Angels Fall

thought, was why she wasn't going anywhere alone. "It seems to me it's escalating," he continued. "She wasn't isolated this time. Joanie got hit, too. Because it's not working. Reece is sticking."
    "Brody, did you ever forget you left laundry wet in the washing machine?"
    "Sure. But I'm not Reece."
    Rick shook his head. "I'll go up, talk to Brcnda."
    Brenda was at the desk using her professional welcome voice on the phone. "We'll be expecting you on July tenth. I'll make those reservations for you, and send you a confirmation. It's absolutely my pleasure. Bye, Mr. Franklin."
    She hung up. "Just booked the second of our two suites for a week in July. We're going to be full up for the summer if this keeps up. How you doing?"

    "Well enough," Rick told her. "You saw Reece in and out of here yesterday'."
    "I sure did. I told Deb—"
    "You can tell me now. She came in to do laundry."
    "Had her basket. No shoes." Brenda rolled her eyes, "Got change for the machines. Zipped right down. Was out again in, I don't know, ten minutes at most. Had her shoes on when she came back, about a half hour later. Down and up, same as before. I didn't see her come in the last time. Must've been in the back, but she came up like a wild woman, let me tell you. Spitting mad. Claimed somebody was down there."
    "Did you see anyoue else go down?"
    "Not a soull. She said somebody'd put her dry clothes back in the wash. Now who'd do that?"
    "But you weren't at the desk the whole time?" Brody said, then glanced at Rick. '"Sorry."
    "Not necessary. You said you were in the back last time she came in. Were you back there long"'
    "Well. I can't say how long, exactly. Ten, fifteen minutes maybe. But most times when I'm back there I hear the door."
    "Most times." Brody pressed.
    "It I get caught on the phone back there or whatnot. I might not hear unless somebody hits the bell on the desk." Her tone turned defensive. "That's what it's for."
    "Anyone been in here asking about Reece?"
    "Well no. Rick, why would they? Listen. I like her. She's a nice worn,in. But she was acting damn strange yesterday. Never seen anybody so get up about some wet clothes. And I didn't tell you how she told Debbie she was training for some sort of marathon or whatever, and that's why she was running down here barefooted? Now, that's just crazy."
    "All right, Brenda. Appreciate the time.
    When they walked back outside, Brody turned to Rick. "Did Brenda get her sense of humor surgically removed recently?"
    "Oh now, Brody, she's all right, you know that. With all the hoopla's been going  on  , and Reece at the center of a lot of it,. you can't expect everybody to understand how it is."
    "Do you understand how it is?"
    "Trying to. Why don't you drop those pictures you took of the bathroom off to me when you get the chance? And since you're a writer, maybe you could write me up your version of the events and incidents, Get me dates and times best as you can."
    Brody's jaw relaxed again. "Yeah, I can do that. It's a little more my line than hanging drywall."
    "Be specific," Rick added as they walked. "If it's something Reece just told you happened, make sure that's how you put it. Something you saw yourself, put that."
    "Okay."
    Outside On the Trail. Rick paused for a moment. He could see
    Debbie inside, but she had customers. As was his habit, he tapped his knuckles on the glass, sent her a quick salute when she glanced over.
    "Starting to busy up around here," Rick commented as they continued down the sidewalk. "Ah… You got a serious thing happening? You two.'"
    "We've got a thing happening."
    "Be best if you try not to let that color your statement. When you've got feelings for a woman, it tends to shade things some."
    "She's not crazy. Rick. Hell, she doesn't even hit eccentric in some areas."
    "And in others?"
    "Sure, she rings the bell. Who doesn't? People around here used to think I was strange because i write about murder, I don't fish, don't shoot mammals and I can't name the top ten songs on the country music chart."
    Rick smiled his little smile. "Brody, people still think you're strange."

Chapter 24

    LINDA-GAIL wasn't quite sure what to do. As far as she could remember, she'd never screwed up so completely with a man before— and there'd never been a man who'd mattered as much as Lo. Which was probably why she d screwed up.
    He wasn't answering her calls. She wanted to be pissed off at him for it, but instead just felt a little scared, a little sad. And a whole