RESORT TO MURDER Read Online Free PDF Page B

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and pulled out the cork. Then she reached over for the two stemmed
glasses on the tray, and poured out wine for each of them.
    "I don't usually approve of young ladies and
alcohol," she said, her lips pursed primly as she poured, "but I
appreciate the strains you have been under. We'll consider this
something of a tonic, to help you sleep better tonight.” Burnelle
nodded with a tolerant smile as she said this, and Maggie reached
for her glass with mixed feelings.
    She knew she had agreed to the wine when
Dyna suggested it exactly for the "tonic" reason. Her nerves were
jangled and a few sips of wine would help. She certainly didn't
want it for celebrating. But now she felt she had just received a
disapproving, motherly raised eyebrow and felt annoyance rising.
This was the kind of thing she had come here to get away from. She
caught Dyna looking at her, laughter dancing in her eyes above the
chicken sandwich she held to her mouth, and her irritation changed
to an overwhelming urge to laugh. She looked away from Dyna and
sucked at her cheeks for control.
    "Well, thank you, uh, Burnelle. And we'll,
ah, certainly remember to call you if we need anything."
    Burnelle smiled and nodded, and, wiping her
hands on the sides of her uniform dress, moved towards the
door.
    "Yes, you do that. Be sure you do. Now, I'd
better get back downstairs and see what needs doing. Lord knows,
most of the people around here have just gone to pieces. Someone
has to see that the things that need doing get done. Enjoy your
dinner."
    Maggie called, "Thanks," as Burnelle edged
out the door, and Dyna raised her wine glass as a farewell salute,
laughter shaking her by now. Maggie shushed her, and tried to pull
her arm down, but broke down herself once Burnelle was out of sight
and earshot.
    "Have some tonic, Miss Maggie," Dyna said.
"It'll help those heart palpitations and keep away the vapors."
    "Oh, hush," Maggie said, laughing, and took
a long, delicious swallow from her glass. She then launched into
her food with a healthier appetite than she would have
expected.
     
    Maggie was just finishing the last of her
wine, enjoying the soothing warmth it gave her as it trickled down,
when she was startled by a brisk knock on the door.
    "Yes?" she called.
    "Miss Olenski? It's Kathryn Crawford, the
hotel manager. May I come in?"
    Maggie jumped up and opened the door to see
another large woman, this one wearing a beige linen suit and chunky
heels, her dark brown hair pulled up into a business-like bun. She
walked into the room with an air of authority and smiled a tight,
cool smile, her arms moving stiffly at her side. She stopped and
clasped her hands together, facing Maggie.
    "I just want to say how sorry we all are at
Highview that you had to be involved in this extremely sad
incident.” She looked over to Dyna, including her.
    "Thank you," Maggie answered. The woman had
been courteous, but her cool manner inspired a cool response. "It
was more than an incident, though," she said. "It was a
murder."
    Ms. Crawford's eyelids flickered. "Yes, of
course. Very unfortunate. And unnecessary. I don't know how many
times I've warned our young girls not to go off alone into the
woods. But some of them are foolishly headstrong, I'm afraid."
    Maggie wouldn't have described Lori as
either foolish or headstrong, but she said nothing.
    "I see you've had your dinner. I was going
to suggest you dine downstairs, on us, after what you've gone
through, but since you've had room service, I'll just see that
there's no charge."
    "Thank you. That's very kind."
    Ms. Crawford nodded and walked to the door.
"I hope you'll continue your stay with us?"
    "Yes, I think we both plan to stay."
    The woman smiled. "Good. We'll do our best
to make the rest of your holiday pleasant. Good day.” She nodded,
and swept out the door.
    Maggie looked over at Dyna. "Well, I guess
we just had a complimentary dinner," she said.
    "Mmm. Seems to me, she could have easily
made it a free vacation, what