Page 50 of Spooked

“What did you offer the others?”

“Complimentary dinner to everyone, a free visit for the more disgruntled. Think we’ll be up and running by next week?”

“I hope so. Justin promised to send half a dozen guys from Norquist Construction to help out. They’ll be here in the morning, and then we’ll just need to arrange the materials and replace the furniture. Meera can help with that if you give her a list of what we need. She’ll also require a room for the night.”

“Here?”

“Yes.”

“And you?”

“I’ll stay at home with Carissa, but I’ll be back early.”

Mr. Vale planned to stay with Carissa? The thought shouldn’t have made me feel nauseated, but it did. And worse, I knew why he had to go: because of me. If I was here, he couldn’t be. I almost offered to stay in a hotel, but I stopped myself in the nick of time. Jarrod might not know about the problems between the Vales, and I wasn’t going to spill the secret.

“Should I pick up breakfast for everyone in the morning?” I offered instead. “I mean, with the kitchen being out of use.”

Mr. Vale flashed me a tight little smile. “Thank you, Meera. We’d appreciate it.”

* * *

There she was. The dragon herself.

Carissa Dunn was a slender blonde, two inches taller than me with the heels she was wearing, two inches shorter without. Stylish and pretty in a polished way, but I already knew her beauty only went skin deep. What was she doing here? She picked her way across the wreckage of the laundry room to where I was holding a flashlight for the electrician. Mr. Vale had said it was all hands on deck, help where I could. So there I was—balanced on a stool while the man peered at melted wire. Thank goodness I’d worn pants and ballet pumps today.

Mr. Vale trailed behind Carissa, his expression black. Was that because of her? Or due to the extent of the repairs that were required?

“Why didn’t someone put the fire out sooner?” she asked. “We have fire extinguishers, don’t we?”

“It probably took hold inside the machine, my darling.”

“Well, have you tried complaining to the manufacturer? They should be paying for this, not us.”

“I’ll raise it with them in due course. Our priority is to get the club up and running again.”

“Why aren’t there more people here? Everything’s filthy.”

“Because we’re making sure the place is safe first.”

She gave the electrician a once-over and clearly didn’t like what she saw. Her nose wrinkled, and her mouth flattened in disgust. He must have picked up on the vibes because he climbed down the ladder, muttered an excuse, and practically ran out of the room. Then she turned her attention to me.

“And you must be Meena?”

“Meera.”

“Lovely. I’ve heard all about you.”

From who? I was certain Mr. Vale hadn’t told her a thing. Which meant he’d been right—spies were reporting our every move back to her.

“Really? I think I saw your name on some paperwork. You’re Clarissa, right?”

Behind her, Mr. Vale smirked.

“Carissa.No L.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” For once, I absolutely wasn’t. “Are you here to help with the clean-up?”

“What? Good heavens, no. I’m on my way to brunch. But let me make it up to you this evening. We can all go out for dinner.”

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