Engaged in Murder (Perfect Proposals Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page A

number to the airport security guys. I mean, who knows that?
Then I remembered that the head of security had given me his business card when I came through the door.
    Now all I had to do was find where I put it. I checked my pockets. Yeah, not there. Did I put it in my purse? I left my bag and stuff over by the hall. It occurred to me that there might be a phone in the office across from the restrooms. If there was a phone, there may be an emergency number list. That might be a better plan than searching my pockets.
    I turned on the light switch. The room smelled old and mildewy. I saw a phone on the desk in the middle. Beside it was a list of extensions to call.
    It seems luck was on my side. I picked up my phone and dialed the number I’d found on the desktop.
    “Executive Airport, this is Jeb, how can I help you?”
    “Hi, Mr. Donaldson, this is Pepper Pomeroy. I’m at hangar number four and there’s a drunk guy passed out in the ladies’ bathroom.”
    “What?”
    “Don’t worry, I called the police. They promised they were on their way.”
    “Don’t touch anything.” His tone was authoritative.
    “I haven’t,” I reassured him. “At least not recently.”
    “I’m coming right down there.” I heard a car door open and then slam closed. “Are you okay?”
    “Yes, I’m fine.”
    “He didn’t try to hit on you, did he?”
    “What? No, he’s passed out . . . at least he was when I was in the bathroom.”
    “When was that?”
    “Just before Felicity and Warren took off on their flight . . .”
    “So he could no longer be there.”
    “Oh, right. I’ll go check—”
    “No. Don’t! Meet me at the door. Don’t touch anything!”
    “You already said that,” I mumbled then realized there was no way he could hear me with all the noise he was making so I hung up. Okay, that question made me a little paranoid. I hadn’t thought I was in any danger. I mean, he was a drunk guy, right?
    Then it occurred to me that if as I previously feared, the drunk guy came to and walked out the side door there would be no drunk guy in the bathroom when the cops got here. The last thing I needed was to be hit with a fine for calling the police when it wasn’t warranted.
    I hurried back out. No one was in the small hallway. I pushed open the door and stuck my head inside the bathroom. “Anyone in here?” I asked. “Mister, are you still here?” Dead silence followed.
    I moved toward the stall and pushed the door open. Thankfully the drunk guy was still in the same position. “Oh, thank goodness.” I put a hand on my heart. “Okay, mister, come on. Get up. I’ve called the police.”
    I pushed on his arm with the broom handle and it flopped oddly to the side. His head lolled onto his shoulder and I realized that he smelled really bad.
    Narrowing my eyes in suspicion, I stepped forward. “Hey.” I snapped my fingers. “Wake up. The police are on their way. Hey. Are you okay?”
    Nothing.
    I bit my lip as a strange feeling crawled up my spine. Was he passed out? Or was he dead?
    That thought was creepy. I studied him more closely. There was a bluish tinge around his mouth. He seemed stiff. I didn’t want to touch him. I really didn’t. Did I mention that he smelled bad? What if he woke up? He’d scare the demons right out of me.
    “You’re not dead, are you?”
    He didn’t reply.
    I straightened and put my hands on my hips. Common sense prevailed and I realized I didn’t want to be alone with a possibly drunk or dead man. So I stepped out of the stall and dialed my boyfriend, Bobby, but he didn’t answer and I remembered that he was at a noisy bar. He probably couldn’t hear his phone.
    “Leave a message at the beep and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
    Beep.
    “Hi, Bobby, it’s Pepper. Listen, I’m going to be late. Something has come up at the airport. Oh, ha! A pun. Get it? Something is up at an airport?” I laughed when I was nervous. I also tended to say silly things.