Free Gossip Can Be Murder by Connie Shelton Page A

the air tinged with the scent of wood smoke and chrysanthemums, reminding me that my birthday was coming up in a little over a month. Those autumn smells always bring back the reminder that the final family cookout each year was usually my birthday lunch, a picnic with a bunch of friends. This year, Drake and I had the added bonus of our planned trip to Kauai in November. Despite his misgivings about the deposition, it was probably a good thing that they’d moved the date up. He could be done with it and enjoy the vacation.
    Linda and I conversed little at first, using the brisk pace and high altitude to wake ourselves up and get the blood flowing. When she asked about Drake I admitted that the camaraderie between my husband and brother had seen better times.
    “I’m meeting Drake in Santa Fe this afternoon, maybe grab a late lunch, talk things out.”
     “Well, watch out that you don’t get caught up in their whole conflict, yourself.”
    “Hey, I’m not feeling at all angry toward either of them. I’ve let go of my negative emotions, just as Dr. Light suggested.” I negotiated around a pothole in the road. “Just don’t ask me about it next week. My positive outlook may be a bit strained by then.”
    We passed by the portico and circled to the left, beside the spa building, then cut through the parking lot. At the edge of the hill we picked up a walkway that would lead us through the rear courtyard and back to the guestroom wing. About the time the tip of my nose felt like it would freeze, we got there.
    “Do you know that guy?” Linda asked.
    I looked up to see a dark-haired man staring into one of the rooms, hands cupped around his face at the window. He turned and gave us a quick stare. I didn’t recognize the slender form, dressed in khaki slacks and dark blue bomber jacket, or the stern facial features under black brows. When he noticed that we’d stopped walking, he jammed his hands into his pockets and quickly followed the sidewalk toward the lobby entrance.
    “Odd, don’t you think?” I said
    “He’s not one of our group. Could be another guest, though.”
    “Staring into someone’s window?”
    “Not very logical, that’s for sure,” Linda said.
    We watched as he entered the lobby and disappeared from sight. I noted the window he’d been peeking into, wondering who he’d been spying on. Entering our hall through a side door, I counted rooms. We’d caught him at the window of Room 14, right next to ours.
    As soon as Linda had unlocked our door, I strode to the telephone and called the front desk.
    “There’s a man who just entered the lobby a minute ago,” I said. “Has dark hair and he’s wearing khakis and a dark blue jacket.”
    “Um, I don’t see him, ma’am. Shall I page him?”
    “No. I just caught him peeping into the windows of Room 14. Is there security here at the hotel?”
    “Oh, yes, ma’am. Of course they can’t be everywhere at once, but I’ll . . .”
    “Yes, get the word out. He’s probably leaving the grounds by now, but have them watch for him. Who’s registered in Room 14?”
    “Well, I can’t divulge that information, ma’am, but I will let the guest know about this.”
    It was the most I could hope for. But it didn’t mean I couldn’t use my own resourcefulness. I went back out into the hall and knocked on the door of Room 14. Shuffling noises came from within the room and an unsteady hand fiddled with the door knob. When the door opened, I found myself facing Trudie Blanchard.

Chapter 10

    Trudie was fully dressed, although her hair still held the tangles of sleep and her face seemed thinner, with puffy bags under her eyes. Her restless eyes darted back and forth, not staying on my face for more than a second or two.
    “Did you just see a man peeking in your windows?” I asked.
    “Uh, no,” she murmured. “I just got up.” She rubbed her hands together and tucked them against her ribs, under crossed arms.
    I quickly explained what Linda and