Dead Girl Running (Cape Charade #1)(5)

“When I hired you,” Annie confided, “Leo didn’t trust you.”

Oh. This was about Leo. “I suspected he didn’t trust me when he demanded my records—” birth certificate, undergraduate degree from University of Nevada and business degree from Vanderbilt, honorable discharge from the Army “—be examined to see if they were original and investigated their authenticity.” He had uncovered no deception, of course, but even when he was satisfied, he had continued to watch Kellen like a hawk.

“It was because of that girl. A nice young woman, but misguided.”

Was Annie rambling? “What girl?”

“The girl I hired first. Priscilla Carter.”

Kellen had heard mutterings about Annie’s first attempt to hire an assistant manager. “The one who left without notice?”

“She didn’t have to do that. We had already realized she was unsuited for the job and intended to help her find another position. We’re not without heart!” Annie’s cheeks flushed.

“You’re lovely!” Kellen pressed those cold fingers.

“Leo says I give too much. I don’t think that’s true, but I did hire Priscilla…” Annie stared out the side window at the wide spread of lawn and the ring of rhododendrons that tossed with each gust of the storm. “Priscilla imagined the resort would be her stepping-stone to a life as a rich man’s wife. Leo reprimanded her twice. I should have reprimanded her myself, but I’m a coward. Then she volunteered to take guests on a tour of the property—and left them out there on the cliffs. It’s one thing to make the resort look bad, but she abandoned elderly guests out there. No compassion!” Annie sounded so hurt.

Kellen barely knew what to say. “She sounds like a piece of work.”

“The guests said she fell ill, promised she’d send someone out after them. Sheri Jean didn’t realize the guests had been left until one called. They were worried about Priscilla! We were all worried about her until Leo discovered she had packed her bags, gotten in her car and headed south. She never even contacted us for her final paycheck.”

“I promise I would never do that.” With a fair amount of humor, Kellen added, “I like my paychecks, and anyway, I don’t have a car.”

Annie’s brow knit fretfully. “So I should worry when you buy one?”

“Not even then.”

“Thank heavens. I…I don’t know what I’d do if you disappeared, never to be found, and I hadn’t told…” Annie seemed to drift off.

“Told…?” Annie’s rambling was so unlike her, Kellen was concerned.

“Told him… He’s suffered so much. He’s fretted. He’s searched…”

“Who? Who’s searched? For what?” Kellen leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Annie’s, and in her brain, a new slot lit up, empty of information and hungering to detail this new person.

In a normal tone, Annie asked, “Do you have any final questions?”

“Um, I…I don’t think so. Just, you know, what you were talking about before. Or who you were talking about.”

Annie brushed her hair off her forehead. “I didn’t sleep well last night. So excited. To go to California, to see the family. But I want to make sure you feel comfortable in your role as resort manager.”

Because Annie suddenly seemed to need reassurance, Kellen said, “With Mr. Gilfilen to handle security, with the tight staff and the small guest list, this is a great way to introduce me to handling the job of resort manager.”

Annie fussed with the folds of her long black velvet skirt. “Yes, Vincent Gilfilen. He’s a difficult man, you know. Obstinate. A little odd.”

“I do know that.”

“He does things his own way. He’ll always do the right thing.” Annie avoided Kellen’s gaze. “You go along with whatever happens. It won’t be so bad.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Kellen felt as if she’d missed something. Like the point.

Annie leaned forward and affectionately took Kellen’s face between her palms. She looked into her eyes, and in a dreamy voice, she said, “I told Sarah and June about you. They could barely believe you’d come back.”

“Came back?” Kellen pulled out of Annie’s clasp. “Came back from where?”

Annie blinked as if trying to clear a fog from her brain. “What?”

“What did you tell Sarah and June about me?” Sarah and June were Annie’s sisters-in-law and best friends. But Kellen didn’t know she’d been the topic of discussion and she didn’t like the sound of They could barely believe you’d come back. “Is this to do with the man you didn’t tell about me?”

“What man?”

“You said you didn’t know what you’d do if I disappeared and he hadn’t been told…” Kellen trailed off enticingly, exactly as Annie had done.

“My head aches.” Annie closed her eyes and rubbed her neck. “I’m so old and creaky.” She opened her eyes. “Could you hand me a bottle of water?”

Kellen realized Annie’s eyes were too bright. “Are you all right?” Kellen placed her hands over the top of Annie’s. “You feel warm.”