Deadly Reunion (37 page)

“Am too! I’m a licensed private detective and that’s very much like law enforcement.”

Grace lifted a hand to her head. “Steve—”

“What’s going on?” Kyle opened the door the rest of the way. His eyebrows went up as he took in her state of undress and bewildered expression.

Steve leaned closer to Kyle. Dropping his voice to a whisper, he said, “She’s got a bit of a crush on me. I had to let her down gently. Let’s give her some time to get herself together.” He looked back at Grace and pointed to the box of tissue lying on the vanity. “Just take your time,” he said as he stepped out of the bathroom and closed the door.

Exasperated, Grace looked over her shoulder at the bunny. “I thought we agreed that whenever Steve came in the room you would attack. You could have at least warned me.”

*  *  *

Finally dressed in the dance hall dress that acted as her uniform, Grace walked back into the office. Kyle was at his desk searching for something. She was relieved to see that Steve was gone.

He glanced up and smiled when he heard her approach. “I love that costume.”

Grace smiled ruefully as she pointed at the bathroom. “It’s not what you think.”

“You don’t have to explain. I understand completely. Steve explained what happened while you were getting changed.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of. I think Steve’s a bit confused.” The last thing Grace wanted was Kyle thinking she was attracted to Steve. Actually, the last thing she wanted was
anyone
thinking she was attracted to Steve. She gave an involuntary shudder. “See, I was trying to change—”

“And your zipper got stuck. You asked for help, thinking I was in here and Steve jumped to the wrong conclusion. Right?”

Grace nodded in relief. “How did you guess?”

“It wasn’t that hard to figure out. After all, I know you and I know Steve,” he said distractedly as he shuffled several small piles of superhero comics, magazines about magicians and past-due bills that littered his desk into a larger pile. He blew out an exasperated breath. “It was just here.” He moved to the desk drawers, opened each one and scattered the contents onto the top of the desk. After a few seconds of playing find the needle in the haystack, he patted his pockets.

“What are you looking for?”

He looked at her and grinned. “Your surprise.”

“A surprise? For me?”

He nodded, and then snapped his fingers. “I bet it’s in my car.” He pulled out a chair and pushed it toward her. “Here have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

Grace looked at the flimsy brown lawn chair with the half-inch of dirt permanently etched in the cracks. At least, she assumed it was brown. It was rather difficult to tell what color it had been when new. She shook her head. The last thing she wanted was to get dirt on her new dry cleaned uniform. “I’m rather tired of sitting,” she lied with a smile.

His brow furrowed. “But you’re a waitress now, don’t you stand all day?”

Grace’s smile grew strained. “Yes. Yes and I love it. It’s good for my calves.”

Kyle’s eyes fell to her legs and lingered for a bit. “Hmm. I see.” Shaking his head a bit, he grinned. “Well, just wait right here. I’ll be right back.”

“Kyle, what do you have planned?”

“Just wait and see. I’ll give you two hints; it’s something you’ve been waiting for and it involves traveling.”

Grace looked at him dubiously.

“Trust me. You’re going to love this,” he called over his shoulder.

Grace watched him leave with a mixture of affection and trepidation. Kyle’s surprises tended to be spontaneous, over the top, somewhat dangerous and often messy.

Speaking of messy, she thought, as she glanced at his desk. He’d only been working with Steve for a couple of months, how could he accumulate so much junk? She dropped her clutch onto the end of the desk and began sorting the junk into piles of
garbage, I can’t believe you bought this
, and
you need to pay this now
. She had just made a dent when she noticed a pair of tickets peeking out of a magazine.

She glanced over her shoulder. It couldn’t hurt to take a peek, she thought excitedly. She carefully pulled the tickets, along with a brochure and itinerary out of the magazine and began reading. “Start the New Year off with a bang. You and your guest will enjoy a twenty-four hour scenic train ride through the mountains in style and comfort on the luxurious Crystal Palace Excursion Train followed by a celebratory New Year’s Eve bash at the world-famous Crystal Palace Ski Resort,” she read aloud. She glanced at the train tickets in her hand and bounced happily on the balls of her feet. So engrossed in reading the brochure, she didn’t realize Kyle had walked up behind her.

“I can’t find it. I thought for sure I left it in my car.”

Grace whirled around. Too excited to be embarrassed that she was caught snooping, she pulled him into a hug. “This is wonderful! How did you know I’ve always wanted to take a train ride through the mountains? I’ve thought about it for years and have never done it.” Grace heard herself babbling uncontrollably. She restrained herself, with great effort, when she realized that she sort of ruined his surprise. “I’m so sorry, Kyle. I was just cleaning up your desk when I saw your surprise.”

