Innkeeping with Murder - Tim Myers [26]
Alex was impressed. He hadn’t thought to look around for a dying clue. “Did you have any luck?”
Armstrong shrugged. “Just a couple more of those rocks we found before.”
Alex explained, “Reg probably picked them up on a walk across the grounds. They’re everywhere.”
Armstrong replied, “Maybe he was going to drop them off the top of the lighthouse.”
“Reg had more sense than that.”
Armstrong grinned eerily in the light. “Son, don’t ever underestimate a man’s capacity for foolishness.”
Alex shrugged. “If you’re done looking around tonight, why don’t you come inside and get a cup of hot tea? Elise is brewing up a fresh pot for one of our guests.” Alex chuckled softly to himself.
“What’s so funny?”
“Miss Halloway is the reason I was checking out the lighthouse. She said she saw a ghost climbing the stairs.”
Armstrong smiled. “I thought I saw someone through the fog. Should I sneak around back and tap on the window? That’ll give her a good jolt.”
“I’m losing enough guests as it is. Let’s not add to the stampede.”
The two men walked down the metal stairs, talking mainly about the fog. When they got to the lobby, Alex asked Armstrong to wait out on the porch while he explained to the ladies what had happened. Instead of being relieved, Miss Halloway looked more flustered than ever.
“A murder in the lighthouse? My God, why didn’t you tell me? I’m not staying another night in this place!”
Elise kept her voice calm and soothing. “We’re all upset about it, but there’s no sense in panicking. We don’t even know if the murderer is still around.”
Miss Halloway jumped from her chair, stormed down the hall and disappeared into her room. Alex retrieved the sheriff. “Looks like she’d rather see ghosts than hear about dead bodies.”
Armstrong frowned. “I’m sorry I spooked your guest, Alex. I just had to get back up there before anybody had a chance to tamper with any possible evidence.”
Alex patted the man on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. She’s right, you know. I should have already told everyone staying here about Reg’s death. I’ll take care of that first thing in the morning. I sure hope nothing else happens tonight.”
Alex turned to Elise. “At the rate we’re losing guests, we may have to shut down Hatteras West before this is all over. You might be out of job before you even get started.”
Elise moved over to the teapot and poured cups for Alex, Armstrong and herself. She took a sip, then said, “I’m not ready to give up just yet. I’ve got a stubborn streak a mile wide.”
Alex was relieved to hear that Elise was willing to stay.
The sheriff said, “Well, I’d better be moving along. I think I’ll offer your guest a police escort out of here. She shouldn’t be driving in this fog if she’s not used to the roads. After the scare I gave her back there, it’s the least I can do.”
Alex smiled. “Thanks, Sheriff. From the look on her face, you shouldn’t have long to wait.”
True to Alex’s prediction, ninety seconds later Elizabeth Halloway stomped down the hallway toward Alex and Elise. Alex decided to take the offensive. “The sheriff is waiting to make sure you get into town safely. Don’t worry about the rest of your bill. We’ll consider your last two nights as compliments of Hatteras West.”
She looked flustered by Alex’s generosity, and without uttering another word, Elizabeth Halloway flung the door open and stormed out into the foggy night, Armstrong close behind her.
Elise chided him gently after they were gone. “Shame on you, Alex. You stole that poor woman’s thunder.”
Alex grinned. “Thanks for your help. You really are good with people, you know that?”
“It’s a part of being an innkeeper. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll say good-night.”
“Good-night,” he called out
After she was gone, Alex went through his nightly routine of checking the inn to be sure that all was as it should be.
It was still hard to believe that Reg was dead.
Chapter 8
By the time Alex woke up the next morning, the fog had burned off in the early morning