Laina Turner - Presley Thurman 07 - Cupids & Crooks Read Online Free PDF

member, and then I must have forgot to follow back up. This could be important, Presley!”
    “Do you have any idea who the older man could be? Was she involved with anyone?”
    “She didn’t have a steady boyfriend that I know of. I have no idea, but I will do some more research. I wanted to talk to some of the staff about Lucia now that the police are gone. Want to come with me?”
    “Sure. There is a guy who works here, Roberto, he seemed pretty chatty yesterday.”
    “I remember him. Maybe he can tell us who was working when Lucia was found.”
    We went off in search of Roberto, only to find he wasn’t in yet but was expected in a few minutes. We of course were going to wait. Belinda decided to make some calls and I was just hanging out and people watching when I saw Denise and Regina. I started to call out to them, see what they were up to, when I noticed they were walking over to two young Mexican children, a boy and a girl looking to be about four and six, and an elderly lady who was with them. A grandmotherly type. They obviously weren’t hotel workers and I doubted they were guests either. How did Denise and Regina know them? The three adults seemed to be in a very heated conversation.
    Belinda called my name and tore my attention away from Denise and Regina and back to the matter at hand. She pointed to the left where Roberto was coming through the doors. She started walking over to meet him and I joined her.
    “Hello, ladies. What can I do for you today?” Roberto said graciously when we caught up to him. I was going to let Belinda do the talking. She was a reporter and experienced in asking questions so I thought she might get more out of him then me just being a guest.
    As he had been the day before he was quite forthcoming, and it made me wonder if the hotel knew what a chatty Cathy he was, about what he knew and even provided some details of things I’m not so sure weren’t just a little embellished.
    “Did she meet with anyone or was anyone with her?” Belinda asked.
    “Her make up person and her assistant. The usual I suppose.”
    “No older gentleman visited her?”
    “Not that I saw. Though I do remember her getting a phone call. I didn’t take the call personally, but I heard that a man called asking for her and one of our waiting staff took her the house phone.”
    “Do you remember who took the call?” I interrupted.
    “Sure. It was Helena. I think she’s working the lunch shift in the café lounge come with me I will introduce you.”
    We made the short walk to the café and Roberto spoke to the hostess, who pointed across the room to whom I presumed to be Helena. Roberto motioned to us he would be right back and he walked over to get her.
    “Do you think she will remember anything?” I asked Belinda.
    “Let’s hope.”
    Roberto walked back over with a pretty lady - maybe mid thirties - in tow. “Ladies, this is Helena. I told her what you were asking for and she says she remembers the call. Helena, tell them.”
    She gave us a brief smile. “I took a call for Ms. Vegas, she was not happy,” she said solemnly.
    “What do you mean, wasn’t happy?” Belinda asked.
    “She was, how do you say, annoyed at first and then angry. She hung up on him and told me if she got any more calls to tell whoever it was she wasn’t available.”
    “Is there anything you remember about the caller?”
    “It was a man.”
    “Was the man young or old?” I asked.
    “Older man I think. I’m not sure,” she frowned.
    “Ms. Vegas didn’t mention a name?”
    Helena shook her head. “No, ma’am. I didn’t hear who it was if she said anything.”
    “Thank you, Helena,” Belinda said. I echoed the sentiment.
    “Anything else I can help you ladies with?” Roberto asked.
    “Not right now, Roberto. Thank you,” I said.
    “Ok, then,” he said with a flourish. “I’m off.”
    This older man can’t be a coincidence can it?” I asked Belinda.
    “I don’t think so. In fact I’m not