Forever Fudge by Nancy Coco

Author:Nancy Coco
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-09-25T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

The next morning, I finished the fudge and went upstairs to change out of my candymaking clothes. I couldn’t clean rooms dressed in the same clothes I cooked fudge in. I headed down to the lobby wearing jeans and a white polo.

I stopped on the landing. There was a woman sitting in Frances’s chair at the reception desk. “Can I help you?” I asked as I bounded down the stairs.

“No, thanks, I’m working,” she said. She was an older woman with black hair pulled back in a braid. Her wide face had high cheekbones and coppery skin. Her black eyes seemed uninterested in me.

“Working?”

“Yes,” she said. “My cousin Sandy said you needed a temporary reservation manager,” she said. “It’s clear you do.”

“I see. Sandy Everheart?”

“Yes.”

“Huh, and your name is?”

“Sharon Everheart,” she said, and went back to reading her magazine.

“Right, is Sandy in yet?”

“She’s setting a sculpture up at the yacht club. She’ll be back in a half an hour. Oh, and you had a visit by a Jeffery Jenas.”

“Sharon,” I said, waiting for her to look up.

“Yeah?”

“What am I paying you?”

“Going rate,” she said. “I already checked out the Goers in room 201.”

That gave me pause. “How?”

“I’ve used the software before,” she said. “I’ve substituted for Frances.”

“Oh,” I said. “Thanks.”

“The room is ready to be cleaned,” she said, and turned the page on her magazine. “You have two new guests coming in today.”

“Right.” I turned on my heel and went upstairs, pausing at the landing. “Could you tell Sandy I want to talk with her when she gets back?”

“Okay.”

I watched Sharon for a moment, then went upstairs to clean the room. I pulled my phone out and texted Jenn. What is on your schedule today?

I’ve got a meeting with a young couple who are planning a wedding in May, Jenn texted back. Why?

Did you know that Sandy’s cousin Sharon is working the reception desk?

Oh, yes, she texted back. I forgot to let you know. Sandy has seen how busy you are and suggested Sharon. So I hired her.

How are we paying her?

I used funds in petty cash. You have quite a bit left over.

Thanks.

I stopped short in the hallway. Room 201’s door was open and Mella came strolling out. “Well, there you are,” I said to the cat, and leaned down to stroke her back. “Find anything interesting in there?” I went over and opened the door wide. Why did the Goers leave the door open?

The interior of the room looked used but nothing scary. I stuck my nose in the bathroom. It was empty. There were towels on the floor. I shrugged and went to the utility closet for cleaning supplies. I turned on the light and was startled by something hanging from the ceiling. I might have said something profane. My heart rate was through the roof and I put my hand on my chest. I pulled out my phone and started taking pictures. Someone had been in my utility closet.

On closer inspection, it was a giant stuffed bear swinging from a noose.

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