He looked down at the tickets in her hand. “Oh . . . Good, you found them,” he said taking the tickets from her.

“This is absolutely wonderful!” Grace pulled him into another hug. “How did you know?”

He pulled back slightly. Grinning, he said, “Well, I’m a detective.”

Grace made a face at him before glancing back at the brochure. “Five-night stay,” she repeated. “Kyle, we haven’t really talked about . . .” She realized she was blushing and hesitated. “I mean, we’ve never even been on a date before.”

“Oh, no. We’ll have separate rooms,” he said quickly. “I mean, I didn’t presume . . .” He looked at her thoughtfully, still wrapped in his arms. “That is if you want a separate room.”

“We don’t really know each other.”

“We’ve known each other for over a year,” he countered.

“But that’s different. We were working together. I was your supervisor.” Grace thought back to the year they worked at the Straker Toy Company, with him as her assistant. Fraternization was frowned upon and despite the fact that the boss and his daughter tended to treat the office staff as their personal dating pool, Grace was still a stickler for the rules.

“Well, you’re not my supervisor now,” he said softly.

“No, not now,” she agreed.

Grace watched as his head bent down toward hers, only to jerk back at the sound of the phone ringing.

Kyle picked the receiver up while still keeping one hand on her waist. She watched as his expression fell. “Right now? . . . Okay. I’ll meet you there,” he said before hanging up the phone. He reluctantly dropped his arm. “Duty calls. Steve wants to meet me to go over our new case. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow morning?” She drew in a breath when it suddenly hit her. Grace glanced down at the itinerary she still had clutched in her hand. “I can’t leave tomorrow. I’m not ready. I’ll have to let my boss know. I have to pack. Why didn’t you let me know sooner?”

“Because I didn’t . . . think of it until today.” Shrugging on his coat, he walked toward the door. “Don’t worry, Grace, I promise it’ll be a New Year’s Eve you’ll never forget.”

*  *  *

He hung up the phone and grimaced. She didn’t believe him, which he had to admit wasn’t all that surprising. The doctors didn’t, either.

He glanced down at the ticket in his hand, closed his eyes and imagined the next few days. He’s got his list. He’s checked it twice. Everyone’s accounted for. There are a few extras he wasn’t anticipating, but they won’t matter. They won’t get in the way. No one will. If someone tries, they’ll regret it.

He felt euphoric. Finally. They’ll finally see. He’ll show them. He rubbed a tired hand over his face. Looking back down at the train ticket, his thumb lovingly traced the drawing of the Crystal Palace Excursion Train embossed on the front of the ticket. He’ll show them all.

CHAPTER TWO

December 30
th

It was beautiful
. All sleek lines and cold steel gleaming in the morning sun. The Crystal Palace Excursion was everything the brochure promised and more. An elegant and luxurious passenger train created to ferry special guests of the Crystal Palace Ski Resort up snow-capped mountains and lush forests to their destination, a five-star resort hidden far away from the bustling cities and small towns of Colorado.

Grace glanced down at the brochure in her hand. She turned to the outline of the train’s interior. In addition to the locomotive up front, the train consisted of four separate cars, each joined together by an enclosed vestibule. According to the brochure, the first car nearest the locomotive was an elegant, but comfortable lounge car reminiscent of the lounge cars from the heyday of train travel. Next in line was a gourmet dining car with its own five-star rated Michelin chef. It was followed by an observation car with a glass-topped roof designed to offer a panoramic view of the mountain. And following up the rear was the sleeping car which was by far the largest of the four cars. Within the sleeping car, were ten opulent and spacious single and double suites that would make any five-star hotel envious. The brochure ended by saying that every need would be attended to by the high-quality professional staff employed by the Palace. In addition to the chef, was a conductor with more than twenty years’ experience on the rails and two highly trained attendants. Grace placed the brochure back into her purse and looked around the train station.

She bit her lip nervously, as she alternately admired the train before her and anxiously checked her watch. Standing on her tiptoes, she surveyed the almost empty platform. Besides herself, the only other person on the platform was a man in a blue uniform with a bushy gray mustache standing near the front of the train. He glanced at his watch as he waited near one of the train’s side doors. Must be the conductor, she thought, as she dropped back down.

Where was Kyle? she asked herself again. Shivering against the cold, she drew her white wool coat closer to her. He had disappeared with all, but one piece of her luggage thirty minutes ago. He had insisted on taking her luggage and putting it away in her room himself, determined to have everything perfect before she boarded the train. Grace had been surprised and pleased at this sudden burst of romantic attention.

