Read Online Dread on Arrival by Claudia Bishop - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Claudia Bishop
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nothing.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Of course, if you want to knock on doors and see if anyone’s missing anything I can help you do that.” She yawned and hefted Bismarck over her shoulder. “Might annoy the guests. Is the Inn full up?”
“Not right now. There’s nobody on this floor except Meg and me. The wedding guests are trickling in over the next few days, and then we’re at a hundred percent for almost two weeks. Edmund Tree just arrived today, and three of the other rooms downstairs are filled with leafers.” These tourists, in pursuit of the glorious autumn colors that turned upstate New York into living art, were a mainstay of the hotel trade in the fall.
“Bit early for them, isn’t it? Although, come to think of it, we’ve had a couple of busloads in for wine tastings. Anyhow, that’s not so many that we can’t roust them out in a few minutes. I’m willing if you are.”
Quill thought about knocking on Edmund Tree’s door and asking him if he’d been burglarized. He was the type to raise a fuss. Or ask for a discount on his bill. Or flounce off to another hotel and get Rose Ellen in a swivet. Miriam had said there had been a rash of burglaries lately. Was there one person behind it? A gang? Gangs in Hemlock Falls? Was anything to be gained by raising a ruckus tonight? “Scarlett O’Hara,” she said aloud.
“Huh?”
“That’s code for I’ll think about this tomorrow. Never mind. You’re probably right. It’s nothing.”
Clare tickled Bismarck under the chin. He closed his eyes and began to purr. “Are you okay? I mean, you’ve seemed out of sorts lately. Is everything all right?”
“Everything is not all right,” Quill said in some surprise. “But it’s nothing I can put my finger on. I miss Myles, of course, but I knew what kind of schedule he had when we got married. Jack’s wonderful. I’m a little worried about you and M—” She stopped herself. “Forget it. Things are just fine. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Anyhow, I have been a little off lately. I apologize. And,” she added suddenly remembering her mission to put their friendship back on track, “I am so glad that you took the first step and came over tonight.”
Clare looked startled. “You are?”
“That delicate matter you mentioned …”
“Yes. I’m really hoping you can intercede for me.”
“I’ll do my best,” Quill promised. “She’s very reasonable, at heart.”
“Do you think so?” Clare asked doubtfully. “That’s not what I’ve heard. You remember that whole kerfuffle over the cat.”
“She loves the cat,” Quill said.
A faint chime sounded. The elevator doors in the middle of the hall opened up. Meg shoved herself off the elevator and trudged toward them. She looked as weary as Clare.
“Hey, sister,” Quill said. “I see you un-wedged the elevator.”
“Tree is definitely going to be one of those. You’d better keep Doreen away from the mop closet. She’ll whack him a good one if he gets too aggravating.” She eyed Clare warily. “I take it you’re here to get the big boy back home again. Unless it’s a front to get hold of some of my recipes. Ha-ha.”
“Yes to the first. No to the second. Ha-ha,” Clare said. The two of them eyed each other like a pair of gunslingers sizing each other up in a saloon.
Quill took a deep breath and prepared for battle. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to sit and just talk to each other.”
Meg muttered under her breath. Quill ignored it. “Clare. Why don’t you come in for a glass of wine before you leave?”
Clare patted the cat a little too hard. “Love to. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Great. You hear that Meg? She came all the way over here just to discuss something with us.”
“And to get her cat,” Meg said sourly.
“And to get her cat. If you don’t mind, could we sit in your place? And could we leave your door open so I can hear Jack if he wakes
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Of course, if you want to knock on doors and see if anyone’s missing anything I can help you do that.” She yawned and hefted Bismarck over her shoulder. “Might annoy the guests. Is the Inn full up?”
“Not right now. There’s nobody on this floor except Meg and me. The wedding guests are trickling in over the next few days, and then we’re at a hundred percent for almost two weeks. Edmund Tree just arrived today, and three of the other rooms downstairs are filled with leafers.” These tourists, in pursuit of the glorious autumn colors that turned upstate New York into living art, were a mainstay of the hotel trade in the fall.
“Bit early for them, isn’t it? Although, come to think of it, we’ve had a couple of busloads in for wine tastings. Anyhow, that’s not so many that we can’t roust them out in a few minutes. I’m willing if you are.”
Quill thought about knocking on Edmund Tree’s door and asking him if he’d been burglarized. He was the type to raise a fuss. Or ask for a discount on his bill. Or flounce off to another hotel and get Rose Ellen in a swivet. Miriam had said there had been a rash of burglaries lately. Was there one person behind it? A gang? Gangs in Hemlock Falls? Was anything to be gained by raising a ruckus tonight? “Scarlett O’Hara,” she said aloud.
“Huh?”
“That’s code for I’ll think about this tomorrow. Never mind. You’re probably right. It’s nothing.”
Clare tickled Bismarck under the chin. He closed his eyes and began to purr. “Are you okay? I mean, you’ve seemed out of sorts lately. Is everything all right?”
“Everything is not all right,” Quill said in some surprise. “But it’s nothing I can put my finger on. I miss Myles, of course, but I knew what kind of schedule he had when we got married. Jack’s wonderful. I’m a little worried about you and M—” She stopped herself. “Forget it. Things are just fine. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Anyhow, I have been a little off lately. I apologize. And,” she added suddenly remembering her mission to put their friendship back on track, “I am so glad that you took the first step and came over tonight.”
Clare looked startled. “You are?”
“That delicate matter you mentioned …”
“Yes. I’m really hoping you can intercede for me.”
“I’ll do my best,” Quill promised. “She’s very reasonable, at heart.”
“Do you think so?” Clare asked doubtfully. “That’s not what I’ve heard. You remember that whole kerfuffle over the cat.”
“She loves the cat,” Quill said.
A faint chime sounded. The elevator doors in the middle of the hall opened up. Meg shoved herself off the elevator and trudged toward them. She looked as weary as Clare.
“Hey, sister,” Quill said. “I see you un-wedged the elevator.”
“Tree is definitely going to be one of those. You’d better keep Doreen away from the mop closet. She’ll whack him a good one if he gets too aggravating.” She eyed Clare warily. “I take it you’re here to get the big boy back home again. Unless it’s a front to get hold of some of my recipes. Ha-ha.”
“Yes to the first. No to the second. Ha-ha,” Clare said. The two of them eyed each other like a pair of gunslingers sizing each other up in a saloon.
Quill took a deep breath and prepared for battle. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to sit and just talk to each other.”
Meg muttered under her breath. Quill ignored it. “Clare. Why don’t you come in for a glass of wine before you leave?”
Clare patted the cat a little too hard. “Love to. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Great. You hear that Meg? She came all the way over here just to discuss something with us.”
“And to get her cat,” Meg said sourly.
“And to get her cat. If you don’t mind, could we sit in your place? And could we leave your door open so I can hear Jack if he wakes
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