Page 74 of Dead Girl Running

No Mara.

She went to Mara’s cottage. It was dark and empty. She went to the gym to work out, figuring Mara was there.

Mara wasn’t answering the door.

Kellen lifted weights, punched bags, practiced the turning kick. And cursed. She was never going to get that damned maneuver right.

Still no Mara.

She showered, dressed in the resort’s calf-length black gown and blue scarf. The resort might be short on guests and the staff might be skittish, Kellen herself might be sleepless and afraid, mostly of herself, but right now, at least, Yearning Sands was her home. She would exude excessive amounts of serenity. She would do as Xander urged; she would breathe. To Mara, she wrote a snarky note on the dry-erase board—

DETERMINATION

She ate breakfast in the lobby bar with the resort guests, who straggled in and out. The Shivering Sherlocks came in en masse, not yet in costume but consumed by this year’s mystery and by Carson’s clever script. After a little chitchat, Kellen excused herself and started toward the stairs and Annie’s office.

Frances flagged her down and in a gleeful voice said, “Something got delivered for you. A gift. Gorgeous! Lavish. Come on. We’re all dying to see who it’s from.”

“A gift?” Kellen followed Frances to the concierge desk.Whowould send her a present?Whywould someone send her a present?

Frances gestured at a wide, shallow bowl of fruit wrapped in glittering cellophane and tied with a wide red velvet ribbon. “A new delivery lady showed up in a town car, brought this in and asked that it be delivered to you. May I?” Frances held the end of one red ribbon.

“Go for it.”

The Shivering Sherlocks came out of the lounge. The desk staff moved closer. Sheri Jean appeared out of nowhere. Xander took a look, disappeared down the corridor toward the spa and returned with Destiny, Ellen and Mara.

If this was the entertainment of the day, Kellen reflected sourly, the resort needed more guests and hustle and bustle. She wandered over to Mara. “Where were you this morning?” she asked.

“I had a party at my cottage last night for my spa people. I slept in. Then I had some calls to make. Did you come by?” Mara busied herself arranging her hoodie to display more of her off-the-shoulder crop tank.

“I’ve already run and lifted weights!” Kellen toned down her indignation. “Did you see my note?”

“I am determined to win the International Ninja Challenge, on television, in front of the whole world! But first, I want to keep my employees safe and happy. I know you understand that.” Mara fixed her clothing to her satisfaction and smiled at Kellen. “Hmm?”

Nothing created as much teeth-grinding hostility as Mara Philippi telling Kellen something Kellen knew was the truth, something Kellen should appreciate. She smiled back. “Yes, of course. Thank you for thinking first of the resort.”And next time you’re not going to work out with me, could you let me know ahead of time?

Frances gestured Kellen back, and Kellen went gladly. “No card that I can see,” Frances said.

Kellen managed a smile and a sensible “I’d say that’s creepy, but probably the card fell off, right? Can we call the delivery person and ask who sent it?”

Chad Griffin wandered over, orange juice in hand. “No card?”

When had the pilot returned to the resort?

“Ooh, a secret admirer.” He sang, “Kellen’s got a lover. Kellen’s got a lover.”

This man was obnoxious, on her list of probables for the Librarian and on her list as first to be slapped for being an ass. She snapped, “Don’t be stupid. It’s a lost card, not a secret romance. What suitor sends a stupid bowl of fruit, anyway?”

Kellen supposed she shouldn’t have said that. The guests and staff were eyeing her askance, and Patty in the Shivering Sherlocks group said, “I like fruit!”

Kellen reined in her irritation. “I do, too.” She pointed at a decorative tin visible behind the cellophane. “Especially when the fruit is covered in chocolate.”

The Shivering Sherlocks laughed.

Crisis averted.

Until Chad Griffin stuck his nose in again. “Sorry. You don’t have admirers, secret or otherwise. I didn’t know that was a tender spot.”

She maintained a reasonable tone. “There’s another storm coming in. Shouldn’t you be getting that plane off the ground?”

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