Innkeeping With Murder

by Tim Myers

  After handing the key to the attendants, Alex heard Armstrong ask, “You’all need any help?”

  “No, we can handle it.”

  As they disappeared through the doorway, Armstrong asked, “Have you given any thought as to who could have done this? I’ve got a feeling one of your guests might be a murderer.”

  “Come on, Sheriff, you know how many folks from town use the lighthouse as a Stair Master. While you’re naming suspects, you might as well use the county telephone book.”

  The sheriff mopped away a line of perspiration that had formed on his brow. The man sweated more than anyone Alex had ever known. Or maybe it wasn’t just the heat; it could be the pressure he was under to solve the case, and solve it quickly. He said, “You’ve got a point about it being anybody, but I figure the only people around here who knew him well enough to want to kill him were guests, too. It makes sense, doesn’t it?”

  When Alex nodded his agreement, the sheriff continued, “Have you looked around the base of the lighthouse for the knife?”

  “I’ve got an inn to run. I haven’t had time to play detective,” Alex said abruptly, feeling guilty that he’d been doing just that.

  Armstrong patted Alex on the shoulder. “Take it easy, Alex, I was just asking. Why don’t you take a walk with me around the tower, and we’ll have a chance to talk about what really happened.”

  The grass around the tower’s base had just received its monthly trim two days previously. If Reg’s murder had occurred three days earlier, they wouldn’t have been able to find the blade with a metal detector, the weeds had grown so high. Now, it was simple to walk over the manicured grass and search for the weapon.

  As they walked, the sheriff discussed the possibilities. “We’ve got several ways we can look at this, Alex. If it was just some random killing, you and your guests are in just as much danger as anybody in town.” Alex tried to say something, but Armstrong held up his hands. “Slow down. I don’t believe this is random for a second. What else have we got? Greed is always an awfully strong motive. I imagine Wellington’s son could have a stake there. If he’s the killer, there shouldn’t be any further threat. Other reasons? How about sex, blackmail gone bad, hell, who knows, maybe he saw something he shouldn’t have seen.”

  There was a hitch in the sheriff’s words, and Alex said, “There’s something you’re not saying, isn’t there?”

  Armstrong stopped his search for a second to look at Alex carefully, then the sheriff admitted, “You could have a crazy killer on your hands who’s just getting his first taste of blood. It doesn’t feel right, though. I don’t think anybody else is going to get killed.”

  “What if you’re wrong? Is there anybody you can station out here until you figure out who killed Reg?”

  “Alex, I wish to heaven I could, but with my budget, I can barely keep two cruisers on the road. What with Bobby James on vacation and all, I don’t see how I can help you there.” He slapped Alex on the shoulder. “But don’t you worry now. I’m going to keep my eyes and ears on this place. We’ll get this killer, you mark my words.”

  Alex shrugged. “Sheriff, I’ve got to tell my guests what’s been happening. At least that way they’ll have the option of leaving if they’re not comfortable staying at the inn.”

  “I understand that. I just wish I could keep them all here. I know the killer could be long gone, but I can’t help thinking he’s still around.”

  Alex shrugged. “If you can keep them here on your own, fine, but they have a right to know what’s going on.”

  Armstrong pulled at his chin and frowned as he kicked at the grass. “It’s too bad we didn’t find anything here.”

  They walked back out front and the sheriff got into his cruiser and drove away.

  Alex peered up at the lighthouse, and for just a moment it felt as though the tower was looking back down at him. The structure had always been a comfort to him, but as an errant cloud scudded across the sun, the lighthouse was bathed in muted darkness; there was an almost sinister shadow enveloping it until the sun broke free again.

  Alex prayed the killer was long gone from Hatteras West, but he had a sneaking suspicion that just wasn’t the case.

  He could only hope that there would be no more murders at Hatteras West.

  Chapter 6

  “I finished the occupied rooms, Alex. Is there anything else you need done this evening?”

  Alex looked up from his seat on the porch to see Elise standing directly in front of him. He’d forgotten all about her, and it took him a second to react.

  She must have caught the vacant look in his eyes. “Funny, I thought I was more memorable than that.”

