.”
Andrea blinked, the only sign of surprise. “Right, so we should definitely increase security.”
“I was going to ask HICC if they had someone they could spare. I don’t want to take resources from your team.”
Andrea chuckled. “We’re good and can cover it, but if you feel the need, ask for Teague.” Brad cocked his head in question. “He thinks I’m a woo-woo yoga worshipper that’s all about peace and love and chakras, and it’s hilarious to egg him on.”
Brad couldn’t help it; he laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Andrea nodded, then turned to leave as his assistant, Tana, knocked. The older woman stepped aside as Andrea exited, then hovered at the door.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“There’s a young man out front who I think you may want to talk to. He’s one of the lift operators, but he lives in the seasonal housing. Right next to the woman who departed suddenly.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Send him in.” Scarlett had called Dean, her former boss, the evening she’d arrived at Brad’s apartment and told him the story they’d agreed on—that she had a family emergency and had to depart immediately. It was the best cover they could come up with to explain her sudden departure.
A few seconds later, a man in his early twenties walked in. He wore the standard—though not uniform—apparel of a snow chaser. Ski pants, snow boots, jacket, beanie, and beard.
“I’m Harlan Jackson,” he said, striding over with his hand out. Brad shook it, then gestured for him to sit.
Harlan remained standing. “I won’t take long. I’ve got to be at lift four in twenty minutes. I know the story is Scarlett left for a family emergency, but I saw some cops at her place the other day, so I thought you might want to know I saw someone else there, too.”
“When?” Brad said, his mind already jumping ahead three steps. He’d have Andrea review the security footage and get it over to Ryan.
