Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [25]
Alex said, “But why would she forge her own name and not someone else’s?”
“Hold on a second, Alex. What if Julie Hart is the real killer? She could have planted this to make it look like she was guilty at first, knowing the entry would never stand up in court.”
Alex shook his head. “Sheriff, you’ve been watching too much television.”
Armstrong bristled at the comment and grabbed the book. “First Hiram and now you! Alex, you need to leave the detecting to me. You’ve got an inn to run.”
Alex knew from the tone of Armstrong’s voice that he had overstepped his bounds, and he had to keep the sheriff’s good will if he was going to get any information from him in the future.
“I guess you’re right. Maybe I’d better get back to Hatteras West, then.”
When the sheriff saw that Alex wasn’t going to argue with him, he said kindly, “Alex, I’m sorry you lost your uncle. Believe me, I’m doing everything in my power to find the killer.”
As Alex left, he nearly added, “So am I,” but he kept that last remark to himself.
Alex had done as Nadine had requested and delivered the appointment book to the sheriff. It wasn’t time to head back to Hatteras West yet, though. If he pushed it, he still had time to pay a visit to Julie Hart out at Amy Lang’s homestead near Hatteras West. It was possible that there was something she wasn’t telling him, and he was bound and determined to find out.
Chapter 8
A creeping fog hugged the road as Alex drove up the lane to Amy Lang’s homestead. It was an odd sight for early afternoon, but the weather had been strange lately as cold and warm fronts kept colliding over the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The gravel path was mostly obscured by the swirling masses of white, and Alex slowed his truck considerably as he drove.
Breaking out of the fog just ahead of him, an apparition appeared in a flash of red. Alex slammed on his brakes and stopped the truck. He’d come awfully close to hitting something!
“Why, if it isn’t Alex Winston himself.”
Amy Lang’s jet-black hair tumbled out as she pulled back the hood of her bright red cloak.
“I could have killed you,” Alex said, his voice shaking.
Amy laughed. “Nonsense. I knew where you were, even if you didn’t see me. I was ready to jump if you got any closer.”
Alex looked at her outfit and said, “I really like your cloak.”
She twirled in it, and the material danced elegantly around her with a few wisps of swirling fog dancing in rhythm. Amy said, “It’s an Irish walking cape. Stunning, isn’t it?”
Alex laughed gently. “You’re doing everything in your power to keep the eccentric artist myth alive, aren’t you?”
She smiled. “What can I say? It lets me keep my prices up.” The banter subsided as Amy asked, “What brings you out this way? I know you’re too busy with the inn to just pop in unannounced.”
Alex said, “Let me get my truck off the road first. I don’t want to get rear-ended. Would you like a ride back to your place?”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Alex knew Amy well enough to realize that she wasn’t going to budge until he answered her. “I need to speak with Julie Hart.”
“And what makes you think she’s out here?”
Alex said, “I’ve got to protect my sources. So, can I see her?”
“It all depends, Alex. Are you going to harass her, too?”
“I just want to talk,” Alex said. “Please, it’s important.”
Another figure stepped out of the mist wearing a cape done in blue instead of Amy’s red.
“It’s okay, Amy, Alex and I have already met. I’d like to think we’re friends.”
Amy turned to Julie. “You know what Sandra said; you shouldn’t be talking to anyone right now.”
Alex said, “Amy, we don’t know each other all that well, but if you’d like to go into town and ask around, I guarantee you’ll find out that I don’t take advantage of people. I’ll come back out after you two have decided whether I’m trustworthy or not.”
As he headed back to his truck, Julie said, “We don’t need to check your references, Alex. I trust you.”
Amy said, “I do, too. It’s just that you’ve got a lot at stake, Julie.”
Julie laughed. “I came