Mel forced herself to ignore her meal in favour of cultivating yet another local contact. Four months was long enough for Elise to have possibly encountered the elusive photographer. “This seems like a lovely place. Do you get lots of business?”
“It’s steady. Lots of locals stop by downstairs for lunch and a few rent rooms up here for weekend getaways or if they have company and need a place for guests to stay. And, of course, we get a few travellers such as yourself. Where are you headed?”
“Actually, I’m a free-lance journalist and I’m researching local artists for an article.” That was the story Mr. Aldrich, the lawyer, told her to use. He didn’t want anyone knowing who she was really working for. Mr. Greyson liked to keep his life and his interests private.
Elise smiled at her. “Be sure to check out Bastian’s Gallery, then. It’s just down the road and they show quite a few of the local artists.”
“Thanks. I’ll put them at the top of my list.” Even though she’d already planned on going there, she didn’t want to hurt Elise’s feelings.
Elise nodded and Mel noticed how she was rubbing her stomach. Hmm, was the girl coming down with the ’flu, too? Or, was she pregnant? Mel recalled how a fellow waitress, Nicole, had always been rubbing her belly when she was expecting. Eyeing Elise speculatively, Mel wondered if there was a slight thickening of her waist. It was hard to tell, with the apron wrapped around her. Oh well, it really wasn’t any of her business.
“Well, I really should get back to work. I hope you enjoy your stay here.” Elise headed towards the door.
“I’m sure I will. It’s been nice talking to you, Elise.” Her stomach chose that moment to rumble again and she pulled a self-deprecating face.
Elise laughed softly and pulled the door shut behind her.
With Elise on her way, Melody sat down to enjoy her dinner. As she’d suspected, the food was delicious and soon her plate was empty. With a satisfied sigh, she sat back and checked her watch. It was five-thirty. She could walk down to Bastian’s Gallery and see what information she could dig up about Ryne Taylor, but she was tired. Being charmingly casual, while making subtle inquiries, seemed like too much of an effort at that moment. A nap was eminently more appealing.
Getting to her feet, Mel heaved her suitcase up onto the bed and dug out an old t-shirt to sleep in. It wasn’t fancy, but then again no one was going to be seeing her in it and it packed easily. Shaking the wrinkles out, she took off her robe and pulled the grey t-shirt on. Her skin immediately raised into goose bumps as the cool cotton slid over her body. She shivered and pushed back the duvet, climbing between the crisp sheets and curling up into a shivering ball. Soon her body heat was warming the bed and she felt her muscles relaxing. Stretching out, she sighed and closed her eyes. She’d just take a little nap and then...
Chapter 2
Sun streamed in through the lace covered curtains and fell upon the table situated in front of the window. It glinted off the highly polished, wooden surface, and cast a cheery glow over the whole room. The brightness made Mel squint and grumble against the assault on her vision. Her little nap yesterday had been much longer than she’d intended. Despite sleeping for over twelve hours, or perhaps because of it, she felt exceptionally groggy that morning. Perhaps it was due to the fact to that this was the first time, in what seemed like ages, that she had actually been able to get a decent night’s sleep. Whatever the reason, her body was reluctant to let go of the wonderful sensation of resting in a warm cloud of eiderdown and fresh linen.
Back home in Chicago, her little apartment had intermittent heating, a lumpy mattress and paper thin walls. The latter provided her with the privilege of hearing the tenants on all sides of her arguing, watching TV or engaging in...er...physical relations, at all hours of the day and night. That, on top of working two jobs in an effort to try and raise money for her education, meant she was chronically bleary-eyed and over-tired. Friends told her to move, but being situated by the El—elevated train tracks—meant the rent was cheap and with the building located mid-way between her two jobs, she felt she could suffer through the inadequacies of her dwelling with the ultimate goal of being able to afford better some day.
But now it appeared all that would be behind her much sooner than anticipated. Blinking sleepily, Mel propped her chin up with her hand while sipping her coffee and pondering yet again the providential turn of events that had landed her in her present situation. Researching this photographer was going to be a piece of cake and the substantial windfall the assignment was paying would mean she could quit one of her jobs and go back to school earlier than planned. With any luck, today she’d find out where Ryne Taylor resided and tomorrow she would be on her way to his home. A few days of talking to him and the preliminary part of the job would be done.