“You tried to fire me. But under the circumstances I’m willing to let bygones be bygones.”
“Good. That’s good.”
He kissed her with the soaring passion of a man who has just been set free from a cage. She understood his response because she had only recently escaped from an invisible prison herself.
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
Becky Alvarez rapped once on the partially open door of Jack’s office.
“What?” Jack said. He did not look up from his computer.
“I’ve got an update on that hotel fire that killed Edith Chase.”
Jack stopped reading the data on his screen in midsentence and swiveled his desk chair around to look at Becky.
“Talk to me.”
Becky moved quickly into the office. She stopped in front of the desk and flipped open a notebook.
“I finally tracked down the housekeeper who took care of the penthouse that Edith Chase was in the night of the fire,” she said. “The housekeeper remembered seeing an unknown person on that floor earlier in the day—a man who was wearing a hotel maintenance uniform. The housekeeper didn’t recognize him, so she made a point of speaking to him, per routine hotel security protocol.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Go on.”
“The maintenance guy told her that he was new on the staff and that he had been sent to the penthouse to take care of a problem with the air-conditioning system. After speaking briefly with the housekeeper, he left. Used the stairs, not the service elevator, which the housekeeper thought was odd because it was a long way down to the first floor.”
“Did the housekeeper report the unknown maintenance man to her manager?”
“Yes. But that’s where things get murky. The head of housekeeping checked with the head of maintenance. No one could find a work order for that particular floor and there was no record of a new hire. The head of maintenance went to the head of security. As a precaution, security did a walk-through of the penthouse and found nothing out of the ordinary. They also checked the videos from the security cameras, but you can’t see the guy’s face because he was wearing a cap and glasses. The best description I could come up with is that the man was a notch or two over six feet. Athletic build.”
“That fits all three males in the Webster family.”
“The housekeeper said she’s pretty sure the maintenance guy was in his thirties. If it was a Webster, it was either Xavier or Travis.”
“He went to the penthouse earlier that day to rig the wiring. Later that evening he went back to trigger the explosion and fire. He had to be present at the scene that night in order to make sure that Edith Chase did not escape the blaze. He probably went into the room and killed her first, figuring that the fire would conceal the evidence of murder. When he was sure she was dead, he exited the hotel along with everyone else. He went down the emergency stairs and vanished into the crowd and confusion.”
“That would explain a lot,” Becky said.
“Send me a copy of the video.”
“Knew you’d ask. It should be in your in-box by now.” Becky went toward the door. “By the way, your mother called. She said to remind you that you’re in charge of the chiles rellenos for dinner tonight.”
Jack turned to face the computer screen. “Thanks.”
“I’m leaving now.” Becky glanced at her watch. “Unless you need me to stay?”
“No, go ahead.”
“Don’t forget to set the alarm on your way out.”
“I run a security firm, Becky. I’m really good with locking up.”
“Just thought I’d mention it. You’ve been somewhat distracted lately.”
“Had a few things going on.”
“Believe it or not, I had figured that out. See you tomorrow.”
Jack looked up. “Good work finding the housekeeper.”
“Remember that when it comes time for a raise.”
She went out into the reception area. A moment later Jack heard the front door close.
The video was interesting, but Becky had been right. It wasn’t clear if the man in the maintenance uniform was Xavier or Travis. Only one of them, however, had a motive.
Travis.
Jack got up, grabbed the rumpled sport jacket off the wall hook, and headed for the door, turning out lights as he went. When you ran a small business you had to watch every penny.
He paused at the front door to put on his jacket and arm the security system. Mentally, he made a list of the ingredients he would need for the chiles rellenos. Poblano chiles, cheese, eggs. And then there was the salsa to consider. Tomatoes, onions, serrano chiles, limes . . .