Room for Murder

by Tim Myers

  And then the message died before he had the chance to say another word.

  Chapter 5

  Alex had her replay the message. After listening to it intently, he said, “Tracy, we both should probably forget we ever listened to this.”

  Tracy said, “Come on, you heard him, Alex. He’s in trouble, and Conner wasn’t there to help him. Not that I’m surprised, he was never there when I needed him either, but I can’t ignore what I just heard.”

  Alex said, “We need to think about this before we do anything rash. What can the sheriff do, based on what we just heard?” A sudden thought crossed his mind. “Tracy, you could get in serious trouble if Armstrong finds out you checked your ex-husband’s messages. It’s invading his privacy. Even if you get away with it, the voters aren’t going to be happy about it.”

  “I don’t care about any of that. Oxford is in trouble.”

  Alex thought about it a full minute, then said, “Tracy, let me try to get the sheriff into this without involving you. And do me a favor, stay away from Conner’s answering machine from now on. I can’t see any way it’s a good thing for you to be doing it.”

  She ignored his chiding and shook the receiver at him. “Call the sheriff, Alex.”

  He agreed, and dialed the sheriff’s office. “He’s at Buck’s,” Alex was told, so he called the Grill.

  Armstrong came to the phone and said, “What’s up, Alex? I was just getting a bowl of oatmeal, but it can wait. Find another body out there?”

  “Bite your tongue,” Alex said. “I was wondering if you might have seen Oxford Hitchcock around. He was supposed to come out by the inn this morning, but he never showed up,” Alex lied.

  “Hang on a second, Alex,” Armstrong said. He must have put his hand over the phone to muffle his voice, but Alex could still hear as the sheriff asked the crowd at Buck’s if anyone had seen the missing mayoral candidate.

  Armstrong came back on the line a few seconds later and said, “Nope, he missed a meeting last night and one this morning, too. I wonder what he’s up to.”

  Alex had to handle the next part delicately. “I wonder who else might know where he’s at. Listen, if you see Oxford, give me a call, would you?”

  The sheriff said, “Sure thing, Alex. Hey, hang on a second. Here comes Conner Shook. If anybody knows where Oxford is, he’ll be the one.”

  Alex heard Armstrong ask, “Conner, you seen your candidate lately? He’s missing appointments all over town.”

  Conner swore in the background, and Alex heard Buck say loudly, “I don’t care if I am supporting your guy, there’s no swearing allowed in here.”

  He heard Conner quickly apologize, then the campaign manager said, “I went to Charlotte on one overnight business trip and the man falls apart on me. Let me check my messages. The battery on my cell phone was nearly dead last night, so I had to recharge it on the road this morning.”

  There was a pause, and Alex knew what was coming next.

  He heard Conner say, “Sheriff, you’d better listen to this.”

  Armstrong said, “Alex, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later.”

  When he hung up the telephone, Alex told Tracy, “Conner just showed up at the diner, and he checked his messages while I was on the line. Armstrong’s right there, so they’ll know what we know in a minute.”

  Tracy said, “Alex, I’ve got a bad feeling about this. It’s just not like Oxford to vanish like this.”

  “Don’t borrow trouble,” Alex said. “I’m sure he’s fine.”

  “I hope so,” Tracy said as she started for the door. “Call me if you hear anything.”

  He said, “Only if you’ll promise to do the same.”

  After Tracy was gone, Alex got out his cart and started cleaning the rooms. With all the interruptions, he was going to have to hustle if he was going to make his lunch date with Lenora, and as much as Alex was worried about what might have happened to Oxford Hitchcock, he could worry just as easily while he cleaned the rooms on his list.

  “This is quite nice,” Lenora said as they finished their lunch at Buck’s. She’d carefully avoided all talk of the favor she wanted to ask him, and Alex was glad to leave it alone for the moment. There were more than a few raised eyebrows when folks around town saw him eating with a mysterious stranger, but no one said a word to him. Alex knew as soon as he and Lenora left, the rumors would start flying. It was part of living in a small town, putting up with the gossip of the lightning-quick kudzu vine.

