Room for Murder

by Tim Myers

  Alex shook his head. “Somebody should teach them some manners. We are still in the South.”

  Tracy said, “You’ll have to get in line. I think it’s absolutely hilarious it all backfired on them.”

  Elise touched Tracy’s arm. “Good luck. I’m voting for you.” She smiled at that. “Thanks, Elise. Now I know I’ve got at least two in my favor.”

  Alex protested, “Hey, I’m voting for you, too.”

  She said, “Watch out, folks, it could be a landslide.”

  Finally the line moved into the gymnasium itself. Mrs. Hurley was at the Voter’s Registration table, the big leather- bound book open in front of her. Irma Bean, standing right beside her, said, “State your name and address,” to Alex.

  “Alex Winston, the Hatteras West Inn. That’s on Point Road, if you’re not sure.”

  Irma wrinkled her nose. “Alex, no foolishness from you, we have to do this by the book.”

  Mrs. Hurley said, “Irma, I know more of these folks than you do. I had Alex in my grade school class in this very building.”

  “Now, Dot, you know what the book says.”

  Mrs. Hurley smiled gently. “And if I should forget, you’re right here to remind me, aren’t you?”

  Irma flushed slightly as she handed Alex a ballot.

  “Next,” she said as she winked at Elise.

  “Elise Danton, also of Hatteras West,” she said.

  Mrs. Hurley scanned the book, then said, “Sorry, I don’t have you listed here.”

  Elise was crestfallen. “I’m not on the rolls? But I registered three months ago.”

  Mrs. Hurley said, “Don’t worry, dear, if you’re in here, I’ll find you.” She riffled through the pages, then said, “Here you are. Grianna Monk put you down with the E’s instead of the D’s. What was that woman thinking?”

  “Most likely she was mooning over Silas Lake. Seems to me three months ago the two of them were hot and heavy. Old Grianna could barely spell her own name back then, let alone somebody else’s.”

  “May I still vote?” Elise asked.

  Irma said, “Absolutely. Here’s your ballot. Pick up a pen at the table over there, and don’t forget to put it back when you’re done.”

  Mrs. Hurley added, “She can’t be done, she’s not a roast, Irma. But she can be finished with her ballot.”

  Irma rolled her eyes. “That’s what I get for volunteering with a retired schoolteacher.”

  Alex walked to one of the curtained booths and checked off Tracy’s name on the ballot. He found Elise waiting for him. “One thing about the Elkton Falls election ballot, you don’t have to waste a lot of time pondering.”

  Irma said sharply, “Hold it down, please. Folks are trying to vote.”

  Alex waved a hand in her direction, then put his ballot in the welded steel box that sat by itself on a long maple table. Amy had cobbled the ballot box up in her shop a few years ago after the last ancient wooden receptacle had finally fallen apart.

  This monstrosity would outlast them all, and it took three boys from the high school football team to carry it over to the town hall for the tabulating.

  After they were back outside. Elise asked, “Is that all there is to it?”

  “Anticlimactic, isn’t it? Tell you what. Why don’t we go over to Buck’s and grab that lunch I promised you.”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” she said.

  Buck’s was crowded with voters escaping the rain, and Alex wondered briefly if any work was getting done in town at all that day except by Buck and Sally Anne.

  Sandra was at a booth and waved them over. “I’m just leaving, if you’all would like a place to sit.”

  “Thanks.” Alex said as he slid in after her. “Have you heard anything else about Toby Sturbridge or Oxford Hitchcock?”

  Sandra counted out a few bills, then said. “No, it’s been quiet on both fronts. Our good sheriff appears to be baffled at this point.” She put her money on the table, then said. “I’ve got to run. I’m late for an appointment with a new- client. Alex, your uncle Jase would have shot me for working on Election Day, but since he passed away, I don’t seem to get any time off at all. It was good seeing you two.”

  Sally Anne hurried over and bussed their table. “Sorry about that. Things have been crazy all day.” She added softly to Alex, ‘We need to talk later.”

