AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“There are cameras at the visitor center and a live cam that chronicles sunrises and sunsets,” she informed me.
“And, thus, you can see Red Rocks without ever having to go there. Lovely. Or pathetic. Or typical Vegas,” I said.
“You told us you weren’t with Yevgeny Orlov at the park yesterday.”
“I wasn’t.”
“But your car was there,” she said.
“What? He rented a car at McCarran when he flew in on Saturday. He took that,” I told them. It was a reflex to correct the detectives, even though I knew straightaway they were telling the truth. They wouldn’t make something like that up or make a mistake that egregious. “I’m sure my car is in its spot at the casino.”
“Yes, it is,” said Felicia. “But it was in the Red Rocks parking lot yesterday. It’s on the camera.”
It would be futile to deny it. But I had no idea why Yevgeny would have driven my car without telling me. And, it dawned on me, if he had taken the Mini it would still be at Red Rocks, but Felicia had just confirmed it was back at the Buckingham Palace.
“Was his rent-a-car out there—at the park?”
“It was.”
I held up a finger and told them I wanted to check my purse. I went there and rifled through it, and, sure enough, the car key was there. I went to the dresser drawer where I kept my passport and saw the spare key was gone. I poked around inside the drawer with both hands, as if—like a magical totem—it would reappear. It didn’t.
“You have both keys?” asked Felicia.
“No. The key in my purse is there. But someone has taken my spare. It’s usually in my dresser.”
“What other keys would have been on the ring?”
“None. I use a card to get into this suite. I don’t have any other keys.”
“It’s only the key to the Mini that’s missing?”
“That’s correct.”
“How often is housekeeping in here?”
I couldn’t help but laugh, despite my anguish that the key had vanished. “Housekeeping? I don’t have housekeeping. I had a choice: housekeeping or a cabana. Which would you pick?”
“So, maid service doesn’t come here daily?”
“No. I may be a princess, but I do my own sheets. I even have a little vacuum.”
“Got it.”
“So, what does that mean?” I was still at my dresser. They were watching me intently.
“You’re certain that you didn’t join him there—in your own car?” Felicia inquired.
“Oh, I’m quite sure.”
Patrick looked down at his notepad as if he were disappointed in me. It was as if that had been my chance to come clean and I’d botched it.
“You’re on the camera, too,” said Felicia, her voice flat.
“At Red Rocks?”
“Yup.”
I stood up straight. “Like hell I was. I was at the Cocoon bistro. I told you yesterday, I was with that writer. I was being interviewed. You can ask her.”