  Sally Anne brought the check to their table, and Lenora reached for it. As the inn’s guest meted out the money, Sally Anne told Alex, “It’s been quiet around here today since your phone call,” the grin obvious on her face.

  “I’ve got a feeling that’s all about to change,” Alex said.

  Sally Anne took the money, winked at Alex, then walked away.

  “Are you two involved in some way?” Lenora asked.

  “Do you mean Sally Anne? No, we’re just friends.”

  Lenora said softly, “Perhaps on your part. With her, it’s not as clear.”

  Alex said, “You just don’t know her. We’ve been joking around with each other since she was in braces and pigtails.” Alex took a last sip of his sweet tea, then said, “We’ve had our lunch, and you still haven’t asked your favor.”

  Lenora, sensing that Alex had shifted the conversation intentionally, acquiesced. “Very well. Alex, I want you to model for me.”

  Alex couldn’t entirely bite back his laugh, and he looked sheepishly around as conversations all through Buck’s paused to see what might happen next. “Sorry,” Alex said in a lowered voice. “You caught me off guard with that one. Nobody’s ever confused me with a model before.”

  Lenora said, “And why not? You have rich cheekbones, a noble nose, and a profile worth capturing on paper.”

  Alex didn’t know what to say to that. “I thought you did landscapes. You were sketching at the top of the lighthouse yesterday, weren’t you?”

  “I work in my many mediums with a host of subjects, Alex. I would be most grateful if you would allow me to sketch you.”

  Alex said, “Lenora, I’m not sure I’m the right man for the job. There are a lot of better-looking folks in this world.” He gestured around the room. “You probably wouldn’t have a hard time finding one eating right here in Buck’s.”

  Lenora shook her head. “Let me be the judge of that, Alex. It’s you I want for my subject.”

  “Tell you what, let me sleep on it, okay?”

  “I’ll await your answer tomorrow morning,” she agreed.

  As Alex stood, he said, “Well, I have to get back to the inn if you’re ready to go. Elise and I still have some laundry to do.”

  Lenora said, “I believe I’ll stay here in town, if it’s all the same to you. I’d like to get a feel for Elkton Falls.

  Don’t worry about my transportation back to the inn. I’ll take a taxi.”

  Alex said, “Rebecca Gray has the only cab in town, but don’t expect much. She uses her dad’s pickup truck, and it’s almost in worse shape than mine is. It’s great for hauling luggage, but there’s not a lot of passenger room up front.”

  Lenora just smiled. “This is why I love small towns.”

  “We have our moments,” Alex said.

  On the way back to Hatteras West, Alex thought about Lenora’s offer. He considered himself passable in the looks department, but a model? No, it was too outlandish to even consider.

  If he hurried, he’d be able to make it back to the inn before Elise got started on that laundry.

  She was already at work when he got there.

  Alex said, “Hey, you started without me.”

  “I wasn’t sure when you’d get back,” Elise said curtly. “So, how was lunch?”

  Alex couldn’t hide his grin. “You’re just not going to believe this. She propositioned me.”

  Elise’s head jerked up. “She what?”

  “She wants me to model for her. S
he’s an artist, you know.”

  Elise began to laugh, softly at first, then building to a full roar before Alex finally broke in and said, “Hey, it’s not that funny.”

  “Alex, you know how much I think of you, but modeling? Please.”

  He shrugged. “Yeah, that was my reaction, too. I’m saying no.”

  Elise shook her head. “No, you should do it. Just think, you don’t want to give up the chance to be in one of her paintings.”

  Alex grabbed a load of sheets from the dryer. “Believe it or not, I’ll learn to live without that particular honor.”

  As Elise continued folding sheets, she said, “I am sorry, I shouldn’t have laughed. So what’s new in Elkton Falls?”

  “You heard that Oxford Hitchcock disappeared, didn’t you?”

  Elise shook her head. “You can’t be serious. What happened to him?”

  “Nobody knows. Sheriff Armstrong’s looking into it.”

  Elise stacked a few sheets in the basket, then said, “I wonder if the sheriff’s found anything out about Toby Sturbridge. Emma is beside herself with worry.”

