Alexis and the Lake Tahoe Tumult - Erica Rodgers [27]
She hung up the phone and went back to her computer. After less than a minute, her phone rang again. The woman tore the scarf off her head in frustration, and Alexis gasped.
The woman’s hair was bright red.
Alexis looked at Bailey, and it was obvious that Bailey was thinking the same thing. They had found “Chloe,” and they hadn’t even been looking for her! Alexis waited patiently for Chloe to finish her phone call, and then she began a conversation.
“So, are you enjoying your stay in Tahoe?” asked Alexis. “Are you on vacation?”
Chloe looked up from her computer, surprised to be addressed by two young strangers.
“No, and no,” she said. Then she lowered her head to the computer screen again. Alexis wasn’t turned off by Chloe’s obvious attempt to ignore her. She pressed on.
“Done anything fun, though? Skiing? Snowmobiling?”
Chloe made a disgusted sound.
“Ugh, no! I hate the snow. I can’t wait to get out of this place and get back to the Valley.” The phone rang again. Chloe snapped her laptop closed and stood up quickly.
“Thanks for the conversation,” she said rudely, “but I’m going to bed. It’s the only way to get away from the boss who never stops calling.”
With that, she stormed off toward the elevators and was gone.
“I guess that wasn’t her,” said Bailey. “You heard her. She hates the snow. Some other red-haired Chloe must have rented the snowmobile.”
“Hmm, maybe,” said Alexis. She wasn’t convinced. She didn’t believe in coincidences, and it would be a huge one if there were two young redheaded “Chloes” walking around the small town of South Lake Tahoe. The good thing was that it seemed like Chloe must be staying at their hotel. If she were somehow connected to the painter, they would probably find him here as well.
She couldn’t help but feel that God had answered her prayer on the bus. He was leading them closer to the answer, she just knew it. Before she could say what she was thinking, Bailey nudged her arm.
“Look, Lexi. Several computers are empty. Let’s go see if the Camp Club Girls have found out anything.”
The girls walked to a huge column that was surrounded by computers and chairs. FOR PATRONS’ CONVENIENCE, the sign above each computer read. Alexis knew that this was a hotel where a lot of companies and organizations held conventions, like her dad’s company. She’d seen people dash out between meetings to check their messages. She knew from being around her mom and dad that they were making sure nothing important had popped up at work while they were in the meetings.
So Alexis felt rather important sitting down and logging in to the Camp Club Girls’ website. She felt almost like an adult dashing to get the latest news from her coworkers in solving mysteries and mayhem.
She and Bailey started to read the messages on the chat wall together.
Sydney: You know, girls, I’ve been thinking about the woman named Chloe who rented the snowmobile. Even if she didn’t KO Jake, I have a feeling she might be involved in this.
Alexis: That’s amazing. Just wait until you hear WHOM we just sat next to in the hotel lobby.
Alex took a few minutes to explain what they’d seen and heard from the woman next to them.
Sydney: Well even if she doesn’t like snow, she still could have rented the snowmobile for her boss. Assistants do that kind of thing, you know.
McKenzie: If I were you, I’d try to follow her until you know for sure that it’s not the Chloe you’re looking for. I think Sydney’s right. I have a feeling about her, too.
Elizabeth: She sounds like she might lead you to bigger fish, as we say here in Texas.
Alexis: Bigger fish?
Elizabeth: Yes. The person who’s really at the helm of the dastardly deeds.
Sydney: If she is the right Chloe, she might lead you to the person who’s really responsible for sabotaging the reserve.
McKenzie: I’ve also been thinking about your new friend, Angelo.
Alexis: You think he did this stuff? But he’s blind, Kenz. I don’t think he could have ridden a snowmobile. I guess