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I shook my head. “Nothing like that. Actually, it was Ruby.”
Neil’s face twisted into an expression which betrayed an even deeper shock. “What?”
“She was looking for you.”
“That’s strange. I haven’t heard anything from her. Are you sure it was her?”
“Yes. Though she looked a bit different to the last time I saw her. She was pregnant. I recognised her dimples—they’re quite distinctive.”
“What did she say?”
“She asked if you were at the hotel. I told her you were still working, then she suddenly got a stomach cramp. She looked uncomfortable, so I invited her inside to sit for a minute. I was worried about her.”
Neil digested all of this. “Hmm… Did she say anything else while she was with you?”
“We just got talking. Chitchat. Nothing deep.”
“Can you be more specific? What exactly did you talk about?”
I shuffled my feet. “Well, uh… you, mainly.” My voice faltered. “She saw your shirt in my room, and I think she got the wrong idea.”
If my face wasn’t red before, it was now.
Neil let out a long, audible sigh and said nothing.
“She recovered from her pain, and she left. Do you think it wasn’t her?”
“No, it sounds like her, and it will be easy enough for me to verify. I wonder what she’s playing at.” Neil rubbed his temples.
“Is it strange she came to see you without any notice?”
“Yes, but I don’t believe that’s what happened. I think she came to see you.”
I gaped. “You mean she tricked me?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I think.”
I flashed back to Veronica clutching her stomach and the strain on her face. Had that been an act? Did she just want me to invite her inside so she could speak with me? Surely not…
“But why would she want to see me? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“She must have wanted to check you out for some reason. I will be questioning her about this, mark my words. I told her I didn’t want you dragged into this any more than you already have been, and she turns up here in broad daylight, without an ounce of consideration for your safety. What was she thinking?” Neil clenched his fists, a deep scowl marring his already stern face.
I tried to placate him. “I’m sure she had her reasons.”
He grunted in response, a sound I felt deep in my bones.
I changed the subject, feeling like the thick tension in the room might break me if I didn’t. “I better leave you to get your dinner. It’s getting late.”
Neil glanced at his watch. “So it is. What about you? Have you eaten?”
“Yes. I had an early dinner.”
“What did you have?”
“Noodles from room service. I didn’t want to leave the hotel after what you said.”
Neil grimaced. “Perhaps my warning was excessive. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
