Read Dangerous Secrets for Free Online Page B

know we were making a much bigger deal out of the job than
was necessary.
    Actually, the whole process went faster than I
would have guessed. If we had to take photos of more of the bedrooms on Monday,
perhaps we could leave the inn about one—but that meant we wouldn′t get
home until early Tuesday morning. Since neither of us had to work Tuesday, it
made more sense to stay another night. That is if Susan and Zack were willing.
We′d have to negotiate.
    While I packed the equipment, Maggie restored
Eileen′s room to normal, which seemed boring in contrast. Then we carried
the equipment downstairs and set up in the dining room.
    Compared with the bedroom, the once-homey
dining room seemed as welcoming as a cave. I turned on every light in the
place, plus my strobes, and still had doubts the photos would come out. Thank
goodness for Photoshop. Nadine, the not-so-helpful employee we′d met the
day before, had an interest in interior design. She stayed after her regular
hours—unpaid, as Susan was quick to remind her—to help Maggie set tables and
arrange the food. Susan watched our every move, and I wondered if she thought
we′d try to walk off with some of her precious knickknacks.
    About mid-way through the set up, I discovered
that I had my own audience. Ted, sans his new jacket, parked himself well out
of range, studying the whole procedure. It wasn′t until Maggie and Nadine
fussed with an alternate table setting that he ventured nearer the camera.
    ‶ You really know your
stuff,″ he said.
    ‶ I wish I did, but I’m taking a
good stab at it.″
    He took in the rented equipment. ‶ Aren′t
you a pro?″
    ‶ Nope. I′m a bartender.
We′re doing this as a favor for Susan and Zack.″
    ‶ You mean you′re not even
getting paid?″ he asked, incredulous.
    ‶ No.″
    He frowned. ‶ You don′t look like a
bartender.″
    ‶ What′s a bartender look
like?″
    His frown deepened. I decided to cut him some
slack.
    ‶ I was an insurance investigator
for a lot of years. But with corporate downsizing and all—″ I
didn′t want to get into all the grim details.
    ‶ Yeah. My old man′s a big
shot at one of the airlines. He′s had to let a lot of people go over the
years.″
    ‶ Oh, yeah?″
    ‶ I worked for him for a while
after college. He kept me on, but he let others go who had twenty or thirty
years with the company. People with families, mortgages....″ For a moment
he seemed to stare at nothing, in what was probably a rare moment of
introspection. Was it guilt I read on his face? ‶ I quit,″ he said. ‶ I
mean, why stay at a place where they′re ultimately going to trash
you?″
    ‶ It′s those mortgages and
families and car payments,″ I suggested.
    He tugged the sleeve of his cashmere sweater. ‶ Yeah,
but I found the good life without the pitfalls.″
    ‶ Laura takes care of you?″
    ‶ So far. These older broads are
great, aren′t they?″ he said, nodding toward Maggie across the
room.
    Now Maggie may be four years older than me, but
she′s not a broad. ‶ Hey, that′s my lady you′re talking
about.″
    Ted backed off. ‶ That′s cool. I just mean
they′re grateful for anything they get in the sack—″
    ‶ Yeah,″ I cut him off.
    Suddenly the connections on the power packs
fascinated me. Ted took the hint and moved a discrete distance, although he
continued to watch. Meanwhile, I pondered his reaction. Did Maggie look that
much older than me?
    My next visitor was the nail-polishing young
woman I recognized from breakfast. ‶ Hi,″ she said, sauntering
into the dining room, clad in a black thong bikini, leather sandals, with a
beach towel draped over one arm.
    ‶ Hi, yourself.″
    ‶ Do you need a model? I have had
some experience. I was almost in a lingerie layout once, but at the last minute
they chose another girl. I′ve been seriously thinking of going to
modeling school, though.″
    ‶ How nice.”
    I suppose she was pretty, and maybe all of
twenty three. Her