  Alex said, “I don’t blame her. It can’t feel good, being one of the prime suspects in a murder case.”

  Elise paused a moment, then said, “She thinks the sheriff is convinced of her guilt. It is truly odd that Toby showed up in Elkton Falls on the day Emma and Mor get engaged.”

  Alex said, “I wonder how long he was in town. Emma said he’d been hounding her for money, but she didn’t say how long it had been going on. I can’t help wondering if there’s anything else she’s not telling us.”

  “Alex Winston, she’s our friend. Emma could never have had anything to do with Toby’s death.”

  Alex said, “I didn’t say she was responsible, just that she might not have come completely clean with us. Besides, she’s not the only one I’m worried about.”

  Elise put another sheet in the basket. “I’ve been wondering about Mor myself. No, it’s impossible.”

  Alex shook off the talk. “I’m sure they’re both innocent,” he said. “That’s why it’s so important for us to prove Mor and Emma had nothing to do with it.” Alex finished folding the last sheet, then said, “On a brighter note, Mor and I are lighting the beacon tonight, and I want you to see it from the top with us.”

  For a moment, Elise’s face lit up with the joy of a six-year-old. “How in the world did you ever manage that? I thought you had to get written approval from the Town Council.”

  Alex grinned. “The switch is broken, so Mor’s coming out tonight to replace it and check the light. He’s clearing it with Grady Hatch as a part of the allowed maintenance.”

  “I can’t wait,” Elise said as they finished their folding.

  “Neither can I,” Alex replied.

  They were carrying the sheets back to the linen closet when Alex and Elise found the newlyweds waiting on them at the front desk.

  “There you are. We thought you’d disappeared,” Sheila said.

  Paul said, “Patience is a virtue, my dear.”

  “So is having a spine,” she said, then turned to Alex. “We’d like a tour of the inn.”

  Elise said, “I’ll go ahead and put these away,” as she walked past them.

  Great, now he was stuck with the battling honeymooners. “Well, I’d be glad to show you the grounds. There’s the lighthouse itself, it’s open during daylight hours only. Then there are Bear Rocks, they are really worth a visit. We’ve got a pond just down the road, and canoes are available for a slight additional fee.”

  Sheila said, “That’s all just fine, but what we’re really interested in are the guestrooms themselves.”

  Alex shook his head. “Sorry, those are off-limits. We respect everyone’s privacy here,” he added pointedly.

  Paul stepped in. “Of course, we understand completely. I should have explained earlier, my bride and I are real lighthouse fanatics. Actually, we’re as interested in the two keepers’ quarters you have here as much as we are in the tower itself. Your place really caught our attention, and we’d love the complete tour.” He was trying to shake Alex’s hand again for some odd reason. Then Alex spotted the folded bill in his hand.

  At that moment, Mrs. Nesbitt came downstairs. Alex said, “You really should speak with our visiting historian. Mrs. Nesbitt, do you have a moment?”

  “Absolutely, Alex. What can I do for you?”

  Alex said, “Mrs. Nesbitt, I’d like you to meet Paul and Sheila Jones. They’ve come to the inn on their honeymoon, and they’re lighthouse enthusiasts as well.”

  Mrs. Nesbitt’s face lit up. “Oh, that’s simply outstanding. We must talk,” she said as she took a hand of each of them.

  “Well, we’re really not all that well versed,” Sheila said, trying to extricate her hand.

  “Then I’d be delighted to educate you, my dear. My great-great-grandfather was an assistant keeper at the Body Island Lighthouse on the Outer Banks, you know.”

  “Really,” Sheila said blandly.

  If Mrs. Nesbitt caught her lukewarm tone, she didn’t let on. “Why don’t we climb to the top of the tower and I’ll tell you about him. Old Jerab was a crusty fellow, let me tell you.”

  As they were led away to the lighthouse, Alex fought to hide his smile. It looked as though the newlyweds were going to get a thorough tour after all. And the best thing was, he didn’t have to lead it.

