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

color as your eyes. Such a beautiful color.”
    Ignoring the compl iment, Luke gave her a wry grin. “Cabbages, huh? That sounds like it would be rather difficult to wear.” He glanced down at his notebook. “I don’t suppose you have a picture?” he asked in amusement.
    “Sorry.” Victoria scrunched up her nose as she laid her chin on her palm. “Krista might. She was dad’s official photographer last night.”
    I tapped my finge rs impatiently against the desk, the urge to confess growing stronger with each passing second. It was a robbery gone wrong. That had to be the explanation. Someone—a stranger more than likely—tried to rob the hotel and Sylvia caught them in the act. Surely, Luke would see that I wasn’t involved. I bit my lip. Yeah, he’d believe me, right up until I explained why I didn’t call the police when I found Sylvia’s body , I thought, as the urge to confess passed by just as quickly as it had come.
    Luke walked around the desk and entered the office. I followed him to the door and watched as he looked in and around the safe. “Did you hear or see anything strange last night, Anna?”
    “Strange?” I squeaked out. Clearing my throat, I shoo k my head. “No, not really.”
    “You’re Max Hart’s niece, correct?”
    “Yes.”
    “Did your uncle talk to you about the hotel while you were attending graduate school?”
    “ Um, no, not really.”
    Luke frowned. “He didn’t talk to you at all?”
    “ Well, yes of course, we talked but it was mostly about what I was learning and how I was. That’s all. Why?”
    “And you’re positive you didn’t hear anything last night?” Luke asked, ignoring my question.
    All of the sudden, someone wrapped their arm around my waist. I turned my head to find Jesse standing next to me. A very tired and exhausted looking Jesse. He leaned down and kissed me. “Hi, sweetheart, miss me?”
    My mouth fell open as Jesse turned from me to Detective Casey. He reached out and introduced himself, shaking hands with the detective. “I don’t think we would have heard anything over that storm last night. I tossed and turned all night long.” Jesse patted my hip. “Anna slept like a baby.”
    I caught Victoria’s surprised expression over Jesse’s shoulder and wondered if I looked nearly as shocked as she did. Jesse pressed his fingers into my side and looked at me meaningfully. I swallowed hard. “Right. I … didn’t hear anything.”
    Luke looked at me strangely for a few uncomfortable seconds before turning back to the safe. “There doesn’t appear to be any damage to the safe.”
    Jesse swung his gaze from me to the safe. “You were robbed?”
    “ Victoria’s birthday present was stolen last night,” I said.
    “Maybe not,” Victoria said. “Sylvia may have moved it. We still haven’t asked her about it yet.”
    Luke, who had finished inspecting the safe, came around the desk. “I’ll need the address she’s staying at in Tallahassee.”
    Jesse’s eyebrows rose. “Tallahassee?”
    “I don’t know it actually. Sylvia and I weren’t close.” I placed my fingers over Jesse’s which were now digging into my hip.
    “Do you have a phone number I could call?” Luke asked.
    I shook my head helplessly.
    Luke looked at me suspiciously. “Do you know her friends’ names?”
    “ I’m sorry, but I’m afraid not. She just said she needed some time away and was going to Tallahassee. I really don’t know any more than that.”
    “ Okay … Well, don’t worry,” Luke said. “We’ll find her.”
    The incessant ringing of the bell at the front desk caught my attention. I turned around and noticed Blake, my former gardener, standing at the desk wearing a skimpy, light blue bathing suit and a floppy straw hat. He looked at me and grinned. “Hey there. Can I get some service, please?”
    I reluctantly stepped away from Jesse and walked toward the desk. “Hello, Blake. I’m sorry about yesterday. I’ll pay you for whatever work you