Laina Turner - Presley Thurman 06 - Tiaras & Texans (10 page)

Cooper nodded.

“Really. Is that normal? Okay. Thanks again.” I dropped the phone back in my purse. “Jeff asked and said his grandfather didn’t ask and she didn’t offer why. She was annoyed he didn’t want to grow the flowers and left immediately after he said no.”

“We need to find out who she is,” he said. “Let’s finish watching the tape. However, we need to switch to the next computer where Jim has cued up the security camera that sweeps the lobby.”

“That’s confusing.”

“That’s why I asked him to set it up for us.”

I pressed PLAY, and we watched as Hollie got off the elevator and walked over to the bench where she was to meet Candy.

“Okay. She has a bottle of water in her hand. It’s from her room, do you think the person who snuck in her room tampered with it?”

“That would be my guess. There she is sitting down on the bench to the right of the fireplace.”

We watched the screen intently a couple more minutes. “Cooper! Did you see that?”

“I did, I did.” Behind where Hollie was sitting, a panel slid open and we saw someone’s hand slide out and switch water bottles. Just a split second later Hollie grabbed her bottle and took a drink. A short few minutes after that, she slumped to the floor as if she had just fallen asleep, which we knew wasn’t the case.

“Did we really just witness that?” I said.

“Yes, we did. We need to find out who has access to those panels.”

“What panels?” Jim the security guy asked, coming back into the room in time to overhear Cooper.

“The panels that flank the right side of the fireplace. Presley, rewind the tape and show him.”

Jim watched, and after he saw the hand come out, said, “I’ve never known anyone to hide in there, but I guess there’s always a first time. When this house was built, the fireplace went almost the entire length of the main floor. About twenty years ago updates were made and it was converted from a wood to a gas fireplace and a large portion was boxed in. Those are access panels where we store things like holiday decorations. Stuff we don’t use very often.”

“How would someone get in there?” Cooper asked.

“Either from that panel, or on the second floor there is an access door in the HVAC room. That would be the more difficult choice, but the better one if the person didn’t want to be seen.”

We had Jim back up the tape of the lobby two hours, and then we played it at double speed to see if we could see anyone crawling in there to wait and we didn’t.

“So whoever this person is either crawled in there more than twenty-four hours prior, or they more than likely used the second floor entrance,” I said.

“That would be my guess,” Cooper said.

“But it had to be someone who knew about the access panel, and how many people do you think would know that?”

“Not many,” Jim piped in. “The maintenance crew and security, although I don’t even think all of us here in security know about it. The newer guys wouldn’t.  It rarely comes up.”

“So how would someone outside the hotel know about the panels?” I asked.

“Except for the people who were part of the construction crew who closed the fireplace off, I’m not sure,” said Jim. “It’s not like it’s this huge secret, but it’s not widely known either.”

“How are we going to figure out who that was then?” I asked.

“I’m not sure,” Cooper said. “But that’s our key to this right there,” he said tapping the screen.

Chapter 13

T
he morning found me once again headed out to see Izzy and Maddie, which wasn’t a bad thing. I was looking forward to it. Those ladies were a hoot. Cooper had asked me to go back to visit them and show them pictures of the contestants to see if there was anyone they recognized, and ask them if the red-haired girl had mentioned why she wanted tassel flowers. I was still curious about who Trish was, so this was a perfect opportunity to take Izzy up on her offer of a cup of coffee and a story.

I made it there only having to consult Bertha once and felt proud of myself. I had called the ladies last night to make sure they would be available, and when I pulled up, both of them popped out of the door. They must have been waiting for me, which made me feel good and less like I was bothering them.

“You made it,” Izzy said, walking over to me and giving me a hug like we were old friends, which she made me feel we were. Maddie was right behind her, and it soon became a three-way hug.

“Of course she made it, Izzy, this girl’s no dummy,” said Maddie.

“Thanks, but I admit I am sometimes directionally challenged,” I said, smiling.

“Well, come on in,” Izzy said, holding the door open for me so I could enter the greenhouse. “Follow me and I’ll take you back to our office. It’s small, but we can all sit down and have that coffee.”