  “I’m sorry,” Alex said as he sighed. “I’ve been sitting here since they took Reg’s body away. I must be in some kind of funk. We were really close.” He shook his head, then added, “I’m having a tough time with it.”

  A look of concern swept over her face. “I’m sorry you lost your friend.” She added, “You’d probably prefer to be alone. If that’s all for today, I’m going to go into town and get something to eat.”

  Alex realized that in his haste to hire Elise, they hadn’t even discussed salary. He got up from his seat abruptly and said, “Why don’t we go together? Dinner’s on me. It’ll give us a chance to talk, plus I can write the meal off on my taxes as a job interview.”

  “I don’t see how you can interview me if I’ve already got the job.” There was a sudden coolness to her words, and ordinarily Alex would have taken the rebuff in stride and moved on.

  Instead, he said sternly, “I’m not making a pass, Elise; I’ve already got a girlfriend, but she’s out of town on business and I just don’t want to eat by myself tonight. You’re certainly under no obligation to eat with me.

  Elise’s eyes softened. “I’m sorry, Alex, I overreacted. I guess I’m kind of defensive.”

  “Don’t worry about it, it’s not a problem,” Alex said as he stayed in his chair.

  Elise stood there a moment, then said gently, “If the dinner invitation is still open, I’d be happy to join you tonight.”

  Alex said with a slight smile, “Maybe you should buy, then. That way there won’t be any doubt in your mind that it’s not a date.”

  Elise laughed for the first time since Alex had met her. It was a rich throaty sound that instantly warmed the air between them. “I’ll be glad to, if you’ll pay me for today’s work.”

  “Tell you what, I’ll buy dinner tonight after all. We haven’t even discussed your salary yet.”

  Alex considered their choices for dinner.

  Elkton Falls had only two decent restaurants, Buck’s Grill and Mamma Ravolini’s. Buck’s was basically a diner with booths and a front bar, while Mamma’s as the townsfolk referred to the latter, was a sit-down restaurant run by an older woman named Irma Bean.

  The closest Irma had ever been to Italy was watching a documentary on Public Television, but she believed the name Mamma Ravolini’s sounded more appropriate for her pasta-oriented menu than Bean’s Family Restaurant. Alex’s girlfriend, Sandra, was always dragging him to Charlotte to try the Queen’s City’s latest and greatest, but Alex preferred the food in Elkton Falls.

  Their choice was narrowed even more since Buck’s only served breakfast and lunch. “How’s Italian sound?”

  Elise smiled. “Mamma Ravolini’s it is. I’ve been in town two weeks, and I still haven’t had a chance to eat there. The local branch of Dantons isn’t schooled in the fine art of food preparation. They’ve been taking advantage of my background and keeping me in the kitchen since I arrived.” Elise added, “If we’ve got hot water now I’d like to grab a shower before we go.”

  “According to my handyman, we should have plenty of hot water, so help yourself.” He glanced at his watch and grinned. “But I thought you were starving.”

  Elise said, “If I’m not ready in fifteen minutes, you have my permission to go on without me.”

  Alex didn’t believe
her, but he figured he might as well use his time productively and pay some bills. He was writing the third check when Elsie joined him.

  She was dressed in a floral print dress that fell just below her knees. Her hair had been brushed out and was pulled back away from her face. In short, she looked delightful.

  He got up from his chair. “I think I’d better change, too. I’ll be ready to go in a minute.”

  Elise said, “Nonsense. You look fine.”

  “Okay.” They walked out to Alex’s battered gray

  Ford pickup after Alex posted a “Back After Supper” sign at the front desk. He winced slightly, wondering what Elise would think of his transportation. Gamely, he opened the passenger door and held it for her. Too late, Alex remembered that many modern woman considered gallant behavior offensive. But Elise smiled at the courtesy, and Alex had to hide his own grin in return. If his truck put her off, she didn’t show it. She slid onto the vinyl seat as if she’d grown up riding around in a long-bed pickup.

  As he drove down Point Road toward town, Alex asked, “What kind of background do you have that makes you such a fine cook? I can’t imagine Mrs. Danton turning her kitchen over to just anyone.”

