Bound for Murder by Audrey Shine

Author:Audrey Shine [Shine, Audrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Audrey Shine
Published: 2024-04-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Juliet soon realized it wasn’t going to be as easy as she thought.

The receptionist turned back to her, shaking her head regretfully. “Ma’am, Ms. Douglas is not in her room. She must have gone out.”

“I’ll wait for her, if that’s alright,” Juliet said.

“Of course. Please take a seat in the lobby.”

Tension surged within her as she made her way to one of the blue-upholstered couches and sat down, watching the door. She’d found where Geraldine was staying and she was still booked in for the night, but she could be anywhere in town. This might be a long wait. But she had to try.

A waitress headed over and Juliet ordered coffee and, after some serious consideration, a slice of chocolate cake. She knew her diet in England so far was less than impressive health-wise. It had been practically nothing but carbs. Tomorrow, she promised herself, she’d have a healthy day, even if it meant avoiding the tearoom completely.

For now, though, sipping her coffee and digging her fork into the rich chocolate cake with its deep brown, glossy frosting, there was nothing to do except watch the door and hope that Geraldine would come back to the hotel before heading out for dinner.

Maybe she’d been setting up a false alibi, Juliet theorized. If she’d committed a murder in anger, that would be a sensible thing to do.

Or maybe she’d been meeting someone to sell the book she’d stolen.

Theories whirled in her mind as she waited, the minutes ticking past. A group of people in business suits walked in, heading to one of the conference rooms. A couple, carrying large suitcases, arrived to check in. A stressed looking mother dragged a recalcitrant toddler all the way across the lobby, his rebellious yells splitting the air.

And then, so suddenly that Juliet almost missed her, she saw a woman heading in.

She took her dark glasses off as she entered the lobby, and immediately, Juliet recognized her. This was Geraldine.

Nerves fizzed inside her as she jumped to her feet and headed toward her.

“Geraldine?” she blurted out.

The woman stopped in surprise, and turned her way.

For the first time, Juliet took her in properly – an attractive, strong-boned woman in her early forties, a little taller than her, and with the same bright blue eyes

However, Geraldine looked highly stressed. Her demeanor was rushed and anxious. Her mascara was smudged, and her light brown hair was messy.

“Who are you and what do you want?” she asked.

“I’m Juliet Page.”

Asking if she was a killer would not be the greatest start to this conversation. She needed to ease into this and not arouse the woman’s suspicion.

"I came here hoping to speak to you for a minute and ask a couple of questions. Could we sit down?" she asked, hoping this nonthreatening invitation would quell Geraldine's suspicions. She clearly had suspicions, and was glaring at Juliet in an adversarial way.

“I guess I can talk for a minute.”

“I’ve been waiting here, so shall we sit down? Coffee?” Juliet offered politely, leading the way to the group of chairs where she’d been sitting.

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