“You owe me a story, remember?” I teased.

“What story are you going to bore her with this time, Izzy?” asked Maddie.

“When Presley first showed up here yesterday, I asked her if she was Trish. Now she wants to know who Trish is.”

“Ahh, that’s right. Do you take anything in your coffee, Presley?” Maddie asked as we walked into the office and she made her way to the coffee pot where three mugs were sitting there waiting to be filled.

“Black is fine unless you make super strong coffee, then I might need a little cream.”

“It isn’t always consistent. Izzy isn’t one for using measuring cups.”

“Eyeballing it is just fine, Maddie,” Izzy said, handing me a cup. “Take a sip of that and let me know if you need cream.

I did as she requested. “It’s fine, thanks,” I said, sitting down in the chair Izzy motioned to.

“What do you want first, Presley? What you came for or to hear about Trish?” Izzy asked.

“Well, Trish of course.  I enjoy stories with my morning coffee.”

“It’s not all that interesting but okay. Trish is this woman who has been trying to buy our business and the property it’s on and she’s a persistent thing. Calls daily. Doesn’t seem to want to take no for answer. This has been going on for months. We’ve been waiting for her to show up the last few weeks, as she’s been calling more and more and is getting irate when we keep telling her we won’t sell.”

“Has she said she was going to come here?”

“A few times she’s threatened to, but so far she hasn’t shown up. It’s the weirdest thing,” said Izzy. “We’ve never had anyone interested like this in anything we have. Much less our land.”

“We love our place and it’s been in the family for years, but it’s not like it’s a super valuable piece of land. Real estate prices still haven’t bounced back from when they tanked a couple years ago,” Maddie added. “And it’s not like we’re the Clampetts sitting on an oil well.”

“Are you worried at all that she might be a problem?”

“More than just annoying? Nah,” replied Maddie. “I think she’s just a blowhard.”

“I disagree with Maddie. I think there must be some other reason she seems so adamant about buying this land,” said Izzy. “Or why be so bothersome?”

“Isn’t that a big surprise,” Maddie said sarcastically.

“I just think if she is trying this hard to buy land that isn’t worth much, there has to be an ulterior motive. It’s not like she drove by here and just decided she had to have it. There is plenty of land just like this around here that is available just like ours.”

“You have to admit, Maddie, that does make a little bit of sense,” I said. “I mean, why this place specifically?”

“Could be. I just think she’s a crazy lady but harmless. So what brings you back to see us?” Maddie said, changing the subject.

“I am hoping you might be able to help me. I brought some pictures for you look at to see if there is anyone you recognize. More specifically, recognize the person who wanted the tassel flowers.” I leaned over to my bag and pulled out a folder of pictures that Linda had Elaine print off for me and set it down on the table. I opened the folder and picked up the photos so I could show Izzy and Maddie one by one. I set the first one down, who happened to be Janine.

“She’s beautiful!” exclaimed Izzy.

“I know. They all are. And surprisingly enough, most of them seem pretty nice,” I joked. “But I tell you, it can make a girl insecure being around all these beauties,” I said, showing them some more pictures.

“You have nothing to worry about, Presley. You are more beautiful than they are,” said Maddie.

“Not quite, but thanks for saying that. I will always take flattery. Anyone you recognize?” I said, putting a couple more photos down.

“I’m sorry, but none of these pictures looks familiar. Just beautiful,” said Izzy, and Maddie nodded in agreement.

I ended the picture display with Linda and Harvey and neither of the ladies recognized them either. I realized I had left Elaine’s picture at the hotel.  I remembered pulling it out, but I must not have put it back in the stack.

“Sorry we couldn’t help more,” Maddie said apologetically.

“It was a long shot, but at least I got to see you two again. Oh, another thing I meant to ask before, did the woman who wanted you to grow the tassel flowers say why?”

“Not that I recall. At least not to me,” said Izzy.

“Me either,” Maddie said, shaking her head.

“Such an odd request,” said Izzy. “They’re not very attractive.”

