“Hey, you know me. I’m all heart.” Zach glanced at his watch. “I’m not trying to get rid of you, but aren’t you going to be late for your breakfast appointment?”
“I’ve got another minute. I didn’t mean to take up all of our time together this morning. Have you made any more progress on the case?”
He finished another bite. “Not ready to talk about it yet,” he said, and then polished off the last cinnamon stick. At least he’d removed the temptation from me. “Maybe by lunch.”
I looked at the ruins of what was left of his breakfast. “Seriously? Do you honestly think you’re going to be able to eat again today?”
“Hey, thinking’s hard work. You know that better than most folks do.”
It was true. Though making puzzles didn’t seem like hard work, creating them often left me tired and hungry, and not necessarily in that order.
“Lunch it is. Where would you like to go?”
“Give me a call, and we’ll see what we can work out. In the meantime, you’d better scat.”
“I’m going,” I said as I kissed him, and then smacked my lips. “Um, maple syrup.”
“No extra charge,” he said with a grin.
I left him, and headed down the elevator. By the time I arrived at the lobby, I was feeling good about my life.
And then a woman moved directly in front of me as I stepped off, staring at me like she wanted to kill me.
Chapter 15
“YOU’RE SAVANNAH STONE,” SHE SAID. THERE WAS NO question in her inflection.
“Guilty as charged,” I said. “Is there something I can help you with?” I was surreptitiously looking around the lobby, trying to spot Garrett or one of his security guards. I knew I probably should have denied who I really was, but she’d caught me with my guard down.
“You can tell your husband to find out who killed my brother,” she said. The woman was about my age, but she’d done nothing to make herself anything other than severe, both in clothing and expression. She was bone-thin, as if she had lost all interest in eating, and her graying blonde hair looked dry and brittle, like withered hay. Almost as an afterthought, she added, “Don’t trouble yourself finding security. I’ve said what I needed to say, and I never had any intention of harming you.”
She started to leave, but I grabbed her arm before she could get away. “Hang on a second.”
She started to pull away, but I wasn’t about to let go yet. “I’m finished here. I said what needed to be said.”
“That’s all well and good, but I haven’t had a chance to talk yet. Now, why don’t we try this again?”
She looked perplexed as I released her arm, and then I held out my hand. “My name’s Savannah Stone. And you are?”
Almost without conscious effort, she took my hand as she said, “I’m Julia Tristan.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Julia. Let me start by saying that I’m sorry for your loss.”
She looked at me a moment, and then the poor woman started to cry. We were getting the attention of some of the staff now, as well as a few of the hotel’s guests.
I didn’t care. I put my arms around her, and then let Julia cry herself out. In three minutes, she pulled away from me, wiping her cheeks and eyes with an old linen handkerchief.
“Feel better?” I asked her.
“Much. Thank you. You’re the first person I’ve spoken with since Hank was murdered who actually seems to care.”
“That’s because you haven’t met my husband yet. He’s the reason I know so much about your brother. Zach tries to get to know the subjects of his investigation.” I’d almost said “victims,” but I’d caught myself just in time. I didn’t want to be responsible for another crying jag.
“If he’s anything like you, I believe you. Please, tell him that I’m counting on his help.”
“Is there anything else you’d like me to pass on to him?”
“No, not that I can think of,” she said. “I spoke with an officer earlier, but he barely seemed to pay attention to my answers. What else does your husband need to know?”
“I was wondering if there was anyone in particular that your brother was close to before he died.”
“Was murdered, you mean.” Her words were as strong as black coffee.
“Murdered,” I corrected.
She nodded, and appeared to be pleased by my acquiescence. “The first person I’d look at would be the mayor, unless your husband is intimidated by him like everyone else in this town seems to be.”
“He’s aware of their confrontation,” I said. “Anyone else?”
“How about the new chief of police?” Julia asked as she looked around the lobby. I wasn’t sure if she was looking for police officers, or just random spies, but the action made me wonder if she was a little bit unhinged.
“What did Davis Rawles have to do with your brother?”
