An Act Of Murder Read Online Free Page A

hotel and I eventually found my way back to the resort.”
    When Kim got back to her room, she realized she had forgotten her electronic room key. She didn’t want to knock because it was so late, so she went around back, because she remembered the sliding glass door had been opened. It was still unlocked. As Kim opened it, thick, oily smoke and intense heat poured out. She couldn’t see her hand in front of her face. There was no light, nor was there a smoke alarm sounding. Panicking, Kim ran to the surrounding units, knocking on the doors, waiting for someone to hear her. But there were no sounds or lights in any of the rooms. When no one responded to her pleas, she jumped in her car and drove to the lobby. It was approximately 1:15 or 1:30 in the morning. As she drove, she called 911 on her cell phone.
    When she reached the lobby, which was in a separate building, she parked the car directly in front, partly on the sidewalk. She ran into the building screaming for help while still on the cell phone with emergency personnel, who were asking her to calm down so they could get the pertinent information from her.
    â€œSo when I walked into the lobby, I was already involved with the emergency operator, giving them the exact location and directions to my room,” Kim said. “They just keep saying over and over, ‘Calm down,’ and kept asking questions. I understand a woman said I walked in calmly and a man said I walked in hysterical. I was hysterical! Everyone present left and I didn’t know what to do, so I ran on foot to the unit because I was too upset to drive. I know I left the keys and purse in my car and I think I left the motor running.”
    Kim followed people from the lobby back to her room.
    â€œThe police were at the cottage with cars. A lady held me back, pushing my head onto her shoulders and squeezing me. I heard over the police car radio, ‘We have a white male, DOA.’ From that information I knew that Steve was deceased without anyone telling me. The voice probably came from around on the porch side of the cottage over a walkie-talkie or radio. I never went into our room or saw Steve before I was taken away. I tried to get away from the lady and a policeman, and was screaming, ‘I want to see him.’ I understand the lady misquoted me saying, ‘I want to see his body.’ No one offered to help take me to the hospital to meet with the doctors or see if there was anything that I could do for Steve.”

Chapter 2
    It was nearly 1:00 A.M. and Elaine Phillips, Harbourtowne’s banquet manager, had just finished up for the night. After working a twelve-hour shift she was glad for some downtime, which she spent socializing with her aunt, Bonnie Parker, her cousin, Philip Parker, and his girlfriend, who were spending the weekend at the resort. Phillips and her family had just called it a night and were walking through the lobby when Kim entered and said she needed to speak to a Harbourtowne employee.
    â€œA woman walked into the lobby. She had a cell phone up to her ear. It was turned upside down. She was just listening into it,” Phillips said later. “She walked over to us, my cousin and I, and she said, ‘I need to speak to someone who works here.’ My cousin, who was about a step ahead of me, kind of directed her to me. I asked her, ‘May I help you?’ And she said, ‘My room is on fire.’”
    Phillips immediately asked Kim what her room number was, but Kim didn’t answer. So Phillips then asked her what her name was and Kim said Hricko. Remembering the spelling of Kim’s name, Phillips spelled it out for another Harbourtowne employee, who looked up the Hrickos’ record and shouted out that their room number was 506.
    Phillips immediately called 911 to report the fire, while her cousin asked Kimberly if she was okay. The emergency operator told Elaine Phillips that the fire already had been called in.
    As