Elisabeth Crabtree - Pink Flamingo Hotel 01 - Death by Pink Flamingo by Elisabeth Crabtree

for information than simply asking a question.
    “Well, it’s the hotel’s grand re-opening,” she answered with a shrug. “I figured the only way she’d leave is when they carried her cold dead body out of here.”
    My mouth fell open as I let out a strained chuckle. “That’s crazy. She just went to visit family.”
    “I thought she was visiting friends.”
    “Friends and family. Why are you here?” Realizing how rude that sounded, I quickly added, “I mean, I thought you would be out chasing Detective Casey.”
    “I was. Turns out, he’s a really fast runner. I made it all the way to the lake before collapsing in an undignified heap.” She pressed her hand to her heart. “It felt like my heart was trying to escape out of my chest. I was gulping down air and panting. For a second there, I thought I was going to die. I was gasping so much, I couldn’t even flirt.”
    “Y ou really must be out of shape then,” I said with a laugh.
    “I exercise every day,” she protested. “ I’m always playing tennis.”
    “Prancing around the country club in a tennis skirt is not playing tennis.”
    She waved her hand dismissively. “Please, I spend most of the time running away from the letch from the Herald who’s always there. He’s the main reason I’m in as good of shape as I’m in.”
    “ Uh huh, I think you were saying something about gasping and wheezing.”
    “I didn’t say anything about wheezing.” Victoria pushed her hair away from her face. “It was such a shame too. I was looking good up until then.” She looked up happily. “Luke had to help me back to my car. I don’t think I left him with the best impression, but …” She smiled. “He’s very strong and very nice. He’s coming by here in a few minutes.”
    My stomach dropped. “Oh, why?” I asked trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.
    “To take me out for a late lunch. I thought we would give you some more business, so I convinced him to have lunch with me in your dining room.”
    Relief flooding my body, I said, “G ood. Great. Thanks.”
    “I thought you’d be happy.” She glanced down at her watch. “He should be here any minute. Hey, what’s this?” she asked peering over the wastebasket. She reached in and pulled out the brochures Sylvia had thrown away. The same ones that I had picked up and placed in the brochure rack before I went to bed. She must have come back in here after I went to bed and threw them away again. Stubborn woman, I thought with a shake of my head before quickly admonishing myself for thinking ill of the dead.
    “Why did you throw these out? You against preserving the boardwalk or something?”
    “ Sylvia threw them away.” I took the brochures from her and laid them on my desk.
    “Sounds like her. Can you get me my birthday present? I want Luke to see it.”
    I shook my head in confusion. “I gave you your present last night.”
    “No, not that. I’m talking about the necklace my dad gave me.”
    “I don’t have it.”
    “ Yes, you do. I asked Sylvia to put it in the safe last night. The latch broke while I was dancing with Jesse.”
    “ Jesse?” I blurted out a bit louder than I intended. Being reminded of my missing partner in crime made me feel a bit queasy. I glanced out the window wondering where he was and why he hadn’t reappeared today. I had expected him to show up sometime this morning and fill me in on what he did with Sylvia, but so far, he had kept his distance. “Why were you dancing with him?”
    “Don’t get jealous,” she teased.
    “I’m not jealous. Just curious.”
    “I wanted to see where he’s been all this time,” she said studying her fingernails.
    I waited patiently for her to continue, but when it appeared that she was going to draw the suspense out as long as possible, I finally caved. “And what did he say?”
    Victoria dropped her hand. “After he left here, he moved to California to stay with his aunt. He got a degree in engineering or