[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
arm and swung around.
You don t want to leave now, Roxanne insisted in an undertone, anchoring her in place. The
party s just about to get interesting.
Catherine s eyes narrowed. What are you talking about? she demanded.
Roxanne simply smiled. Wait for it.& Ah, right on cue.
The roar of multiple engines echoed from across the lake and a pair of bullet-shaped motorboats
bore down on the area reserved for the gondolas.
Three
C atherine stared in horror. Oh, no. No, no, no.
Now, that doesn t look good, Roxanne observed with a well satisfied smile. Maybe this part
of the lake wasn t the best place to put your little boats.
At the last possible instant, the invading crafts cut their engines, sending huge swells careening
among the gondolas, overturning three of them and swamping most of the others. Shrieks of
panic echoed across the lake as guests, dressed in their party finery, tumbled into water that still
clung to its springtime chill.
While Roxanne sauntered back toward the house, Catherine yanked her walkie-talkie from a
holster clipped to the belt at her waist and depressed the mike. I need everyone out to the lake.
Now. She ran toward the shoreline, even as she barked orders. Off to her left, she saw Gabe
flying across the lawn toward the water, as well as several of the other men present. There s
been an accident with the gondolas. There are guests in the water. Everyone drop what you re
doing and help. Davis& call marine patrol and have them dispatch emergency vehicles
immediately.
Within minutes, guests and staff alike were pulling people from the water. I want the gondoliers
locating those guests who were in their individual boat, Catherine called out. Comprehension
was instantaneous and the gondoliers immediately started rounding up and organizing their
passengers to confirm that everyone who went into the lake had come safely out of it. Make
sure every guest is accounted for. Report to me as soon as you ve counted heads.
Natalie appeared at her side. A combination of tears and fury burned in her eyes. How could
you let this happen? she demanded. My father-in-law is out there. My grandchildren are out
there.
Try and stay calm, Natalie. I ll have everyone accounted for in just a few minutes, Catherine
attempted to reassure her.
Calm! Don t tell me to be calm. She hovered along the edge of the grass, desperately scanning
the crowd of soaked guests for family members. Tears fell as she spotted them. If anything
happens to my family or friends as a result of this, I will sue you six ways to Sunday!
I m sorry, Natalie. Truly, I am. We ve called the King County Marine Unit. They re on their
way. The area is posted. I had boats anchored just outside the warning buoys to help direct lake
traffic away from this section, but they simply drove straight through. She gestured toward the
motorboats responsible. If the marine unit catches these guys before they disappear, they ll take
the appropriate action. In the meantime, all my staff is down there helping people ashore. We re
going to need towels, if you have them.
Of course I have towels, she snapped. But that doesn t change what s happened. This is an
unmitigated disaster. I was warned not to hire you, Catherine. But I liked you. You told me you
could do the job and do it perfectly. You knew how important this was to me
Catherine never heard the rest of Natalie s comment, perhaps because it ended in a shriek as
water seemed to explode around them. Sprinkler heads popped up across the lawn and shot
drenching sprays over the guests, the tables and the food. Within seconds, those who hadn t been
thrown in the lake were as thoroughly soaked as those who had been.
People fled in all directions. Natalie s daughter tripped over a peg anchoring one of the tents and
knocked a billowing section into the hot dishes. The flame from the fuel canisters leapt onto the
material and raced hungrily across the silk and tulle. If it hadn t been for the sprinklers, the entire
area would have turned into an inferno.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]