Innkeeping With Murder

by Tim Myers

  Elise nodded. “He came by when I was working on the floor. He wanted to know something about the gem hunting around here.” “What did you tell him?”

  “I’ve never been myself, but I gave him one of the brochures from Emerald Valley Mining Company I found behind the desk. Is that all right?”

  “That’s fine.” So Junior was going to do a little prospecting. Alex wondered if he was trying to learn a little gem identification on his own, and how it could relate to his father’s murder. It seemed an odd way to pass the time if the man was indeed in mourning. There were several suspects in Alex’s mind, but none ranked higher than Reg’s own son.

  “Elise, you’ve been working hard. How would you like to take tomorrow morning off and do a little prospecting with me? You should learn something about local gemstone mining.”

  Elise was quick on the uptake. “And if we happen to see Junior there, we can watch him and see what he’s up to, is that it?”

  Alex stammered a little at her having seen through him so quickly. “I didn’t mean it as any kind of insult. I just thought—”

  Elise interrupted. “It’s honorable that you’re trying to find out who murdered your friend. I’d be happy to go with you tomorrow, but what about our guests? Shouldn’t someone stay here for them?”

  Alex took quiet pleasure in the way she said ‘our.’ “The way I see it, one is dead and another is in a coma. That leaves one angry man and one sour old woman. We’ll be following another guest around, so that’s the whole lot of them since Miss Ethereal left us. I think we’ll be fine.”

  Elise tried again. “Then what happens if the sheriff or that SBI man wants to talk to you about something?”

  Alex offered a smile. “Then they can go rockhounding with us,” he said, as he heard a car approach. Alex I glanced out the window and saw Sandra’s silver BMW, and from the expression on her face, he knew she’d already heard about Elise.

  Sandra was still in the stylish gray suit she must have traveled in. Her short blonde hair was perfect, as always, and her skirt was just high enough to draw attention.

  She smiled broadly at Alex, but when her gaze took in Elise, there wasn’t much warmth in it.

  She hugged Alex at the front door and made a show of kissing him.

  “Did you miss me?” she asked.

  Elise started to step away when Alex broke free. “Sandra, I’d like you to meet my new maid. Sandra Beckett, this is Elise Danton. Elise, this is Sandra.”

  Sandra took Elise’s hand as she looked her over and said, “It’s hard to believe you are part of the Danton clan.”

  Elise said quietly, “It’s nice to meet you. Now if you’ll excuse me ...”

  Sandra said, “Nonsense. I came to take Alex out to dinner. You simply must join us.”

  “Thank you, but I’ve already made plans.”

  Before Alex could say a word, Elise was gone.

  Sandra said sharply, “I can’t believe she’s living here with you.”

  “She’s my maid, Sandra. That’s all. By the way, I’m fine, thanks for asking.”

  Sandra must have seen the storm clouds in his eyes. “I’m sorry. Alex, I just don’t want to see you taken advantage of. The poor thing doesn’t look like she’d be much of a maid.”

  “She’s the best worker I’ve ever had at Hatteras West, Sandra.”

  She waved a hand in the air, dismissing his comment. “I’m sure she is. Now why don’t you put on your best suit, and we’ll go someplace nice to celebrate my homecoming.”

  “I don’t feel much like going out tonight, Sandra. A lot has happened since you’ve been gone.”

  She arched one eyebrow. “I can see that. That’s why we need to go out. You can bring me up to date.” Alex started to protest, but Sandra wouldn’t allow it. “You can be ready in ten minutes, Alex. Why stand here arguing?”

  He said abruptly, “You know what? I don’t seem to have much of an appetite. Go on without me.”

  Sandra looked stunned by Alex’s refusal. “Maybe I’ll do just that.”

  “That’s fine by me,” Alex said, instead of acquiescing like he knew Sandra was expecting him to.

  Rebounding quickly, Sandra said, “On second thought, I am rather tired from my trip. Why don’t we do lunch tomorrow instead, Alex?” She kissed him lightly on the cheek, then quickly drove away. Alex had to admire Sandra for one thing; she always knew when to cut her losses.

