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rented out 2C to another crook. Helen figured it out. I
was blind as the old bat I am. She told you about Arlene.
That woman is up to something. I just don t know what
it is.
Where is Arlene? Helen said. I haven t seen her
Since last night, Peggy said. Then she started to
laugh, except it sounded more like crying. No, she
Murder with Reservations ] 205
couldn t. She wouldn t. Please tell me she didn t run off
with Glenn. It s bad enough that he stole my money. But
if a woman thirty years older stole my man that is too
freaking much.
I don t think man stealing is the crime here, Helen
said. Maybe Arlene isn t doing anything wrong.
She is and you know it, Margery said. She s up to
no good in those hotel lobbies.
I don t think Arlene and Glenn were lovers, but did
you ever wonder if there might be some connection be
tween them? Helen said.
You think every crook in South Florida is con
nected? Margery said.
Remember that night Arlene rode in Glenn s limo?
Helen said. She came running back all excited, saying
how nice Glenn was to let her ride with him. It got me
thinking. Arlene s kind of weird-looking, even for Flor
ida. Why would a man like Glenn let a bizarro like Ar
lene ride with him unless he knew her? You don t invite
strangers into your limo. Suppose she jumped in with
him so they could have a little talk in private?
It s possible, Margery said. Your brain s working
better than mine. Now tell me why she s videotaping
those hotel lobbies. I can t see what it is.
Maybe we need to see what Arlene saw. Anybody
got a camcorder? Helen said.
I do, Peggy said. At home.
It s still light out, Helen said. Let s go to the Full
Moon and shoot what Arlene did.
Margery raced through the back streets to the Coro
nado like she had lights and sirens. Helen grabbed the
seat and hung on while her landlady drove, cigarette
clenched in her teeth. The Town Car screeched in front
of the Coronado, and Peggy flung open her door, ready
to dash inside.
Be careful you don t run into Arlene, Margery said
to Peggy. One look at your face and she ll know some
thing is wrong.
206 ] Elaine Viets
While Peggy sprinted across the lawn, Helen said,
Do you really think Arlene skipped with Glenn?
Glenn s skipped and we haven t seen Arlene lately.
Margery said. That s not quite the same thing. But I m
worried. Arlene s car isn t here.
Maybe she s trolling another hotel lobby, Helen
said.
Maybe, Margery said.
They watched Peggy unlock her door and heard
Pete s welcoming squawk.
Do you think she ll be OK? Helen asked.
She s strong, Margery said. Besides, Peggy is used
to losing. She plays the lottery.
But this time she lost her money and her man,
Helen said.
Peggy has a good job. She can make more money.
That man was no loss. I m glad she didn t marry him.
We ll just have to make sure we have plenty of wine and
time for her until she recovers. Quiet. Here she comes.
Got it, Peggy said, and threw the camera bag on the
car seat. Margery pulled out into the street before Peggy
shut the door and forced the car through the honking,
lurching traffic. The tires squealed when she pulled up
at the Full Moon.
Look at that, Helen said. The hotel s parking lot
is almost deserted. There re only four cars. It should be
packed to the curb.
Dead guests aren t good for business, Margery
said.
Inside they found Sondra sitting at the front desk,
reading a thick textbook. There was nothing for her to
do.
Then Helen heard giggles and the pounding of wet
feet. A little blond girl in a tiny, saggy swimsuit was run
ning down the hall. She looked about six, with adorably
wispy hair and a missing tooth.
No running, sweetheart, Sondra said. Your feet
are wet and you ll hurt yourself.
Murder with Reservations ] 207
Yes, ma am. The child flashed a jack-o -lantern
grin.
Ma am? Helen said. Does any kid say that any
more? What s a family doing here? I thought everyone
had checked out.
Shh, Sondra said. They re from the Midwest, where
people still have manners, and they obviously haven t
turned on the TV news. It s a mom, dad, two little ones,
and a sulky teenage boy who spends all day making calls
on the lobby phone and listening to his iPod. The par
ents and little kids hang out by the pool. What are you
doing here? You don t have to be at work until tomor
row morning.
We re trying to figure out why that odd lady Arlene
was hanging out in the lobby the other day, Helen said.
Can we video the same stuff she did?
Suit yourself, Sondra said, but it was pretty
boring.
A car pulled up and parked in the darkest side of the
lot. A man about sixty got out, and pulled a fishing hat
down low on his forehead.A woman, her face in shadow,
waited in the car.
Look how she s keeping her head down, Sondra
said. Bet you anything they re sneaking around.
What are they doing here? Helen said.
They think no one else will be at the murder hotel.
They figured right, except for Mr. and Mrs. Mid
west, Helen said.
And two other cheating couples who ducked in
about half an hour ago. Sondra rolled her eyes. Now,
shoo with that camera. These types are skittish enough,
and every room rented keeps us in business.
Helen found Margery and Peggy pacing by the
fountain. Could you take any longer? her landlady
grumped. The light s going to be gone.
Peggy handed Helen the camcorder. You use it. You
know what Arlene shot.
Helen put her eye to the viewfinder and waited a mo
208 ] Elaine Viets
ment for her vision to adjust to the world in miniature.
Then she walked the route that Sondra said Arlene had
taken.
Flowers and trees first, Helen said. She looked
at them through the viewfinder. Nothing unusual. Just
flowers and trees.
Pool next. Helen saw the kids splashing in the water.
The little blond girl ran out of the pool, suit straps slip
ping off her shoulders, showing little pink breast buds.
Her baby brother toddled after her, his diaper drooping
to reveal a bare bottom.They were so beautiful and so
innocent. Was Arlene taking shots of naked children?
Helen felt the bottom drop out of her stomach. Please,
let me be wrong. She swung the camera around.
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