Powdered Murder Read Free Page B

they'd just been pulled from their package. This man wasn't only from out of town. He came here from out-of-state. And judging from the way he'd chosen to walk on the damp asphalt rather than the freshly fallen snow told me that he was from a warmer climate. It was better to make footprints in the snow than chance it with black ice. It was all over the parking lot this time of year.
    "Where are you from?" I asked, before he had the chance to think of some fake story that would make me feel sorry for him.
    There was only one reason that a non-tourist would venture all the way to Bison Creek. This man was a reporter. An out-of-town reporter which meant that he was here to dig up dirt on the only thing this town had to brag about. Patrick Jaye.
    "California," the man answered. He reached out his hand, offering me an invitation to be his ally.
    I kept my hands at my side. Joel Buntley from the local truck stop made friends once when a nosey reporter came sniffing around. An MTV tour bus broke down and stopped here last winter and Joel assisted them with getting back on the road. He'd made a hefty five grand by selling his many insights into the lives of the celebrities on board to the press, but the whole town practically shunned him for it. Plus, one of the stars on board ended up suing him for insinuating that she'd bought a pregnancy test at the convenience store.
    "Really? What brings you here ?"
    “Well," he chuckled, "I'm following a story. Maybe one that you can help me with?"
    "A story," I said quietly. I gripped the badge in my pocket and leaned toward the staff entrance. “Sorry, Mr...?”
    "John," he answered. "John Slagger."
    “Let me guess, John. You are here to inquire about a guest and you thought I might want to make some extra cash?"
    "Well--"
    "I'm not interested," I said abruptly.
    "If you change your mind--"
    "I won't." I briskly swiped my badge and stepped inside the employee doors, shutting them tightly behind me.
    I headed towards my staff locker, but Joy was waiting for me in the hallway, clipboard in hand. Her eyes widened when she saw me. She glanced at her watch and speed walked in my direction. I stopped so I wouldn't run into her.
    "You're late," Joy barked.
    "I was looking for a gift for Lila." I glanced over my shoulder to make sure no one had followed me inside. No one named John.
    "Let me guess," Joy replied as she placed a hand on her hips. "You couldn't figure out what to get her, so you ended up walking through Mrs. Tankle's shop and lost track of time?"
    "No … I looked at the clock." I grinned, but Joy didn't always find my sense of humor amusing.
    "Here." Joy handed me a small box wrapped with baby blue wrapping paper and a white bow. "I took care of it."
    "Thanks." I accepted the gift and slipped it into my bag. "What is it?"
    "I heard from Mr. Shapely who heard from the concierge who heard from the head maid who overheard Lila's assistant say that she still doesn't have something blue for Sunday. It's a silver anklet with a blue snowflake charm made of Swarovski crystal."
    "Hopefully it's her taste."
    "I heard from the maid assigned to her suite that she has a thing for Swarovski pieces."
    "Then she'll love it," I responded. Joy bit the inside of her cheek and drew in long breaths. Sometimes she counts as she breathes to keep herself calm. "Don't worry. Everything will go according to plan. It always does, right?"
    "It will if the paparazzi doesn't bombard this place before Sunday. I mean, I know it's inevitable, but I was hoping to prolong it for as long as possible. I promised Patrick that our staff would keep their mouths shut. It's only Friday. How am I going to make it the full weekend?"
    "There's something you should know." I cleared my throat. "I think you might have a leak that needs plugging."
    Joy huffed and her cheeks turned rosy. I knew that telling her about John would only add to her stress, but I thought it was better than having thousands of cameramen pull into town at