She mentally chided herself. She shouldn’t have been as shocked as she was. Kyle was often spontaneous and unpredictable; it should have come as no surprise that he was the same in his private life, as well.

But now worry was gnawing at her. They should be sitting on the train right now, she thought nervously, standing on her tiptoes once again.

Seconds later, Grace heard the sound of heavy footsteps pounding against the wooden floor. She turned to find a thin young man in a red winter coat running towards the train dragging a battered suitcase. A tattered blue backpack hung from one shoulder.

Panting with effort, the man stopped next to Grace. Bending over slightly, he took several deep breaths. “I thought I was going to miss it.”

Grace smiled. “You’re fine. We don’t leave for another twenty minutes.” Grace glanced back at the station. Still no sign of Kyle.

Straightening, he looked at her curiously. A little too curiously for Grace’s comfort. She took a step back as he leaned closer to her and peered at her from behind his glasses. “Are you going to the Crystal Palace, too?” he asked, cocking his head to the side.

Grace shrugged her shoulders restlessly. “That was the plan. I’m looking forward to it. I hear it’s absolutely beautiful.”

“It is,” he said, still staring at her intently.

“You’ve been there before?”

“Yep.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “It’s a nice relaxing place to think.” To Grace’s relief, he suddenly seemed to lose interest in her. He backed up a few steps as his gaze flew over to the train.

“How was the train ride up there?” Grace asked.

“Long.”

“I’m looking forward to it. A majestic ride through snow-capped mountains,” Grace said.

“That’s what the brochure claims. Doctor Foster, by the way,” he said, offering his hand.

Introducing herself, Grace shook his hand, but quickly let go when he winced.

He gingerly pushed the sleeve of his coat up revealing a white bandage.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Did I hurt you?”

“No, not really. I got a tattoo yesterday. I didn’t realize how much they hurt.” He grinned. “You want to see it?”

Before Grace had a chance to respond, Foster unwound the bandage and proudly presented his forearm. A large black blob began at his wrist then narrowed and wrapped around his arm before disappearing beneath his coat sleeve.

“That’s . . . nice,” she said politely. As far as she could tell it looked more like a Rorschach test than anything remotely identifiable.

“Do you know what it is?”

She tilted her head to the side and scrunched up her face. “It’s a . . . uh . . .”

“Go on. Guess,” he demanded with a smile.

“A ladybug climbing up a centipede,” she guessed.

His smile fell. “No, don’t you know your nursery rhymes? It’s
Jack and the Beanstalk
. I have the giant on my chest. Do you want to see?” he asked, unbuttoning his shirt to reveal another bandage.

Grace quickly shook her head. “Maybe later. When we’re on the train.”

“Oh, okay.” Shrugging, he buttoned his shirt before dropping to his knee and rummaging through his backpack. He looked up suddenly. “Did you say your name was Grace Holliday?”

Grace nodded.

“No. That’s not right.”

Bemused, Grace smiled. “I assure you it is.”

“Nope,” he said shaking his head.

“I promise you, that is my name.”

“That may be your name, but you are not going to the Crystal Palace. At least, not on the Excursion train. You’re probably on the Express. It doesn’t leave for another three hours.”

“No. I’m supposed to be on the Excursion,” Grace insisted firmly.

Foster stared at Grace dumbly. Finally coming to some type of decision, he blew out a breath and shook his head. “Fine. Whatever. Go. Stay. I don’t care.”

Before Grace could respond, Foster suddenly tossed the contents of his backpack onto the platform. A brush, wallet, candy bar wrappers, lighter, and scraps of paper littered the ground next to Grace’s feet as the young man hurriedly went through the bag. “What exactly are you a doctor of?”

“They stole it,” was said so softly that Grace wasn’t quite sure if she heard correctly.

“I beg your pardon?”

Foster pushed his gold-rimmed glasses back up on his nose, as more scraps of paper joined the pile growing at Grace’s feet. He looked up suddenly, his eyes flashing. “The note from my doctor! Why do you think I’m down here on my knees?”

A multitude of questions went through Grace’s mind simultaneously. Who, what, why and perhaps most prominently, are you crazy, all fought for a voice in Grace’s mind.

Foster suddenly laughed.

Definitely crazy.

“Here it is.” Foster proudly held up a small scrap of paper before kissing it and hugging it to his chest. Repacking his backpack, he glanced up at Grace. “We’d better hurry before we’re late.” A sudden wind caused several of the scrap pieces of paper still at his knees to scatter. “Oh no! Help.” Foster crawled forward snatching at the scraps.