  “Don’t kid yourself. She thought it was wonderful having someone else feed her clan. I didn’t really mind, though. Cooking has always been a hobby of mine. I got my degree in hotel/motel management from West Virginia University, and I picked up some tips from a Marriott chef I worked with in Greensboro.”

  Alex looked over at his passenger. In the fading light of the day, he studied her face for a moment to see if she was pulling his leg. But she returned his glance with a steady look that told him she was telling the truth.

  Alex laughed deeply. “I’ve hired someone to be my maid who has better qualifications to run my inn than I do! You must think I’m an idiot.”

  Elise said, “I think nothing of the sort. You didn’t have time to ask, and it didn’t seem important to tell you. I would have done just about anything to get out of that house anyway.”

  Alex heard Elise sigh heavily beside him. They drove in silence for a few moments. She finally broke the quiet. “I grew up in a little hotel in the West Virginia mountains. We had nine rooms and a restaurant. It wasn’t much, but my folks and I were happy. I decided that someday I was going to run one of the big chains single-handedly, so I got my degree from WVU and headed out into the cold cruel world two years ago. I landed a job at Marriott and discovered that corporate life wasn’t for me. There were too many forms, too much paper work, and not enough interaction with people. I was getting to the point where I wasn’t even seeing the guests anymore, so I quit.”

  “And you ended up as a house guest of the Dantons? That’s a pretty far fall.”

  Elise said softly, “I wouldn’t say I was a guest; I was more like a cook and a maid. It didn’t matter, though; I just needed some time away from everything. Now I’m so grateful to get out of that house I should be paying you for this job.”

  Alex coughed once. “Speaking of money, we’re near the end of our season here, and things are a little—”

  Elise cut him off gently. “Why don’t we give each other a one-week trial? We’ll see how it goes, and we can talk about money after that.”

  Alex nodded. “I’m willing to handle it that way if you are.”

  Mamma Ravolini’s gravel parking lot was jammed, but Alex managed to slide the truck into a newly freed slot.

  As they went inside, it took Alex’s eyes a second to adjust to the dark interior. The only light came from thick red candles, one per table. The effect always gave Alex the impression that the dining room was on fire. The walls of the restaurant were lined with photographs of the near-famous who had dined at Mamma Ravolini’s, each adorned with a hastily scrawled signature and good wishes. Alex had studied the pictures one evening. The most famous face he’d found belonged to a Charlotte newscaster who had been fired for filing false stories. Nevertheless, the picture had remained on the wall in its place of honor.

  The aromas of pizza, lasagna and ravioli filled the air like a humid summer breeze. Alex loved the place, and Irma Bean’s familiar openness, but he rarely made it into town during tourist season, and Sandra never wanted to eat at Mamma’s even if he was free.

  There was no one at the front, so Alex started looking for an empty table when he felt two arms embrace him. He looked down to see Irma herself giving him the bear hug of his life. She was a short thin woman who somehow managed to keep her slight figure around all the heavy sauces and rich desserts the restaurant served. Though Irma was a tiny woman, she had the longest reach Alex had ever seen, and the warmest heart, too.

  “It’s been too long since I’ve seen you, Alexander.”

  Alex said, “Hi, Irma. I’d like to introduce you to Elise Danton.”

  Irma released her grip on Alex and took Elise’s hand in hers. “You’re the girl who’s been cooking for the Dantons? An hour ago they told me your veal picata was better than mine.”

  Elisa offered tentatively, “I’m sure your picata is marvelous.”

  “When it comes to cooking, I’m always willing to learn. So, are you going to share your secret with me?”

  “Well, it’s really all in the—”

  Irma held up her hand and shushed Elise. “Not here,

  I don’t want everyone listening in. Let’s go back to the kitchen, and you can tell me there.”

  Elise offered Alex a quick smile. “Excuse us, will you?” To Irma, she said, “I’m ready if you are. It’s easier to show than explain, anyway.”

  Irma slapped Alex on the back. “I like this girl. Go find a table and eat some breadsticks. We’ll be with you in a bit.”

