“Thanks, Sheriff, I really appreciate it. I hate to be such a bother.”
“Not a bother at all, Ms. Matthews. I don’t like the idea that some looney is harassing one of my citizens.”
Sage smiled. Small town Carolina life was very different from D.C.
The sky was a bright blue with large, white, fluffy clouds stirring around. The color of the sky was what she always thought of as Carolina Blue, and it seemed somehow clearer than other skies or even those closest to Charlotte. As she approached the main highway, she pulled on her Sage Matthews sequined ball cap and picked up speed. She roared down the highway, her state-of-the-art and most definitely ‘not original equipment’ stereo blaring away so she could sing at the top of her lungs. She wasn’t a particularly good singer, but she didn’t care, she loved to and in the car, speeding down the road, she could offend no one.
The six-hour trip in the fresh air cleared her head and allowed her to banish the vestiges of fear that had threatened to settle on her when she’d left earlier in the day. She pulled up to the hotel and was greeted by the concierge, who had both a bellboy and a parking valet with him. They’d rented a room so that they had a place to take a break and get ready for the overnight flight to London. The flight left at a little after midnight and would arrive sometime around noon.
“Ms. Matthews, how nice to see you again. Ms. Vincent called and should be here any time. We sent the car to the airport for her. She called and asked that you wait for her to have dinner. Sheriff Larsen called and told us of that nasty business at the end of your drive earlier today. That must have given you a fright… especially this time of year. With your permission, we’ve made a slight change in plans. We’re going to put your car in a secure area, and his deputy will be in to pick it up tomorrow. We’ll have the hotel’s executive town car take you to the airport, and we’ve arranged with the airline for VIP check-in for both you and Ms. Vincent. If it’s all right with you, might I suggest we have room service deliver your meal tonight and maybe something before you leave?”
“I hate for you to have to go to all this trouble…”
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all. I guess this is the downside of being a celebrity.”
Sage laughed. “I’m a far cry from being a celebrity but thank you.”
They unloaded her things, and she was escorted upstairs by the bellboy and two men from hotel security. When they entered the room, one of the guards stayed with her while the other swept the two-bedroom suite she and Gail would share.
“Don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate this, but don’t you think this is a bit much?”
The man shook his head. “No, ma’am. Sheriff Larsen called and talked to the hotel manager and my boss. He was pretty clear; they feel whoever left that figure hanging in front of your drive isn’t just trying to spook you. The boss was just finalizing a few things but will be up to speak with you in just a few minutes.”
Sage paled and nodded. The sheriff must have been spooked to have gone to this kind of trouble. When given the all-clear, she entered her room, tipped the bellman, and closed the door behind them. She was looking out the floor to ceiling window at the beautiful view of the city when she heard the key card in the lock. She startled and realized she was more keyed up than she thought. She smiled when Gail entered with a man she assumed was the head of security.
“Ms. Matthews, I’m Daryl Gutherie. I’m the head of security here at the hotel. Ms. Vincent is staying with you?”
“Sage, what the hell is going on?” Gail said, clearly outraged.
“Yes, Mr. Gutherie. Gail is with me.” Turning to Gail, she said, “There’s been another incident at the house.”
“Oh my God, Sage! Are you all right?”
“Yes, but I left without knowing much… oh shit, I need to call Sheriff Larsen…”
“Not to worry, Ms. Matthews, I’ve taken care of that,” the security guard said. “We advise you to have dinner and stay here in your room. I’m going to leave a man stationed outside your door. When you’re ready, let him know, and he’ll arrange to bring the food in and get you outside to the town car in the morning.”
“The thing hanging from the archway…” said Sage to the deputy.
“Was a real body…” The head of security reached out to steady her. “He called the local doctor who doubles as a medical examiner. The body was hung after it was dead. They believe the corpse was stolen from a local funeral home.”
Gail and Sage exchanged glances.
“Does that mean something to you two ladies?”
“Yes, I have a book that features, for lack of a better term, a stalker who does the same thing.”
“Forgive me, I’m not familiar with your work, but can you tell me the title?” he asked.
“The Well-Hung Corpse,” Sage said.
“Is it well known?”
Sage nodded. “Yes, it made the USA Today Bestseller list.”
“It landed in the Top 10. I know your gift shop carries all of Sage’s books in paperback…”
“If you like, I can send you a copy of the e-book. It might be easier for you to search for things electronically than doing it by hand,” Sage offered.
“Thank you, ma’am, that would help. Now, don’t worry. You’re safe here with us, and we’ve alerted the airline and airport security in London. I’ll let you ladies settle in. If you need anything, you call down to the front desk. Don’t open the door unless it’s me or one of the two men you’ve already met.”
“Okay,
