Page 17 of The Summer Request
“I love this,” Lisa said clapping her hands together. “I haven’t done anything this exhilarating in years.”
“You mean this illegal?” Michelle asked. “You’re right. My petty crime days ended after high school.”
“You were always so good at keeping your cool, though,” Val said. “Weneedyou.”
Michelle scoffed. “Looking at the itinerary, we have to check in to the Hotel Lusso, get our welcome drinks, and then have a five-course lunch by the pool. Nowhere in there do I see time to break in and clean Lou’s house.”
“We’re not actually going to clean it,” Val said as she aggressively cut onto the highway. If they were going to make it for the job, they needed to hurry up. “We’ll go in, take a peek, and leave. We’ll be back in time for lunch.”
Hopefully.
“I’ll be waiting for you by the pool,” Michelle said.
Val kept quiet. Michelle had always refused to participate in her schemes until the very last minute. Then she’d give in as though she’d never protested at all.
It was possible Michelle had drastically changed over the years, but that seemed unlikely. People rarely changed. It wasn’t that theycouldn’tchange, but it took time, self-reflection, and effort. Most people settled for unfulfilled promises and bitterness.
Surely Michelle had other things to worry about than her one tiny personality flaw that occasionally got her into trouble.
They got to the hotel and their progress was slowed by Michelle and Lisa admiring the extravagance.
Val wasn’t terribly impressed. It was nice, of course, but years ago, when her second album had come out and she went on a six-month tour, she stayed in what seemed like every five-star hotel in the country.
The novelty quickly wore off. There was no amount of hot stone aroma massages, shining white marble floors, or cascading infinity pools that made a hotel feel better than home.
“Let’s drop our bags off, check out the room, and get down to the corner shop,” she said, trying to rush them forward.
Lisa let out a groan. “I wanted to see the pool.”
“There are multiple pools,” Michelle said, pointing to the map in her hand. “There are also two spas, a fitness club, yoga on the beach….”
“Plenty of time for that later,” Val said, calling the elevator. “After we get our cleaning supplies in order.”
Lisa pulled her suitcase along, a smile permanently on her face. “Sure, sure.”
Michelle followed behind, silent.
They got to the top floor, the penthouse, and the door clicked open to reveal a breathtaking view of the ocean.
“Are we really allowed to be in here?” Lisa asked in a low voice.
Val’s bags had already arrived via the bellhop and she kicked them out of way so they could explore. A bottle of champagne and a box of chocolate-covered strawberries welcomed them. The three-bedroom suite was complete with a kitchen, an outdoor grill, a private hot tub, and an eighty-five-inch TV. There was a spiral staircase to the second floor, and Val could see a bed with crisp white linens and red rose petals to her right.
She opened the door to the balcony and stepped out. Even Val had to admit it was likely the most decadent and magnificent room in Miami Beach. They had a full view of the clear, turquoise ocean and the white sand beach below. A hammock swung lazily in the breeze next to their private, vibrantly blue plunge pool. The pool extended to the edge of the balcony, with a clear glass bottom that allowed a terrifying, yet entirely safe, view all the way down.
Michelle was stunned, still clutching her bag, which she’d refused to relinquish to the bellhop. “What do you think this cost Justine?”
“Probably twenty thousand dollars,” Val replied, eyes fixed on the horizon. She managed to keep the glibness in her voice, though the thought of it made her sick. It was lot of money. Too much money, money Lou didn’t want Justine to have.
But Justine didn’t need it anymore, because Lou had killed her.
It didn’t matter how crazy Michelle, or anyone, thought she was. Val knew she was right. She’d always been a big idea kind of person. She could see things others didn’t. It was why she’d pursued a career as a singer. She knew she could do it. People thought she was crazy until her second album sold enough copies to get silver certification. She was only a few thousand short of gold.
It was true that Tammy’s words had set her off. Even before that, though, she couldn’t have been the only one to think that Justine’s out-of-the-blue death was odd.Justine, who had started a company all about wellness, both of mind and body, had just up and died? No one thought that was suspicious? She was supposed to outlive them all.
Except. Except, except, except. She’d started her business with a power fiend. Lou Emerald. That was her only mistake – loving the wrong man.
It happened to the best of them.
