They dug out their cards and passed them to me. “I’ve got a function soon and I’d love to wear something by her,” slip dress said.
“I’d love to get a holiday dress or two from her,” chiffon dress added.
“I’ll pass along your information as soon as I can. Could you direct me toward a bathroom?”
Soon I found myself just inside a bathroom sitting area where women gazed at themselves in mirrors and reapplied their makeup, or simply sat in the comfortable sitting area to cool down after the outside heat. I stood for a moment, ignoring the curious looks I got and then stepped back outside. Instead of turning back toward the party, I went the other way, hoping it would lead me to the service areas.
I finally found a laundry room with two sets of industrial washers and dryers. Folding tables ran down one wall, along with stacks of baskets and rolling carts. Shelves loaded with cleaning supplies covered another wall.
The freight elevator had to be near in order to transport the laundry up and down, and the stairs would likely be close to it. When I found the freight elevator, I was pleasantly surprised to discover it wasn’t guarded at all. I pressed the button and it opened instantly. I stepped inside and hit the button for the third floor. Just as the doors started to slide shut, Jen and Lorraine came flying inside.
Adrenaline spiked along with fear. “What’s the matter? Who’s after you?”
“Nobody,” Jen said. “We saw you and didn’t want to yell and draw attention to you, so we ran down the stairs and jumped aboard.”
“Where are you going? You’re supposed to be distracting Flannery,” Lorraine said.
“I realized Lydia has to be here in the house,” I said, and quickly explained my logic.
Lorraine and Jen exchanged horrified looks as the elevator stopped at the third floor. The doors slid open. We looked out and found ourselves standing in a small vestibule. A door on the other side led into a large janitorial closet. A single hallway led out.
“Let us go ahead,” Jen told me. “We’re not noticeable. You are.”
I’d considered casting a glamour on myself, but didn’t figure I needed to. If anybody saw me, I’d just hit them with magic and knock them cold.
Lorraine motioned me closer as she and Jen glanced down the cross hallway.
“Where should we look, first?” she asked.
“We should split up,” I said.
Jen gave me a sharp look. “What aren’t you telling us?”
I shook my head. “I just have this feeling.” That’s when I remembered Flannery’s phone call after he’d left Luke and I. “Flannery came in the house,” I said. “He got a call and came straight here.”
“Which means he's probably with Lydia,” Jen said.
“I really don’t like the sound of that,” Lorraine said.
“Me, either. He’s got to be angry that she made him look bad by leaving and then wouldn’t come crawling back. He’s going to want revenge or to teach her a lesson, or both. I’m betting he’ll start on the cats and then graduate to her.”
“We’d better find her fast, then,” Jen said. “He could kill her and nobody would know she was even here.Wedon’t even know for sure.”
“She’s here,” I said confidently.
“I believe you, but would the cops? Let’s go find her.”
Jen and Lorraine went left, splitting up where the hallway joined another. I went right. The upstairs was as much of a maze as downstairs, but with more rooms. I didn’t bother looking inside any of the doors I passed. The owner’s suite would have an imposing entrance. None of these rooms fit. If I were building the house, I’d put the owner’s suite on the north or south end. Both would have a three quarter view of the surrounding terrain, and you’d be able to watch both the sunrise and sunset if you wanted.
I didn’t hear any screaming or crying, which I took as a positive, and then remembered he could easily have sound-proofed his room. Many people did so for good reasons, though I had no doubt Flannery’s were putrid.Ifhe’d soundproofed.
Pulling off my shoes to move more quickly, I trotted through the winding corridors, making as much of a beeline for where I imagined Flannery must be holding Lydia as I could. I didn’t see the maid and crashed into her, sending her tray of empty dishes flying.
“Oh!” I staggered and caught myself against the wall, turning around to face her. “Are you all right?”
She’d fallen against the opposite wall. She straightened, turning an accusing look on me. “What are you doing here? This area is private.” She smoothed her hands over her uniform, wrinkling her nose as her fingers smeared something that looked like jelly.
“Have you seen Carson Flannery? Or Lydia Flannery? Where is their suite?”