  Alex made his way to an open table and sampled the homemade bread while he waited for Elise to finish up in the kitchen. He saw a few glances come his way, and he knew that if Sandra were in town, she would have heard about the dinner before they were finished with dessert. It was like that, living in a small town. Alex knew he would have to make a preemptive strike and tell Sandra about the business dinner first himself. Not that he had to justify his every action to her.

  When Elise came back to the table, she let a slight grin slip out as Alex jumped up to grab her chair.

  As she sat down in the offered seat, Elise said, “You really are quite the gentleman, aren’t you?”

  Alex said, “I’ve been trying to break the habit, but I’m not having much luck. To be honest with you, I’m sick of being lectured about what a modern woman will or will not put up with. I was raised to be polite to ladies and older folks. My mother wouldn’t have any luck understanding the world today.”

  Elise caught and held his eye, and Alex felt the intensity of her look. In a serious tone, Elise said, “I think your manners are refreshing. Don’t try to change them on my account.”

  “Thank God. It’ll be wonderful just being myself.”

  Elise added, “Just don’t treat me any differently than you did Marisa while we’re at the inn, okay?”

  Alex smiled slightly. “I kept a clean handkerchief available for her crying jags. Do I need to offer the same service to you?”

  “No, but thanks for asking. Marisa is something else, isn’t she?”

  “That’s one way of putting it.” Alex opened his menu and studied the offerings. When he looked up, he noticed Elise was looking at him instead of the menu.

  Alex said, “What’s the matter, do I have bread crumbs on my face?”

  “No, it’s just that I took the liberty of ordering for us. Irma wanted to see how I prepared my picata, so I made three.”

  Alex smiled. “She’s a hard woman to resist, isn’t she? I’ve never been able to say no to her myself.”

  “I think she’s delightful.”

  As if on cue, Irma came to their table carrying two steaming plates filled with all of his favorites. Irma knew what Alex liked, since he always ordered the same thing every time he came to the restaurant He noticed that ther
e was also a small portion of veal picata on his plate, along with the spaghetti and the ravioli combination platter he normally requested.

  Irma surveyed the table. “What, no wine? You can’t eat my food without a touch of the grape. I won’t allow it.” She called over her shoulder to their waiter, “Marty, bring a nice bottle of Chianti, on the house.”

  Elise took her plate from Irma. “So what do you think of my recipe?”

  Irma gave out a hearty laugh. “It was delicious. I ate my own in the kitchen, and then helped myself to half

  of Alex’s. You can come back anytime, Elise, with or without this fellow here.”

  Elise offered her thanks as Irma moved to another table across the room. Alex hadn’t realized how hungry the day’s activities had made him. He ate with hearty gusto and was surprised to look up from his empty plate to see Elise smiling at him.

  She grinned and said, “So, how did you like the picata, or did you have a chance to taste it?”

  “I missed lunch, and everything was so good.” He kissed his fingertips in the air. “The picata was excellent.”

  Elise’s dimples appeared. “It’s nice to see someone enjoy a meal so much. The Dantons were much more critical eaters, even though they always managed to clean their plates.”

  Elise abruptly changed the subject. “I’ve been dying to ask you about this, but I really don’t know how to go about it.”

  “Tonight, all answers are half-price, and the first one’s free. Ask away.”

  “How on earth did your lighthouse get to be built in the mountains? And how did you end up owning it?”

  “That’s two questions, but I can satisfy your curiosity with one long, drawn-out story that will probably bore you to tears. It’s all ancient family history.”

  Elise shifted her chair a little closer to Alex as she took another sip of wine. “I’d really love to hear about it.”

  Alex said, “It all started back in 1883. My great-grandfather Adlai Winston had a farm about forty miles from here in Alexander County. A fellow named J. O. Lackey found a vein of mica on the property next to Adlai’s. Lackey knew about precious stones and such, so he was bright enough to keep looking, since mica’s one of the indicators that there’s a chance of gemstones nearby. Turns out he found thirty-six small emeralds. Well, that got Adlai awfully curious, so he started scouting around on his own property. It soon became apparent he was sitting on a war chest full of emeralds and other precious stones. The biggest one he pulled out weighed in at just under thirteen carats.”