Innkeeping with Murder - Tim Myers [58]
“You’re in here, aren’t you?”
His words had a sobering effect on her. “I can’t hide forever, Alex. If it’s my time, I’m ready to go.”
Great. He’d managed to put out the sun in her eyes; all by himself. “Just be careful, okay?”
She added with a subdued smile, “Don’t worry so much about me, Alex. If I do go, I plan to take an honor guard with me. Tell you what I will do, though. Whenever someone comes into the room, no matter who it is, I’ll keep my finger on the buzzer. Does that satisfy you?”
Alex patted her hand gently. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. Watch yourself.”
“I promise. Now why don’t you let me get some rest? I’m suddenly quite tired.”
From the strain on her face, Alex could see that the: words were true. After he left, he found a bench in the corridor outside Emma’s room and sat down, debating on what to do next. It hadn’t been the brightest thing in the world to do, giving a sick woman more things to worry about. He should have called Armstrong instead and persuaded him to put a deputy on the hospital room door. But he already knew what the sheriff’s reaction would be, and he didn’t particularly want to hear the man’s reasons. Besides, the sheriff had apparently given up on doing any work on the case until the full SBI team got to Elkton Falls. If anybody was going to untangle this mess before then, it would have to be up to Alex. He only hoped he could figure it out while there was still time.
What did Reg’s death, Emma’s fall, the fire and Finster’s stabbing all have in common? Taken as separate incidents, they could have a thousand different meanings. But that kind of criminal activity around Hatteras West in such a short period of time couldn’t be coincidence. There had to be one thread that tied those people and events together, but Alex couldn’t figure out what it could be.
Chapter 18
Alex’s grumbling stomach reminded him that he’d missed lunch. Before he could take care of his hunger, he found a pay telephone and called the inn.
Elise answered on the second ring. Hearing her say, “Hatteras West” brought a smile to his face.
Alex said, “I wanted to let you know that I just saw Emma Sturbridge. She’s awake and doing fine.”
“Oh, Alex, that’s wonderful news. Did she say who pushed her?”
“She said it felt like a tree limb gave her a shove.”
“But there’s no trees out there on the rocks. Unless ...”
“Unless what? Do you have any idea what she was talking about?”
Elise paused, then said, “No, it just doesn’t make sense.” Elise lowered her voice and added, “I’ll see you later, Alex. Dame Matthews is heading this way, and from the scowl on her face, it’s not to compliment us on our fine service.”
“Good luck. I’ll see you later.”
Sally Anne was behind the counter at Buck’s, wearing a frown instead of her usual smile.
It was just a little after two, so the regular lunch crowd had thinned to a few stragglers. Still, Sally Anne lowered her voice to a whisper when she spoke to Alex. “Have you heard the news?”
Alex found himself whispering, too. “What news?”
Sally Anne’s eyes grew large. “They found that awful man Finster dead in his Cherokee.”
Alex lifted his voice slightly before Sally Anne shushed him back into a whisper. “It’s all around town. The sheriff came by the inn last night and told me. They found him in an orchard near the inn.”
Sally Anne’s face was white. “Alex, I think Daddy might have done it.”
Alex rocked back on his heels. “Why in the world would you say that?”
“He came in late last night acting like something was really bothering him. When I asked him about it, Dad told me not to worry my pretty little head. I am worried, though.”
Alex thought for a moment. “How could he have known what was going on with Sam Finster? You didn’t tell him, did you?”
Sally Anne’s lower lip quivered. “No, but when I pressed him last night, he said I wouldn’t have to worry about that goon coming after me anymore, so somebody must have said something to him.”
It was possible. Everyone