  Suddenly, Alex realized that he’d just lost the chance to have dinner with two different women.

  Tonight, he’d be eating alone.

  Elise came out just as Alex was lighting the night’s fire.

  “I thought you two went out,” she said.

  “Sandra suddenly decided she was too tired.”

  Elisa took it in without comment.

  Alex said. “I’ve never given you the grand tour. Would you like to see the grounds before it gets too dark?”

  A slight frown cropped up on Elise’s face. “Well, I’d love to see Bear Rocks, but I’m going to need more time to explore than the daylight we have left. Can we walk up to the top of the lighthouse instead?”

  Alex nodded. “We might have to share the view with someone else. A lot of townsfolk have been coming to see the murder scene. Do you mind?”

  Elise placed her hand delicately on Alex’s arm. “Oh, Alex. I’m sorry. That’s probably the last place in the world you want to be so soon after your friend’s death. We can go some other time.”

  “The lighthouse means a lot to me. I hate that someone used it as a place to kill Reg, but there have been deaths there before. The old stone walls just absorb it all, the good along with the bad.”

  As they walked outside and over to the steps, Elise said, “Tell me who else died here. Goodness, I sound ghoulish, don’t I?”

  Alex shook his head. “It’s part of the lighthouse history. Fifty years ago, a couple of kids were stopped from eloping by their parents. Before anyone knew what was happening, they broke into the tower and climbed the steps together. It was the last thing they did in this lifetime. Dad found their bodies at the base the next morning. Some of the people in town wanted the inn closed because of the deaths, as if it was somehow the lighthouse’s fault.”

  Elise said, “That’s so unfair. If someone wants to kill

  himself, there are surely more ways to do it than leaping from the top of a lighthouse.”

  They were just starting to climb the first level of the stairs when Barb Matthews came racing down the final steps toward them. Instead of a greeting, she started attacking Alex.

  “Where were you today? I needed fresh linen and had to scrounge it myself. What kind of inn are you running, anyway? I hear someone else almost died today, a fact you neglected to share with me. Who’s next? Me? ‘Gas leak’ my foot. You can’t pull anything over on me, Mr. Winston. I’m too sharp for that.”

  Alex bit back his first response. He knew perfectly well Elise had been at the inn all day. It was obvious Barb Matthews just wanted something to complain about. “I’m sorry about the linen, but we’ve got a lot going on right now. If you aren’t happy with your accommodations at Hatteras West, I’d be glad to make alternate arrangements someplace in town for you.” Alex offered his slickest smile to the woman.

  She tapped him squarely in the chest with the dragonhead cane. It surprised Alex that she carried the walking stick up the steps of the lighthouse when there was a handrail on either side of staircase, but Mrs. Matthews was obviously a law unto herself.

  She scowled and said, “You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Mr. Winston. I’m planning to stay here till they drag my body out. You understand?”

  Alex barely refrained from snapping a salute. “Yes Ma’am. I’ve got it.”

  Mrs. Matthews started to leave through the red doors when Alex called out, “By the way, we’ll both be out of the inn tomorrow morning, so you’d better make your linen requests tonight.”

  She whirled around. “Where do you
think you’re going, young man? In case you’ve forgotten, you’ve got a business to run.”

  Alex offered his open palms in a plea. “We’re going rockhounding. Care to join us?”

  The look of pale contempt she shot him as she walked away was far greater than Alex ever imagined he actually deserved. Or maybe Reg’s murder had made him a little more sensitive than normal.

  Elise smiled lightly after the woman was gone. “Oh, you’re bad. You couldn’t get her out of here now with a crowbar. Look at that. It’s like a wave of clouds coming right at us.”

  Alex had been watching Elise as she drank in the surrounding hills from high atop the lighthouse’s upper balcony. He pulled his gaze away from her and saw a massive flank of clouds rolling down the mountain toward them like spilled liquid marshmallow.

  Alex said, “It’s really something, isn’t it? ‘The fog rolls in like silent thunder, dressing the trees in liquid smoke.’”

