AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Danny shouted. “No, dammit! You know they can get to me there, too. Don’t take me back to where I was.”
“No worries on that. You lost your lease on ever being incarcerated in medium security again,” Howard said. “Kidnapping is a federal offense. You’ll be doing time in a federal prison.”
Chapter 4
Lindy Sheets was getting nervous. She’d waited at Fuzzy Fridays until sunup. Danny wasn’t answering the texts she’d sent, and he should have been here by now. Something had gone wrong. It was time to let Boss know. She made the call. He answered on the second ring, and as always, just the sound of his voice made her shudder because she’d witnessed what he was capable of.
“What?”
“Something’s wrong. Biggers didn’t show and he’s not answering my calls.”
“Then dump your phone and get out of the state. When you get settled, contact me. If he’s been captured with the kid, you’re linked to the kidnapping by being the drop-off contact, and that links you to me.”
“We don’t know that! He might be in hiding. And don’t talk to me like I’m expendable! You know me and you owe me. I don’t rat on anybody!”
“And I don’t take chances. Do what I said,” he countered.
Lindy’s stomach pitched. She had to disappear. This man didn’t leave loose ends. Anywhere. She disconnected and drove home. Dropped her phone down a storm drain, packed her clothes, left her car locked up in the parking lot of her apartment building, and started walking, pulling her suitcase behind her as she went.
***
It was nearing ten the same morning when Liz Caldwell came out of her room. She was still in her pajamas and a housecoat, and rubbing sleep from her eyes as she headed for the dining area to see if the breakfast buffet was still on the sideboard.
To her delight, it was still there, and warm. She got coffee, bacon, and a flaky croissant, and carried it all to the table.
Her mother walked in just as Liz was taking her first sip of coffee and frowned at the food on her daughter’s plate.
“Good morning, darling. Don’t you want some eggs with that? A portion of protein is important, too.”
Liz picked up a strip of bacon. “Protein, Mother. As you suggested,” she said and took a big bite.
Patricia rolled her eyes and poured herself a cup of coffee before joining Liz at the table.
“Aren’t you having anything?” Liz asked.
“I’ve already eaten with your father. I’m just rambling about up here, trying to decide what to do with myself,” she drawled, and then rolled her eyes. “I mean, there’s so much culture and charm in this place, I simply can’t decide.”
Liz laughed. She knew her mother hated it here. New York City or London or Paris were places more suited to Patricia Caldwell’s tastes.
“Did you hear all the sirens in the night?” Liz asked as she kept eating.
Patricia rolled her eyes. “I would have had to be deaf not to. God knows what was going on up there. Your father said police cars and ambulances went up the mountain and then came straggling back later.”
Liz shrugged. “Accidents can happen anywhere, Mother. And people get sick or hurt, regardless of their bank accounts.”
Patricia shrugged. “I suppose. I’d love a swim, but I’d rather lick boots than mingle with the tourists in the hotel pool. I don’t know why your father is so dead set on living here. We could still own this and live elsewhere. Even if it is the penthouse, living on the premises makes me feel so…innkeeper’s wife.”
Liz said nothing. Her mother’s dissatisfaction with life had little to do with where they slept and more to do with herself. If her daddy wasn’t so rich, her mother would be long gone, chasing rainbows for the next best thing.
***
Marsh Devon was at the heliport seeing his investors safely off, and nursing a hangover headache. Thankfully, the big chopper was already coming in for a landing, and then they’d soon be gone. Three were flying back to Boston, and the other two would be going on to New York City. It had been a successful meeting for Marsh. He was in the planning stages to develop new off-campus housing in Lexington, near the University of Kentucky, and now he had the capital to follow through.
The day was sunny but cold, and Marsh was dreading spending another winter in these mountains. He loved the snow and he loved to ski, but this wasn’t a place for skiing. The mountains were heavily forested, the area didn’t get that kind of snow, and even more to the point, cutting down even one tree around here could get a man arrested. If it wasn’t for the year-round music venues, the upcoming holidays, and the charm of the village shops, there would be no winter tourist trade.
But his son, Michael, had several years of hotel management under his belt now, and Marsh was hoping to put Michael in charge of Hotel Devon, leaving himself free to set up residence in Lexington to oversee the new housing development going up. There were standards he wanted to maintain in this hotel, and keeping Michael in charge would assure that. The more tourists he drew away from the Serenity Inn, the better he liked it.
***
