doors to the Crystal Ballroom. A member of the housekeeping staff was polishing an ornate brass lamp that sat on a table near the sign for the restrooms. She barely looked up and no one else was in sight so he pulled out the small notebook he kept in his inside breast pocket.
When his finger caught on something he looked down and realized he hadn’t yet removed the price tag from the new navy blue blazer he’d bought yesterday before getting on the plane to New York. He muttered a curse, glanced around to make sure no one had sneaked up on him, and then ripped out the tag.
He only owned one suit, which, unfortunately, had seen more funerals than weddings. His other sports jacket had gotten him through dozens of court appearances, but was slightly too worn for his role as Chase Culver, rich producer, son of an oilman. The snakeskin boots he wore he’d gladly forked over five hundred bucks for two years ago. There were some things a man just didn’t scrimp on.
After flipping through a couple of pages of his notebook, he found the name of the St. Martine’s head of security. Gil Wagoner was an ex-cop who had retired after twenty-one years on the job. Chase hadn’t managed to pull his jacket, but he did know that the man’s record hadn’t been particularly remarkable. Not a bad thing. Maybe no commendations decorated his walls, but he hadn’t been brought up on any charges, either. Probably one of those guys who showed up every day to eventually get that pension. No crime in that. A warm body in a uniform was all that was needed sometimes.
Chase exhaled and thought for a minute. He wasn’t quite ready to talk to the man yet. Better to get his own feel first. Let his gut point him in a direction before finding out who security or the cops thought looked good for the theft. They had to figure it was an inside job. Roscoe hadn’t been the only one who’d been ripped off. Chase knew of at least one other theft. Who knew how many more the hotel was keeping under wraps? No matter. Two was enough to make him think the perp was right here. Not another guest, but an employee.
Or someone like Dana.
Man, he hoped not. But she had means and opportunity and maybe a motive he didn’t know about yet, so he couldn’t rule her out. Wouldn’t be the first time a pretty face and great body had waylaid an investigation.
His cell phone rang, snagging the attention of the young woman polishing the lamp. He checked the caller ID and decided to let Buddy leave a message. Whatever his ex-partner had to say would be better discussed in the privacy of Chase’s room. He flipped the cell shut, briefly catching the eye of the maid. She smiled shyly and quickly looked away.
Chase tucked the small notebook and phone back into his pocket. Then he adjusted his collar and put his game face on. No use passing up an opportunity. The young woman slid him another look. He smiled and moved toward her. “Good morning, ma’am.”
WHEN Dana entered the lobby the next morning, Amy was busy helping a guest. Kelly was on the phone. Dana checked her watch. She still had fifteen minutes before she had to meet Chase and she’d hoped the girls could get away for a cup of coffee.
She really wanted to tell them about him. Naturally she wasn’t interested in his projects or what kind of talent he was scouting, but like her, Kelly and Amy had both come from small midwestern towns looking to break into show business. Unlike her, they hadn’t given up.
Kelly hung up the phone and motioned Dana over to her desk. “You have time for coffee?” Kelly asked, shooting a look toward the door to the executive offices.
“Absolutely. I purposely came early.”
“You have a client?” Kelly closed her appointment book and slipped her gold Cross pen into the top drawer of her black-lacquer-and-glass desk.
“Yep.”
“Same one as yesterday?”
Dana nodded. “Chase Culver. He’s the reason I wanted to talk to the two of you.”
“I’d like to do more than talk to him. The guy’s hot.”
She shrugged. “He’s okay.”
Kelly snorted. “Are we talking about the same man?”
Dana grinned. “So he’s a little more than okay.”
Kelly rolled her eyes and started to walk away.
“What about Amy?” Dana glanced over at their friend who looked more subdued than usual.
“She can’t take a break yet. She’s spent the last hour in the security office. Brenda is there now so there’s no one to cover for her.”
“An hour?” Dana fell into step beside Kelly as they passed the elevators and headed for the door that would lead them to what the employees affectionately called the dungeon, officially known as the back-of-the-house, where the cafeteria, housekeeping and lockers were located.
Technically, Dana wasn’t supposed to go back there since she wasn’t an employee, but no one had ever said a word and since the other two couldn’t leave the property for their breaks they’d always grabbed a quick cup of coffee in the cafeteria.
“Everyone who worked during the thefts has been scheduled to meet with security,” Kelly explained. “It’s a pain in the ass, but I can see management’s point.”
“I get that, but Amy was there for an hour?”
“I haven’t gotten the scoop from her yet.” Kelly entered the cafeteria first and went straight for the coffee station. She nodded to one of the engineers who looked up from the newspaper he was reading. “I heard that one of the room service waiters was questioned for nearly two hours.”
“Well, those guys are actually on the guest floors all the time so I can see why.” Dana poured herself half a cup, leaving out the cream and sugar. That was all she allowed herself before running. “Even if they aren’t suspects they might’ve seen something helpful.”
“Yeah, I suppose.” Kelly chose a secluded table in the corner, although only a few other people were taking their breaks. She took a hasty sip, muttered a curse and jerked away from the steaming cup. She exhaled sharply. “But Amy hardly ever goes up on the guest floors.”
Dana had taken the seat opposite her and faced the doorway. If Kyle showed up she was out of here. The man could hurt her business so she’d kept her mouth shut, but she wasn’t going to stick around and take any harassment. She looked at Kelly and noticed the strain around her mouth and eyes. “Are you worried about Amy?”
Kelly’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. She blinked and then waved a dismissive hand. “No. I got this letter from my mom…” Kelly rubbed her temples.
“Oh, that.” Dana’s light remark belied the sympathy that ran deep. Being disappointed in yourself was one thing, but letting everyone back home know what a failure you’d become…well that was hard to stomach. It didn’t help to keep up the lie. Contact with old friends and family just kept getting harder, more complicated, until you didn’t know which end was up. “I might have some good news.”
“Yeah?” Kelly braved another sip, a curious lack of interest in her face. “I could use some good news.”
Dana spotted Amy at the door of the cafeteria. “Amy’s here.”
“Good. I’d like to hear what security said to her.”
Their
