Danger Trail by Lynette Eason

Author:Lynette Eason
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-10-05T17:10:33+00:00

* * *

Nicholas followed his dog through the crowds and out the door to the West Colonnade. Max headed east, stopping every once in a while and pointing his nose in the air, then charging forward. The dog entered the Rose Garden and headed to the lawn area bordered by flowering plants and boxwoods. The tulips were in full bloom, adding a brilliant splash among the greenery. Max came to a halt near the cluster of white furniture under a large magnolia tree and barked.

Nicholas checked the area, wondering if Miss Chick had sat here sometime recently. He moved behind two white chairs and inspected the bushes, plunging his hand into the middle. When he grasped a feathery material, glimpsing yellow, he tugged it free.

Miss Chick’s costume—discarded.

“Good boy.” He gave Max a treat.

He placed a call to Dan. “I found the costume in the Rose Garden minus Miss Chick. Are you still with Selena?”

“Yes. Do you want to talk to her?”

“Yes.” When Selena came on, Nicholas asked, “Who’s Miss Chick?”

“Just a minute. I’ll have to look on my list of employees.” A moment late, she answered, “Tara Wilkins.”

“When she bumped into you earlier, could you tell if it was Tara Wilkins?”

A long pause—he could imagine her forehead creasing with a frown while her blue eyes darkened—then Selena said, “No, not for sure. Her voice was low and husky, but I’m pretty sure it was a woman.”

“When was the last time you saw Tara Wilkins without the headpiece on?”

“When I talked with the costumed characters in the East Wing entrance before the event started. That was seven this morning.”

“What do you know about Tara Wilkins? Is she trustworthy? Could she have given the costume to someone so the person could break into your office after the morning briefing?”

“She was Miss Chick last year and did a good job. The Secret Service vetted her as they do for all the people I use as costumed characters for this event, but I suppose it’s possible.”

“I’ll have the police check her residence.” He didn’t have a good feeling about this.

“I don’t see her putting her reputation on the line like that.” Selena’s worry came through the line.

“One good thing is that all the people who are here are on a list. You don’t get in here without going through checkpoints.”

“Please let me know what’s happening. I’m responsible for the employees I hired for this event.”

“I will. Anything missing from your office?”

“No.”

“Let me talk with Dan again.”

When Dan came back on the phone, he said, “I’ll let Security know what’s developing.”

“Tara Wilkins needs to be found. Her residence checked. We don’t have any idea what’s going on. I’m not even sure it was Tara Wilkins in the costume, but I’m going to see if Max can follow the scent from the clothing. I’ll let you know what I find.”

“Good. In the meantime, I’m escorting Miss Barrow to the doctor’s office.”

Nicholas heard a protest coming from the background, and he smiled. Dan was going to have his hands full getting her to go.

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