“Well, now we know that Kevin not only refused to deal with your illness, he also caused it. I told you that boy was no good for you.” Sam turned her SUV onto the main highway. “I thought maybe I’d see Drew when I picked you up?”

  “He came by at six and grabbed Killer and his toys. He’s working today, so he wanted to get Killer settled at the house before he left. I guess Jonathon and Edith are going into Phoenix for the day.” Rarity plugged the address to the resort into Sam’s phone so the GPS would show on her car’s display. “He’ll be at the house when we get back. He’s grilling dinner for us.”

  “Really?” Sam shot a glance at Rarity. “You gave him the key to your house?”

  “He’s a police detective. What’s going to happen?” She shook her head and went back to her tablet, where she had pulled the website up. “According to this, the entire resort and product line is overseen by a Dr. Conrad. No first name, so maybe his folks named him ‘Doctor,’ just in case he couldn’t get into medical school.”

  “Very funny. I wish you would have told me that Drew was going to be at your house later. I would have worn something different.” She rubbed the leg of her yoga pants.

  “I don’t think it’s a date. I think he’s using my empty house to get some time away from his folks. They’re driving him crazy.” Rarity tapped the tablet. “They have a picture of the doctor, but no pictures of other staff. Do you think that’s odd?”

  “Maybe he likes the attention. Most doctors do.” Sam passed a Jeep with a couple of tourists obviously looking for a road or a sign to a trailhead. “Do you really think this place has something to do with what happened to Martha?”

  Rarity set the tablet down. She’d gone over the website pages time and time again to find some sort of clue that she could give Drew with a ‘that’s how you solve a case’ flourish. The problem was that so far, she hadn’t found anything that seemed out of the ordinary except for the place’s claims to heal things that in her mind weren’t healable. At least not by diet and exercise and thinking good thoughts. “They should call it the Tinkerbell Resort. All we have to do is believe that our cancer is gone, and poof, it will magically disappear.”

  “I didn’t know Martha well, but she doesn’t seem the type to just believe in the positive. In fact, the only thing positive about Martha was the way she dealt with Killer.” Sam turned off the highway and onto a side road. “Ten more miles, and we’ll be there.”

  “I wonder when Martha got Killer? Maybe he was her gateway drug into all things positive. Having a dog makes you a more agreeable person. At least, that’s the thought process.” Rarity pulled a notebook out of her purse. “I’ll ask the vet if they can tell me how old Killer is. If Martha got him as a puppy, that might be when she started believing all this stuff.”

  “And you need to know how old Killer is for his medical records.” Sam slowed the car as the speed limit dropped. “You’re good at this investigation thing.”

  “Only in some ways. All I seem to do is be able to prove that each of our ‘suspects’ didn’t kill Martha. I haven’t been able to find anyone who did, who had motive, opportunity, and means.” Rarity watched out the window and saw a hawk dive for something on the desert floor. Probably a mouse. Mice were always the easy prey of the animal kingdom. “Anyway, if you’re worried about how you look, you can borrow something from my room. I’ve got several sundresses that would look ultra-cute on you.”

  “I just need to get over the fear this man puts into my head. Every time I think about talking to Drew, my mouth dries up and my heart starts beating faster. Maybe I’m just being silly even thinking about dating him.” She focused on the road instead of meeting Rarity’s gaze. “And you and him are becoming good friends. Which is cool, but it makes me worry that I will never be truly comfortable with him. Not like you are.”

  “I feel that way about Archer.” Rarity shook her head. “I know I said I wasn’t interested in him, but he walks into my shop and I’m all tongue-tied. Thank goodness we have something to talk about with the hiking books. At least that keeps me from looking like a complete idiot.”

  Sam laughed, and her grip on the steering wheel eased a bit. “Look at the two of us acting like schoolkids. Let’s just change the subject. I want to have a story to tell the group on Tuesday when we meet. What are we looking for? Do we have a backstory for the spa about how we know Martha?”

