The Grudge by Kathi Daley Read Free Book Online Page A

we’re like a family here. Most people come for the season but end up staying for a lifetime.”
    “I think I found some kind of log.” Eli held up a notebook. “It looks like it’s used to track calls. There’s a space for the time and date and for who called in the repair. There’s also a space for recording whether the problem was fixed or needed further attention.”
    “Is Mario’s last call logged in?” Mac asked.
    “Yeah, December 25th, three twenty-eight p.m. Someone named Morgan called in to report that guests were complaining that the indoor pool was cold. That’s all it says.”
    “Morgan is a concierge. If the water in the pool was cold she’d be the one the guests would talk to. The propane tank that exploded was the one used to heat the pool.”
    “If there was someone targeting Mario it all makes sense,” Mac said. “Someone poisoned Charlie’s sandwich so he had to go home and Mario was called in. Then whoever it was tampered with the propane tank so that the pool went cold. He could have set up the explosion at that point. Once Mario responded to the customer complaints, he did something that set off the explosion. Maybe simply turning the tank back on was the trigger. The would-be murderer could be long gone by then. Any evidence that may have existed—fingerprints or a detonator— were destroyed in the explosion.”
    “So how do we, a, find the killer, and b, prove our theory?” Andi asked.
    “I’m not sure. I guess we just keep looking and hope we find something. It’s too bad we’ve had so much snow. An investigation of the crime scene might prove helpful.”
    “The snow removal crew keep the propane tanks dug out religiously, but because that particular tank technically no longer exists, I doubt they’ve bothered.”
    “How about the pool?” Eli asked. “How have they heated it since the accident?”
    “They haven’t. The explosion happened on Christmas. A new tank was supposed to be delivered the next day, but the storm hit and it never arrived. There’s another pool at Moose Lake Lodge; guests have been directed there.”
    “It’s almost noon. Maybe we should get some lunch, then look up the friendly bartender,” Alyson suggested.
    “Yeah. I doubt we’ll find anything else here,” Devon agreed.
    “There’s a sub shop in town. They have sandwiches, soups, and salads,” Andi told them. “You’ll want to leave room for Cookie’s dinner. Trust me; you’ll be glad you did.”

Chapter 5
     
     
    After lunch they headed over to the pub. It was an old-fashioned-looking building with a wooden walkway and double doors. A large picture window revealed a plank floor and dozens of tables surrounded by wooden chairs. The bar ran the entire length of the building and was fashioned out of milled rough lumber made smooth by a thick varnish.
    Andi looked through the window. “Oh, good. Hank’s already downstairs.” Tapping on the clear glass, she waved to the man inside.
    “Hey, Andi. What’s up?” An elderly man with a long gray beard and hair that reached halfway down his back asked after opening the door.
    “I’m giving my friends a tour of the resort. I wanted to show them the pub and introduce them to Grizzly Mountain’s orneriest resident. Can we come in?”
    “Sure, why not? You all look a little young for afternoon cocktails, however.”
    “We’re not here to drink,” Alyson corrected the rugged mountain man. “We just arrived yesterday in the middle of the man-in-the-snowbank crisis. I guess we were just curious. One of the security personnel told us he was in here before he ended up in the snow. Do you remember seeing him?”
    “Yeah, he was here. Came in around eight. Ordered a forty-year-old bottle of single malt scotch. I didn’t even know we had such a thing. Someone must have special-ordered it. It’s a lot pricier than most people want.”
    “He ordered the whole bottle?” Alyson asked.
    “Said he had some friends coming. Mentioned some