Random Acts of Scrooge: a Christmas novella (Holly Anna Paladin Book 4) by Christy Barritt

Author:Christy Barritt
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: River Heights
Published: 2015-12-09T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

I froze when I heard the voice. The last thing I wanted was to be in the dark with a strange man desiring to deliver a cryptic message. But what other choice did I have? I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my face.

“Who are you?” My voice sounded shakier than I would have liked.

“I can’t tell you.”

I felt along the wall of the stall, wishing I had a weapon other than toilet paper. “You know there are police officers all over the place outside.”

“I’m aware of that. I needed to catch you in private.”

“You managed to do that. But why? Did you want to talk?”

“You need to look into the background of Greg and Babette Sullivan.”

“What? Why would I do that?” Certainly I hadn’t heard him correctly.

“They were involved in a scam about ten years ago. They stole money from innocent people. I think they stole their own money from those canisters to gain sympathy.”

Was this guy drunk? Another disturbing thought hit me: Had he moved closer? I hated not being able to see anything. “That’s crazy.”

“But is it?”

“Besides, they weren’t at the bazaar yesterday until after the money had already been stolen.” I hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but I did.

“Are you sure about that?” The man sounded like he knew something I didn’t.

“Greg and Babette didn’t show up until the end. I was there.”

“They ate at a Mexican restaurant around the corner. You should check it out. They had the time to grab the money, eat, and then show up later, looking innocent.”

His words rushed over me. Had Greg and Babette told me they’d just arrived or had I assumed things? “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I don’t want to see con artists succeed.”

A swoosh sounded in the distance before a flash of light filled the room. The man had slipped outside and into the lobby area of the restroom, I realized. The light from outside had temporarily filled the room.

Despite my blindness, I rushed toward the door. I pulled it open and nearly collided with someone.

A pretty black woman raised her hands and stepped back. I’d obviously scared her as much as she’d scared me.

“Sorry. The lights went out,” I rushed. “Did you see someone leave here?” My hand went over my heart as I gulped in deep breaths.

A wrinkle formed between her eyebrows. “A man in a black suit. He mumbled that he worked here.”

“Did you see which direction he went?”

“It looked like he was walking toward the party.”

“Anything else you can remember?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t see his face. But he was a white guy, average height. A black hat covered his face, though. A fedora.”

“Thank you.” Before I could waste any more time, I rushed from the bathroom. As I surveyed the empty hallway, my gaze came to a stop on something left on the floor.

A black fedora.

I frowned. That had been my only distinguishing clue. Whoever that man was, he would easily blend in now. Was he a cop?

I couldn’t believe that.

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