Dangerous Secrets Read Online Free PDF Page B

his sleeve
down. ‶ Not
really. I’m saving to get it removed. Laser treatments aren’t cheap,
though.″ He cleared his throat. ‶ Our buffet has scrambled eggs,
bacon, sausage, home fries, fresh fruit, strudel, and three kinds of muffins.
Zack′s making blueberry pancakes or omelets. What′ll you
have?″
    ‶ I′ll take the blueberry
pancakes.″
    ‶ May I have a Western
omelet?″ Maggie asked.
    ‶ Sure thing. While you′re
waiting, you can check out the buffet.″ He pointed toward the kitchen. ‶ Follow
me.″
    The kitchen radiated warmth and hospitality.
Whatever hostility I′d sensed from Zack the night before was either
suppressed or gone. Stationed at the big commercial stove, he wore a ratty old
sailor’s cap while flipping pancakes and nursing omelets along. He kept staring
at yet another picture of the Sea Nymph that was taped to the stove hood, while across the way Nadine, the young woman
we′d spoken to on our arrival, washed dishes. Adam gave Zack our order
and resumed chopping vegetables at the counter.
    Maggie and I each took a plate and perused the
stainless steel warming trays on the center island. Just as Adam said, there
was enough food to feed an army. And as Susan had promised the day before, we
wouldn′t go hungry at breakfast. If I ate enough, maybe I could save on a
lunch tab.
    Maggie chose carefully—a carrot muffin, two
sausages and a single pat of butter. Since I wasn′t getting paid for my
labor, and still suffered from that rock disguised as a bed, I loaded my plate
with bacon and a piece of strudel, determined Zack and Susan would pay for our
services, if only in food. My eyes were bigger than my stomach, however, and I
was stuffed by the time Zack brought my pancakes and Maggie′s omelet to
the table.
    The daytime Zack was different from the
hard-nosed businessman I′d met the night before. He stopped at the other
tables, chatting with the guests, refilling coffee cups. Jovial, he was the
positive yang to Susan′s dour yin. Confusing, but I decided to
concentrate on the pancakes before me instead of our host. Even though I could
only eat half of what was on my plate, by the time Adam cleared the table I was
so full I could barely move. Maggie′s smile of contentment gave me warm
fuzzy feelings.
    ‶ We have to get to work,
love,″ I said. ‶ Susan said we could take pictures of Eileen′s
room this morning. Then we can do the dining room.”
    ‶ Do you think she′s
already gone for the day?″
    ‶ Let′s find out.″
    We headed for the living room and the reception
area. Susan sat in front of her computer, half glasses poised on her nose,
looking older than she had the day before.
    ‶ Hi,″ Maggie said. ‶ When′s
a good time for us to take pictures of Eileen′s room?″
    Susan looked up at us over her glasses. ‶ About
eleven o′clock. Ms. Marshall has already left for her meeting. Once
breakfast is over, Nadine will make up the room and you can set up.″
    I glanced at my watch: it was already 9:30. Oh
well, that gave us a little time to check out the countryside. ‶ Sounds
good. After that, I′d like to shoot the dining room. Can Zack save
muffins or anything else to approximate breakfast?″
    ‶ No problem,″ Susan said,
sounding almost affable. With a little work, maybe she′d be a decent
human being. I pushed my luck.
    ‶ Great. By the way, could we
have more than two towels? Even though we don′t have a working shower, we
need—″
    ‶ Yes,″ she said curtly,
and turned back to her computer. So much for being a decent human being.
    More or less satisfied, I turned to Maggie. ‶ How
about a short tour of the town?″
    ‶ I′d love it.″
    I went back to the room, grabbed the camera,
and off we went.
    We were about a mile from the inn when I slowed
the car and took special note of the countryside. Something about it bothered
me. Maggie looked around, puzzled. A car horn blasted behind us, so I stepped
on the gas.
    ‶ Did I miss