Innkeeping with Murder - Tim Myers [40]
She arched one eyebrow. “I can see that. That’s why we need to go out. You can bring me up to date.” Alex started to protest, but Sandra wouldn’t allow it. “You can be ready in ten minutes, Alex. Why stand here arguing?”
He said abruptly, “You know what? I don’t seem to have much of an appetite. Go on without me.”
Sandra looked stunned by Alex’s refusal. “Maybe I’ll do just that.”
“That’s fine by me,” Alex said, instead of acquiescing like he knew Sandra was expecting him to.
Rebounding quickly, Sandra said, “On second thought, I am rather tired from my trip. Why don’t we do lunch tomorrow instead, Alex?” She kissed him lightly on the cheek, then quickly drove away. Alex had to admire Sandra for one thing; she always knew when to cut her losses.
Suddenly, Alex realized that he’d just lost the chance to have dinner with two different women.
Tonight, he’d be eating alone.
Elise came out just as Alex was lighting the night’s fire.
“I thought you two went out,” she said.
“Sandra suddenly decided she was too tired.”
Elisa took it in without comment.
Alex said. “I’ve never given you the grand tour. Would you like to see the grounds before it gets too dark?”
A slight frown cropped up on Elise’s face. “Well, I’d love to see Bear Rocks, but I’m going to need more time to explore than the daylight we have left. Can we walk up to the top of the lighthouse instead?”
Alex nodded. “We might have to share the view with someone else. A lot of townsfolk have been coming to see the murder scene. Do you mind?”
Elise placed her hand delicately on Alex’s arm. “Oh, Alex. I’m sorry. That’s probably the last place in the world you want to be so soon after your friend’s death. We can go some other time.”
“The lighthouse means a lot to me. I hate that someone used it as a place to kill Reg, but there have been deaths there before. The old stone walls just absorb it all, the good along with the bad.”
As they walked outside and over to the steps, Elise said, “Tell me who else died here. Goodness, I sound ghoulish, don’t I?”
Alex shook his head. “It’s part of the lighthouse history. Fifty years ago, a couple of kids were stopped from eloping by their parents. Before anyone knew what was happening, they broke into the tower and climbed the steps together. It was the last thing they did in this lifetime. Dad found their bodies at the base the next morning. Some of the people in town wanted the inn closed because of the deaths, as if it was somehow the lighthouse’s fault.”
Elise said, “That’s so unfair. If someone wants to kill
himself, there are surely more ways to do it than leaping from the top of a lighthouse.”
They were just starting to climb the first level of the stairs when Barb Matthews came racing down the final steps toward them. Instead of a greeting, she started attacking Alex.
“Where were you today? I needed fresh linen and had to scrounge it myself. What kind of inn are you running, anyway? I hear someone else almost died today, a fact you neglected to share with me. Who’s next? Me? ‘Gas leak’ my foot. You can’t pull anything over on me, Mr. Winston. I’m too sharp for that.”
Alex bit back his first response. He knew perfectly well Elise had been at the inn all day. It was obvious Barb Matthews just wanted something to complain about. “I’m sorry about the linen, but we’ve got a lot going on right now. If you aren’t happy with your accommodations at Hatteras West, I’d be glad to make alternate arrangements someplace in town for you.” Alex offered his slickest smile to the woman.
She tapped him squarely in the chest with the dragonhead cane. It surprised Alex that she carried the walking stick up the steps of the lighthouse when there was a handrail on either side of staircase, but Mrs. Matthews was obviously a law unto herself.
She scowled and said, “You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Mr. Winston. I’m planning to stay here till they drag my body out. You understand?”
Alex barely refrained from snapping a salute. “Yes Ma’am. I’ve got it.”
Mrs. Matthews started