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The Tessarae Inn |
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose CHAPTER 11
Heather prayed that the elevator would not open directly onto the hallway where the room was located. The last thing she needed was to be seen. “I know I’m acting crazy but I just can’t seem to help it, Pumpkin. I have to know once and for all if something is going on.” She could have sworn she felt Pumpkin move. Was that a good sign or a bad sign? Or was it just indigestion? The gods were on her side because the door slid open to reveal a short corridor that connected to the main hallway. She looked around then eased out of the elevator and then peeked around the corner. She could see Treyscott standing in front of a room. He knocked and then the door opened. Carmen stepped a foot or so into the hall then touched him on the chest. Gently. He stepped around her into the room. Carmen looked up and down the hall then stepped back into the room and closed the door. Heather walked quickly down the hall and noted the room number, 423. This was so crazy. Why couldn’t she just let him go? He didn’t want her anymore and the pregnancy wouldn’t make anything better. She turned quickly and returned to the elevator and took it down to the garage floor. She walked to her car and slipped into the driver’s seat. She was Heather Shuttlesworth and her father at least had been right about that. Love was for suckers and she was living proof of that. Why did she have to miss him so damn much? For years she pretended that she didn’t care, so why couldn’t she just go back to hiding? He wouldn’t want this child. He’d be willing to believe that it was anybody else’s but his. So what was the damn problem? She was Heather Shuttlesworth for God’s sake. She wrapped her arms around the steering wheel and rested her chin on the top of it and just let the tears flow. Damn him. These hormones would not have her in their grip forever. She’d break free of him. She closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down. She was so tired. She’d rest her eyes for a minute.
Blair washed her hands for the fourth time then studied them carefully. There was no sign of anything telling. It was irrational to think there would be but she couldn't help it. She picked up the white fluffy towel with the "P" embroidered on it and dried her hands then folded it. Thank goodness The Palace had done away with attendants sitting in the ladies room with overflowing baskets of extra towels, hand creams, perfumes and goodness knows what else. She was blissfully alone. She studied herself from every angle in the mirror. Not a speck of anything anywhere. Good. She reapplied her lipstick, touched up her makeup and ran a comb through her hair. Perfect. She walked over to the sofa in the anteroom and sat down. She needed a minute of quiet time to reconfigure her nerves back to a normal state.The door to the ladies room swung open with a fury and someone burst into the room like a ball of pure energy dressed in yellow silk and talking a mile a minute. “Bitch. Damn bitch deserved it and more.” Blair sat up straight. “What's going on?” Toni whipped around and then stared at her. “Blair! Ummmm. Sorry. I thought I was alone in here….” “I thought you had changed your mind about dinner and couldn’t come.” “Well, things happen,” Toni said then walked next to her and sank down onto sofa. “I got a call and, well, let’s just say I needed a daiquiri or two.” “You were in the bar drinking while I had dinner with Cassie?” “Well, forgive me for not wanting to hear Cassie run on for another hour or five about how she love-e-e-e-e-e-s Carl but he’s no good for her. Please. The man is pond scum. We all know it, but I’m not sure how much longer I can resist telling her that to her face.” Yeah, right. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on? This is so not about Cassie and Carl Shuttlesworth.” Toni stared at her for a second. “Actually, I am serious about Shuttlesworth. I keep waiting to hear that your aunt has kicked his scummy ass and he’s left town with his tail between his legs. So far I haven't heard a thing. The suspense is killing me.” “Nice dodge, but no score, Toni. Tell me what the hell is really going on.” She sighed and crossed her legs. “I had the strangest run in with this certain person that put me in a slightly foul mood.” “Who?” “You’re the one who keeps telling me I’m losing my mind,” Toni said softly. “I think maybe I just read all of her signals wrong and misinterpreted what she was saying to me. I mean that woman was all up in my face saying really stupid things that, if they were true, I’d be duty bound to kick her behind for even thinking.” “Who? Heather?” “No. It was that red person. Miss Carmen de la Whore.” Oh shit. “What did she say that upset you so much?” “Maybe I should let this go. I’m criticizing Cassie and look at me running on like a nonstop faucet.” “It was about RJ?” Toni laid her head back on the top of the sofa and rolled it from side to side the wrung her hands for a few seconds. Finally, she straightened up and looked at Blair. “She said RJ is so sexually frustrated he came on to her and she took him up on his offer.” “You don’t believe that. Come on, Toni. Carmen is a troublemaker. Pure and simple.” “Blair, she described some things to me that she had no business knowing about my man. Things about his body that she had no business knowing at all. Then she laughed.” Blair took a deep breath. Her heart was racing. She studied Toni's appearance. Toni’s hair looked as if she had run her hands through it one time too many, her dressed was off center and there were tiny drops of something dark in several places. She forced her heart into a normal rhythm and then leaned close to Toni. “What did you do?” “Do?” “Did you walk away and leave her be, Toni?” Toni crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not good at walking away, Blair.”
The sound in the room felt like it was scratching her skin. She tried to focus but her brain seemed to have turned to mush. What was she going to do? Call her father? No, he would just make the situation worse. Who then? Something crawled up her arm. She slapped at it and then rubbed her arm furiously. Was there any air in here at all? She needed to go get some fresh air. She stood up slowly and moved toward the door. “Miss Shuttlesworth?” Did someone just say her name? Didn't matter. She couldn't stay here another second. She walked faster. A middle-aged man with a slight Texas accent gripped her arm and forced her to stop. “Miss Shuttlesworth,” he said, “I’m Bo Buchanan and I am afraid I need to have you stay here.” “I need some air.” “I see. Well, it looks like we are going to have to ask you to come down to the station for further questioning anyway, so you can get your air then.” “This is not a good time for questions.” “Maybe not but I’m afraid that I am going to have to insist.” “Am I in trouble?” “A woman is dead and you were found standing over the body with a weapon in your hand. I’d say we have some things that need to be discussed.” “She’s dead?” “Yes. Are you saying you didn’t mean to kill her?” “I didn’t.” Bo Buchanan gestured to another man then said, “Lieutenant, please read Miss Shuttlesworth her rights then take her to the station.” “I’m not going. I can’t. You can’t arrest me. Don’t you know who I am?” “Yes, ma’am I do. You’ll get one phone call as soon as you get to the station. I suggest you call your lawyer or your father, whichever seems appropriate.” The officer pulled her hands behind her back and slipped the handcuffs on her. Heather tried to look away but the angle of vision caused by the officer’s movements forced her to stare directly at the lifeless body of a woman sprawled in the middle of the room. The woman was dressed in a red dress, a red rose was in her hair, red sandals were on her feet and an expanding pool of red blood outlined her upper body. As far as Heather was concerned, Carmen Duvet had never looked better.
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose FAN FICTION SLIDESHOWS
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