Part 28 (2/2)

”On their way.”

”Shes got her equipment with her. Contact the lift operators.” Smith described Wendy again.

”Lifts are closed.”

”As of when?”

He looked at the big round clock on the wall. ”Five minutes ago.”

”Does that mean that anyone who was on the lift, say six minutes ago, made it to the top?”

”Yup.”

”I need to know if that woman got on, and off, a chair.”

The radio crackled. No sign of Wendy in any of the bath rooms.

”Ask Fred to meet me here. I want everyone youve got looking for her. This woman is a suspect in a murder investigation.”

Fred Stockdale ran into the office. Smith explained the situation and he issued orders quickly and efficiently.

The radio spoke again. ”Rick here. On Lift Three. Im pretty sure I saw the woman youre looking for. One of the last to get on.”

A big map of the resort filled the back wall of the office. Smith traced the path of Lift Three with her index finger, although she didnt have to. She knew it well. It led to the Double Black Diamonds.

”Im going up,” she said.

Chapter Twenty-six.

John Winters wasnt happy to see Lucky Smiths battered Pontiac Firefly parked halfway into the road outside the Glacier Chalet B&B. He wasnt in the mood to put up with Luckys attempts to run interference around the few questions he had for Ellie Carmine. He considered coming back another time, but decided that was the cowards way out, and reluctantly parked behind the old car. How Lucky managed to maneuver that thing down the snowy mountain roads between her home and town he didnt want to speculate.

The door opened as he mounted the porch steps. Ellie Carmine was holding a phone in her hand. ”I havent even pressed talk and here you are.”

”Pardon?”

”Jeremys upstairs packing,” she explained. ”When he showed up, straight from the jail I imagine, I told him to clear out. I was afraid hed kick up a fuss, so Ive punched 911 into the phone already. But he didnt say a word and I dont hear the sound of breakage.” She stepped aside to invite him in.

As always the hallway was warm with heat from the kitchen and redolent with the odors of fresh baking. Today apple and cinnamon were prominent.

”Im afraid Ive been a coward,” Ellie explained.

Winters closed the door against the cold winter air and hid a smile at how he used that word to describe himself just moments ago.

”I expected Jeremy would come here when he was released from jail and didnt want to be on my own, so I called Lucky and asked her to come over. Shes upstairs, standing outside while Jeremy packs up. Sounds like them now.”

Footsteps on the stairs and Jeremy, wearing winter coat and heavy scarf, dragging a wheeled suitcase behind him, with a tattered backpack tossed over one shoulder, came into the hall. Lucky followed.

”You didnt have to call the cops, lady,” he said. ”I wouldnt stay in this dump any longer if you paid me.”

”I didnt....” Ellie began.

”But Im glad to see your friend here. Saves me coming down to the station to make a complaint.” He gave Ellie a mean smile and turned to Winters. ”You see, Sergeant, when a member of the public checks into a fine establishment such as this we have an expectation of privacy.”

Winters opened the door. ”Good bye.”

”Hear me out. Someone is snooping around here. Going through drawers, checking out the contents of pockets, rifling purses. You know-touching things. Now, me, I dont have any secrets.” He gave Winters a big wink. ”So as long as nothing was being stolen, not my problem. But it is your problem lady, and you can be sure my dadll be mentioning it to the tourism authorities and perhaps the Chamber of Commerce. You might want to have a word with your daughter before youre run out of business. Have a nice day.”

He left, dragging his suitcase behind him.

”Charming fellow,” Lucky said. ”Pay him no mind, Ellie. People like him like to make trouble, but if they cant punch someones face in theyre too lazy to do civilized things such as lay complaints. John, what brings you here?”

”I have a question for Mrs. Carmine.”

Ellie Carmine didnt appear to be paying Jeremy Wozenack ”no mind.” She had gone very pale and her fingers pulled at the ta.s.sels decorating the hem of her Christmas ap.r.o.n. ”Ive been wanting to talk to you, Lucky, about...about what he said. But I dont know how.” Tears spilled down her face.

A bell rang in the kitchen. ”Perfect timing,” Lucky announced. ”The m.u.f.fins are ready.” She took her friends arm and led Ellie into the kitchen. Feeling like an uninvited guest, Winters closed the front door, took off his outerwear and boots, and followed. Dirty bowls and baking implements were on the counter and pot handles stuck out from the mound of fluffy white soap suds in the sink. A broom leaned against one wall.

Lucky was lifting m.u.f.fins out of the baking tin and placing them on a platter. Ellie sat at the table, her shoulders hunched and her head down. One of the red ta.s.sels had come off her ap.r.o.n, and she was weaving it between her fingers.

”Sit,” Lucky ordered Winters. Obediently, he sat.

Lucky placed the plate of m.u.f.fins on the table, followed by a mug of coffee. He selected a m.u.f.fin and dropped a pat of b.u.t.ter onto it. It spread across the warm surface like a soft yellow river.

”What he...that Jeremy...said? About Kathy? Ive been wanting to talk to you about it, Lucky, but I just didnt know what to say.”

”Well have a nice long chat, later,” Lucky said, pus.h.i.+ng the m.u.f.fins toward her friend. ”Once weve helped Sergeant Winters with his business and hes on his way.”

”Im looking for Wendy Wyatt-Yarmouth, but if theres something you need to talk to me about, go ahead.”

”Shes not here. Wendy I mean, although Kathy isnt here, either.”

”Hes not asking about Kathy,” Lucky said.

”Do you know where Wendys gone?” he asked, trying to ignore Lucky.

His cell phone rang.

It was the station, and he listened for only a moment before abandoning his coffee and m.u.f.fin and heading for the door.

The lift ended at two black diamonds and three blues. The skiers whod come up with her cranked their boot buckles down tight, settled goggles over faces, checked the direction of the wind, pointed the tips of their skis downhill and allowed themselves to fall forward. Family groups were slower at getting children off on the gentler runs but soon they too were gone. The sun was almost down leaving streaks of pink between the gray clouds, was.h.i.+ng the snow in a light pink glow.

Wendy stepped out from behind a tree. The top of the hill was empty. Only a smattering of skiers had gotten onto the lift after her and she realized, not much caring, that the ski hills had closed. The lift attendant had his head down, and was writing something in a notebook.

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