Page 29 of Jane's Story
“They do.” Hyperventilating, Aunt Penny stopped pushing, her face deeply flushed. “Oh, I’m getting dizzy.”
“Same, but we’re going to be fine.” I patted her shoulder, then frantically searched the room. “There, see, an emergency shutoff.”
I slammed my hand over the red button close to where Aunt Penny had sat moments earlier. The humming furnace stopped. But no air vents opened.
“Thank goodness.” She sat back on the bench. “But it’s still hot and we’re still stuck.”
“I’m sure it will cool quickly.” Or not, because cooling an insulated room took hours.
“Well, I’m praying.” Aunt Penny waved her hand in front of her red, sweaty face.
I tried to take a calming breath, but the hot air coated my throat. I rammed my shoulder into the sauna door, and it gave about an inch. “Oh, wow. Ouch. I thought I saw a shadow move by the window earlier. Why didn’t I trust my gut?”
“Darling, you don’t weigh enough. Help me up. We’ll do this together.” She reached out her hand for me to help her.
We flung our bodies at the door, and it flew open. Fresh air filled my lungs as we burst onto the pool deck. I laughed. “Maybe I’m letting my nerves get the best of me.”
“Maybe,” Aunt Penny said, pointing at the back side of the door. Someone had wedged a bright orange caution cone underneath the door. “Or maybe someone tried to trap us in there.”
Ice ran cold down my spine. What I assumed was the emergency vent opening had the pool net’s handle jammed against it.
“This was no accident.” We were in deep.
After showering and getting into our normal clothes, Aunt Penny and I made it back to the suite Charles and I shared.
I turned on the overhead lights as we entered. The rooms looked different after the sun had set. Instead of streams of sunlight, deep shadows and dark corners filled the space.
“I think I’ll make some tea for the both of us.” Aunt Penny set down her bag and kissed my cheek.
“Sounds perfect.” I nodded, closed the drapes, and checked to make sure the balcony door was locked. Paranoia must have gotten the better of me, because I jumped at the sound of Aunt Penny putting a ceramic mug on the marble counter. I dropped onto the royal-blue velvet sofa and took a slow, calming breath. “You know the oddest thing about all of this? Margery Blake. I can't think of what she might have in common with Armond. They're nothing alike.”
Lizzy’s earlier comment to watch out for thugs wasn’t so amusing anymore. I wanted to text her about everything, but that would only worry her—or make her feel obligated to come tothe city and help.
“But they’ve got to be connected, right?” Aunt Penny carried in two teacups and joined me on the sofa.
“I assume so.” I sipped the sweet hot tea in front of me. “Doesn’t it seem probable?”
“Well, yes.” Aunt Penny’s unruly curls hung loose. Without her makeup, she looked younger, but weary.
“Someone also tried to kill us—or at least scare us. They deliberately wedged that caution cone under the door.” I didn’t mention the blocked vent. Aunt Penny hadn’t noticed, and I didn’t want to frighten her even more.
Aunt Penny rubbed her arms. “I know, dear. It’s too dark in here—creeps me out.”
I nodded. “Funny, that’s why I closed the drapes. I’m not fond of people being able to see through my windows at night. It’s spooky.”
She stood and circled the room, turning on the lamps. When she got to the polished wood and brass art déco sideboard, she paused. “There’s a note here with your name on it.”
“Maybe from Charles?” I stood and took the handwritten note, then slid the envelope open and pulled out a crisp card.
DearMs.Bennet,
Ihopeyouenjoyedthesauna.Ifyouandyourprincecharming wanttosurvivethenight,youbothneedtostoplookingintothingsthataren’tyourbusiness.
I dropped the envelope and looked around the suite. Anyone could be hiding in here with all the bathrooms, closets, and the whole upstairs floor. “We need to get out of here.”
“Are you alright?” Aunt Penny’s voice made me jump as she looked over my shoulder at the card.
I shook my head and handed her the note.