  Alex nodded. “Call me at the inn. I’ll be back there in an hour or two. Unless it’s urgent,” he added.

  “No, it can wait that long. Now what can I get you two?”

  After they’d ordered, it wasn’t three minutes before Sheriff Armstrong came in. He waved to a few of the folks present, then ambled over to Alex and Elise. “What brings you two into town with an inn full of people?”

  “We’re not that full at the moment. Besides, we came in to vote,” Elise said. “Have you cast your ballot yet?”

  Armstrong said, “First thing this morning. It was a real privilege to see a ballot without my name on it.” Since the sheriff’s elections had been switched to every other year opposite the mayoral elections, the sheriff was enjoying the second year of his unique three year term.

  Alex had wanted some time alone with Elise, but having the sheriff at their table was too good an opportunity to pass up. “Care to join us?” he asked. “We just got here.”

  “No sir, I’ve already eaten, but thanks for asking.”

  Alex said, “Then we can cut to the chase. Have there been any developments you can talk about?”

  Armstrong said loudly, “We’ve got a list of suspects we’re looking closely at right now. I expect an arrest to be made any day now.”

  Alex said, “Okay, you’ve made your public service announcement to the crowd. Now, what’s the truth?”

  Armstrong said in a near-whisper, “I’m no closer to finding the killers than I was the day each man died. Truth be told, I’m beginning to wonder if I shouldn’t bring state troopers in on both these cases. Blast it all, I’m still the sheriff, I want to do it myself. I’ll get them, don’t you worry about that.”

  As Armstrong moved to another table, Alex said, “I’m sorry I invited him without asking you first, but I had to know about his progress.”

  Elise said, “I don’t mind. I was surprised, though, to hear you invite someone else out on our date.”

  Alex laughed. “Oh, no, I’m not making that mistake again, labeling something a date. It puts entirely too much pressure on both of us.”

  She said, “I suppose so,” then studied her menu.

  After they ordered, Elise said, “I’ve been wondering about something, Alex. Do you think there’s a chance the same person killed Toby Sturbridge and Oxford Hitchcock? It’s hard to imagine two murderers roaming around Elkton Falls at the same time.”

  Alex said, “I kind of doubt they’re related. To be honest with you, I wonder if the person who killed Toby even realized it at the time. That had to be an accident. Who would ever suspect a blow to the chest could kill a man? Oxford, on the other hand, took a board to the head. There was nothing accidental about that.”

  “It just seems like a coincidence that both men died so close together.”

  Alex nodded. “It was a run of bad luck for Elkton Falls, no doubt about that, but murders happen in small towns, too. Sometimes I think they’re more noticeable than the homicide statistics in the big cities.”

  Sally Anne brought them their plates, and Alex noticed there was a folded note under his. Sneaking it out, he glanced down at his lap and read it.

  don’t call me. i’ll come oUt to the inn later.

  Alex looked up to find Elise studying him. “Is it in code, or can you read it without your decoder ring?”

  Alex handed her the note under the table. After she read it, Elise said, “I think Sally Anne’s enjoying her little spying venture with you.”

  “I think you’re right.” He took a bite of his club sandwich and added, “She’s in the perfect place to hear things, though. I wonder wh
at she’s got to say.”

  Elise said, “I couldn’t even begin to guess.”

  After they finished, Alex said, “Okay, one more stop at Shantara’s to restock our glass cleaner and we can head back to the inn.”

  “If somebody hasn’t walked off with it by now,” Elise said with a smile.

  “Hey, the only time I had that problem was when we had the Golden Days Fair out there, and I’m never going through that again.”

  “Are you forgetting Sarah March? I still can’t believe what she did.”

  A few months before, one of their guests, a woman named Sarah March, had taken every lightbulb from her loom upon checking out. It had taken Alex a second to realize they were really gone when he switched on her lights and nothing had happened.

  He said, “Okay, maybe we’d better head on back.”

