Chapter 34
Olivia was running late for work on Monday, so when she stepped outside the dorm and spotted the golf cart, which KJ or Garrett had used over the weekend, with the keys still in it, she hopped on.
On a normal day it was only a ten-minute walk to the Verandah, but it was already hot and sticky, with temps in the high eighties. So she turned the key in the ignition and took off, fretting about being late for her lunch shift.
Her cell phone was in the cup holder, and when it rang, with the distinctive ringtone she’d assigned to her mother, her heart sank.
“Mom, before you start…”
“Jesus, Mary, and Fred,” Shannon cried. “Why didn’t you tell me Parrish Eddings was murdered? Why did I have to hear about it on the news this morning instead of from you? Killed right there at the Saint! What did I tell you, Livvy? Didn’t I tell you those people were evil and that place is cursed?”
“Mom! Stop!” Livvy begged.
“No. You stop. I want you out of that damned place. Right now, and I don’t care how much they’re paying you, it’s not worth it.”
“Please, calm down.”
“I can’t. I can’t calm down knowing my only child is in danger there.”
“I am not in danger,” Livvy insisted. “If you’d just listen, for once. The police are all over the place. Like, everywhere. And Parrish wasn’t killed at the dorm. They found her behind the Shack, a place way off in the woods…”
“I know all about the Shack. It’s where we all went to party, back in the day. But what was she doing clear out there? The news didn’t give any details. Just that she was dead, under suspicious circumstances. Wait. If Parrish was at a party, were you there too?”
“Yeah. But it was no big deal. Just a bunch of us getting together after the Beach Bash.”
“Who do you think you’re talking to, Olivia? You forget I lived that life. I was right there when I was your age. I know y’all were drinking, probably smoking dope too, right?”
Livvy said nothing.
“That’s what I thought. Don’t even bother to deny it. I swear to God in heaven, Livvy, if you don’t quit that job right today and come home, I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Take away my car, like you did in high school? Mom, we’ve been over this. I’m legally an adult. You’re totally overreacting. We still don’t know what happened to Parrish. It could have been anything. I’m safe. Nobody is coming after me. There are two big strong guys living in the dorm, and I’m pretty sure Garrett has a gun. We lock the doors every night. Besides, nobody gets onto the property past the security guards at the gate.”
“Somebody did get past those guards, though. And they killed that poor girl. I’m never gonna sleep again until you return to your senses and come home.”
Livvy was approaching the turn-off for the service entrance to the restaurant. “I am home, Mom. I’m sorry you’re so worried, but I am not going to let you guilt me into quitting my job. Look, I’m already late for work, so I gotta go now.”
She disconnected and dropped the phone back in the cup holder.
Garrett met her at the back door to the kitchen. “Hey. I just tried to call you.”
“Sorry. I was on the phone with my mom, who is wigging out because she’s convinced there’s a maniacal killer on the loose over here.” Livvy laughed nervously.
“I was calling to tell you that Mrs. E wants to see you in her office.”
“Me? Am I in trouble?”
“Don’t think so. She came into the restaurant a few minutes ago to get a salad and asked me to tell you she’d like to see you.”
“Olivia, hi,” Traci Eddings said, pushing away what looked like an untouched plate of salad and covering it with a linen napkin. “Thanks for coming in so quickly.”
The boss did not look like herself today, Livvy thought. Her hair was lank, there were huge dark circles under her eyes, and her face was unnaturally pale. She wore no makeup, not even lipstick, and the dress she was wearing, although obviously expensive, looked rumpled, as though she’d picked it up off the floor.
“Sit down, please,” she told Olivia.
“Did any of you get any sleep last night? I understand the police searched the dorm? I hope it wasn’t too upsetting for you all.”
“I don’t think anyone got a lot of sleep,” Livvy admitted. “We’re all so sad about Parrish, and it seems so surreal. We didn’t mind about the search. We want the cops to figure out what happened to Parrish.”
“So do I,” Traci said. “I want you to know, I’ve asked Ray Bierbower to have extra security details patrol regularly past the staff dorm. At least until we catch this person.”
“Oh good. That’ll make my mom feel a little better,” Livvy blurted without thinking.
“Shannon,” Traci said. “Lord. She’s even more upset with you now, right?”
“Yeah. I told her she’s overreacting, but I guess you know how she gets.”
Traci sighed. “Your mom wasn’t always like that, Olivia. She used to be so much fun. She was wild and always up for anything.”
“And then along came me,” Olivia said. “And she turned into my grandma.”
“Don’t be too hard on her,” Traci said. “Being a single mom, raising a daughter alone can’t be easy, but from what I know about you, she did a superlative job. That’s not what I called you in to talk about, though.”
She bit her lower lip. “I’ve got to have someone working the guest relations desk. As you might imagine, our guests are rattled. They’re nervous, and having a police presence here, asking questions, has them worried and on edge. And as soon as the news broke about Parrish, we started getting cancellations.”
“Oh man. That’s awful,” Livvy said. “Like you don’t have enough on your plate.”
“Honestly, if I could, I’d close the Saint, today. Losing Parrish is like losing a part of myself. Again.”
Livvy felt herself tearing up, seeing the pain in her boss’s eyes.
“But I can’t afford to close down the Saint. We have bookings and commitments, a wedding coming up next weekend… and then there’s our staff. We’re the biggest employer in this county. My staff is like family to me, and I believe they need us, as much as we need them.”
Traci looked over at the framed wedding photograph on her desk. “Besides. This place is my husband’s legacy. It’s all I have left of him, so I guess I’m just gonna suck it up and keep going. Because I don’t have any other choice.”
“Good for you, Mrs. E,” Livvy said. “How can I help?”
“You can take over for Parrish on the guest relations desk,” Traci said. “I’ve already talked to the dining room manager, and Garrett. He’s called in someone who can take over your shifts for now. That is, if you agree.”
“But… I’ve never done that kind of work before,” Livvy said. “Are you sure there isn’t someone more qualified?”
“Positive,” Traci said firmly. “You’re the right girl for the job. You’re hardworking and loyal and you’re a fast learner. So, will you do it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Livvy said. “When do I start?”
“Now’s as good a time as any,” Traci said, rising from her desk. “I’ll train you myself.”