  Elise turned towards Alex. “Who wrote that?”

  Alex admitted, “That’s from one of the poems I wrote in high school. There used to be a lot more of it, but I’m afraid I’ve forgotten the rest.”

  Elise’s eyes went back to the hills. “It’s exactly what a real lighthouse should see. Instead of the ocean, we’ve got the clouds.”

  In a few minutes, the ground was covered with the low-lying fog. Only at the observation level could Alex see clearly. It was like flying in an airplane, only better. This particular trip didn’t cost a thing, and there was no risk of crashing.

  Alex touched the railing with his hands. “I used to come up here to get away from everything. Dad finally gave me a key to keep me from taking his all the time. I’m not sure Mom ever knew where I disappeared to, but I suspect Dad told her. I always figured this was Dad’s secret place as a boy, too but we never talked about it. It was one of the few close bonds we had. He loved Hatteras West as much as I do. Before the town built up so much, my favorite reason to come here was because of the stars. Elise, they were breathtaking. Looking up into the night, it was like the sky was on fire. I swear you could almost read by their light. Then slowly, Elkton Falls began to grow. As it did, the town lights stole more and more of the sky from us.” Alex gestured to the sky. “It’s still magnificent, but it’s more like a faded flower, just a reflection of the beauty that I remember.”

  Alex realized he had talked for an awfully long time. When he glanced at Elise, he saw her eyes were on him instead of the magnificence around them.

  Alex shrugged. “I’m sorry. I always get carried away up here. Especially at night.”

  Elise smiled softly. “I bet your girlfriends loved it, here.”

  Alex grinned. “Do you want to know the truth? You’re the first person I’ve ever brought up here at night.”

  “Not even Sandra?” Elisa asked.

  “She wants me to sell out to Finster’s client. Sandra never has understood the pull Hatteras West has on me.”

  Elise said softly, “How can she not feel it?”

  In the next moments of silence, Alex had to fight the urge to kiss her. He wanted to, there was no doubt about that. Elise’s presence had made Alex realize that he and Sandra weren’t going to be together much longer. Though they’d been a couple off and on for a long time, there wasn’t the bond there that he’d already formed with Elise.

  It was a shame she was engaged to someone else.

  With a false air of casualness, he said, “Would you like to see the Fresnel lens work?”

  Elise suddenly turned into a little girl. “Can we? I thought you said the town banned it.”

  Alex grinned. “In this fog, they won’t care. Besides, it’s still early.”

  “Let’s do it. Can I light the wick?”

  Alex smiled. “You could if we had one. Dad converted the lamp to electricity thirty years ago.”

  “Show me what to do.”

  Alex led Elise down to the watch room just below the lantern itself. On one wall there was a lonely two-button switch, much like one found in the average home of the forties. Elise didn’t look impressed. “That’s it? I expected something more.”

  “Push the top button in.”

  Elise did as she was told, and suddenly the tiny room was filled with bright light. Alex led Elise onto the lower observation platform where they could see the beam cutting into the growing night. Its brilliance was overwhelming. They watched it for a few moments as it started to rotate, then Alex went back inside and hit the lower button, cutting off the lens’s power.

  He rejoined Elise outside and explained, “Dad hooked up a motor to turn the Fresnel lens instead of the weights they used to use. I try to keep the beam pointed away from town. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “Let me tell you when I get my eyesight back. Wow, I can’t believe how bright it is.”

  Alex took her hand and led her inside to an old wooden bench that hugged one wall. “The beam will blind you if you’re standing in the wrong spot up there, but it’s a magical sight, especially in the fog.”

  Suddenly, a shout rang out from below.

  “Decent folk are trying to sleep down here. Keep that overgrown night-light off, you durn fool.”

  The voice unmistakably belonged to Barb Matthews. The moment between them had passed.

  Alex and Elise walked down the steps of the lighthouse and headed back for their separate rooms. Back inside the inn, Elise quickly said, “I had a lovely evening, Alex. Good night.” And then she was gone.

