Page 30 of Dead Girl Running

Temo stuck his two cents in. “That we know of.”

She looked down at her friend. She thought of all the staff who were on vacation, how some of them had already called to say they weren’t coming back. She thought of all the guests who came and went, and never returned. Temo had a point. Still, she argued, “No one’s going to know who wore this tennis shoe. It’s just…a tennis shoe. I can’t even tell what color it is. Or was.”

“You have a better idea for identifying the body?” Lloyd was honestly asking.

“A coroner?” she suggested.

“We haven’t got a coroner. We’ve got an undertaker. He’s not busy and he likes it that way. But…good idea.” Lloyd pulled out his cell phone. “The county coroner is in Virtue Falls, too. Mike Sun has dealt with this kind of thing before—murder and whatnot. I’ll drive the bones up, deliver them to Mike, talk to Sheriff Kwinault and see if either one of them can figure out something about the death and who it is.”

“It’s a nasty drive in this weather,” Kellen said.

“I don’t mind.” Lloyd sounded positively cheerful. “I’ve got friends in Virtue Falls. Good time for a visit!”

“Go on, Kellen,” Temo said. “I’ll get the photos taken. I’ll get her up off the ground. You’re not doing any good here.”

Kellen knew she shouldn’t make Temo do something she wouldn’t do herself. But it wasn’t so muchwouldn’tascouldn’t, at least she couldn’t without vomiting. “Thank you. Really. Thank you.” Gingerly, she took the towel by the four corners, carried it back to the ATV and drove back as fast as she’d driven out. She didn’t want to go in the front lobby and face the guests, so she parked by the back door to the spa, the one Destiny Longacre had left open for her boyfriend. Before she got close, Mara swung the heavy metal door open.

The wind caught it and slammed it against the wall.

Both women grabbed it, fought with it, got it under control and got inside.

“What a wretched day.” Kellen meant more than just the weather.

“I heard.” Mara had that significant tone in her voice.

Kellen turned to her. “How did you hear?”

“Lloyd Magnuson called Sheri Jean and asked for a storage box. Said he had to drive something out to Mike Sun in Virtue Falls. She knew you were picking up something the scavengers brought in. She figured it out. A natural death?”

Kellen shook her head.

“Damn it.” Mara looked around at her determinedly peaceful domain. “Damn it,” she said again. “Do you know who the body is?”

Kellen held up the towel she had twisted shut. “That’s what we’re supposed to deduce using a piece of cloth and part of a shoe.”

“This way.Don’tdrop it, anddon’tmake a mess.”

She led Kellen to the spa waiting room, where nine anxious employees waited.

Sheri Jean + three concierge staff:

FRANCES:

34, CONCIERGE/FRONT DESK, CHICAGO NATIVE, TOUGH, SARCASTIC. EMPLOYED 7 YRS.

GERALD:

MALE, 42, FRONT DESK. GUATEMALAN, FLUENT IN SPANISH. EMPLOYED 16 YRS.

TRENT:

37, DESK STAFF. CAPE CHARADE NATIVE. EMPLOYED 7 YRS., THEN SERVED PRISON TERM FOR BREAKING AND ENTERING, REEMPLOYED 4 YRS.

Mara + four spa staff:

ELLEN:

23, BEAUTY PROFESSIONAL, CAPE CHARADE NATIVE. EMPLOYED 4 YRS.