If you are looking for the A to Z Challenge Blog, it’s the post before this one.
Good morning. For those who celebrated Easter yesterday, I hope you had a great day with friends and family. We had a rainy day, are having another today, but the temperature is 10C, so maybe spring has found us. We’ll see. This week, the authors who share their ongoing work with you at Tuesday Tales are writing to the word prompt RAINY. How appropriate. I’m continuing with my cozy mystery, The Case of the Missing Prince. Don’t forget to click the link at the end and go visit the other great posts. Feel free to comment. I love feedback.
I smiled in return. He certainly was a talkative fellow. Hopefully, he was a good, knowledgeable one, too. As far as his comment on his family went, I wasn’t sure whether his wife had died or left him, but either way it was none of my business.
“We are. We suspect he was injured in the landslide last spring and is suffering from amnesia.” That was the story we’d all agreed would work for us. Since Andreea wasn’t officially missing, we’d decided to keep her name out of it—for the moment. “His family is worried about him, but right now, we’re going to the Palliser Hotel. They’re expecting us for an early check-in. How long will it take to get there?”
“About thirty minutes. Traffic shouldn’t be too heavy at this time of the day.” He reached for the handle of my suitcase. “Here, let me take that for you.”
I let him lead the way and dropped back to walk beside Al. I would’ve loved to take his hand, but we had agreed to keep things as business-like as possible in front of the others.
The doors swished open, and we stepped out into drizzle and eighteen degrees Celsius. I zipped my jacket.
“I thought it would be warmer,” I mused, but then when had I ever trusted the weather person to be right?
“Don’t let this fool you. It may be cool now, but it’s going to get worse. There’s a frost warning for tonight. Tomorrow they’re calling for twenty-five. You never know what to expect at this time of the year. Could be sunny, could be rainy, could be snow. I hope you’re prepared for anything.”
Hank stopped beside a black Mercedes van in the VIP parking. The vehicle was large enough to accommodate all of us and our luggage. Viktor got in the front seat beside Hank, Al and I sat in the middle row, while Petrov took the backseat. The car had leather seat, air conditioning, and that new car smell that I loved.
“This car is equipped for just about any terrain you’ll find in the mountains. I don’t know where you plan to go, but this baby will get you there.”
I saw no reason not to be upfront with the man. Hallie had checked with all of her sources before hiring him and his reputation was impeccable. If Leo was still alive and had gone to ground, he might know the best places to search.
Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.
Living the Dream 