Page 21 of Canapés at the Beach House Hotel
We looked up as a member of our hotel security came toward us.
I showed him what had happened.
“We’ll check the security cameras and try to find out who did this.It looks like someone came up from the beach.”He pointed to the sandy footprints leading to the car.
“The breeze is already blowing them away,” I said.
“Why don’t I arrange for someone to drive you home?”the guard said.
“I can do that,” said Rhonda.
“Okay.We’ll take photos and see what we can find,” the guard promised.
“Thank you.I’ll go with Rhonda and leave you to your work,” I said, looking around nervously.I felt violated.It was scary knowing some deranged person was this angry at me.
I climbed into the car with Rhonda, and she turned to me.“I’m sorry, Annie.I know you’re upset.So am I.But let’s keep this quiet.We’ll do some investigation on our own.”
“I don’t think Brock did it.Do you?”
Rhonda harrumphed.“I can’t imagine him getting his hands dirty like this.But he might have arranged it.He’s more the sleezy behind-the-scenes kind of guy.”
“Maybe we should ask Chet to leave,” I said, then shook my head.“No, forget that.We can’t let people like Jonny or Brock intimidate us.We were here first.”
“You got that right,” said Rhonda.“We’re not going to let these bastards scare us.”
She drove up to my house and stopped the car.“Do you need a ride tomorrow?”
“No, thanks.I’ll take one of Vaughn’s cars,” I said.“Thanks for dropping me off.”
“Anytime.I’ll be in late tomorrow morning.I’m going to a teacher’s meeting with Angie.Evan is doing so well in school that they’re thinking of moving him up to 8thgrade.I told her that might be a mistake, but I’ll support her decision.We’ll see.”
“Each child is so different,” I said.“How’s Sally Kate doing?”
“Better, now that she knows she’s not stupid.Funny, she’s so eager to work hard to make the situation better.Evan, on the other hand, is lazy because schoolwork comes easily to him.”
“They’re adorable children.I’m so glad we get to live and work by our children and grandchildren.”I frowned at the sudden thought.“You don’t think Jonny will try to get to our families, do you?”
“No,” Rhonda said quickly, but I’d seen a look of horror flash across her face.
I opened the door and got out of the car, wishing we’d never agreed to host a dinner for Ambassador Ferrara.
###
The next morning, I pulled Vaughn’s SUV up to the front of the hotel for valet parking.I didn’t think anyone would be slashing tires in that area.
I was climbing the front stairs when a security guard approached me.“Morning, Ms.Sanders.I have a report for you.”
“Thank you.Please come to my office.”
We walked together through the lobby and to the back of the hotel to my office, where we could have privacy.
I ushered the guard, a man who’d worked for us for years, inside and indicated for him to take a seat by my desk.
Still upset by the memory of last night’s episode, I sat behind my desk and faced him.“What did you find out?”
“The cameras caught the figure of a man slashing the tires.Unfortunately, he was wearing a mask and non-distinguishable clothing.Though we saw evidence of sandy footprints, nothing could be traced because onshore breezes prevented them from remaining in a pattern.We can say the person whom we suspect is male and is of average height and weight.”
“In other words, we have nothing to identify the person,” I said, sighing.
