“Oh, nothing,” Harleigh says quickly. Her voice jumps half an octave. “We were just …” She trails off.
I lift one eyebrow. “Just …”
Calliope straightens immediately. “It was me.”
I glance at her.
She points a thumb toward herself with exaggerated confidence. “I had a guest tell me they were having a problem with the lights flickering in their room.”
Mabree’s cheeks flush pink beside her.
“So, I told Miss Storm,” Calliope finishes.
Harleigh presses her lips together, rolling them nervously.
I lean slightly against the wall. “Is that right?”
Harleigh nods quickly. “Yes. That’s right.” She gestures vaguely toward the door. “So, I asked her to show me which room it was and said I’d check it out.”
I study her face.
She’s a terrible liar.
Because I absolutely know they’re lying.
Which only makes this more interesting.
My gaze moves to Mabree. “And you?”
“Um, I brought them the key,” she says timidly.
My eyes go back to Calliope. “And why,” I ask slowly, “would you tell Miss Storm instead of maintenance?”
Calliope blinks. “Um …”
Her eyes flick sideways toward Harleigh.
Harleigh’s eyes widen momentarily.
“Because …” Calliope says slowly.
Another pause.
Harleigh nods at her. A slight movement of encouragement. Barely perceptible.
Calliope is drawing a blank.
“Because I was already getting on the elevator,” Harleigh declares for her.
Calliope nods firmly, like that explanation makes perfect sense.
“So, there was no need to get maintenance,” Harleigh continues.
I let the silence stretch.
Then my eyes drift down to her outfit.
Her eyes follow mine immediately.