  “Let’s just keep it simple and real. We met Martha at our book club, and she mentioned the resort and how much it had helped her. Since I have a history of breast cancer, I am looking for a way to make sure it doesn’t come back again.” Rarity closed the tablet and tucked it into her tote.

  “And I’m your faithful friend who would walk with you to the ends of the earth to help keep you healthy.” Sam pushed her hair behind her ears. “I can play that. Although I’m much better in lead roles than I am being a supportive cast member.”

  “Next time you can be the leading lady.” Rarity turned up the music. “I really love this song.”

  * * * *

  When they got to the resort, a valet took the car and handed Sam a ticket, which she tucked into her wallet. They walked under the pergolas and into the open-area lobby. A fountain was bubbling in the middle of the room, and the ceiling was three stories high. The rooms all faced out onto the courtyard in the middle of the lobby. A man in a polo shirt and chino pants approached.

  “May I help you, ladies?” He bowed a bit. “Do you need directions to the hotel front desk, the spa receiving area, or just the gift shop?”

  Rarity and Sam exchanged a glance, which meant they both thought the place was trying way too hard. “We’ve got some treatments scheduled for today. I’m afraid this is our first time here, so we’re a little lost.”

  “But I love the idea of a gift shop. How late is it open?” Sam asked. She’d upped the chirpiness of her voice two octaves. It was almost high enough to call a pack of dogs to do her bidding.

  “Ten p.m. And it reopens at six in the morning. Seven days a week.” He pointed toward the left corner of the lobby. “Just go down that hallway, and you’ll find it. But the spa is on the opposite side of the lobby. Let me show you.”

  They followed the man to the edge of the lobby and into a small arched hallway. He paused at the beginning of the area. “Male staffers aren’t allowed past this line, I’m afraid. If you just head straight down the hallway, you’ll find the spa desk. Emerald will be glad to help you get set up.”

  He turned and left them. Rarity held out her hand. “After you.”

  “Oh no, I insist. I’m just the supportive cast member, remember?”

  Rarity laughed and headed down the dark hallway. It was a bit creepy. She wondered why male staff weren’t allowed in the area, but as soon as they stepped into the lights of the reception room, she had her answer.

  Women were walking around in all stages of dress—from fully clothed to totally disrobed. Big, tall, skinny, fat, all colors and all ages, it didn’t seem to matter. These women were comfortable in their own skin. A waitress in a white uniform with a tray of refreshing drinks paused near them.

  “Cucumber-lime water?” the waitress asked.

  Sam took two glasses and handed one to Rarity. “Where do we check in?”

  The woman nodded toward the front of the room. “Vi will get you checked in and to your appointment. We’re busy today. Usually, the front area isn’t so”—she paused and looked around the room—“crowded.”

  “Thanks.” Sam sipped her water as they walked toward the desk, where the woman who must be Vi was now watching them.

  Rarity wondered if the waitress had somehow alerted the woman that there were new people in the room. “The curtain just went up on our performance. Get as much as you can.”

  “Okay, but I think Holly and Malia are going to want to come check out this place too. Just in case we missed something.” Sam grinned as she followed Rarity to the desk.

  “Good morning, I’m so glad you could make it today. Can I get your names so I can get you checked in and we can start your experience?” Vi bubbled energy, even around the mundane part of check-in.

  After giving their names, Rarity looked around, wide-eyed. “Wow, I didn’t think it would be like this. Our friend Martha, she’s the one who recommended it, and she was a little conservative.”

  Vi giggled. “You came on the first Sunday of the month. We host a local naturalist colony then. They are very comfortable here—and very good tippers.”

  “Oh, that explains it. Martha, is—I mean, was—a very private person. This didn’t seem to be her scene.”

  Vi’s face fell. “Oh no. I didn’t put it together. You’re friends of Martha Redding. The woman they just found out by the trail. It’s so sad. She was such a nice woman. I helped with her mud baths once a week, and we talked about our dogs. She loved her little dog.”

