into work after all. There’s always something I can do there. Besides, this stalker has been worrying me so much lately that I haven’t been able to focus on my work. That way, too, if I hang around and you need me, I’m just a telephone call away.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” I said.
Zach grinned. “We’ll see you at your place tonight, then.”
Jenny hugged me, and then embraced my husband.
On impulse, I asked, “Would you mind taking that box of phone books with you? I’m not done with them yet, and we’ve got our hands full with these suitcases.”
“Sure, I’d be glad to,” she said as she hefted them up and walked across the lobby and out the door.
After she was gone, Zach asked, “Okay, what should we do now?”
“Let me ask you something first. Are you certain you’re okay with Jenny taking a backseat in our investigation?”
“To be honest with you, I was a little worried about her being so actively involved myself. This is absolutely for the best.” He paused, and then grinned at me. “Besides, we work better as a team, just the two of us. We always have.”
“Agreed.” I stared at the bags still at our feet.
My husband must have been reading my mind. “What are we going to do with these suitcases? I’m not thrilled about the idea of letting them go just yet, especially when we’ve been commanded to surrender them.”
I thought about it, and then said, “If you’re game, I have an idea.”
His smile lit up his entire face. “Just try me.”
“FOLLOW MY LEAD,” I SAID AS I PICKED UP ONE OF THE suitcases and started walking across the lobby where Jenny had just gone. As soon as I knew the clerk had seen me, I nodded to Zach, who followed me with the other one. It was clear that the clerk was wondering what we were up to. Instead of walking to the bag check station as I’d been instructed, I started for the exit. I was curious to see what the clerk would do, and the worst thing that could happen was that we retained possession of Derrick’s clothes. If Cary wanted them back, and I had a suspicion that she did, she’d have to come with us.
We nearly made it to the door before someone called out behind us, “Ms. Stone. Wait.”
“It’s Mrs.,” I said when he caught up with us.
“Mrs. Stone,” he corrected himself. “I believe I told you that you were supposed to check those bags with our service.”
“Sorry, but I don’t respond well to orders. You can ask him if you don’t believe me,” I added as I pointed to Zach.
“She hasn’t so far, but I keep hoping,” my husband answered amiably.
The clerk looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. “But you heard Mrs. Duncan’s wishes on the matter.”
“I heard what you said just fine.”
He looked a little relieved by this information. “Then you’re going in the wrong direction. Our claim service is over there.”
“I know perfectly well where it is. I just choose not to go there.”
Now he really looked confused. I winked at Zach, who remained silent as he winked back at me.
“Then where are you going?”
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business. Mrs. Duncan’s wishes are not my orders. We had an agreement, and if she is choosing to alter it, I have the right not to accept her new terms. Please tell her that if she’d like her husband’s suitcases back, she knows how to reach me.” I doubted very much if Cary had the slightest clue where I was staying while I was in Raleigh, but I didn’t think it would come to that.
“Would you indulge me for two minutes before you leave?” he asked.
I turned to my husband. “What do you think, Zach?” “It’s your call,” he said.
“Two minutes,” I said.
“Thank you so much,” the clerk said as he scurried back to his desk.
After he was out of earshot, Zach said, “I’ve got to hand it to you. That was inspired.”
“I have my moments,” I said.
“Are you watching the clock?”
I shook my head. “I can’t imagine that I’ll have to.” I looked back at the desk and saw the clerk walking rapidly toward us. For a moment, I had a devilish impulse to run away, the suitcases in tow, but I fought it and waited for his return.
“She’ll see you now,” he said, the poor man nearly out of breath.
“Very good. The room number?”
“One-two-two-one,” he said.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you,” he said. He stood there waiting until Zach and I took the suitcases and walked toward the elevator instead of the exit. What was the clerk planning to do if we made a run for it, tackle us both? He might be able to bring me down, but I would have paid good money to watch him try to keep my husband from doing anything he really wanted to do.
When we got on the elevator, Zach pushed 12, and as soon as the doors closed, we burst out laughing. It was brief, but extremely satisfying, and when we stopped, my husband kissed me.
“Thank you, kind sir,” I said.
“Thank you. Sometimes I forget just how much fun it can be hanging around with you.”
“Then I’ll try to keep reminding you.” The elevator was fast approaching the twelfth floor, and I asked Zach, “Any ideas on how we should handle her?”
“Are you kidding? I’m just planning to follow your lead.”
“Fine. We’ll play it by ear, then.”
Cary was waiting in the hallway when the door opened, and she looked surprised to see my husband carrying Derrick’s other suitcase. “Savannah, why on earth did you feel the need to bring a bodyguard with you to my room?”
“He’s no bodyguard,” I said. “He’s my husband.”
Zach offered his free hand, and she took it, albeit a little reluctantly at first. My husband can be intimidating on his best day, but when he wants to, he can be pretty charming as well.
“Please, come in,” she said as she stepped aside. We walked in, and I was amazed by how elegant the Brunswick’s rooms were. While Derrick’s hotel was cookie-cutter in its looks and layout, this place appeared to be taken from someone’s living room. Someone who was wealthy and had excellent taste, I might add. The furniture wasn’t a chain knockoff, but looked to be custom-made for the space, and the walls were covered with original art that seemed to enhance the room’s elegance.
“Would you like to go through these while we’re here?” I asked.
“No, of course not. Just put them over there. I’m afraid Derrick’s tastes did not match mine. He chose not to pay attention to his wardrobe, so I stopped caring about what he wore.” She must have realized how that sounded, because she quickly added, “I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss him.”
“I’m sure,” I said.
Zach asked, “I hate to bother you, but is there any chance I could use your restroom?”
She hesitated, and then pointed to a door that led into the bedroom. “Of course.”
Once he was gone, I asked, “Cary, how have you and Derrick been getting along lately?” She started to cloud up, so I quickly added, “I was one of his biggest fans, but believe me, I know how difficult he could be at times.”
Cary nodded, but without too much vigor. “He was an artist in his own right, and we must make allowances for creative people. They seem to be wired differently than we are.”
If Derrick could draw a picture of the sun with a stick in the mud, I would have been surprised. Many words came to mind when I tried to describe the man, but “artistic” wasn’t one of them. “So, things were tense for you?”
“Of course not,” she said. “Savannah, what are you trying to say?”
