Innkeeping With Murder

by Tim Myers

  Alex called out, “Is there anyone you’d like me to contact?”

  As Junior walked out between Armstrong and Hicking, he said, “Don’t worry, Alex, I’ll call my lawyer from the jail. I didn’t kill my father! It’s important that you believe me.”

  Hicking snapped. “It doesn’t matter what he thinks. You’d better start concentrating on impressing us.”

  Alex walked out with the three men. As the SBI

  agent moved ahead with Junior, Alex whispered to Armstrong, “Isn’t there anything you can do about this?”

  “I’m sorry, Alex. My hands are tied. I’ll watch out for him, though. Hicking’s not a bad guy, he’s just eager to make a splash. If Junior didn’t kill his father, I won’t let him be railroaded for it.”

  Alex leaned over to speak to Junior as Armstrong helped him into the backseat of the squad car. “For what it’s worth, I believe you, Junior.”

  A look of relief washed over the man’s face. Junior’s arrest snapped Alex out of his lethargy. He was more determined than ever to find the identity of the real killer. It was most likely the same individual who had started the fire.

  Whoever was playing with matches was going to get burned, if Alex had anything to say about it.

  Alex was still staring at the unlit logs in the fireplace when Elise walked through the front door. A quick glance at his watch showed Alex it was only 9:30.

  Elise didn’t see him sitting in the darkness. Once she was inside, she closed the door firmly and leaned her back against it.

  Alex said from his corner of the darkness, “Hello.”

  Elise flipped on the light switch. “Waiting up for me, Alex?”

  He shielded his eyes from the intensity of the sudden light. “To be honest with you, I forgot you went out.”

  “That’s not very flattering,” she said.

  “Where’s Peter?” Alex asked softly.

  “I don’t want to talk about him, Alex.”

  He said, “That’s fine by me.” The strain between them was obvious, but Alex didn’t know how to relieve it.

  Elise rubbed her arms. “It’s chilly in here, don’t you think? Could we have a fire?” The second she said it, Alex could tell she regretted her word choice. “I’m sorry, I’m sure that’s the last thing you want.”

  “I’ve got to get over it sooner or later,” he said as he lit the fire. As the flames took hold, Alex said, “Hicking and Armstrong came by a few minutes ago and took Junior in for questioning.”

  Elise shook her head. “That’s ridiculous. That man didn’t kill his father. I just don’t believe it.”

  Alex said, “That makes two of us. Now all we have to do is figure out who did.”

  “Then we’ll know who burned down the main keeper’s quarters. We know the arson was an obvious act of aggression.” Elise paused a moment, then added, “Alex, you know it is possible that Emma’s tumble on the rocks might have just been an accident.”

  “Maybe, but I’ll feel a lot better when she wakes up and we can find out for sure.”

  Alex brought Elise up to date on everything he’d learned from Chief Weston and Smiley O’Reilly. The air was definitely clearing between them. Elise looked as devastated as Alex felt. When he told her about Grandy’s offer, she looked thoughtful.

  She said, “It’s a little too convenient, him wanting to buy the place right after the fire. Is there any chance he set the blaze himself?”

  “I’d be lying if I said the thought never crossed my mind. To be honest with you, I’m more confused than ever. First thing in the morning I’m going to track Finster down and make him tell me who his mystery client is. For some reason, I think that might be the key to this whole mess.”

  “Alex, have you decided what you’re going to do about the long-term plans for the inn? You’ll never stay afloat now with those rooms gone.”

  He smiled. “If you have any life savings tucked away, now would be a really great time to invest in the inn. I’ll make you a great deal.”

  Elise got up from the couch and started pacing around the room. “I don’t have any cash, but my grandmother left me some jewelry that might be worth something.”

