100 Proof Murder by Mary Ellis

Author:Mary Ellis [Ellis, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2021-04-14T16:00:00+00:00

NINE

Jill drove above the speed limit all the way to the hotel, hoping to lose her tail in traffic or even better, attract the attention of the police. She would happily explain why she was speeding to the officer. No such luck on either count. By the time she left the car with the valet, the same black Escalade was idling on the ramp to the garage. Part of her wanted to run inside, jump in the elevator with other people, and lock herself in the bathroom of their suite. But another part of her seethed with anger. How dare this guy – assuming the occupant was male – stalk her to a five-star hotel like the Thurman House in broad daylight with impunity?

Jill waited under the canopy until her brave side won out. Then she stomped over to the Escalade’s darkly tinted driver’s window and rapped on the glass. ‘Excuse me,’ she said. ‘I’d like a word with you.’

A moment later the window lowered. Inside sat a thirty-ish man wearing sunglasses even though glare was no longer a problem at this time of the day. ‘May I help you, miss?’ he asked with a deeper accent than most residents of Louisville.

‘Yes, you can help me.’ Jill crossed her arms. ‘I’d like to know why you were parked outside Parker Estate and why you followed me downtown. What is your problem?’

‘Yeah, I’ll tell you my problem. As a close friend of Miss Scott’s, I’m concerned for her safety and that of her family.’ He glared down his nose with haughty indignation. ‘Why is a tabloid journalist from Chicago showing up everywhere Alexis goes and dropping in on the family unannounced? Can’t you respect a family’s need to grieve in private?’

Jill pressed a hand to her chest. ‘I am not a tabloid journalist. I write respected travel features for syndicated papers and internet sites. I am no threat to Alexis or her family. I’m simply trying to …’ She stopped herself before uttering the word ‘murder’. The cause of death hadn’t hit the papers yet, and the more time the police had to investigate the better. ‘I’m trying to be supportive of Alexis. We were friends in college. What did you say your name was?’

‘My name is Ross Lacey.’ A muscle tightened in his neck as he pushed up his sleeve to check his watch. ‘And I’m late for an appointment. I hope you’re telling me the truth, Jill Curtis, because things don’t go well for people who lie to me.’ He threw the SUV into gear and backed down the ramp into traffic, triggering a barrage of horn blasts on the street.

As Jill walked into the hotel, she realized two things: Ross Lacey had just threatened her. And two, she had never mentioned her name. Jill wasn’t sure which bothered her more. On the way to her room she also realized it was time to tell her partner exactly why she spent so much time with Alexis Scott.

‘I knew it,’ Michael shouted, jumping to his feet.

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