Proof of Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #4) - Lauren Elliott Page 0,37
took a quick glance at it and giggled. “Yeah, that was our silly break yesterday afternoon. We were both feeling like we were suffocating in that stuffy library and I tried to open the window. When I couldn’t get it unstuck, Kalea tried, and it got sillier from there. I think we both had a mini mental breakdown for about fifteen minutes.” It had felt wonderful to have fun with her cousin. They had been like kids again without a care in the world. “Hey, I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before, but you didn’t happen to see that woman hanging around out in front of the house when the police had it closed off, did you?”
“No, I’m pretty sure I didn’t. If I had, I would have remembered how intimidated she’d have made me feel.”
“Looks aren’t everything.” Addie slipped into a parking space in front of the Grey Gull Inn. “She’s one of those people you aren’t really sure of how well you know them, which is exactly why I’m going to head over to the registration desk. I need to find out what they know about her. You go make your sad puppy eyes at Bruce and get us a prime table in Zach’s section.” Addie closed her door. “I’ll come find you as soon as I find out if Kalea’s still registered.”
Addie strode in the direction of the hotel lobby and paused. Marc’s police cruiser was parked at the curbside. It appeared she and Marc had the same notion of checking out her wayward cousin’s registration status.
Not knowing what to expect when she entered the lobby—probably a reprimand for interfering in his investigation—she straightened her shoulders and pushed through the door. Half expecting to be greeted by his mocking voice, she blinked when the manager’s wife, Millie, greeted her.
“Hi, Addie, I haven’t seen you in a long time. How have you been?”
The small lobby was empty. “I’m . . . I’m fine, thanks. Yeah, it has been a while. Since the Founders’ Day parade, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.” Laugh lines played beside her eyes. “And I must say you made a lovely Betsy Ross.”
Addie laughed and curtsied. “Thank you so much, but I feel it did pale in comparison to your Martha Washington costume.”
“Don’t be silly, I’m just a middle-aged woman. Who else could I have gone as?”
“Millie, you know you’re more than just a middle-aged woman. Look how you keep this place running. Bruce would be lost without you.”
“Now that is true. The poor man can’t find a bottle of ketchup in the fridge unless it jumps out and bites him on the nose.”
Addie snorted. A tendency she hated, but for the next few minutes she relished in the silliness of shared laughter—with the occasional snort—with Millie.
Tension released, she was ready to put her sleuthing hat back on. After regaining some semblance of composure, she inquired as to whether Kalea was still registered.
“You know we can’t give out information about our guests.” Millie held up a finger to quiet Addie’s brewing retort. “But she did tell me when she checked in that she was here to visit you, and you were her cousin. So, on account of that, I will tell you that she is still registered but only because she paid for three nights and didn’t check out when she left this morning.”
“What time did she leave?”
Millie shrugged. “We have no idea. When housekeeping went in to refresh her room, everything was gone. She must have left sometime during the night.”
Addie bit her bottom her. This wasn’t what she’d hoped to hear, but it made sense if she followed her theory about Philip and the book-club copies. Oh, Kalea, what have you gotten yourself involved with? “Thanks, Millie.” Addie tapped the desktop. “You’ve been a big help.” She wheeled around and froze. “Marc, what are you doing here?”
“I was just on my way out and saw your car.”
“I see. So . . .” Addie glanced behind him, expecting to see Ryley lurking in the background. “What brings you to the Grey Gull tonight? Business or pleasure?”
“Most likely the same thing that brings you here.”
“And what’s that?”
“If you’re looking for your cousin, it appears she’s gone. We just checked her room.”
“I see. Millie just told me that when housekeeping went in this morning, it looked like she’d packed up and left.”
“That’s what it looks like. Any idea where she was heading?”
“No, but I have a suspicion that when you find Robert Peters, he might know