  Alex said, “I was just kidding. I can’t take your money. If it comes to that, I suppose I could sell Bear Rocks to Grandy. I think that’s the only part of the property he’s really interested in. I could always ask him if I had to.” Alex hated the words the second they were out of his mouth. Bear Rocks meant nearly as much to him as the lighthouse itself. Elise must have seen the hopeless look on his face. “Don’t worry, it’s not going to come to that. We’ll think of something.” Suddenly the front door banged open. From the look of Sheriff Armstrong’s hat and uniform, it had started to rain outside. Armstrong looked somber as he said, “Any chance I could get a cup of coffee?”

  Elise said, “I’ll go make a fresh pot.”

  Armstrong nodded. “Thank you kindly, Ma’am. I’d appreciate that.”

  As she went to the urn in one corner of the room,

  Armstrong lowered his voice. “I didn’t want to tell you this in front of Elise. Another body just turned up.”

  Elise must have been listening anyway. She walked back to the two men without the promised coffee.

  She said, “Sheriff, did you say something about finding another body?”

  “Go ahead, Sheriff, she’s going to find out soon enough. Who was it?”

  Armstrong said, “Now that’s why I came out here. It was Sam Finster, the real estate man.” Alex moved to the couch and sat down. Armstrong took off his hat and twirled it in his hands. “Here’s the funny part. Somebody called in an anonymous tip and told us where to look for the Cherokee. We get lots of crank calls, but we check them all out anyway. Would you like to guess where we found him?”

  Alex shook his head. “I’m more curious about how he died. Care to share that information with me?”

  Staring intently into Alex’s face, the sheriff said, “Tell you what, I’ll give you both facts and see what you think. We found Finster in his Cherokee about a mile away from here in the peach grove. It looks like whoever got your friend Reg took Finster out the same way.”

  The grove. Peaches had been one of his grandmother’s favorite projects around the property, so the family history went. Apples would have been a better crop for the area, but it had been said that Alex’s grandfather had never learned to say “no” to his wife.

  The family’s landholdings were once quite a bit more extensive than the present property. Alex knew I the current owner of that particular parcel of land, a man named Eggars who lived in Florida. Alex had even managed to get permission to pick peaches during the season whenever there was a crop, since Eggars hardly ever came up to North Carolina. He used the land as some sort of tax write-off.

  Alex asked, “Any idea about the time of death?”

  Armstrong held up his hand. “You’re greedy for information, aren’t you?”

  Alex wasn’t in the mood for stonewalling. “I’m also a voter, or have you forgotten about the election?”

  “Come on, Alex, take it easy. It’s been a rough couple of days around town.”

  Elise spoke up. “Sheriff, you’ve got to realize that we have a vested interest in finding out.”

  “Yes Ma’am, I suppose you do at that. We’ve got the time of death narrowed down to between 3 and 5 p.m. today. Doc Drake says there’s no doubt in his mind that the killer used the same murder weapon as before.”

  Alex stood up abruptly. “Surely you don’t think Junior killed Reg, pushed Emma, set fire to my inn and managed to knock off Finster all in a few days.”

  Armstrong didn’t back down, matching Alex inch-for-inch. “You’re living in some kind of fantasy world, son. Get it through your head. Emma Sturbridge fell or slipped, one or the other. Some kid probably torched your inn. We haven’t found him yet, but we will, don’t you worry about that. As far as Junior Wellington is concerned, pulling him in for questioning was Hicking’s idea,
not mine. Sam Finster, that’s what brings me to the purpose of my visit.”

  Alex said, “Go on, I’m listening.”

  The sheriff idly fingered his badge. “There’s a rumor going around town that you threw Finster off your land this very afternoon. I hear it got ugly.”

  Elise snapped, “You don’t believe Alex killed him, do you? I’ve only been in town a few weeks, and I’ve already heard of several people who would be more likely to skewer the realtor than Alex would.”

  Armstrong shrugged. “I don’t suppose you have an alibi for this afternoon, do you, Alex?”

  Alex looked at the floor. “Actually, I spent the better part of it alone out on Bear Rocks. No one saw me during the hours you’re talking about, at least not to my knowledge.”

  The sheriff nodded. “Those granite stones can be mighty comfy, can’t they? You sat around there all afternoon, that’s what you’re telling me?”

