Page 88 of All You Want
“Or he got into the flour bin,” Rosalie counters. “Tami, you’ve been close to him. Wasn’t he the one who led you to Viola?”
“He seemed black to me.” I stop one of the maids with her trolley. “Just wondering if anyone cleaned Baja Angel’s Studio downstairs.”
The maid checks her log and shakes her head. “No one’s staying there. I was wondering why you didn’t rent the room when we’re overbooked.”
“No one moved in? Then I need to mark it as available.” I take out my master key and fly down the basement stairs, trailed by my two HEX sisters.
Sure enough, the room doesn’t look like anyone moved in. It’s too bad Chip is such a bad witness. He was probably used by Diana solely to be her alibi.
“What does this mean?” Rosalie asks on my left side, while Suzette struts on my right, tugging my arm. “Can either Rosalie or I have that room if we get lucky tonight?”
“Urgh!” I stop midstride and rattle my fists. “Can’t you two think of anything other than scoring guys?”
The both blink at me like innocents begging for candy, so I add “My hotel is not a hookup spot.”
“For horny hexy haunts,” Suzette finishes for me. “We get it.”
“We understand, and we’re sorry for asking,” Rosalie relents. “I mean, we’re so happy to be here for your grand opening.”
“Right, and so lucky you’re our HEX sister.” Suzette hugs me ever so sweetly. “Hey, we’re just happy to have you with us tonight for a late-night tea party.”
“I mean, if Larissa comes back, we can all sit up and tell ghost stories,” Rosalie says happily.
“Or compare notes. Tee, hee, hee,” Suzette giggles. “It’ll be a regular slumber party.”
“Just like old times.” Rosalie gives me a hip bump.
“Okay, okay, okay.” I jiggle the key. “You guys coordinate amongst yourselves if you get lucky.”
“It might be you and that sheriff.” Suzette wiggles her eyebrows.
“Not likely.” I head toward the stairs after Rosalie takes the key. “Can’t let a good room go to waste.”
“Meow.” A cat brushes by me and disappears into the gloom of the basement.
“It’s Spook, the black cat,” Rosalie says. “See? He’s so black I can’t see him.”
“I thought I saw white paws,” Suzette argues. “Let’s follow him.”
The cat leaps up onto a pile of boxes and debris and then disappears over the bricked up partial wall that hides the coal bin.
“Where’d he go?” Rosalie asks. “Does he live over there?”
“Probably not. Let’s see if he shows up in the kitchen.” I don’t feel like staying a second longer down in the dingy basement, and I regret having a studio set up down there. Maybe I can let Vinnie live here so he can watch the grounds better.
“Why would he show up in the kitchen?” Suzette asks. “Isn’t it unsanitary to have a cat mixed up with the food?”
“As long as they keep the service door closed,” I reply, ascending the staircase. “Or he’s a scavenger in the dumpster. Come with me, and I’ll show you something.”
There’s still roughly an hour before the trick or treat event, and I need to make last-minute checks with my staff. I’m also planning on calling Todd for an update on the murder investigation, and I can’t have my two nosy HEX sisters listening in.
They follow me eagerly out the service exit to the loading dock where the dumpster is located. The crime scene tape has been removed so the staff can use it.
“Are we to look for clues?” Suzette asks, running ahead of me toward the dumpster.
“Yes, maybe something the police overlooked,” Rosalie says, giddily trotting after her.
I can almost see two toddlers pushing and shoving to get to the merry-go-round.
