Caught in the Frame (Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery Series Book 3) by ReGina Welling (novel24 .TXT) 📕

“She caught up to me last night as I was leaving the dining room.” He explained, bewildered by the Chloe’s sudden coldness toward the wedding coordinator. She seemed nice enough to him; though that could have had something to do with the flirtatious nature of their conversation.

“Hannah Frank is not involved in this wedding, and I’d recommend you don’t breathe her name around my mother. I guess Baylee didn’t mention that part to you.” She softened at his obvious distress. “Don’t worry about it. Just don’t give her copies of any of the images or there’ll be hell to pay.”

Ross nodded in assent, and moved to clear up the equipment. With Nate and EV lending a hand, he had everything broken down and ready to move in a matter of minutes. Back in the lobby, Dalton exited the elevator at the same time the group trooped toward the courtyard access doors leading to narrow stairs that granted access to the parapets. Catching Nate’s eye, Dalton’s shoulders lifted slightly—he shook his head.

* * *

“Let me help you with that,” Javier reached for one of the heavy bags. Chloe relinquished it willingly.

“Do you have the key card for Baylee’s room, Ross?” Javier wasn’t the only one concerned about Baylee. EV wanted the chance to look around.

“Yes, ma’am. But you all don’t have to help; it’s my job.” Ross reached for the softbox lamp EV carried, but snatched his hand back when he caught the stern expression on her face.

EV patted him on the shoulder, “Lead the way.” Her tone brooked no refusal, and, taking the elevator for the sake of convenience, they all trooped to Baylee’s door.

“You can just leave everything here.” Ross didn’t want to cause inconvenience, or worse, have Baylee catch him letting her clients play pack mule. Not to mention the hot water he would be in for bringing half a dozen people into her room uninvited.

“Open the door. We won’t let you get into trouble.” EV softened her voice, but made no move to put down her burden, nor did anyone else. Ross caved easily; he didn’t have the guts to argue.

Taking a deep breath, Ross ran the card through the reader, pushed open the door, then led the way to the closet area where they helped him stow everything away neatly. The first thing EV noticed was a handbag lying on the bed. “How likely is it that Baylee left for the day without taking this?” She strode over to check for a wallet, and finding one, brandished it in the air.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Javier shook his head. “Baylee would not leave Ross alone to do her work. Something must have happened to her.” And he had a pretty good idea what. “We need to call the authorities.” His face lost enough color that the olive of his skin turned a sallow yellow-green.

“In the states, we can’t investigate until someone has been missing at least 48 hours. It’s probably the same here. More often than not, the missing person turns up with a perfectly valid reason for their absence. It can’t hurt, though, to ask a few questions.”

“We must do everything we can to find her.” His voice rising, Javier said, “If she never made it back from…she could be in danger.”

Back in the elevator, EV addressed Javier, “Made it back from where? Do you know something you’d like to share with the rest of us?” Was Javier really the thief Chloe suspected him of being, and had he dragged his sister-in-law into something over her head? EV glanced at Lila, whose face showed concern, but not suspicion, as she ran a soothing hand up and down his arm. If there was something more to the story with Baylee and Javier, Lila knew what it was. Or, she thought she did. When EV opened her mouth to question him further, Lila shot her a pleading look with a tiny shake of her head. Reluctantly, EV let it go. For now.

Lila said, “Let me be the one to talk to Antoine; he’s more likely to spill what he knows to me than to you, Nate.” A hint of regret colored her tone.

“Why? Because you fed him some line of bull about me so he would give me a room as far away from Chloe’s as he could find?”

“Maybe.”

“Yeah, I thought so. He gives me a dirty look every time he sets eyes on me. What exactly did you tell him?”

Lila waved a dismissive hand, “Nothing really bad, I think he jumped to conclusions.”

“If he was jumping, you supplied the pogo stick,” Chloe tossed the comment back over her shoulder, along with an attempt at a quelling glare for EV who, with Dalton, occupied the space behind Lila and Javier. Both had snickered at her comment. “If you wanted time with me for yourself, Mother, all you had to do was say so. I’ve missed you, too.”

The elevator dinged and shuddered to a stop. Lila approached Antoine while the others hung back.

When asked if he had seen Baylee leave the castle that afternoon, Antoine shook his head emphatically. Not only had Baylee not been one of those in line for the daily shuttle into the village, she had not passed through the foyer or lobby area all day. All other exits led to walled enclosures and courtyards. Anyone leaving would have to pass Antoine or his night time counterpart, or exit through one of the fire exits, which would set off an alarm. No alarm meant Baylee was still in the castle.

Chapter 16

Silence enveloped the six people packed into the elevator like a bunch of nervous sardines; each mind wondering where Baylee could be. “Let’s order some room service and regroup. If we’re going to get to the bottom of this, we need sustenance and a plan.” Nate shot a questioning look at