“Hanson’s son is a fourth grader. He’s in an after-school program, and Hanson has to leave by five to pick him up. He’s the first one to leave every day, but he’s also on the job site before anyone else to make up for it. ”
Ben stood with arms akimbo. “And why you don’t push him about his job performance.”
Hartcourt glanced down at his boots before meeting Ben’s eyes. “Keep that to yourself, all right? Hanson and his son have had it rough, so yeah, I cut him some slack. I know he has a shitty attitude, but he does good work even if he is slow.”
“He is good. He’s just prickly as hell and more than a little paranoid. He has it in his head that I’m out for his job.”
“You challenge him. He’s not used to that, but he’ll get over it. Just keep doing good work, mind your business, and he’ll stop giving you a hard time.”
Ben nodded. “Okay. I’ll give him some time and space. No problem.”
“Glad to have you on board, Weston. Finish up your work there and then knock off for the day.”
Ben shook his head. “If you don’t mind, I’ll wait and finish it tomorrow when Hanson’s here. I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes, and this was his project to lead.”
Hartcourt studied him a moment before nodding. “Yeah, okay. Head on out then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Ben cleaned up his workstation, collected his tools, and headed for the beat-up pickup truck parked at the edge of the property. The frame creaked as he climbed into the cab. He turned the ignition a couple of times before the motor kicked to life. He pulled onto the road in the direction of the Skyline Motel, ready to wash away the workday.
After Reagan researched places for him to stay while he was in Ivy Springs, he wasn’t surprised to learn the motel was the lone choice as far as overnight accommodations. The town was smaller than Fire Creek, and he hadn’t heard of it until this case. He kept his expectations low because he would spend little timethere while working the case. But the motel was clean and well-kept. The room wasn’t spacious but large enough for his needs.
Reagan made the reservation under the guise of being Sonny Hartcourt’s assistant. The pretense kept people from questioning his cover too much. The owner was the one who checked him in when he arrived, and while Ben couldn’t recall his name, he found the man to be friendly without being too nosy. He’d noticed a few vehicles in the parking lot, evidence of other guests, but so far, the owner was the only person he’d seen at the motel. He didn’t mind the quiet, but the solitude made him miss the noise and chaos of his family more than he expected.
He parked the truck next to his SUV. The newer, sleeker look of the Tahoe made the pickup seem every bit as old as the classic model was. He’d paid cash for the truck when he’d gotten to Ivy Springs because the beat-up work vehicle fit his cover story better than the Tahoe. He was free to use the SUV for surveillance without Hanson connecting the vehicle back to him. Ben didn’t expect the pretense to hold up for long in a small town, but he also didn’t expect to be in this town long enough for it to backfire.
He stepped inside his room, locking the door behind him, and emptied his pockets on the counter, which stretched along a wall underneath a big screen television. His long strides carried him into the bathroom. Starting the shower faucet to warm up the water, he spotted the pile of dirty towels lying in one corner of his bathroom and frowned. He’d forgotten to stop by the main office to request more towels.
To keep his privacy, he’d developed a habit of declining housekeeping services wherever he stayed, even though it meant making his own bed and asking for towels when he needed them. He didn’t mind tidying up if it meant no one was in his room when he wasn’t here, though it was inconvenient at times like now when he was tired and in need of a shower.
Pocketing the key to his room, Ben stepped back outside, goose bumps rising on his arms from the chill that came as the sun went down. Dusk had yet to fall when he started for the motel’s office. Before he got very far, he noticed a maid’s cart outside one of the rooms a few doors down from his. Saving himself a couple of minutes and several steps, he shifted direction to head toward the cart.
The housekeeper stepped from the room, her back to him. Since she wore all black, her short hair gleamed a brilliant blond in contrast, the layers curling to add a bounce to the style. As he drew closer, he noted her petite stature, making her willowy frame seem delicate. He quickened his pace when she started to push the cart farther down the sidewalk. His long strides easily caught up to her, and he lightly touched her shoulder to get her attention.
“Excuse me, miss. Could—”
The woman’s scream pierced the air, the noise jarring his eardrums enough to make him wince. Ben was momentarily stunned, so he didn’t anticipate the woman’s next move.
Her arm jerked back, her sharp elbow connecting with his abdomen. Whirling around, she slammed her foot onto his arch, and the heel of her hand swung up to connect with his nose. Ben saw an explosion of stars behind his lids as pain made hiseyes water. His hands belatedly flew up to protect his nose, and something warm soaked his palms. He pulled them away from his face to realize it was blood. The distraction cost him because the woman shoved her cart until it slammed into his stomach, sending another round of pain through his body.
Doubled over, he heard footsteps running away from him and a shout rise from behind him.
“Charlotte! What the hell…Oh, shit!”
Oh, shit is right, Ben thought as he shifted to one side to rest his frame against the exterior wall of the hotel. He gingerly raised his head until he looked up at the covering over the sidewalk. His fingers pinched the bridge of his nose to try and stave off the blood now pouring over his face.
“Charlotte, he’s a guest. I think you broke his nose.”
Ben tuned out the voices around him. He wanted to head back to his room and assess the damage, but he didn’t trust himself to move away from the support of the wall just yet. He did agree with the voice’s diagnosis that his nose was broken. It wasn’t the first time he’d had it happen, so he recognized the signs.
A light touch at his elbow had him lowering his hands. He tilted his head slightly down to see a slender hand holding a hand towel out to him. He took it and shifted his gaze to the person at his side.
He was unprepared for the wide, smoky eyes peering up at him, the mesmerizing depths capturing his attention and staring straight into his soul. A fanciful thought that he was staring into the face of an angel crossed his mind until he remembered how thisangelhandled herself.
She didn’t speak, and he realized how badly he wished she would. Her eyes still resting on him warily, she stepped back gradually. He opened his mouth to stop her when the sound of sirens pierced the air, effectively breaking the strange spell she’d woven around him.
Chapter Four
Charlotte watched in horror as the stranger gave the paramedic permission to reset the nose she’d broken. The wound had finally stopped bleeding, and she was surprised the man — who ended up being a guest of the motel and not an attacker — hadn’t passed out from blood loss. Her stomach rolled to think she’d been the reason the man was seeking medical treatment at all. She wrapped her arms around her middle and silently prayed she didn’t add to her embarrassment by vomiting.