  “Killer. He’s with me now.” Rarity took a sip of the cucumber-lime water. “I guess if one good thing came out of Martha’s death, it was me getting that little fur ball. He’s so sweet. I can’t believe you can fall in love so fast with anything.”

  Vi stood and pulled out several clipboards with forms attached. “Let’s go to the massage waiting room. You can fill out your paperwork there. It’s a little more private. I have a Maltese named Pepper. I don’t know what I’d do without him. He’s my little man.”

  Vi continued to tell stories about Pepper and his misdeeds as they walked down the hall to the massage area. They passed by an office with large glass windows. A man stood at the door, watching them pass by.

  Chapter 15

  Sam squeaked a little, and Rarity and Vi glanced back at her. Vi stepped back and took Sam’s arm, hurrying her past the window. Vi shushed her as they moved past the office. “That’s Dr. Conrad. He likes to keep an eye on things.”

  Rarity paused by the doorway and watched as the doctor turned and spoke to the woman who sat at the reception desk. He glanced their way, then disappeared through a doorway into what must have been another office. She saw his name painted on the glass door. “I didn’t realize Dr. Conrad had his offices in this part of the building. The man who helped us find you said no men were allowed in the area.”

  “No male staff members. Dr. Conrad and his assistants are the only men allowed back here. Of course, Dr. Conrad is the only one of them who works on Sundays. I swear, that man is so dedicated to the clinic. He really needs to learn to take some personal time.” Vi opened the door and waved them into the massage area. “You’ll start here, and I’ll come back for your paperwork in a few minutes. There are drinks in the fridge, help yourself.”

  After Vi left, Sam sank into a chair. “Is there anything with some caffeine in there? Seeing him standing there, watching us, it was creepy.”

  “I know. I’m not sure what’s all going on here, but it seems a little off.” Rarity sorted through the sodas in the small fridge. “Sorry, nothing with any caffeine, but there’s some root beer.”

  “That will have to do.” Sam opened the can and took a sip of the soda, glancing around the room. “Investigating is hard work. I have a lot more respect for Drew’s profession right about now.”

  Rarity leaned close and whispered, “Shush. You don’t know if they have cameras in here.”

  Sam rolled her eyes and started filling out the paperwork. “You think of everything. Looking at possible options for our next visit, I’m not sure I want a colonic, even if it comes with a full package.”

  Rarity got the giggles, and it wasn’t until the attendant came into the room that she was able to stop.

  “Good morning. My name is Ingrid. Who’s up for a massage?” the young woman asked as she held out two robes. “We have two slots open right now. We’ve just cleaned the rooms, so they’re all sanitized, and as soon as you change into your robes, we can begin. There’s a changing room behind that door, and you can leave your paperwork here in the room. Vi will come back for it.”

  Rarity signed the last page and stood. “I’m so stressed out, I need two massages.”

  “Oh no. Well, we only allow one a day, but maybe you could come back for one of our retreats. You can see Dr. Conrad, and he’ll help you deal with that stress.” Ingrid looked pained to have to give Rarity the bad news.

  “Oh, Ingrid, I wish it was that simple. One of our friends died the other day, and it’s just been crazy ever since. I can’t help thinking that I could have done more to help.” Rarity bit her lower lip, hoping she looked like she was grieving.

  “I know exactly how you feel. We’re not supposed to talk about it to our guests, but it’s such a coincidence. One of our long-term patients was killed in Sedona last week. It’s heartbreaking.” She frowned as she glanced between Sam and Rarity. “Wait, you’re not talking about Martha, are you?”

  Rarity nodded, wiping away a fake tear. “She was part of our book club. In fact, she recommended this place to us.”

