Innkeeping with Murder - Tim Myers [15]
Alex nodded in agreement, then said, “I knew Reg for a long time. I just want to be sure that whoever killed him is found.”
The suspicion left Joel’s face, replaced by sympathy. “I’d forgotten about you two being friends. Reg mentioned how much he wished Junior had turned out more like you. To answer your question, no, he was alone when I saw him. It’s a damn shame, that’s what it is.”
The two men sat in silence for a few moments, then Joel popped out of his chair. The older man did everything with vigor, and Alex suspected that if Joel had committed the murder, he would have acted with more passion, attacking his victim head-on. Stabbing from behind was a sneaky way to murder someone, and Alex had a hard time believing it was a method this particular guest was capable of. But Alex was the first to admit that he’d been wrong before.
Joel said, “Well, you know what they say. Life goes on. I’m heading into town for a bite to eat and some entertainment.”
Surprised by his guest’s sudden shift in mood, Alex
said, “Joel, under the circumstances, I’ll understand if you want to cancel the rest of your stay here.”
Joel said, “Are you shutting the inn down?”
“No, of course not. It’s just that—”
“Alex, my boy, if you’re willing to put up with me, I’m going to hang around a little longer. I’m not afraid of dying.” He winked at Alex. “I’ve got too much going on right now to check out of this lovely inn or of my life.” As he walked out to his late-model Lincoln, Joel added with a wink, “Don’t wait up for me tonight, I just might be late.”
One thing was certain; Joel didn’t seem to be wasting any tears over the death of his new friend. Maybe watching his wife die had taught him to deal with death better than most. Or maybe Joel Grandy wasn’t all he said he was. Alex was still thinking about the older man when Junior walked up the path toward the keeper’s quarters.
Alex would have to break the news to him that someone had jammed a blade into his father’s neck.
Studying the man, he searched for the right words. Junior looked like he’d been outfitted from L. L. Bean’s wilderness catalogue. From his high-top leather boots to his khaki safari hat, he was more suited to explore the great uncharted depths of Africa than the relatively tame Blue Ridge Mountains.
Junior dropped down with a loud sigh in the rocking chair Joel had just vacated. “What a hike! I’ve been gone four hours and I didn’t think I’d ever make it back.”
“You did the loop trail?”
Junior nodded once, emptying the last sip from the canteen clipped onto his belt.
Four hours, for a three-mile hike? “What in the world took you so long?”
Junior looked sheepish. “Don’t tell him,” he gestured to the upstairs room his father had recently occupied, then explained, “I was studying a clump of wilderness off the path, and the sun was so warm ... I... I must have fallen asleep.”
Alex had a hard time believing that. He supposed it was possible Junior could have taken a nap on the trail as he said, but there were no signs that his clothes had been slept in. Alex couldn’t see a speck of dirt or a grass stain anywhere on Junior; the outfit looked brand new.
Alex took a deep breath, then announced somberly, “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but your father’s dead. I found him at the top of the lighthouse.”
Junior’s face didn’t exactly turn ashen—his complexion was already pasty white, but his eyes did grow large at the news, and he jerked backwards in the chair.
“My God! What happened? Was it his heart? I warned him about climbing those stairs, but he never would listen to me. Mr. Winston, I’m holding you personally responsible for his—”
Alex tried to keep his voice calm as he interrupted. “It’s not what you think. I guess I didn’t make myself clear. Someone murdered your father.”
The news rocked Junior back even farther. Alex worried that the man would topple over in the chair before he managed to steady himself. Junior’s surprise was either sincere or very well rehearsed. “Who...I don’t understand. Do they know who killed him? Why would somebody do