  Alex spotted them again over an hour later coming out of the lighthouse itself, heading for the utility shed next to it, no doubt to be regaled with more of Great great-grandfather Jerab’s adventures. Though the couple continued to try to break away, Mrs. Nesbitt was in no hurry to rid herself of her new charges until she’d imparted every ounce of her lighthouse lore to them.

  Chapter 6

  Alex was happy to see Mor drive up in his truck as dusk approached Hatteras West.

  After the handyman got out, Alex said, “I bet it feels good to get your truck back.”

  Mor slapped the hood. “Yeah, Irene said it was clean. She even had the boys run it through the car wash after they were finished with it. They did a good job, inside and out.”

  “Have you had any problem riding around in it after what happened?” Alex asked.

  Mor said, “It was kind of creepy at first, but after half an hour I kind of forgot all about it. Life goes on, you know?”

  “It does indeed. So where’s Emma? I figured she’d be coming out with you.”

  Mor put on his tool belt more out of habit than need as he explained, “She was right behind me, so she should be here any minute. Is Elise coming, too?”

  Alex said, “She wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Mor grinned. “Then let’s get to it.”

  They walked up the steel steps in single file, Mor’s tool belt clanking a little each time as he moved. When they got to the top landing, the handyman said, “Now let me take a look at this.”

  Mor killed the circuit breaker tucked over by the door going up to the lens itself, then unscrewed the switch and hooked it up to a meter secured onto his belt.

  “Is that the problem?” Alex asked.

  Mor studied the readings for a second, handed the old switch to Alex, then said, “It’s deader than a doornail.” Alex had dreaded changing the button to a modern switch, so he was delighted when Mor pulled a replica out of his shirt pocket.

  Alex asked, “Where’d you find that?”

  “You know Les, he subscribes to every magazine he can find, and his name must be on a list for all the catalogue folks, too. A couple of months ago I spotted one that handled old-house reproductions. I knew this thing would wear out sooner or later, so I wanted to be ready when you needed it.”

  Alex slapped the big man’s shoulder. “Thanks, I really appreciate that. That’s one bill I’ll be glad to pay.”

  Mor shrugged. “Hey, you’ve done your best to keep us in business. This one’s on the house.”

  After making up the new connections
, Mor screwed the plate back in place and flipped the breaker. “You ready to try it?” he asked Alex.

  “Without Elise and Emma? They’d both have my hide. No thanks.”

  “So let’s go take in the view while we wait on them,” Mor said.

  The two men walked out onto the observation platform and leaned on the outer rail, taking in the growing twilight and the fresh breeze of the night air.

  There was an easy, comfortable silence between them that was broken only by a police siren echoing in the distance.

  Mor shook his head. “It sounds like old Strong Arms is on another bad guy’s trail.”

  “He does like his light and siren. Has he said anything else to you about Sturbridge?”

  Mor shook his head. “Truth be told, I’ve been doing my best to avoid him, and he hasn’t come looking for me.”

  Alex said, “I guess that’s a good sign.”

  From below, Alex saw Elise come out onto the porch and wave to them. She had a picnic basket tucked under one arm, and a blanket draped across her shoulders. From the other direction up Point Road, they saw Emma driving toward them.

  Mor said, “Looks like the party’s about to get started.”

  “I’m ready.”

  As the two women disappeared together into the base of the lighthouse, Mor said, “So the big day’s finally here.”

  Alex asked, “Changing the switch? It’s not that big a deal.”

  Mor said, “I’m talking about your date with Elise. It’s about time, if you ask me.”

  Alex smiled. “If you ask me, it’s past time. Tomorrow night’s been a long time coming.”

  “Are you taking her to Charlotte for some fancy dinner?”

  Alex said, “No, we can’t afford the time away, not with an inn full of guests.”

  Mor said, “I hope you’re at least going to Hickory. They’ve got some pretty nice places there.”

  Alex answered, “We’re going to Mama Ravolini’s. It’s the best I could manage with the time we’ve got. Irma’s promised me the best table in the house, though.”

  Mor shook his head. “Alex my friend, after all these years studying at my feet, I thought you’d be able to come up with something better than that for your first date with Elise.”