Murder Follows Money Read Online Free PDF Page A

so cool.” Kim smiled. Don snapped a picture of her against the San Francisco skyline.
    “Excuse me.” Naomi’s voice was peremptory, summoning us back into the drawing room. “It’s freezing out there. Please close the window.”
    “Sorry, Naomi.” Kim darted back into the room, with Don following in a leisurely way that implied he was not to be ordered around.
    Naomi sniffed. “Kim and Liza, check the kitchen and get it set up with our utensils. Don, figure out where the best place to take a picture is, in case any of the interviewers insist. Hannah, you must rest for a few minutes.”
    Jennifer, the desk clerk, said in a trembling voice, “Oh, you had some messages. I should have brought them. I’ll have them sent up. And may we say how honored we are that you chose to return to our hotel, Ms. Couch? Please, if you need anything else, anything at all—”
    Naomi shook her hand briskly. “We’ll be in touch.”
    I followed Kim into the kitchen, which was compact but well designed and very modern, with marble counters and glass-fronted cabinets. “Isn’t the refrigerator kind of small?”
    “I think that’s actually the ice maker.” Kim pulled out what looked like a deep drawer from the base cabinet. “These drawers are refrigerated. And the cupboards are pretty roomy.” She started taking armloads of dishes and linens out of the big plastic footlockers and transferring them to shelves and cupboards. “Listen, I bet room service would send up milk and eggs and butter for the crepe batter.” She giggled. “Especially if Jennifer spreads around what a dragon Hannah is. And I’ll help you with the prep. The only problem is getting the shopping done. I don’t know where they keep the food stores around here.”
    “I’ve got an idea about that.” I stashed some copper pots and looked around for my knapsack. “I’ll just make a few phone calls. Where’s that cell phone Judi Kershay gave me?”
    “Use the room phone. It goes on Hannah’s bill, which goes on the publisher’s bill, so you don’t have to pay.” Kim sounded worldly. I was impressed, but she added, “My mom told me to sign all my expenses on the room.
    I’m not getting paid that much, and no tips. It makes sense.”
    “It does at that.” I looked around for a phone.
    “There’s one by the sink. I think there might be one every five feet or so. I saw two in the living room, or whatever you call that room we were in—”
    “The parlor?” Its grandeur had been rather intimidating. “The drawing room? The throne room?”
    “I think that’s some other room.” Kim laughed.
    I hurried into the drawing room to find my humble knapsack, with the list of phone numbers for the night’s events. Only a couple of pieces were left from the tower of high-class luggage. My knapsack had been ignominiously discarded in the foyer.
    Naomi appeared on the other side of the room and beckoned imperiously. “Come help Hannah unpack.”
    “I’m helping Kim with the kitchen,” I began.
    “You can get back to that.” She pulled the last of the elegant suitcases toward the carved wooden doors. “Get that train case, would you?”
    I slung my knapsack over my shoulder and bent to pick up the little leather bag. There was a knock at the front door. As I was in the foyer, I answered it.
    One of those glittering bellhops, or whatever they were called in this exalted hostelry, stood outside, holding a silver tray heaped with envelopes. “Messages for Hannah Couch,” he said, making a kind of half bow in my direction.
    “Uh, thanks.” I didn’t know if I should scoop up the envelopes, or just take the tray. He solved the problem by coming into the room and sliding the messages onto another tray at a small gilt table beside the door.
    “Is everything all right?” He glanced around the palatial space. “You’re finding everything okay? Is Ms. Couch pleased with the suite?”
    I wondered if he’d talked to Jennifer. “She should be,” I