  Elise said, “Oh, Alex, I’m just teasing. We have time to pick up the cleaner.”

  Chapter 18

  “Have you heard the news?” Sally Anne asked Alex that evening is she brought by her delivery.

  “No, I’ve been waiting for you. I must confess, your note has me curious,” Alex said. Ever since Sally Anne had passed him her message at the diner, Alex had been wondering what she had to share.

  “Not that. This is huge and hot info. They can’t come up with a winner.”

  “How’s that possible?” Alex asked. “There weren’t any hanging chads or other ballot problems like Florida had a while back.”

  Sally Anne said, “Don’t kid yourself. We got a call from me Board or Electron; for soup and sandwiches, and I talked Dad into letting me deliver it to the courthouse. From what I heard over there, they kept corning up with different totals. Tracy won by three votes one time, and Conner won by two the next. They’ll probably be there all night.”

  “I knew it was going to be close, but I can’t believe they’re having so much trouble with a handful of ballots.”

  Sally Anne said, “You should have heard them arguing over some of the votes. One woman checked off both candidates, then wrote her own name in the write-in spot. They threw that one out, but there some with smudges that a couple of folks wanted to disqualify, and I don’t know what else was happening. They threw me out before I had the chance to hear anything else.”

  “Tracy must be going crazy,” Alex said as he stored the muffins and pastries next to the breakfast bar. “So, what was your other news?”

  Sally Anne said, “I overheard at the diner that Conner and Mayor Hatch were out this way together a couple of days ago, and they weren’t too happy with each other.”

  Alex didn’t have the heart to tell her that he’d already heard that himself from Lenora. “He was probably pushing for an endorsement.”

  “Well, from what I saw, he didn’t get it.” Sally Anne added, “I’d better run. I want to be back at the grill in case the board needs anything else. This is the most excitement we’ve had around here in a while.”

  Alex almost added, “If you don’t count murder,” but he kept that to himself. There was nothing to be gained by bringing the waitress back to the reality of homicide.

  The next morning, Lenora checked out before Alex even had the chance to put the buffet out.

  “‘I’m going to be sorry to see you go,” Alex said as be filled out her credit card slip.

  “I can never stay in one place too long. I become attached, and it becomes harder and harder to leave. Alex. I want to thank you for your cooperation in modeling for me.”

  “I was glad to do it.” He lowered his voice so Elise wouldn’t hear his next words. “I’m going to miss our conversations. I truly enjoyed talking to you.”

  She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “The pleasure was mine as well.”

  Alex looked up in time to see Elise look away. There was nothing he could do about that now.

  “Let me help you with your bags,” Alex said as he handed her the receipt from her bill.

  “That would be greatly appreciated,” she said.

  As Alex followed her out the front door, he called to Elise, “I’ll be right back.”

  “Take your time. I’ve got this covered.” There was a definite touch of frost in her voice.

  Outside, Lenora said, “I’m sorry if I’ve caused any difficulties between you and Elise.”

  Alex laughed softly. “Any difficulties were there long before you got here.” He handed her one of her sketch pads and said, “Hey, I never got to see these.”

  She took them from him and said, “Good things come to he who waits.”

  After her luggage and pads were stowed safely away, Lenora said, “Remember what I said, Alex. Have patience in all things.”

  He said, “That’s not one of my strong points.”

  She touched his cheek lightly with her hand, then said, “It is a trait worth cultivating.”

  After she was gone, Alex headed back inside. Elise met him at the door and said, “We’re running low on guests again, aren’t we?”

  Alex nodded. “I had three cancellations because of the pending hurricane. Nobody wants to travel right now, even if we’re nowhere near its path. I heard on the news last night that it could come inland as soon as tonight.”

  Elise said, “I’m just glad we’re far enough in not to worry about it, though a rainstorm could ruin the wedding tomorrow night.”

  Alex said, “Are you kidding? I don’t think Mother Nature herself wants to mess with Emma Sturbridge on her wedding day.”

