Innkeeping with Murder - Tim Myers [33]
Mor’s smile widened. “In the first place, that would lose us business. In the second place, this particular register happens to belong to Irma Bean. We swap repair work for free meals, and Les and I are both too set in our ways to take up cooking on a full-time basis.”
Alex nodded absently and laid the part back down on the workbench. “I hear you found one of my guests at Bear Rocks today.”
Mor nodded solemnly. “She was in pretty bad shape. Have you heard how she’s doing?”
“I just saw her at the hospital. She doesn’t look good.” Alex picked up a large bright cog with a few specks of grease on it and twirled it in his fingers. “When did you take up hiking?”
Mor looked down at the printer again and removed another part. “There’s the problem. I sure hope I can scrape up another paper-advancing gear. What did you say?”
Alex laid the cog back down on top of the workbench and asked, “When did you start hiking?”
As Mor worked, he explained, “A specialist in Charlotte told me it would be good for my knees to start walking some. I didn’t want to go around town, so I figured you wouldn’t mind if I worked out on your loop trail.”
Alex said, “It’s always open to you, you know that. When did you start? I’m surprised I haven’t seen you around before.”
Mor turned a slight shade of red. “I saw the doctor last month, but today was the first chance I had to get out and exercise. Don’t tell on me, okay?”
Alex smiled. “Your secret’s safe with me. Well, I’d better be getting back.”
He started to leave when Mor called out, “You’re not done here, fella.”
“What’s up?”
Mor’s devilish smile came back. “I hear you got considerably farther with Miss Danton last night than I ever managed to. What’s your secret, Alex? I thought you and Sandra were an item.”
“She’s out of town and I just wanted some company last night. My God, can’t I change my underwear in this town without everybody knowing what color it is?”
“Buddy, you’re the talk of the town. Every single man in Elkton Falls has asked that girl out, and you’re the first one she’s even smiled at. Irma told me all about it when I picked the register up this morning. When’s Sandra due back in town?”
“She’s coming in this afternoon. Elise Danton is a sweet girl and a pleasure to be around, but I’ve already got a girlfriend.” Alex turned and had his hand on the door when he heard Mor choking.
He turned back in alarm, only to find the huge fix-it man doubled over in a badly controlled laughing fit.
Alex said, “Okay, so maybe I’m a little touchy, but she really is a nice girl.”
Mor managed to stop his humor jag. “Irma thinks so, too. She wants to adopt her. Listen, I didn’t mean to hit a nerve, I’m sorry. You’ve had a lot happen lately, haven’t you?”
“More than I even want to think about.”
Alex walked out of the shop feeling better, but that soon turned to dust when he spotted Sam Finster getting out of his Jeep Cherokee. Alex tried to duck back into the repair shop, but the eagle-eyed little weasel caught him before he could get inside.
“Alex Winston, just the man I want to see. You’ve saved me a trip out to the lighthouse.”
Alex fought the urge to run. “Finster, I’m not selling. I told you, it’s final.”
Sam Finster missed Alex’s cutting tone, or more likely chose to ignore it. “Since you’ve saved me the gas, at least let me buy you a cup of coffee and a doughnut.”
Alex shook his head. “You go ahead, don’t let me stop you. I was just on my way back out to the inn.”
Finster smiled, his canines gleaming in the sunlight. “Now Alex, surely you have time for an old friend. Especially in your time of need.”
Of course, with Finster’s connections, he probably knew more about the murder and Emma Sturbridge’s fall than Alex did himself. If he didn’t go with the realtor now, he’d be hounded by the little ferret until he agreed to hear him out.
“I’ve got ten minutes to spare. Let’s get this over with.” Alex had found early on that no matter how rude he was to Sam Finster, the realtor still acted as if the two of them were the best