Grace reached down and picked up a few at her feet. She noticed that most were of random historical dates and events, but one, in particular, caught her eye. It was a list of names and room numbers printed on, what appeared to be, Crystal Palace Excursion Train stationary. Grace wouldn’t have even noticed it if Kyle’s name hadn’t caught her eye.

Foster’s hand suddenly reached out and snatched the paper out of Grace’s hand, causing the corner of the page to rip. “Do you mind?”

“Is that a list of passengers?”

Foster didn’t answer. Instead, he looked down at the paper. “What did you say your name was?” He drew a hand across his face. “Never mind, it’s okay. I’m glad you’re here. The more the merrier. Merrier . . . Merry.” Foster grinned up at Grace. “That’s funny.”

“Hilarious,” Grace agreed readily. Her grandpa Jessie’s warning not to provoke crazy flashing through her mind.

Foster bent down and stuffed the paper into his bag. “You know, I have a good feeling about you. When you get settled in, meet me in the dining car. Then maybe you can explain to me why you’re here.”

“Oh, absolutely,” she said, desperately trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

“Tonight’s going to be real fun.”

“I bet.”

Foster looked up at the clock. “We’d better hurry, Grace. They’ll be leaving soon.

Grace glanced at her watch before looking around the platform. Still no Kyle. Hopefully, the train was running late. “I’m waiting for my friend.”

“Well, I’m not waiting for you,” Foster said impatiently.

“I didn’t ask you to wait,” Grace said with a twinge of annoyance coloring her voice.

Foster stood uncertainly on the platform before turning on his heel and stalking off toward the train.

Grace watched as Foster handed the conductor his ticket and then gestured toward Grace. A full minute passed as he and the conductor spoke, complete with pointing and nodding at Grace still standing on the platform. Finally, the strange young man climbed up the steps. He glanced over his shoulder at Grace and waved before disappearing from view.

*  *  *

Sitting on the old wooden bench in front of the station, Grace yawned. Another fifteen minutes had passed by with no sign of Kyle. No word from him either, she thought, placing her cell phone back into her purse.

Grace looked down at her watch. Only five minutes to go before the train left for the hotel. She looked around the empty platform in concern. She hadn’t seen a soul in ten minutes. Even the conductor had disappeared back into the train.

Realizing time was quickly running out, Grace began to walk toward the train, but stopped when she heard someone running along the platform.

Turning, she watched as a woman in a navy blue dress and black overcoat sprint toward the train. The woman easily crossed the distance from the end of the platform to the other in a matter of seconds.

Grace was impressed; she didn’t even seem out of breath. She watched the other woman look around helplessly before attempting to board. She managed to get the door open, but immediately backed up when the conductor suddenly appeared and stepped down from the train.

Grace was just about to get in line behind the woman in blue when she heard Kyle call her name.

Relieved, Grace watched as Kyle jumped from one of the side doors at the end of the train and jog toward her. “Where have you been?” Grace asked. “We’re about to miss the train. Do you have the tickets?”

Kyle gave her a quick hug. Releasing her, he picked up her last remaining suitcase and took her hand. Grace was surprised when he started to lead her toward the opposite end of the platform. “Kyle, where are we going?”

“We’re getting on the train.”

Grace looked behind her. “But aren’t we supposed to go that way,” she said pointing toward the locomotive and the spot where the conductor and the young woman were standing.

“Our room is way down here. Trust me; you don’t want to go that way. It’s such a pain. That’s why it took me so long to get back to you.”

Hearing the frustration in his voice, Grace reached for the brochure in her purse. “Isn’t it nice? It’s supposed to be brand new.”

Kyle looked over his shoulder. Sighing, he led her down the stairs and further away from the train. “Yeah, it’s really nice. Beautiful, in fact. Wait ‘till you see it. You’ll love it.”

Grace looked back over her shoulder at the train. “That’s nice. Am I going to be seeing it anytime today, Kyle?”

Leaning against the side wall of the station, he looked down at her and smiled. “Of course. Don’t worry; we’ve got plenty of time. They’re running a bit behind and aren’t planning on leaving for another ten minutes.”

“Oh,” she said, suddenly suspicious.

“I just wanted to stretch my legs before we get stuck on a train for the next twenty-two hours. Get some fresh air.”

Grace glanced at the garbage cans ten feet away. “Kyle, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” he said, the picture of innocence. “Why are you so suspicious?”

“Because I know you.”

“Would you trust me? There’s nothing wrong.”

“Then why aren’t we on the train?”

“Grace, we have plenty of time. I just want to spend as much time as I can outside before I get cooped up in there. I don’t handle confined spaces very well.”

Grace scoffed. “Didn’t you tell me you let yourself be buried alive for a magic trick once.”