“Thanks for the coffee, but I should probably get back.”

“We understand. After all, you have a crime to solve,” Izzy said.

I stood up and noticed a small display case on the wall. It held a money clip and a man’s pinky ring. Izzy noticed me looking at it.

“That was our grandfather’s. He started the greenhouse by pawning these things. Then bought them back when he turned a profit. It was part of a larger set, but somehow over the years a few pieces went missing. I found these in an old box several years ago and thought they deserved a place of prominence. To remind us of how important his dream of the greenhouse was.”

“I agree, Izzy. The pieces are beautiful and have sentimental value. You ladies don’t have to walk me out. I know you have work to do.”

“Call us before you leave town,” said Izzy.  “Let’s do this again!”

“Yes, let’s,” agreed Maddie.  “We don’t have a lot of visitors out here.”

“I will.”

Chapter 14

A
fter walking around the hotel for what seemed like forever, I finally found Cooper in our room. “There you are!”

“Was I missing?” he joked.

“Well, you weren’t where you told me you would be and I just walked ten miles to find you,” I joked, once again wishing I wasn’t wearing heels.

“Sorry about that. We had a bit of an issue in the practice room and had to deal with that and then change rooms.”

“What happened? More pranks?”

“Unfortunately.” He frowned. “Someone pulled the fire alarm, and when all the girls were outside waiting for the firemen to clear the building, that same someone I’m assuming, or I guess they could have a partner in crime, trashed all the stations. Though they didn’t do that until after they broke the security cameras. Our prankster is getting smarter.”

“Oh no!  I bet Harvey was none too pleased.”

“That’s an understatement.  It’s been a while since I’ve had an onsite job with this many problems after I arrived.  Not reflecting well on Sands Security plus with the extra people I’ve brought here, I’m going to lose money.  This person—or persons, whoever they are—is finding ways to get people, including my people, out of the building to continue the harassment. It has to be someone with a decent knowledge of the hotel to be able to move around without being seen.”

“Maybe the mystery maintenance man? Maybe he’s the one who knows about the access panel in the foyer by the fireplace?”

“Maybe. But if he’s not really a maintenance man than how would he know about it?”

“Good point. I was thinking; we looked into the backgrounds of the people working for Pageants Unlimited, but do we know who might have started working here around the time of the first prank? Maybe there is a connection there.”

“Good thinking. I still have the employee files in my briefcase. Let’s look,” Cooper said, pulling a thick stack of files out of his briefcase and setting them on the table in two piles. One for him and one for me.

“The pranks started in March, so let’s make piles for employees with start dates January, February, and March. The rest can go over here and then we can go back further if need be. The hire date is on the top of the New Hire Information sheet stapled to the front cover,” I said, pointing this out to Cooper. We sat in silence until we sorted all the files. We were left with three files.

“This employee, Don Smythe, started in February, but is currently on a leave of absence according to his paperwork,” I said to Cooper. “That leaves us Ellen Perks, a part time makeup person, and…” I paused.

“What? Who is the other one?” he asked.

“It’s Elaine. She started in February, right before this all began. I knew there was something off about her. She must be the person we are looking for!” I said, springing out of my seat.

“Calm down, Presley. It could just be a coincidence. After all, you’re the one who said she told you her aunt knew Harvey and that’s how she got the job.  Just because she rubs you the wrong way doesn’t mean she’s the one doing these things.”

“I know, but I just have a feeling about this.”

“To prove it’s more than a coincidence we need to be able to connect her to each incident.”

“Then let’s figure out how to do that,” I said. “She works here, so she would have had access to each of the girls and knows their schedules and where their stuff is.”

“But so do a lot of other people.”

“Do you think whoever is doing this wants to hurt the girls or Harvey?”

“I think it has to be Harvey. Since there have been different girls targeted and no one twice, it doesn’t add up that this person would be after a contestant, or the pranks would be happening to the same person. Someone is trying to ruin Harvey’s reputation and his company.”

“So if we find out who wants to ruin Harvey, we find the killer?” I said. “It sounds so simple.”

“If it were that simple I would be out of a job.”