Page 63 of Little Hidden Fears

I nodded. “I hope he’s innocent, for your sake. I won’t know until I do a little more digging.”

“I understand. Is there anything else?”

“That’s all.”

“Since you’ve been so candid with me, allow me to do the same before you leave. Noelle requested an audience with me before she died.”

“When?”

“As it turns out, the day before she was murdered.”

“Did you meet with her?”

“I did not. She canceled, saying she was running behind on an engagement party she was planning. She asked to speak with me the following week.”

“Did Noelle say why she wanted to see you?”

“She did not, though she did say she needed my advice.”

Why would she need his advice about Owen?

Why not just tell Alexander what his nephew was doing and let him sort it out for himself?

I stood, thanking him for his time.

As we walked together toward the front of the house, he lifted a finger, turning in my direction as he said, “There’s something I’d like you to do for me, if it’s not too much to ask, of course.”

“Name it.”

“Can I trouble you to stop by Royal Palms this morning? I’d like you to tell Clark what you just told me.”

“I can. I just figured you’d want to tell him yourself.”

“I have a full schedule for the rest of the day, and I rather think it would be best presented by you, someone who can remain calm, as I would not be. Had Clark been running a tighter ship, I don’t believe I’d be in the predicament I’m in now. That’s not to say I blame him for my nephew’s actions. I do not. If Noelle suspected Owen, a woman who wasn’t even part of management, Clark should have too.”

I resisted the urge to bring up a valid point. I was certain Clark’s main agenda was keeping Alexander happy. Micromanaging his nephew would have achieved the opposite.

“It makes sense,” I said.

“Wonderful. I’ll have a message sent to him, letting him know you’ll be stopping by. Please tell him that what the two of you discuss isn’t to be talked about with anyone until he receives further instructions from me. If he wants to keep his job, he’ll keep this quiet. As to my nephew, I’ll speak to him personally.”

CHAPTER 24

My second visit to Royal Palms was far more welcoming than the first, and I arrived to find Clark ready and waiting, standing by the front door as if anticipating my arrival. As I approached, he held the door open for me. “Miss Germaine, it’s good to see you.”

Good to see me?

I doubted he meant it, but I appreciated his change in tone, and I had to admit, I enjoyed Clark 2.0 way more than the 1.0 version.

“Has Alexander been in contact with you?” I asked.

“I suppose ... in his way.”

“What’s his way?”

“He often communicates with me through Max.”

“We met this morning. He’s an interesting guy.”