  That was all Alex was going to stand for. “Unless you’re ready to make an arrest, I suggest you leave the property.”

  Armstrong headed for the door, but turned back before going through. “Throwing people out is getting to be a habit with you, isn’t it, Alex. When I’ve got more questions, I’ll be back. Let me tell you one more thing before I go. I know you don’t think much of my detecting abilities, but one fact you can take on faith. If you killed Finster, I’m going to catch you, and I promise you here and now that I’ll make sure they nail your hide to the wall.”

  Elise stepped up. “Spare us the dramatics, Sheriff, and go find the real killer.”

  The sheriff walked out, and Elise moved back to Alex. After he was gone, Elise said, “What a ridiculous idea. How could anyone seriously believe you killed that man?”

  Alex shook his head. “I don’t know what’s happening around here. It used to be such a quiet, peaceful little town.”

  “I seem to have brought a lot of trouble with me. Maybe I should have gone back to West Virginia instead of coming here.”

  Alex touched her arm lightly. “Elise, you’re the only good thing to come out of this whole mess. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t showed up when you did.”

  “You’d still be drying Marisa’s tears, probably. Life would go on.” She stifled a yawn. “I’m beat. I’ll see you in the morning, Alex. Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out.”

  Alex stayed on in the lobby, searching for answers in the dying embers of the fire. He finally got up to make his last circuit of the property, something he did every night before going to sleep. Out on the porch, Alex could smell remnants of the fire in the cool evening air. He thought about going out to check the lighthouse doors to make sure they were locked, but he wearily decided that if another body was anywhere on the property, he didn’t want to find it.

  Not tonight, anyway.

  Chapter 17

  Alex found Elise polishing the front desk when he came out the next morning. “I’ve got to check on Junior and see how he’s holding up,” he said. “Do you mind taking care of things here until I get back?”

  She shook her head. “Even if we never get another guest, there’s enough work around here to last me a month.”

  “Elise, maybe you should come into town with me. I don’t feel right leaving you out here alone while there’s a killer on the loose.”

  “Alex, I’m not going to run and hide just because there’s a possibility of danger. Nobody’s going to bother me here. Besides, I’ll be around people all day.”

  “I could at least get someone to stay out here with you while I’m gone.”

  “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, Alex.” Her brave front slipped for a moment. “Just come back before it gets dark.”

  He nodded solemnly. “I promise.”

  After saying a final good-bye, Alex headed into town to see if the sheriff was still questioning Junior.

  As he neared the entrance to one of the property’s walking paths, Barb Matthews tried to wave him down, but he pretended he hadn’t seen her. There was no way Alex had the stomach to deal with the sour old woman today. He caught a glimpse of her in his rearview mirror, shaking her cane at him as he sped away.

  Alex’s thoughts went back to Junior. He hoped the line of questions hadn’t gotten too intense for Reg’s son.

  At the courthouse, Alex walked down the steps to the basement, where the police station and jail were both located. The heavy smell of disinfectant reminded Alex of the hospital, and he made a mental note to go check on Emma Sturbridge as soon as he finished with Armstrong.

  Behind the glass doors of the sheriff’s office, Alex could see the man asleep in a swivel chair, his feet propped up on his desk.

  Alex coughed gently, and Armstrong’s eyes popped open. The sheriff said, “Been a long night. I didn’t mean to fall asleep in the chair. Yow. I think I strained my neck.”

  Alex remembered the sheriff’s attitude with him the night before. He snapped, “Where’s Hicking? Is he in taking his turn with the prisoner?”

  Armstrong stood up from the chair and stretched. “Naw, he left around midnight. There was a drive-by shooting in Viewpoint.” As he dusted himself off, the sheriff said, “Listen Alex, I’m sorry about last night. That trooper’s got me so jumpy I’m seeing shadows. You know I don’t think you killed Sam Finster. It’s just that we’ve gone a long time with nothing too serious happening around here, and now all at once folks are dropping like flies.”

