“I come in at six,” Grace says. “But I also live in one of the older cabins on the property, remember?”
“And Layla had volleyball practice before school today, so I just came in after.”
Gavin’s makes sense, but Grace … that’s just one of the main reasons she should be the one running this place.
“What do we know?” I ask, jumping to the subject we are here for.
“Well, Dad is definitely the one who has been fucking with the temperature,” Gavin all but growls.
“But why?” Grace asks. “What purpose would that have?”
“To test us,” I answer. “He’s always been messed up like that.”
“But I still don’t understand why he would do something that affects the lodge. That could be bad for us.”
“Not as bad as messing with the water or electricity. People would definitely take note of those two things, but guests will assume the heat is from the setting in their room or cabin, and they will just go outside to catch a break. The temperature at this time of year fluctuates so much that, outside of the staff, it wasn’t that noticeable.”
“I still don’t understand what he would be testing us for.” Grace sounds even more confused.
“To see how we handle pressure?” Gavin suggests.
I shake my head. “It’s got to be more than that. I just don’t know what.”
“Did either of you know he was interviewing with the reporter this morning?” Grace asks.
“No,” Gavin and I answer at the same time.
“Did you hear what they were asking him?” I ask.
“Mason told me that they are interviewing at nine this morning, and they met this morning so he could tell Dad that most of the questions will be related to the lodge’s transfer of ownership.”
“How would Mason know?”
Gavin laughs. “Are you serious? He’s the head of reception. He knows more about what’s going on here than we do. All he has to do is stand there and listen. It’s his job to be up front, so he goes unnoticed most of the time.”
I glance between my siblings.
“If Mason knows all, he might know what Henry has been up to,” I suggest.
“Call him in,” Gavin tells Grace, and she picks up the phone.
Five minutes later, her door opens, but it’s not Mason who walks in. It’s Preston.
“For the love of god,” Grace groans. “We don’t have time for you right now.”
“Ah, but I think you might. I was checking in when you called Mase, and he told me that I needed to come back here to explain a few things.”
“Mase?” Grace repeats and rolls her eyes.
“Shit,” Gavin says and sits in one of the chairs across from Grace's desk. I cross my arms.
“Talk.”
Preston clears his throat. “Your dad has been working with King Enterprises to give them complete ownership of the lodge.”
Grace gasps.
“That asshole,” Gavin snaps.
