Veiled Threat by Alice Loweecey Page A

get a date unless she made herself look shorter than the guys.
    The clerk knocked on a white door stenciled around the edges with violets and buttercups.
    “Yes?” A brisk voice from the other side.
    “The new housekeeper is here.”
    “Oh, good. Have her come in.”
    The desk clerk opened the door and Giulia stepped into a small, crowded office. Two desks sat against the east and north walls, one covered with stacks of paper, the other with a multi-slot organizer. A computer monitor rose above the papers like a ship above whitecapped water. The woman sitting at the monitor turned toward them.
    “Good afternoon. Maryjane, would you let Monica know that we’ll be finished in about fifteen minutes?”
    “Of course.” The desk clerk closed the door.
    “Please sit down. I’m Barbara Smith, really and truly. Did you like how I avoided calling you by name just then? I never got a chance to ask that police captain what name you’d be using.” The resort owner’s pixie-style haircut fit her round, smiling face.
    “Regina Ryan.”
    “Okay. Let me type that in.” She swiveled back around to her keyboard. “I’ll make up an address for you, just in case someone tries to get at my files.” Her fingers paused, then continued typing. “This is killing me. I would’ve sworn on a stack of Bibles that the worst thing any employee of mine would get into is weed. We hire college kids in the summer, you know?”
    Giulia put a hand on her shoulder. “Someone who can orchestrate stealing babies from their parents would have no problem acting like a model employee.”
    Barbara’s shoulder tensed. “That’s just it. I feel like I have to be suspicious of everyone I’ve hired.”
    “Not at all. Evil people depend on the trust of good people. We’ll take care of this and the Wildflower will be fine.”
    The shoulder relaxed. “You’re not at all what I expected. I’m so glad. All night I worried that they’d send someone whose every move telegraphed ‘plant.’”
    Giulia smiled but it wasn’t sincere. Nondescript. Captain Jimmy was right. “I’ll do my best to fit in. Point me in the right direction to get suited up.”
    Barbara finished typing and closed the file. “Right. Maryjane will take care of you. She was here when the original owners ran the place as a family vacation spot. She can tell you anything you want to know. Come see me before you leave today and I’ll give you all the papers I was going to courier to the police station earlier.” She opened the door, which gave them a clear view of the front counter. “Good. No one’s needing help right now. Maryjane? Regina’s all set. Could you take her to the staff lockers?”
    Giulia followed the desk clerk through an open office of four desks and the biggest magnetic In/Out board she’d ever seen.
    Maryjane stopped next to it. “Everything is alphabetical. Your name will be on a gray magnetic strip like the other indoor staff. Move it to ‘Out’ when you leave for the night and note the time with one of the markers. I’ll show you the timesheet program tomorrow.” She opened another door that led into a staff break room. “I pulled three uniforms for you, sizes ten, twelve, and fourteen. Monica will be thrilled to see you.” Lockers are through that swinging door to your left. Yours is the last one in the row against the wall.” She looked Giulia up and down. “The twelve should fit you. Go ahead and change. Monica will be down in a few minutes.”
    “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” Maryjane walked out, sensible shoes making no sound, tailored khaki slacks blending with the orchid resort-logo shirt.
    Giulia took another look at the desk clerk’s retreating figure. She made those slacks. Impressive.
    The lockers were alphabetical too, except for the row of blank ones against the wall. She tried on the size-twelve beige uniform dress trimmed with white collar and cuffs. Of course she knew it would fit me. She’s a seamstress.
    She hung