Innkeeping with Murder - Tim Myers [37]
With a great deal less calm than he felt, Alex said, “I still want to explain about the lipstick.”
“It’s none of my business, Alex.”
He said, “I don’t want you thinking I’m some kind of Romeo. I helped a waitress in town get rid of a problem, and she kissed my cheek in thanks. There was nothing else to it.”
Elise said, “It’s perfectly fine with me, Alex.”
Did she believe him? Suddenly, it was very important to Alex that she did.
He said, “Hicking’s a good-looking man, isn’t he?”
Elise shook her head. “I suppose so, if you like that type. His attitude towards women needs a little work, if you ask me.”
Alex laughed. “You gave him something to think about. Be nice, Elise. I know you can’t help it, but you are attractive.” Alex thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life, but he kept that to himself.
As the two of them walked up the porch steps, Elise answered with a slightly vexed tone in her voice. “I had no control over what you see on the outside. I picked the right parents, that’s all. People should care a little more about what’s on the inside.”
And that closed the discussion.
Alex went to the desk and looked at the work schedule Elise had drawn up. He saw that she had checked off each room on her morning rounds. As far as he could remember, Marisa had never made it all the way through the rooms in the course of a single working day.
When Elise returned to the front, Alex said, “I’ve got to work on the books. If you want to get started on the lobby floor, it needs a coat of wax desperately.” He smiled, then added, “If you hadn’t done such a good job mopping it, I never would have noticed.”
They walked over to the storage closet and retrieved the buffer and wax.
Elise looked through the closet. “How about a couple of ‘Slippery Floor’ signs?”
“I never thought of that. Guess we’ll have to pick some up.”
“I swear, Alex. This place is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Have you ever had any trouble before from any of your guests?”
“Besides them stealing towels? None that I can think of. People didn’t used to be so lawsuit happy. It makes me wish for the good old days.”
Elise frowned. “No electricity, no indoor plumbing and no penicillin? No thank you. I’ll keep the modern conveniences.”
Alex said, “I guess you’re right. I’m not even going to ask you if you need any help.”
“That’s a wise decision. I’ve handled a lot worse than this. My dad said I was the best worker he ever had at his hotel, and he wasn’t just saying that.”
“Wonderful. When you’re done in here, you can rebuild the boiler.”
Elise started rolling up the lobby’s rugs, and Alex naturally joined in. “I took a peek at your heating and cooling system. I can’t believe it’s still running.”
“That’s what Mor keeps telling me. Give me a hand with this sofa, will you?”
Elise motioned to a large armoire that took up one corner of the lobby. “That piece is beautiful.”
“You’re not planning on moving it, too, are you?”
Elise said, “No, I can work around it. But the craftsmanship is wonderful.”
Alex let a little pride slip into his voice. “Thanks. I helped my dad build it when I was fifteen.”
“I’m impressed. There’s certainly more to you than meets the eye, Alex.”
“I’d like to think so.”
In a few minutes, they had everything ready for Elise to begin.
Alex planned to work at his desk and started to wade through his financial records when Sergeant Hicking and the sheriff walked in.
Alex asked, “Have any luck?”
Armstrong started to say something when the state policeman shook his head. “We’re not answering questions, Mr. Winston, we’re asking them.”
Alex persisted despite the obvious rebuff. “Do you know yet if the autopsy revealed anything unusual?”
Hicking looked at Alex closely. “Now why would you care about that?”
The question was blunt, so Alex made his answer match. “Reg Wellington was not just another guest to me. I’ve known him all my life, and counted him as one of my best friends in the world. I want to know who killed him, even if I have to step on a few toes