The photographer was out of sight now, and the guards had vanished with him. Jason picked up both suitcases, got the balance of them, and headed for the door. I took the overnight case with all the guns in it and followed him. I kept an eye on Chuck as we moved up the back entrance.
He was right about one thing: Jason had deliberately put a rumor into that camera. It would hit the news before anyone thought to ask if it was some distant relative. Theyd all believe it was Keith Summerland with a lover going into a hotel just five days before his wedding to someone else.
Shit.
Chapter Twelve
WE GOT TO the room after Jason had proved with his ID thaTHE was not a Summerland. They kept trying to check us into Keiths room. Jason got overly familiar looks from several of the female staff. One even tried to give him a note while I was holding his hand in the elevator.
We finally got to the room, tipped the bellperson, shut the door, locked it, and were alone. Jason leaned against the door.
The room was big, with two different conversation areas complete with couches and chairs. Large windows let in sunshine and a view of the mountains. There was even a four-seat table near one set of windows so you could eat and look out at the view. Big, roomy, but the dcor stopped me in my tracks. The couches and chairs were all deep purple and red, but their shapes were vaguely organic. The drapes were heavy as if the sunlight were fighting to get through, and there were paintings everywhere on the walls. Most of them were modern art, which is okay, I own some, but modern art isnt meant to be plastered on like wallpaper. It was all very artsy and sort of claustrophobic.
They call it the Gallery, Jason said. I looked at him. Hey, it was either this or the Swinging 60s. Its painted completely in pink.
Pink?
Pink.
The rooms lovely, I said.
Thank you, he said.
The bed was around the corner. There was a fainting couch near it. I sat down on the edge of the bed and took off the high heels. Maybe if I concentrated on the problem at hand, I wouldnt keep trying to figure out how many noses the picture in front of me had. What the hell was that all about? You begged me to leave the Summerlands alone, especially Chuck, and then you tweak his tail badly.
I know, Jason said. It was really stupid, and petty.
Why did you do it?
He loosened his tie and flung himself onto his back on the bed hard enough for me to bounce a little where I was sitting. I dont know.
Liar, I said.
He turned his head to look at me. Whats that supposed to mean?
It means you have some kind of history with these people.
They moved away when he became governor. I didnt know theyd come back here for the wedding. It must be a local girl. God, I pity her.
Yeah, I saw how the women on staff were looking at you, like as soon as I turn my back theyll pounce.
Keith looks like me, and I clean up well, but hes rich, and his dads rich. There always seem to be women who want to be close to rich men.
And now his dad is governor and about to make a run for president. I think thats adding to the Summerland appeal, I said.
Jason nodded, then sat up. He leaned his elbows on his knees and held his head. I should not have posed for the cameras like that. That was childish, but the twins were the bane of my childhood. We were always getting mistaken for each other, by teachers, girls, guys, strangers. Keith would deliberately do shit and get me blamed. He did the same thing to his brother, too, so I wasnt so special there.
Kelsey, right, the brother?
Yeah.
Is the brother any nicer?
Kelsey was in some of the plays with me. He was quieter, a little shy. As awkward with the girls as Keith was smooth.
Sounds like you like Kelsey.
I would have, if he hadnt been a Summerland and Keiths brother. You couldnt be friends with Kelsey unless Keith allowed it, and he hated me.