  Alex waved it off. “I’ll accept your apology if you accept mine. Losing the main keeper’s quarters shook me up more than I realized. Is Junior still in the lockup?”

  “Take it easy, Alex, we’re not going to hold him. There’s not enough evidence against him, and he swears up and down he didn’t do it. I for one am beginning to believe him.”

  Alex felt better as soon as he heard the news. “Can I take him back to the inn with me then?”

  Armstrong frowned. “I’d really rather you didn’t.”

  “Sheriff, if you’re not going to charge him, you’ve got to let him go. What possible reason do you have to keep holding him here?”

  Junior answered that question himself, walking out of the back area in a robe two sizes too big for him and a towel around his neck. It was obvious he’d just gotten out of the shower.

  Junior grinned the moment he saw Alex. “I’m going to hang around and give Calvin here a few tips on running his reelection a little more efficiently. I used to be one devil of a campaigner, and I understand our friend has a tight race on his hands. It’ll feel good getting my hands into it again.”

  Armstrong perked up. “Alex, did you know Junior helped run the state campaign for John Anderson’s presidential run in 1980? He’s a real pro.”

  Alex decided not to point out that Anderson had run a distant third in that particular race. “That sounds great. You sure you don’t mind, Junior? I’d be glad to give you a ride back to the inn. You’re not under any obligation to stay here, you know.”

  Junior managed a weak smile. “I want to do this, Alex. To be honest with you, I see Dad everywhere I look around Hatteras West. This gives me something to do to keep my mind occupied, and I’m close enough if something breaks.”

  None of it made any sense to Alex, but it seemed the two men had actually worked out some kind of friendship during the night.

  Junior coughed politely. “There’s just one more thing. Do you think someone could gather up my things and bring them into town for me? I don’t feel much like going back to the inn until the memorial service.”

  “I understand. So you have a place to stay?”

  “I’m going to rent a house in town for the time being. I’ve already made the arrangements.”

  Alex said, “I thought you’d be getting back to your company.”

  Junior shook his head. “I’m not leaving until we find out who killed my father. There will be plenty of time to pick up the reins when I get back. In the meantime, the department heads can manage without me.
” He offered his hand to Alex. “Thanks for believing in me. If there’s anything I can ever do for you, just say the word.”

  For a moment Alex considered asking Junior for a loan so he could rebuild the main keeper’s quarters, but owing money to Reg’s son would be the same as owing money to the bank, and Alex wasn’t about to do that. There had never been any kind of mortgage at Hatteras West, and Alex would continue the tradition, even if it I meant he’d be forced to sell the place.

  Alex asked Armstrong, “Do you have any other leads on what’s been happening at the inn? Somebody killed Reg and Finster, and that building didn’t burn down by itself.”

  “Take it easy, Alex. Hicking’s requested a full team to look into it. They should be out later on today. I’m in over my head, I admit it. If Hiram Blankenship wants to say I folded under pressure, so be it.”

  “What are we supposed to do in the meantime, Sheriff? There’s a killer on the loose.”

  “Alex, those SBI guys are the best. They’ll catch him; just give them a chance.”

  Alex left the jail and headed toward his truck in a sudden downpour of rain. After a quick stop at the hospital, he had to get back to the inn. Alex hated leaving Elise alone with a murderer still on the loose, no matter what she said. Maybe he could get someone out there to look after her while he was gone. Who could he call? He couldn’t trust the only men he could ask for help; they were all suspects. He could go back and ask Armstrong, but he knew the sheriff would plead his manpower shortage again. Maybe he should try to find Elise’s fiancé. No, from the look on her face last night, that subject was off-limits between them. Besides, Alex had no idea how to find the man, even if he was staying nearby.

  Alex would just have to hurry through his list of errands and get back to Hatteras West. When it came right down to it, he didn’t trust anybody else to make sure Elise remained safe.

  The rain had tapered off to a fine mist by the time Alex drove the three miles to the hospital, but the overhead clouds were still filled with dark, ominous shades of black. It looked like they were in for one whale of a storm.