  Chapter 13

  The next morning, Alex had just gotten dressed when he heard a timid knock on his door. It was Elise.

  She said, “Good, you’re awake. Listen, I just saw Junior drive off, so if we want to follow him, we need to go right now.”

  Some detective he was. Alex had forgotten all about trailing Junior this morning. “Let me grab my keys and we’ll go.”

  Even though they were in a hurry, Alex managed to find time to hold Elise’s door for her.

  As they headed down the road, he asked, “Have you eaten anything?”

  She opened her large handbag. “No, but I packed a few bananas and an apple I got yesterday at the store, and I filled a thermos with hot coffee. Want to share with me?”

  “That sounds good. It would be nice if we could grab a biscuit, too, but I’m not positive Junior’s really going

  rockhounding. Still, it’s a good thing you dressed for a dig.”

  Elise wore a faded pair of jeans and a work shirt that had probably belonged to her father. He hoped it wasn’t her fiancé’s. Alex desperately wanted to ask her about the mystery man in her life, but he just couldn’t find the words. Had he imagined her interest in him up in the lighthouse the night before? He had to admit that Elise could have been under the beacon’s spell, too. Now, in the cold light of day, he wondered if she’d regretted their lost opportunity as much as he did.

  Alex studied her a second as he drove. She had on a sturdy pair of work boots, and her lustrous hair was pulled back into a ponytail, secured by a wide band of red cloth that matched the shirt she wore.

  Elise said, “You warned me what we might be doing. I debated on wearing Dad’s old shirt, but I didn’t really have anything else appropriate. I usually don’t look this ragged.”

  Alex smiled. “I think you look fine.” Glorious, wonderful, stunning, he substituted, but only in his mind.

  Alex himself was dressed much the same. He had grown up digging in the hills around the valley, hoping to match his great-grandfather’s find. All he’d ever managed to come up with were tiny chips of ruby and emerald, a carload of smoky quartz and even some Hiddenite, a greenish rock found only in the area they would be digging.

  Elise shared a banana and then said, “Tell me what to expect. I’ve never been rockhounding before.”

  “Well, a lot of it depends on where Junior goes. I’ve been to Emerald Valley before, and they’ve got their commercial operation down cold. You can dig up on the mountain, what they call the
‘mining area,’ or you can sluice a pail full of dirt they provide, for a fee of course.”

  “It’s not very likely there will be anything in one of those, is it?”

  Alex grinned. “Don’t bet on it. Just about every bucket on the place has been salted with one stone or another, unless you tell them otherwise.”

  He looked over to find a puzzled expression on Elise’s face. She said, “That doesn’t make any sense. How can they make any money if they give their stones away?”

  Alex laughed. “What they give away are large common stones, usually not worth much of anything. But the tourists feel lucky unearthing a hunk of smoky quartz, so they buy another bucket.”

  “Why, that’s not honest at all.” Alex didn’t need to see Elise’s face. He could hear the outrage in her voice.

  “I used to think so myself. But if you know the right questions to ask, they’ll tell you the truth. Some of the buckets are ‘guaranteed,’ those are the ones that are salted, and some of them are ‘native.’ It works. You have to remember, if there was much hope of finding anything valuable, they’d operate as a real mine instead of a tourist attraction. Some tourists have surprised them though, pulling a real quality stone out of one of their buckets. It’s happened more than once.”

  Elise shook her head. “I still don’t like it. It just doesn’t seem like a fair hunt.”

  Alex nodded his agreement. “If it’s fair you want, I’ll take you down the creek away from the main area. Whatever you find there is pretty likely to be a genuine find.”

  “Well, at least they don’t salt the creek.”

  Alex laughed. “Don’t kid yourself. Every time a busload of tourists come in, they scatter a handful of gem fragments right at the creek entrance. It must be working, because people keep coming back for more. It’s harmless enough, if you know the ground rules.”

  Elise still seemed a little put off by the arrangement. Alex protested, “Hey, if you’re going to think badly of them, you probably wouldn’t have cared much for my father. I told you he salted our land with quite a few fragments hoping it would help the inn.”