Death Knell In The Alps (A Samantha Jamison Mystery) by Peggy A. Edelheit

the trick. They were sizable.
    Perfect!
    I grabbed three and pivoted. He was much closer now.
    “Wait! Don’t you dare throw those!”
    I took aim and threw as hard as I could. One missed and went wide. He ducked, but then started moving again. I was walking backwards to keep some distance between us.
    He paused when I threw another. It missed by a hair.
    Damn!
    “You’ll regret that!” he yelled, once more on the move.
    I pitched hard and nailed him right above his eye and watched him go down in pain. That was all I needed. I raced for the hotel door and heard it click as I bolted it, then hustled for the elevator and safety of my room, knowing running to the front desk and drawing attention to myself was, by instructions of Clay and Peter, out of the question.
    Why the bizarre and threatening behavior toward me?
    Panting, I safely made it through the door of our suite and bolted that one, too, but then came up short.
    …Our suite door had been unlocked. Not good.
    Mona and the ladies were out skiing. I knew they would not return for a while.
    Then I heard noise coming from my closed bathroom.
    Now what? I was obviously not alone.
    Someone was rooting around in my medicine cabinet.
    Was it the same person who had tried the doorknob the day before?
    My eyes scanned the immediate area from where I was standing in search of a weapon, any weapon . I didn’t need to draw attention to my presence. Whoever this was clearly hadn’t heard me enter and bolt the door because they were still in there noisily rummaging through the shelves.
    My eye caught a jar of Martha’s face cream. I grabbed it, tiptoed to the closed bathroom door and extended my arm. The door creaked open and I tried for a hard fastball.

 
     
     
    Chapter 27
    In Deep Voodoo
     
     
    I stared at the man lying facedown on the floor at my feet. Something felt familiar about his build. I toed him. He moaned and I jumped. I was about to phone for help, when he rolled over and tried to sit up. I drew back in shock.
    “…Uh-oh!”
    My victim moaned. His eyes flickered then opened.
    “What happened?” he asked, gingerly touching his head, which now happened to be bleeding. Not a lot, mind you, but it sure needed a largish bandage. I couldn’t believe I did that much damage with a glass jar of face cream. I had to find out where Martha bought it. It worked like a charm.
    “What happened?” he asked again, trying to sit up.
    My mind scrambled to think of a reasonable response.
    I panicked?
    I’ve had threats?
    I was being chased two minutes ago?
    Where the hell have you been?
    I’m so sorry?
    I took a stab at, “I’m so sorry, Clay!”
    I didn’t let him get one word in until I had finished explaining everything, concluding with my embarrassing bathroom trashcan incident so he would feel sorry for me and not freak out once he got up and looked at himself in my mirror. He was not going to like what he saw.
    “That’s everything.”
    Well, not quite. I left out the two Hans episodes.
    I’d planned some detecting on my own just to see Clay’s face when I revealed Hans’ identity. Then I’d be the one to have a few surprises up my sleeve for a change. Besides, Hans should be easy to spot in town. He would probably be developing a real shiner right about now.
    Apparently, I was two for two that morning: an oddity. And I couldn’t even bask in the glow of victory. One of my hits was not looking so good at the moment and would probably be called a personal foul: a very personal foul.
    Hey, football, baseball, the lingo was all the same to me.
    Clay was trying to get to his feet. I reached out to help.
    He shrunk back instinctively. “Don’t! Please!”
    “I was merely going to help you,” I said defensively.
    He gave me a look I knew all too well.
    “Yeah, I know,” I said, backing away. “With friends like me, who needs enemies?”
    “Exactly. By the way, your pitch was perfect.”
    “Why, thank you, Clay. I try to stay in shape. Hey, I’ve