I nod. It’s good enough for now. Besides, if push comes to shove I still have her dollar and her signature.
She sighs and stares up at the drop ceiling. “So, where was I? Oh yeah, good ’ol Peter Olafson. Did you know I was the prime suspect when his plane blew up?”
“No.”
The laugh doesn’t meet her eyes. “Then, they found out I wasn’t getting a dime of insurance.”
My lips purse at the injustice. “No way a good lawyer would let him get away with that. Why didn’t you contest?”
“I didn’t want his money. Do you know he fucked his girlfriend on our wedding night?”
I shake my head, no.Damn. The man must’ve had a screw loose.
“Of course, I found all this out, later, as they investigated his death.” Tears roll down her cheeks. “I thought he loved me. I never got to ask why? Why the hell did he marry me?”
I’m asking myself the same question. I’m betting Olafson had a hundred million very good reasons but won’t say so until I can prove it.
“I’m really sorry.” I can only imagine how fucked up it was for her.
She slams a fist down on the side of the mattress. “And now this stupid accident and frame job. What the hell? I swear I got bad juju or something. I was just starting to get my shit together. I got a few good gigs and a few side jobs.”
“Waitressing?”
“Oh my God, no. I’m really awful with faces. I bring meals to the wrong table. Seriously. What a nightmare.”
She smiles, suddenly all excited. “My psychologist friend got this grant and hired me. All I had to do is set up some microphones over some gurgling brooks and stream the noise. She’s studying the effect of natural sounds on sleep.”
Her face turns down and her eyes widen.
“Sienna? What did you see?”
“Ah, nothing. Just I was there this week, that’s all.” She scoots back down onto the pillow and hides her chin under the blanket. “I’m tired, okay?”
“Sure thing.” Now that I know her a little better, I stand and back off. Hopefully, she’ll soon trust me with the truth.
I lean over the bars, kiss her forehead, and her eyes flutter closed for a second. Then she opens them with a sly smile.
“You’re still fired. So is the bodyguard.”
