Read Online Dangerous Secrets by L. L. Bartlett, Kelly McClymer, Shirley Hailstock, C. B. Pratt - Free Book Online

spots of pink stained her cheeks. ‶ Isn′t
it a little warm for sherry?″ I asked.
    ‶ I didn′t feel like going
upstairs for the gin.″
    I took the glass from her hand, set it on the
bar and led her to the loveseat across the way. ‶ Don′t let her upset you.
You′ll just get a sick headache and then neither of us will have any
fun.″
    It took a moment for my words to sink in;
she′d said the same thing to me earlier. A smile cracked her solemn
features. ‶ Okay,
you win.″
    I heard footsteps cross the living room above.
Moments later Susan came down the stairs, looked around the barroom, and
frowned. ‶ Is
Ms. Marshall around?″
    ‶ I think she′s in the hot
tub,″ Maggie volunteered.
    Susan looked chagrined, picked up a clean glass
and poured herself a large sherry from the decanter on the bar. I got the
feeling this wasn′t something she normally did—God forbid she should let
her hair down in front of the guests. Ah, but we weren′t paying guests, I
reminded myself. I settled back in my seat, grabbed a magazine off the end
table and flipped pages, trying to ignore Susan as thoroughly as she ignored
me.
    ‶ Mrs. Andolina is not happy with
her,″ Susan continued.
    ‶ So we heard.″
    Susan took another sip. ‶ As long as she
isn′t drinking, Eileen′s the perfect guest. But after she′s
had a few—″
    Maggie joined our hostess at the bar. ‶ I
don′t envy you dealing with such things.″
    I buried my nose deeper into the magazine,
trying not to listen.
    ‶ Don′t get me wrong, I
love running the inn. But sometimes I have a bad day. Today is one of
them.″
    We must have run into her when she was having a
string of them, I thought as I put the magazine down and wandered back into the
game room. Racking up the table, I picked up a cue and sank balls while the
women talked.
    ‶ It′s an odd mix of guests
this weekend,″ Susan continued. ‶ There′s not a lot of
interaction going on. But at least we have good help.″
    ‶ Didn′t you say Nadine was
new?″
    ‶ Yes, but she′s working
out. Thank goodness we′ve had Adam all season.″
    As I moved to the side of the pool table, Susan
perched on the piano bench, slipped off her left shoe and massaged her foot. ‶ We
hired him last spring to help Zack with the renovations. He asked to stay on
when we opened again in May. He plans to go to college next semester for hotel
management. He′d be good at it. But then he′ll be gone and
we′ll have to start interviewing all over again.″
    ‶ Sounds like it′s hard to
keep good help,″ Maggie said.
    ‶ It is. Especially in a seasonal
business like this. I can′t blame them for finding other jobs when
we′re closed, but it′s damned inconvenient.″
    I racked up for another game, aware of the lag
in their conversation.
    ‶ I′ve been admiring that
mirror on the stairway,″ Maggie said.
    ‶ Do you want to buy it?″
    I glanced up as Maggie blinked in surprise. ‶ Well—″
    ‶ Just about everything in the
inn is for sale. It′s my surplus.″
    ‶ Surplus?″
    ‶ I rent space in one of the
antique co-ops in Waitsfield. It′s not a great moneymaker, but it helps
make ends meet during the months we′re closed.″
    ‶ I′ve thought about doing
the same thing, but I never had the capital to get started.”
    ‶ In spring, I go on buying
sprees for weeks at a time. Usually in Pennsylvania and Ohio. After the autumn
leaves are done and the tourists leave, we′ll be closed for six weeks and
I′ll split my time between here and the co-op. We hope to renovate the
rest of the rooms in time for ski season. That should make a big difference to
our balance sheet. Come April, I′ll go on another buying trip.″
    ‶ Sounds like you′ve got
all the bases covered.″
    Susan finished her drink and slipped her shoe
back on. ‶ I′d
better warn Ms. Marshall about her mouth.″ She pursed her lips, as though
taking on the bitch persona. She didn′t have to stretch far to find it. ‶