Free The Grudge by Kathi Daley Page B

mess.”
    “Okay, see you later.” Andi waved.
    “You didn’t ask him about Mario,” Alyson pointed out.
    “He was in a hurry. It would have seemed odd to make casual conversation. We can ask him later.”
    “Do you think it’s strange that Bret has been missing since yesterday?” Mac asked after they returned to the SUV.
    “I don’t know. Charlie didn’t seem that concerned,” Andi pointed out.
    “Yeah, but Charlie doesn’t know about the other things that have been happening,” Alyson reminded her.
    “You think something happened to him?”
    “Maybe. In light of everything else we know I wouldn’t rule it out. Maybe we should check out his residence,” Alyson suggested.
    “Okay. Bret lives in one of the condos behind the main lodge that we use for employee housing. I’m not sure my passkey will work on his door, but we can try. Just take a left at the service road right before the main drive going up to the lodge,” Andi instructed Devon.
    The condos were mostly deserted at this time of day, when everyone was working. Bret’s condo was the third from the left on the second floor. Andi’s key turned the lock, but the door refused to budge.
    “That’s strange.” Andi wiggled the doorknob. “It feels like the door is locked from the inside with a dead bolt.”
    “He must be in there,” Alyson deduced. She tried looking through the window, but the curtains were drawn except for a narrow slit.
    “Bret, are you in there?” Andi pounded on the door.
    They waited for a minute, but no one answered, so Andi knocked again.
    “You guys looking for Bret?” The next-door neighbor poked his head out of his door.
    “Yeah, have you seen him?”
    “He left early this morning. Might be working.”
    “Actually, he didn’t show up at work today. If you see him can you tell him Charlie is looking for him?”
    “Will do.”
    Alyson had a strange feeling as they turned and walked away. If Bret was out who had locked the door from the inside?
    “If Bret left his apartment this morning but never showed up for work maybe he’s playing hooky after all,” Mac concluded.
    “I guess,” Andi agreed. “It’s a pretty bad time to be AWOL. I’m not sure he deserves Charlie’s loyalty.”
    “I had the feeling Charlie’s loyalty had more to do with his friendship with Mario than Bret,” Alyson said.
    “Let’s head over to HR to check on the comps,” Andi suggested. “Then maybe we can get a couple of hours skiing in after lunch. With all this fresh powder the runs should be in excellent shape.”
    “I want to check the phone records,” Devon reminded them. “Once I get into the server room it shouldn’t take too long to access the mainframe.”
    “Okay, you check the phone records while Andi checks with HR; then we’ll go over to the café for lunch,” Alyson said.
    “I’ll go with Devon,” Mac offered, “in case he needs some help.”
    “Okay. The rest of us will wait in the lobby,” Alyson said. “We don’t want to look too obvious.”
     
    Forty minutes later the gang was seated at a large booth in the café.
    “Twelve employees used comps this week,” Andi started. “I guess Christmas is a popular time to have friends and family visit.”
    “Did you get a list?” Alyson asked.
    “Yes.” Andi handed the list to Alyson. “I think you’ll find number eight particularly interesting.”
    “Bret Robbins. Charlie’s Bret?”
    “One and the same.”
    “Does it say who he comped?”
    “No, but I figured we should ask the other employees who they comped and we’ll see if Bret sponsored Stacy King by process of elimination.”
    “How hard is it going to be to track the other eleven down?” Mac asked.
    “Not hard. I know where they all work. In fact, two of them work right here: the cook and the hostess.”
    “Okay, let’s ask,” Alyson said.
    “Order me a coffee if the waitress comes by,” Andi told them.
    “If Bret’s comp wasn’t Stacy maybe he’s AWOL because he has a