  “Are you and Mor still intent on having a bachelor party tonight?”

  Alex said, “It’s almost a crime to call it that, but yes, Mor and Les and I are having it out here tonight. Les just got back into town, sporting a suntan and a peeling red nose. How about Emma? What’s she going to do while we’re chewing over old times?”

  Elise said, “We’re going to be at her cottage this evening working on the birdseed throwaways instead of rice. That should keep us busy until late.”

  Alex nodded. “The guys are coming out here around seven, and I can’t imagine it lasting past ten. Since Mor’s staying out here tonight, I’m putting him in Number 7 as soon as I get it cleaned up.”

  That was Lenora’s room. “She was an interesting woman, wasn’t she?” Elise asked.

  “Once I got over the shock of being her model, I really got to like her. She was pretty closemouthed about what she was sketching, though. I asked her half a dozen times to let me see her work, but she always turned me down.”

  Elise said, “You know how artists can be about their creations.” She paused, then said, “I’ve got a light load this morning. Why don’t I help you clean your rooms today?”

  “That sounds great. To be honest with you, I’d be glad for your company. I’ve missed working side by side with you.”

  She nodded. “Good. Let’s do it then.”

  When they got to Number 7, Alex and Elise were surprised to find something taped to the mirror.

  It was a charcoal sketch of Alex, with the lighthouse in the background.

  Elise studied it, then said, “She really is quite good, isn’t she?”

  Alex replied, “That’s the first thing of hers I’ve seen. The whole time she was drawing me, I wasn’t allowed to even peek.”

  Elise studied the drawing another full minute, then said, “You’ve really got to have this framed.”

  “Why would anybody want to have a drawing of me on their wall?”

  “I think it’s perfect for the lobby, Alex. If you won’t frame it yourself, I’ll have Mor do it.”

  Alex shook his head. “That’s all I need, my best friend thinking I’ve lost my mind plastering the inn with my own picture.”

  “Well, someone needs to frame it.”

  Alex reluctantly said, “If you really think it belongs here, I’ll do it myself.”

  Elise found a folded note on the dresser and handed it to Alex. “Here, this is for you, too.”

  He opened it and read aloud, “A small gif
t for all you’ve given me. Lenora.”

  Elise said, “Well, she was certainly fond of you.”

  “It’s the inn. You know how it affects some people that way.”

  After they finished cleaning the room, Elise carefully removed the tape holding the sketch and carried it gingerly to her room. Alex wasn’t sure how he felt about having his own portrait hanging in the lobby, but from the look in Elise’s eyes, he knew it was useless to argue.

  Soon enough it would be just one more part of Hatteras West, blending in with everything else, a hodgepodge that had somehow become a tapestry of his heritage.

  Lenora had made sure that she’d always be a part of the inn.

  Mor and Les came out to Hatteras West together a little before seven. Since Emma didn’t believe in wedding rehearsals, there was no need for a rehearsal dinner, freeing Mor the night before the wedding. Les, grinning broadly by his side, had a six-pack of beer in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other.

  “Wow, you broke out the good stuff,” Alex said.

  Les said, “I swore to myself on the day we became partners that if this hound dog ever settled down, I’d give him a bon voyage. So where should we have this little party?”

  Alex said, “Mor, it’s your call. The place is just about empty, so wherever you want is fine.”

  “How about the top of the lighthouse?” he asked with a grin.

  Les said, “You know, I haven’t been up there in donkey years. Lead on.”

  Mor looked startled. “I was only half-kidding. I’m not sure those steps and your alcohol are the best combination.”

  Les said, “Come on, man, where’s your sense of adventure?”

  Alex grabbed some glasses from inside his room and met the two men at the top of the lighthouse.

  The view was beautiful, never failing to take his breath away. Alex had been delighted with the suggestion to hold the bachelor party on the observation platform. In fact, he planned to have his own bachelor send-off up there, if it ever came to be, no matter how remote that possibility looked at the time.