Hot Button by Kylie Logan Read Free Book Online Page B

happened, Langston glanced away. “Wyant’s credit card was declined.”
    I cringed. “And that’s when things got ugly. I can only imagine.”
    “No, no. It wasn’t like that at all. In fact, Wyant was barely fazed by the whole thing. He said there must have been some mix-up with his credit-card company. He said he was going back to his room to call them. And he left.”
    “No big blowup?” I was grateful but ambivalent.
    “Not one unpleasant word,” Langston assured me. “Elliot and I went about our business setting up our booth. Then this morning…” With the awl, Langston pointed back toward the vendor room. “You know how busy it can be, especially the first day of a conference. Everybody’s so eager to see everything, especially the buttons some of the dealers are selling. Things were hectic, and just a little while ago… Well, Wyant came back. I figured he’d worked out his problems with the credit-card company. But I was with a customer and so was Elliot, and by the time we were finished, Wyant was gone.”
    No way that was the end of the story. I tipped my head, my eyes on Langston. “And?”
    “And…” Like just saying it was distasteful, Langstonmade a face. He’d controlled himself long enough, and now the words rushed out of him, his voice rough with anger, the bones of his knuckles showing where he grabbed the awl. “And when I finally got around to catching my breath, I realized there were some things missing from my booth. That cherry-handled awl, for one thing, and you see how fine Elliot’s work is, Josie.” He opened his palm to give me another look at the awl with the mahogany handle. “Beautiful and expensive. And besides the awl, some plastic sleeves and card stock. In fact, every single thing Wyant looked at last night was gone.”
    My breath caught. “Are you saying—”
    “No, I’m not. Because I don’t know for sure. And damn, I wish I did, because I’d like to take that egotistical bastard and—” Langston realized he’d lost control and sucked in a sharp breath. “I only know what Wyant looked at last night. And that he came back this morning when we were too busy to take care of him. I’m certain of what’s missing. But I never saw him take any of it, Josie. As much as I don’t like him, I can’t accuse the man. I’m sorry.” He put a hand on my shoulder, and honestly, I don’t think it was as much to comfort me as it was to help him get a grip on himself. “It’s a lousy way to start your morning. But I thought you should know that there just might be more to your guest of honor than meets the eye.”
    “Yes, of course. You’re right. I’ll contact hotel security and file a report.”
    “And we’ll check the bastard’s room, right?”
    In spite of the fact that I had solved a murder a couple of months before, I’m definitely no expert when it comes to the law. I didn’t want to make any promises I couldn’t keep. “I suppose if the security finds some kind of evidence—”
    “Evidence?” Langston rumbled. “The supplies that aremissing are worth a couple hundred dollars,” he said. “That makes it a felony, right? And even that isn’t the most important thing. You’ve got a guest of honor who thinks he’s better than everyone else. That he’s above the law, and that he doesn’t have to play by the rules. You’ve got to do something about it, Josie.” He whirled around and strode off toward the lobby. “You’ve got to,” he said, turning to me one last time. “Or I will.”
    When he disappeared into the crowd, I let go of a breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding and sagged against the wall, waiting for my heartbeat to ratchet back before I dared to head out and do a last-minute sound check in the ballroom. I was almost there when Helen scurried by. She caught sight of me and made a beeline in my direction.
    “Trouble in River City!” she said in a singsong voice and stage whisper meant only for me. She waved me closer.