Page 82 of Dead Girl Running

“I am.”

“Good. You look big. You look scary. Maybe that’ll keep the bad guys at bay until the Coast Guard can scoop them up.”

“I’ll do my best Incredible Hulk imitation,” Max promised.

Sheriff Kwinault smirked at him. “You’re closer to the giant Marshmallow Man.”

Yes. They had obviously met before.

Kellen and Sheriff Kwinault shook hands again. “Can I offer you dinner in our restaurant before you go?” Kellen asked.

“Thank you, I’d be delighted to take you up on it, but the weather folks are predicting a big storm and I’m on duty.” Sheriff Kwinault shrugged her way into her coat. “Not that the weather folks have been right very often this winter.”

“Dinner to go?” Kellen asked.

“That would be much appreciated,” Sheriff Kwinault conceded.

“I’ll set her up,” Max said and took Sheriff Kwinault to the elevator and the lobby.

While he was gone, Kellen texted Mr. Gilfilen the news of Lloyd Magnuson’s death and ended with a plea that he cease his operation.

His text came back.Acknowledged.

By which he meant he had received her news, and he would continue to do what he thought right.

When Max came back, Kellen was staring out the big window, where the everlasting gray clouds churned and threatened. “I gave Frances instructions to give Kateri anything she wanted as a to-go meal.”

“Thank you.”

“I called Annie and Leo to tell them about Lloyd Magnuson.”

“Thank you again.” She hadn’t even thought to do that. “I informed Mr. Gilfilen… You do know about Mr. Gilfilen?”

“Leo told me. I think it’s a stupid idea, but Vince Gilfilen is a force to be reckoned with.” Max watched her watch the sky and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Somehow, that was worse than I expected.” Kellen found she was sitting ramrod straight, her fists clenched at her sides. “I don’t want to think of Lloyd being tempted by a devil. It’s cruel and callous, and whoever it is, whatever it is, is here at the resort.”

“At your refuge.”

“Yes.”

“And whoever did this could be your friend.”

“Yes.” The word was no more than a sigh.

He came around the desk and knelt beside her chair, and made his offer with every evidence of sincerity. “It’s dangerous here. If you’d like to go away, I can assume control.”

Shocked, she looked him square in the face. “What? What are you talking about?”

“I’ll talk to Annie. I’m capable of being resort assistant manager. You can go on vacation, take a leave of absence. No one would think the worst of you. This situation is dangerous and—”

She pushed her chair away from him. “I can’t leave. Run away? The resort is my responsibility. The people here are my responsibility. If one of my friends is guilty of these heinous acts—well, I recommended them to Annie and Leo. What kind of person would I be if I ran away?” She would be Cecilia, running away from her own cousin’s death.

“I thought—”

“Stop thinking. You’re security until Mr. Gilfilen returns to his regular duties, that’s all. I’m in charge of the resort. I’ll stay in charge of the resort.” She stood up. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to make rounds, talk to the guests and employees, assure them everything is being handled to the best of our abilities and their safety is our first concern. I suggest you do the same thing—go meet your security team, and after that, see if you can talk Mr. Gilfilen in before he gets killed, too.”

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