Page 30 of Colorado Christmas Carol
He took her arm and led her to one of the couches and sat her down with him.
“There’s a forensic workshop in Carnesville, about thirty miles south of here,” he said. “Next Saturday. I have reason to believe that your friend who loves forensics will be there. Could you get off and go with Mellie and me?”
She frowned. “Dean?” she asked.
He nodded.
She was all at sea. “You don’t think he’s done something bad, do you?” she wondered. “He’s such a nice man. Very gentle. I don’t think he’d hurt a fly.”
“Neither do I,” he lied. “But I’m working a case, and I have to investigate anything out of the ordinary. He’s not your typical forensic geek.”
“Well, no. He knows too much,” she agreed with a smile. “He’s very intelligent,”
He nodded. “I don’t think he’s involved in anything, but he might be acquainted with someone who is,” he said enigmatically. “I need to find out. But I don’t want him to get suspicious. If you and Mellie come along, and you tell him that it was your idea to go to the workshop but your car wouldn’t make it that far and Mellie wanted to go, too—and what a surprise, you didn’t expect to see him there!” He gave her a long look. “Think you can pull it off?”
She made a face. “I had the lead in my school play in sixth grade.”
“Great. Then can you ask your boss for one more free day? Tell him you’re solving a case with the sheriff’s department. It might help.”
“I don’t need to. He’s just really nice. And one of the relief chefs needs the work,” she added with a sigh. “His wife just left him and is suing for child support for their son. Honestly, doesn’t anybody stay married anymore?”
“Some people don’t and should. Some people do and shouldn’t.”
“Thanks. That gets you the Enigma Award for the year,” she said sardonically.
He chuckled. “I’ll find out exactly when the workshop starts. Thanks.” He got up. “Mellie really likes you,” he added, frowning, as if he couldn’t understand why.
“Yes, strange, isn’t it?” she asked. “I usually only attract drunk men.”
His eyes widened.
“At parties, if I ever go to them,” she explained. “I don’t drink, so I’m usually sitting in a corner by myself. If there’s a drunk man within fifty feet, he’ll make a beeline for me. I did a dumb thing and danced with one once, and he passed out at my feet on a crowded dance floor. Was that fun!” she drawled, rolling her eyes. “So I stopped going to parties.”
“That’s sad.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You aren’t exactly a party animal yourself,” she pointed out.
He shrugged. “I don’t have the time.”
She smiled. “She’s the best reason to not have time to party,” she said.
He smiled back, without sarcasm. “I like to think so.” He turned. “See you.”
He was gone before she had a good reply.
* * *
During one free hour, Essa took Mellie outside the hotel for a walk on the grounds. Some of the trees were shedding pollen profusely, despite the cold. Mellie started sneezing her head off and coughing repeatedly.
“Back inside, right now,” Essa said, herding her into the hotel lobby.
But the coughing didn’t stop. Her face was turning red, and she seemed to have trouble breathing.
“Give me your phone,” Essa said quickly.
Mellie dug it out. She was still fighting for breath.
Her dad’s number was on speed dial. Essa punched it, but there was no answer. She called 911 instead, but the ambulance would take too long to get to the hotel, so she told them she was bringing Mellie right to the emergency room.
