“Mid-to late thirties, good looking, athletic, about six feet tall, maybe one-eighty, light brown hair. He checked into the hotel yesterday.”
Jarret. My gut twisted. He had lied when he claimed he didn’t know Laycee was in town Monday night. Why be surprised? The lie wasn’t his first, certainly not his last.
“Are you sure she checked in on Monday?” Dad said.
“The legs, Walter, I never forget a great set of legs. I watched her strut to the checkin desk with her suitcase at the start of my shift. On Tuesday while I set up the bar, a different guy—bodybuilder type—met her in the lobby and they took off together. Didn’t see her for the rest of the night. An older gent came down to the bar around ten, asking if I seen a brunette with a Southern accent around.”
“A big guy? Sixties? Similar Southern accent to the girl?” Dad said, repeating my description of Forrest.
“Yeah, that’s him. A guest here, too. Popular broad. Is she a hooker?”
“She’s dead,” Dad said.
“Christ. I thought she checked out.”
I whispered in Nick’s ear, “I’ve heard enough. Let’s get out of here.” I made a wobbly slide off the barstool. Damn martini. Hate those things.
Nick steadied me then left a few bills on the bar. “Are you going to make it?”
“I think I’ll splash some water on my face. I’ll be right back.” I zigzagged through the lobby, up the steps, and into the ladies’ room in the hallway leading to the restaurant and pool.
I looked in the mirror. Good grief, everything about me had wilted in the heat—hair, dress, makeup. Not a pretty sight. I turned on the cold water and cupped my hands under the faucet. As I bent over the sink splashing water on my face, I heard the bathroom door open. I peeked up and saw Gloria, the blonde-with-an-attitude from the gym, come in.
She posed at the mirror in three-inch platforms, tight white shorts, and a hot pink tube top then opened her clutch and began applying nude pink lipstick to her lips.
“It seems like you and I are running in the same social circle this week,” I said, reaching for a paper towel.
She glanced over at me then added another layer of lipstick to her bottom lip. With that kind of makeup mileage, she qualified for frequent flyer privileges at Sephora. “I don’t remember your name,” she said.
“Liz. Come here often?” Bad joke. No response. “You’re Gloria, right?”
“Mm-hmm.” She snapped the lipstick tube shut and dropped it in her purse. “I’m meeting someone at the pool for drinks. What about you?”
“I’m on my way out. The martini I drank at the lobby bar did me in.” I picked up my purse. “See you at the gym in the morning?”
“Hope so.” Gloria studied herself in the mirror and wiggled her tube top up. “Depends on how many martinis I can hold.”
I tossed my paper towel into the trash and left. Nick met me in the lobby and with his arm wrapped around my shoulder, we wandered out to the parking lot to wait for Dad.
At the car, Nick moved a strand of hair off my face then stroked my cheek. “Feel better? You’ve had a rough day.”
“I’m tired. I need sleep and a hot shower, not necessarily in that order. Let’s talk about something else. I forgot to ask how your lunch with Izzy went today. Did you solve all her little problems?” I bit the side of my lip. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. Isabella is your friend. I want to get to know her.”
He hesitated, thoughtful, then said, “Let’s talk about her another time.”
“Why not now?”
“There’s too much going on. After you’re out of the predicament Jarret put you in, I’ll tell you all about Izzy. Right now, clearing you is the priority.”
I squeezed his hand. “Thanks. I can’t believe Jarret shifted suspicion onto me.”
“I think Jarret would do anything to save his own skin. He must be at the top of Carla’s suspect list. But you know what?” Nick leaned his forehead to mine. “We’re going to save your skin.”
I laughed. “You like my skin.”
“I like your skin a lot.”
“Do you think we’re doing the right thing, Nick? Oliver is bringing in his own private investigator.”
“Let him. Doubling and tripling up can only help you. Dave and Walter are the best and they’re motivated. They love you.”
“What if we’re on the wrong track? What if Laycee’s killing was random?”
“Without forced entry or robbery? I don’t buy it,” Nick said. “We need to learn more about the symbol. I don’t believe it was random or meant to mislead. I still consider the symbol our best clue. And I’m going to find out what it means.”
“Then we’ll find out. I’m going with you to talk to the devil worshiper.”
Nick rubbed his neck. “I don’t know. Horus is odd.”
“Perfect. Odd people are my specialty. Does Horus have horns?”
“You can judge for yourself. I’ll confirm with Horus in the morning and text you a time.”
Dad came out of the hotel checking over his shoulder, and stopped beside Nick’s car. “Christ, I almost ran into Jarret in the lobby.”