even know for sure that he talked about you negatively to the police.”
I pull away from Finn. “Are you serious? Of course he told the police I screwed up at the lodge. They probably told him I was in this so-called will now, and he was pissed. He wanted them to think that I had something to gain from Ted’s death because he was angry he wasn’t in the will, but maybe he is in the will. That’s the crazy part of all of this. Ted doesn’t owe me anything. I never expected money or a job or anything. Lawson has been like a son to him. I’m not angry if Lawson gets an inheritance from Ted. I don’t sabotage him. Why is he sabotaging me?”
“Quit tormenting yourself. I’m going back to my room to shower. I’ll swing by in an hour.” Finn kisses me on the cheek and leaves me pondering what the hell is going on in my life.
Chapter 12:
Thirty minutes later there is another knock on my door. “Come in, Finn,” I yell and pick up my mascara wand. He clearly judges an hour’s time in his own Finn way.
“That’s the kind of greeting I get!”
It’s not Finn. I drop my wand and stare into the angry, beautiful, terribly missed face of Tinley. “Tinley!” I grab her tightly and squeeze, hardly believing that she is back at the lodge.
“Good gosh, Reese. You’re going to suck the life out of me, but it is kind of nice to know you missed me after all. I kind of expected you and Finn to meet Murphy and me at the airport, though.”
“Oh my gosh, Tinley! I completely forgot you were even coming.”
“Well, now I’m feeling like crap again. Geesh!”
“No, you don’t understand. So much has been going on the last few days—you have no idea.” And for the next half hour I fill her in on my life at the lodge from my administrative leave to finding Ted unresponsive in his room to being almost accused of poisoning him. And when Finn arrives, with Murphy, a half hour later, my hope in humanity has been restored.
When the four of us reach the hospital, we ask the information desk for Ted’s room number, but when we get off the elevator, there is a police officer sitting outside of Ted’s room. Just great. We see her, but she doesn’t see us as she’s talking to a nurse. We duck into a family waiting room across from the elevator. “How do we see Ted if we can’t get past the police officer?” I ask.
“Leave that to us,” says Tinley. Just pay attention, and as soon as you see a chance, slip into the room.”
Before Finn walks out of the room with Tinley, I grab Finn’s face and pull it down to mine. “I love you—so much. I don’t know what you see in me that you keep walking this crazy road with me. But I’m glad you’re not scared off by crazy.”
“Crazy? Nah, you’re not crazy. Maybe a little cuckoo, but not crazy.”
“Oh, Reese is crazy,” says Tinley, grinning. “And I’m glad she is because normal is so boring.” Tinley grabs hold of Finn’s hand and pulls him out into the hall. Murphy closes the blinds, so I’ll have a protected view of the antics that are no doubt about to begin.
“What are they doing?” I ask Murphy.
“Here. Put this on.” Murphy takes off his University of California sweatshirt and hands it to me.
“Why?”
“Just do it. And tuck you hair into the back.”
I do what he says. Murphy studies me with a skeptical look on his face, and pulls a few layers of hair out until it looks like my natural hair length is a bob. “How do you know what to do?” I ask.
“Let’s just say that I’ve had plenty of practice sneaking around with Tinley.”
“Her parents still aren’t accepting of your engagement?”
“That’s the understatement of the century, but let’s focus on you right now.” He hands me a pair of large glasses. If I had poor vision, this nerdy chic vibe is totally the look I’d go for.
“Thanks, Murphy.” I peek out the slats of the blinds. Finn carries two cups of coffee down the hall with Tinley following close behind. The