“Sleeping. He took one of his pills. You know nothing will wake him up.”

The pills came from a doctor in Baltimore, to help him with too many sleepless nights. “Better he not know.”

April wiped away a smear of fresh blood from Carlotta’s cheek. “Are you going to avoid Manchester for the next week?”

“If I have to. I don’t want any trouble with Edna.”

“I didn’t understand why you were even bothering with this short-term gig. Now it makes sense.”

Carlotta took the ice bag from April and glanced at the blood smearing the cloth before pressing it back to her face. “I thought it would be a nice change of pace. I’ve missed dry land.”

“Since when?” April filled a glass with water and handed it to Carlotta.

She sipped, tasted a little blood before it washed away. “She’s been nice to me. I don’t want to bring any trouble to her door.”

“You didn’t. Peter Manchester did. The sheriff really should be told.”

“I’ll deal with Mr. Manchester.” She smiled, grimacing when the battered muscles on her face shifted. “He won’t bother me again.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ll take care of him.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX CARLOTTA

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CARLOTTA

Sunday, June 25, 1950, 6:00 a.m.

Carlotta had a restless night. She slept maybe three hours, and when she awoke, her body was stiff, and her head pounded.

She rose slowly and flinched as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, moved into the bathroom, and stared at her bruised reflection in the mirror. Her right cheek was slightly swollen but would have been worse without the ice. Makeup would take care of the discoloration. She pulled up her nightgown and glared at the swath of purple marks on her ribs. Bastard.

She let the gown drop to below her knees and moved into the kitchen to find Edna standing there. She had brewed a fresh pot of coffee and was pouring two cups.

Carlotta considered retreating into her bedroom and her makeup box, but a jab of anger kept her standing her ground. “Good morning.”

Edna turned, coffee cups in hand. She hesitated slightly when she saw Carlotta’s face before handing her a cup. She sipped from her own, and for a moment neither spoke as they stood in the silence.

“How did you find out?” Carlotta said.

“April came by the restaurant an hour ago looking for more ice. I told her to take as much as she needed.”

“And you came to see why she wanted it.” Carlotta opened the freezer to a large metal bowl filled with chipped ice.

“I like to know what’s going on in my hotel.”

“Nothing more to see here,” she said. “There won’t be any more trouble.”

“I’m assuming it was Mr. Manchester. He’s been more trouble every year, but this seems to be the worst.”