Free Heavenly Highland Inn 05 - Suffocating the Sunflowers by Cindy Bell Page B

then Gerald opened the door.
    “ Yes?” he asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
    “ I'm sorry to bother you, I just thought you might like to have some fresh towels,” Vicky explained and shifted from one foot to the other as she tried to peer past him. His frame filled the doorway and left her little space for spying.
    “ At this time of night?” he asked skeptically. “Don't you have maids who do that?”
    “ Of course,” Vicky nodded a little. “But we just want to make sure that you have everything you could possibly need. I noticed that the maid on your floor hadn't finished her rounds.”
    “ Ah, I see,” he smiled a little and accepted the towels. “You know a fresh pile of towels isn't going to change the fact that your chef's mistake killed my wife,” he said bluntly and narrowed his eyes. Vicky hadn't been certain that Gerald was involved, but now she was really beginning to suspect him. His cruel tone and the pleasure he seemed to take in her squirming alerted her to the very real possibility that he was behind the plan to kill his wife.
    “ It's just a courtesy, Mr. Holstead,” Vicky replied and attempted to keep her voice as even as possible.
    “ I understand,” he nodded and then sighed heavily. “I'm sorry, it was rude of me to speak to you that way. I know this was all a terrible accident. I just still can't believe she's gone.”
    “ Of course,” Vicky said softly. “Perhaps there's someone I can call for you, a family member, or friend?” Vicky suggested hesitantly. “You shouldn't be alone at a time like this,” Vicky pointed out.
    “ I'm afraid I'm not very popular with the in-laws,” Gerald admitted with a slight shrug. “And I don't have family of my own. Sandy was all I had.”
    “ I'm so sorry for your loss, Mr. Holstead,” Vicky said as gingerly as she could. He seemed to be experiencing genuine grief, but she knew that some people were astoundingly good liars. From the grizzle that had grown up along his cheeks, and the dark circles under his eyes she was beginning to believe that he was truly lost in grief. “If there's anything I can do to help, please feel free to let me know,” Vicky murmured softly.
    “ Thank you,” Gerald nodded and turned away from the door. As he closed the door Vicky felt her heart drop. She had been so ready to accuse a man she knew very little about of murdering his wife. Now she was not sure what to think. She was starting to walk away when she heard a cry of surprise come from inside the room. She paused and turned back.
    “ What are you doing here?” she heard Gerald ask sharply. His voice was followed by a loud crash.
    “ What do you mean she was all you had?” a shrill voice challenged Gerald in return.
    Vicky raised her hand to knock on the door , but before she could do so she heard Gerald's raised voice.
    “ You can't be here, don't you see how wrong it is for you to be here?” he demanded. Vicky decided not to knock. There was only one person who could be inside that room, and it sounded like Gerald hadn't been expecting her. When she pushed open the door the first thing she spotted was a lamp that had crashed to the floor and shattered. The next thing she saw was Gerald's pale face, and his eyes wide with shock.
    “ What's going on here?” Vicky asked as she stepped into the room. When she moved beside Gerald she finally saw Carolyn. She was standing in the center of the room with a large knife in her hand. Vicky immediately recognized it as a knife from the set in the kitchen. The knives were famous for being incredibly sharp. She started to step back out the door so she could call for help, but Carolyn jutted the knife towards Gerald.
    “ If you open that door you're going to be responsible for the death of both Holsteads,” Carolyn warned with sheer fury in her voice. Vicky didn't think that Carolyn would actually hurt Gerald, but she couldn't take that risk. She remained where she was standing, her breath