  “Martha was a lovely person. Very concerned about her health after her cancer came back.” Ingrid took a deep breath. “I may not be able to get you more than one massage today, but I’ll add on a hot stone treatment to the package you bought. And you’ll still be done before it’s time for your lunch. Then, after lunch, you’ll soak in the hot spring water. It’s actually from a local spring—we heat it here, but it is a local spring near a vortex. You’ll be feeling better before you leave today, I promise.”

  Sam stood and set down her soda. “So, I guess it’s time to get changed, then. I didn’t know Martha’s cancer had returned. Did you, Rarity?”

  “I knew she was a survivor, like me.” Rarity loved the way Sam put information out there for Ingrid to respond to.

  “She came for a treatment about a year ago, and Dr. Conrad found the recurrence when he reviewed her paperwork. She’s very lucky he’s so good at his job.” Ingrid picked up their soda cans and dumped the rest into a sink nearby. “Go ahead and put on the robes, and we’ll get your own life-changing experiences started.”

  Rarity and Sam went into the changing room. Rarity checked to see if it was empty, then stood close to Sam. “Help me get this jacket unzipped, will you? It always sticks.”

  Sam reached up and pretended to struggle with the jacket. She turned her face down and away and whispered, “I’m smelling a rat.”

  “Just keep your eyes open. We don’t know whether this place had anything to do with her death.” Rarity smiled and raised her voice. “Thank you for the help. I don’t know why I don’t just get a new jacket.”

  “Besides the fact that you’re cheap?” Sam offered with a grin.

  “I paid for your spa day, so I’m not so cheap,” Rarity teased back.

  As soon as they’d changed, another attendant entered the room. “Good, you’re ready. Come this way.”

  Sam and Rarity shared a look. If they weren’t watching them on monitors, they had the changing process timed to a science. Rarity went into the first room, and Sam was led to the next room.

  After their massages, lunch was served in a small dining room with other participants, all of whom were all wearing robes. The food was mostly vegetable-based, and there was a flyer given to each diner on the need for more nutrients in their food—as well as a list of supplements available for purchase at the gift shop on their way out.

  Sam ate her salad, poking through the lettuce to try to find the slivers of almonds and cranberries. “We should stop by the drive-in on the way home. I’m going to be starving by the time we leave here.”

  “I don’t know. I’m enjoying my meal.” Rarity kicked Sam under the table to remind her they were probably still being watched. “Maybe we should come back for the detox. Five days like this, and I bet I’d lose twenty pounds.”

  “I’m betting five at the most.” Sam sighed as she focused on the flyer next to her. She pointed to the description of the detox. “See here, they only guarantee three pounds. And that’s probably all water weight.”

  “At least it’s a start,” Rarity protested, then went on to change the subject. She didn’t know if this was telling her anything about Martha, except that the woman really liked to take care of herself. Something Rarity wouldn’t have guessed from the one and only book club meeting Martha had attended.

  By the time they left that night, they had sat through a thirty-minute presentation on the other offerings the spa had and had walked through the gift shop. Sam made up an excuse for them to get out of there without buying anything. Driving home, Sam rolled her shoulders. “It was a great spa, but they’re so focused on the hard sell. This will help your skin, it’s looking a little muddy, don’t you think?”

  “I thought you were going to punch her when she told you your lips were chapped, and you needed to buy their salve before your next date.” Rarity yawned and settled into the seat. “And they brought up the detox. I told you those waiters refilling our water glasses every five minutes were listening to our conversation. It’s probably all in our file. I bet I’ll get a sales call tomorrow morning.”

  “Do you want tacos? The stand just after the turnoff is pretty good.”

  Rarity nodded. “That sounds awesome. Just a couple, though, since Drew’s grilling dinner for us.”

  “I’d forgotten about that. Okay, so how about one each and a soda. I need some caffeine.” Sam pulled up to the order window.

  “Get me two. I’m starving. And hard-shell tacos aren’t very big. And a Coke.” Rarity pulled out her credit card, but Sam waved it away.