Previous chapters of the Vista Falls story:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!

Last time, Chief Colbert caught Vera and Officer Littlepoole hiding behind a column in their attempt to sneak back to the hotel desk to further question the clerk, Riley. Officer Littlepoole apologized for lying, and explained that they didn’t want to upset the others by going off on their own, but knew it was the only way Riley would be comfortable enough to talk. Chief Colbert answered that he understood and said that he’d go back to the bistro to explain to the others while Vera and Officer Littlepoole talked with Riley. Once they arrived at the front desk, Vera and Jenny noted that no one was there. Ringing the bell, they were surprised when an older man came out to wait on them. The man introduced himself as Russell Barrymore and said he was the night manager. When they asked for Riley, Mr. Barrymore explained that Riley didn’t work at the hotel any longer. What did Vera and Officer Littlepoole do? Here’s what you decided.

Chapter 13
Hot Chocolate. Hot Water.

“As I said, Miss, Riley is no longer employed by this hotel.” Mr. Barrymore shook his head again.

“In the last fifteen minutes?” Vera said, raising her eyebrows.

“Yes, Miss.” Mr. Barrymore answered firmly, making it clear that he did not wish to discuss the situation any further.

“I see.” Jenny Littlepoole began calmly, mostly in an effort to keep Vera from doing something in her usual wild way.

“Are you two ladies guests here?” Mr. Barrymore continued.

“No.” Officer Littlepoole shook her head.

“Were you hoping to check in?” The manager asked dryly.

“No.” Officer Littlepoole responded. “We were looking for some information.”

“I’m the person to ask, Miss.” Mr. Barrymore growled. “After all, I’m the manager. There’s nothing that happens in this hotel that I don’t know.”

“But, we wanted Riley.” Vera grumbled. She looked at Officer Littlepoole with wide eyes as if to say, “What now?”

“I’ve already told you…” Mr. Barrymore growled impatiently. “Riley is no longer here.”

Officer Littlepoole noted the pleading look in Vera’s eyes as Mr. Barrymore was talking. She patted Vera’s shoulder and smiled. Then, she turned her attention to Mr. Barrymore.

“Thank you for your time.” Jenny Littlepoole grinned. “I know you must be terribly busy, especially now that you’re short one desk clerk.”

“True. True.” Mr. Barrymore grumbled. “It’s nice to see that someone appreciates just how hard this job is.”

“I understand.” Officer Littlepoole nodded.

Vera smiled. She had never seen Officer Littlepoole be sneaky before.

“It’s just a shame,” Jenny continued, “that you have to do this on your own.”

“It is.” Mr. Barrymore nodded. “But, such is life.”

“Still, it isn’t fair.” Officer Littlepoole sighed. “Riley shouldn’t have quit like that.”

“He didn’t quit.” Mr. Barrymore snapped.

“Oh really? What did happen with Riley?” Jenny Littlepoole asked quickly.

“I fired him.” Mr. Barrymore frowned. Then, he looked startled—as if he had realized that maybe he had said too much.

“You did?” Vera began, picking up where Officer Littlepoole had left off. “What for?”

“None of your business.” Mr. Barrymore hissed. “Now, unless you’re going to check-in, I suggest you both leave me alone.”

“Sorry to have bothered you.” Jenny Littlepoole said. “We’d better go catch up with our friends.”

“They’re in the bistro.” Vera spoke up.

“I know.” Mr. Barrymore narrowed his eyes.

Vera and Officer Littlepoole started to walk away from the desk, but then, the officer realized that something wasn’t right about that sentence. She turned around quickly to ask Mr. Barrymore why he had asked them if they were guests when he knew all along that they were with the group in the bistro.

However, by the time, she had turned around, Mr. Barrymore had already gone through the door to the back room behind the check-in desk.

“I wonder what happened.” Vera sighed.

“We’ll find out.” Officer Littlepoole said positively.

“I think we will.” Vera nodded happily. “You and I make a good team.”

“I agree!” Jenny Littlepoole grinned. “Add in Sam and Jeff, TJ, Ward, Rick, Delia, Lucy and Kate, and we’re unstoppable!”

“That’s right!” Vera cheered. “I can’t wait to tell them what we just found out.”

“I can’t either.” Jenny said, picking up her pace. She was walking so quickly, she almost walked right into a woman that was passing them in the lobby.

“Oh!” Officer Littlepoole said. “I’m sorry! I didn’t see you.”

“It’s all right.” The woman laughed.

They suddenly realized that the woman was Melissa “Missy” Merrick—the woman they had seen on the pathway to the hotel.

“Oh, hello!” Missy said brightly.

“Hi.” Officer Littlepoole smiled. “We have to stop running into each other.”

“We sure do.” Missy chuckled. “So, what are you all doing at the hotel?”

“We, uhhh…” Vera began awkwardly. “We’re just having hot chocolate in the bistro.” Vera figured that she was telling the truth. She just didn’t want to tell Missy the whole story.

“Oh, hot chocolate!” Missy began. “My favorite. I just can’t get enough of it.”

Vera and Jenny looked at each other. They knew the proper thing to do was to invite Missy to join them. But, they didn’t know how she would react to their investigation nor did they know her well enough to know if she was trustworthy.

Vera coughed anxiously. All she could think about was telling the others that Riley had been fired!

“Yes, I do love hot chocolate.” Missy added again.

What should Vera and Jenny do?

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