Read Online Heather Horrocks - Who-Dun-Him Inn 02 - Inn the Doghouse by Heather Horrocks - Free Book Online

years when the mansion was first built. It had a regular safe door on one side and a hidden escape hatch on the other that only opened from the inside. It hadn’t been opened in years, since no one of late needed to hide from the authorities. I was not even sure the escape hatch door could still open. Occasionally, however, guests would have items large enough to require the big safe.
    It had been two days since I talked to Robert and threw a rock at Gene’s car so I had plenty of time to regain strict control of my emotions. I needed that much time. Liz felt better today and went to work, while I checked lots of items off on my to-do list around the Inn. We’d just eaten dinner and it was time to trick-or-treat.
    Dressed in my Halloween costume, I met Kent at the large, semicircular, solid wood, check-in counter, nestled between the kitchen wall and the back of the mansion. A guest couple followed him. Don and Lisa Barton from Ohio were in their fifties. They both had jovial smiles carried a little sedentary spread around their middles. Don hefted a large box with ease, and Lisa looked like she was probably the neighborhood grandma that all the kids wanted to be around.
    My kid was no different. When Zach spotted them, he grinned and came running. “Are you going trick-or-treating, too?”
    They looked down at my son, dressed in his Dalmatian costume, and smiled. “No, sweetie,” Lisa said. “But we do have some candy to put in your bag.”
    Zach was dressed as one of the 101 Dalmatians with a goodie bag hanging from his neck. He pulled the top of the bag out with his paw/glove, and Lisa dropped in a few Tootsie Rolls.
    “What do you say?” I prompted.
    “Arf!” Zach beamed. “That’s Dalmatian for thanks.”
    The couple looked at me and smiled. She teased, “Do villains get treats?”
    It was a good question, since I was dressed as Cruella De Vil. “No, thanks.”
    Don started humming the Cruella De Vil song from the Disney movie and Zach snickered.
    Lisa said, “We got lots of shopping done today and want to ship some stuff home, but can’t until tomorrow. And this is just too big for our room safe. I understand you have a large safe down here.”
    “Bring your box and follow me.” I led the way into the kitchen, where the safe was built into a false wall. After spinning the combination, I swung open the large, heavy door.
    “Wow,” said Don. “That ought to be secure enough.”
    “Never had anything taken out of it since the mansion was built in the 1800s.”
    Don positioned the box, and the picture on the outside suggested there was some sort of BBQ grill inside. He stepped back and said, “Thanks.”
    “Mom, can we go yet?” Zach called from the kitchen door.
    I closed the door and spun the lock. “Sorry. He’s pretty excited.”
    “We understand,” he said. “We have four sons and they were all just as eager to trick-or-treat as your boy.”
    They headed toward the main staircase, passing Cielo, who was coming down the stairs.
    Cielo was the Italian beauty married to Kent. She kept my Inn clean, dust-free, and stocked with clean towels and bedding. She also covered for me at the desk. Blessed with Sophia Loren curves, she spoke with a slight accent.
    “ Ciao , Vicki. Kent and I will stay while you go out for candy.” She pointed toward the front door and spoke ominously, “I saw your Grandma’s car pulling up. And your sister’s, too.”
    I laughed. “Thanks for the warning.”
    Sure enough, a few minutes later, Grandma and Liz came in. Grandma looked decidedly perkier than Liz, who seemed droopy after a day at the law firm. It was a place where she normally loved to ply her trade as an attorney-at-law. I was still worried about her. As far as I knew, she hadn’t heard about my confrontation with Gene in town, and I wasn’t prepared to enlighten her.
    “Oh, good,” Zach said, giving them each a hug, “We can go trick-or-treating now.”
    Liz held him tightly and kissed his