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Kayleigh hadn’t arrived yet, so when his phone rang with Caren’s number showing on his screen, he answered the call.
“Hi Caren,” he said. “What’s up?”
“The guy I have looking over the footage is not finding any signs of Wilder having been anywhere close to where the incidents were supposed to have happened,” she told him, getting right to the point. “He’s reviewed the footage of the different areas of the hotel, and there’s no sign of Wilder. It backs up his claim that he rarely, if ever, comes into the main buildings. On the flip side, he is all over the footage from around the ski shop and the slopes.”
None of that surprised Hudson. Wilder had been adamant that he wasn’t guilty of the things he’d been accused of. “So the question is, why have these accusations been made against him?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe a personal vendetta?” Caren suggested. “Against him, or maybe Kayleigh. Perhaps they’ve slighted Jenn in some way, and this is her revenge.”
“That seems like an extreme reaction,” Hudson murmured, considering once again that perhaps this had nothing to do with Wilder and everything to do with the resort.
“It does, but it’s possible that what makes perfect sense to this woman won’t be anything we’d understand.”
“But weneedto understand this.”
“You’re right,” Caren agreed. “And that means I’m going to have to press her, which I won’t enjoy doing at all.”
Hudson wasn’t quite as inclined to feel bad for the woman who’d brought the accusations against Wilder. She’d clearly had a moment when she’d decided that whatever she wanted out of the allegation was more important than an innocent man’s reputation. She deserved to be pressed.
“Do you want me there?” Hudson asked. “When you speak to her?”
“I think perhaps it would be better if you weren’t. If she has an issue with men, and that’s why she’s done this, she won’t be as forthcoming with you there.”
Again, Hudson wasn’t really concerned with how she might feel. However, if Caren thought he should stay away, then he’d follow her directive. “Let me know how it goes.”
Once the call had ended, he glanced at his watch. It was now past the time they’d arranged to meet, and it was unusual for Kayleigh to be late. But it was only a couple of minutes, so maybe someone had stopped her to talk on her way to the restaurant.
After waiting ten minutes, Hudson was concerned that maybe he’d misunderstood the plans they’d made. The restaurant had filled up with the lunch crowd while he waited.
He didn’t want to bug her. But if she wasn’t going to be able to make it, he was going to order something, since he was starving.
Picking up his phone, he was considering calling Kayleigh when it rang, and her name flashed on the screen.
“I’m so sorry I’m not there yet,” Kayleigh said when he answered. “Unfortunately, something has come up, and I can’t make it.”
“Is everything okay?” Hudson asked, concerned by the tension in Kayleigh’s voice.
“This situation with Wilder is… changing… maybe?” Kayleigh told him. “Stephanie called to let me know that the woman who accused him of harassing her wants to talk to us.”
“Have you let Caren know?” Hudson asked.
“Not yet. I called you first.”
“I’ll let her know. Can you wait until we get there to start the meeting?”
“Yep. Steph said they’d be here in about fifteen minutes.”
“Okay. Perfect.”
Hudson pushed back from the table, motioning to the server who’d greeted him earlier. He explained that something had come up and told her that she could seat people at the table. If he and Kayleigh ended up coming back, it would likely be past the lunch rush, so getting a table wouldn’t be an issue.
As he walked out of the restaurant, Hudson called Caren to update her.
“That explains why I haven’t been able to get hold of anyone. Other stuff was already in the works.”
“Yep. It appears so. And since it seems that she’s willing to talk already, I’d like to be present.”
He half-expected her to push back and tell him no since she hadn’t wanted him present when they’d talked earlier. Instead, she agreed, then ended the call.
