“But not your father or mother?”
Susanna knew she couldn’t lie. She bowed her head. “No. Father has scarcely even come to work since it happened. I’m not sure what’s going on.”
“So he’s not been doing his job?”
“No. I’m afraid if I were gone, he’d lock the place up and leave it to die.”
“We’ll see about that. I’ve had all I’m going to take from him. The fire chief here feels the fire was deliberately set.”
Susanna nodded. “I think so too. It was too obvious that someone broke into the desk and took the money from Friday through Sunday morning before the fire started. I think they were covering up the theft. We were packed full Friday and Saturday nights, and there was quite a bit of money, but because the bank was closed, I locked it in the desk. Unfortunately, the hotel ledger and bank book were in the desk drawer too, and they burned as well.”
“To eliminate the record of how much was actually there, no doubt.” Uncle Harrison glanced at the hotel. “The fire chief didn’t think the ashes looked like paper money, and coinage wouldn’t melt unless the fire was much hotter.”
“I wondered about that myself. I have no way of knowing what burned money should look like, but I didn’t think the coins would burn, and even if they did, I figured we’d find them maybe melted together. There was no sign of them.”
“That’s what the fire chief said. Do you have an idea of who might have set the fire?”
“Not exactly. I wondered about Gary and his friends, but I really don’t think they had anything to do with it. However, Gary’s been very upset about it and . . . well . . .” She fell silent for a moment and raised her gaze to his. “Gary was here sleeping when I left for church. Everything was fine then. Gary says it was fine when he woke up around eleven and headed out for something to eat. Mother and Father were also at church that morning. I took a walk with Owen Turner after the service. We probably returned to the hotel around one o’clock. By the time we arrived, the fire had already been put out.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“It could have been anyone, I suppose. Gary admits to leaving the hotel unlocked. He doesn’t have a key. I do. Father has the only other one.”
“So anyone could have walked in and gone in search of money.”
“Yes.” Susanna tried not to blurt out what she was thinking, but she couldn’t stay quiet. “I think . . . I’m horrified to say it, but I think maybe Father was responsible.”
“So do I.”
“Why do you think it?”
“Because he made a small investment with one of our friends. Unless you gave him the money, he had to find it somewhere else.”
Susanna gave a slow nod. “I see. No, he didn’t get the money from me. I haven’t given them anything extra, although they’ve tried to get all of my money. They found out I am well off. Mother feigned being sick, telling me that she and Father needed to go to California so she could see a specialist. She said she’d need a lot of money because they’d have to stay there. I knew she was lying but offered to make arrangements to go with her so Father could remain here to run the hotel. She had a fit. She felt I should give them the money, then remain here and run the hotel. I’ve no doubt in my mind that, had I done so, they would have continued to ask for money from California.”
“No doubt.” Uncle Harrison thought for a moment. “This really is getting us nowhere. If Herbert is going to steal from the hotel and set fires to hide his guilt, I can hardly keep him here.”
“Well, we don’t know for sure that he did it.”
“Don’t we? Where else would he have gotten the money?”
“Mother still has some jewelry. She hid it when they were forced from the house. He could have sold it. There are a few wealthy families in the area. He might have sought them out or maybe gone to one of the Santa Fe top men.”
“I suppose that is a possibility.”
Susanna knew they both wanted any excuse that didn’t involve her parents. Sadly, they both knew that wasn’t likely.
Inside the hotel, Susanna spoke with Manuel, then asked him to go let her father know he needed to come to the hotel but to say nothing about their visitor. Once Manuel was gone, she glanced at the journal she’d purchased in order to keep track of the hotel guests since the original guestbook had burned. “We have two gentlemen who will be with us through Saturday, checking out Sunday morning. They’re with the Santa Fe offices. Very nice men. Otherwise, the hotel is empty. I’ll set you up in room 101, if you like.”
She led him into the family quarters to show him their progress on the repairs.
Uncle Harrison looked around. “Room 101 will be fine. You should also know that I’m arranging for a fireproof safe to be installed. You will be the only one to know the combination.”
“I don’t think that’s the way to go. Make Father the only one to know. Make a big announcement of it. He will see that he’s the only one who has the information, and he won’t be able to take money from the safe without everyone knowing it must be him.”
“All right. We’ll try it your way. I’m skeptical, however. He had no concern about teaming up with our friend in Kansas City for this new venture. He had to know word would get back to me.”
“Is it a good venture?” She couldn’t keep the hopefulness from her voice.
“It has its possibilities, but I don’t think it will last. I believe they’ll make some good money up front, but then within a few months it will all fall apart.”
“Will you speak to Father about it?”
“No.” Her uncle finished his inspection. “This looks quite nice. I’d like to thank the men who have been doing the work.”
“I can arrange that. If you can stay more than a day, we could have dinner together tomorrow.”
“I can stay. Look, I think I’d like to rest before I meet with your father.” He sounded so weary as they made their way back to the front desk. He was probably just as troubled and disappointed as she was.
She grabbed the key for his room. “Here you go. I doubt Father will hurry over. If he comes at all. We may have to go to him.”
Her uncle nodded and took the key. “Come for me at four, if you would be so kind. Unless, of course, your father shows up before then.”
“I will.”
She watched him go, feeling sorry for the older man. He seemed so dejected. If her father was the one who set the fire and stole the money, Uncle would have to make some very important decisions. And how could it not have been her father? Perhaps that was why Gary was so upset about the whole thing. She would have to catch him after work sometime and see if she could get the truth out of him.
“Hola, Susanna.”
Susanna looked up to find Lia in the lobby. “Is everything all right?”
“I thought I would come by and see how things went at the ladies’ aid meeting.”
“It went well. We’re gathering blankets and quilts for winter to give to some of the poorer families. I wish I knew how to quilt so I could be working on one.”
“Come on over to my house tonight. I’m putting together a tied quilt. It’s much faster. I sewed large simple blocks together, and now I’m using yarn to tie it. It’s a fast way to make a quilt.”