Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [29]
“Stop it, Alex. You know better,” he chided himself out loud. The sound of his voice helped calm him, and the ominous shapes he’d seen for a moment converted back into trees, bushes, and a lawn chair someone had left out in the woods.
He made the rest of the rounds of the property with a lighter heart after he’d banished the demons from his mind. After circling the path from Bear Rocks to both inn buildings to the lighthouse itself, Alex was satisfied that there was no one or nothing ominous out there. At least not now.
Alex stopped at the storage shed by the lighthouse to check on Vernum. Perhaps the man had been wandering around the woods on his own, oblivious to the fact that he’d startled one of Alex’s guests. Inside the shed, he found that the cot was still made up, but the arborist was nowhere to be found. Alex saw an odd-looking stamp on the floor and a pile of old magazines spread out on the bed. The collection was so odd, it had to have come from Les Williamson’s collection. Mor’s partner had the most eclectic taste in all of Canawba County. Could Vernum have been the one walking out in the woods? If he had, why hadn’t he identified himself when Steven had called out to him? That was a question he wouldn’t have to ask. Vernum was notoriously shy, and Alex doubted he would respond to any hail or summons coming from a stranger.
In the morning, Alex promised himself that the two of them would have a long talk, even if Alex had to sit on him to make Vernum stay in one place long enough for more than three words! The man’s shyness was astounding!
He was still smiling at the image of pinning Vernum down for their dialogue when he walked back into the inn. Steven was at the desk with one hand on the telephone, poised to pounce on the numbers.
“Did you see anything? Was he still out there?”
“Whoever or whatever it was is long gone now,” Alex said as he switched off his flashlight. Somebody was out there in the woods. You’ve got to believe me, Alex; I’m telling the truth.”
Alex said, “I believe you,” as sincerely as he could muster. “Most likely it was just my landscaper. Vernum is extremely shy; I doubt he’d answer his own mother if she called him.”
“And if it wasn’t him?” Steven pressed.
Alex said, “Sometimes people from town come out here and run the trails at night.”
“In the dark? And why didn’t they identify themselves when I called out?”
“They could have had headphones on, or be lost in their own thoughts. I’m certain there’s a logical explanation for it, Steven.”
The young man shook his head. “I’m still not leaving the inn by myself after dark from here on out.”
“I understand completely.”
Steven moved to the stairs, then paused and said, “I understand there’s going to be a wake for your uncle here tomorrow night. I’ll do my best to get my sister and mother out of the inn so you can have some time alone to grieve.”
Alex was touched by the gesture. “You are all invited, Steven. It’s going to be a celebration of his life. That’s the way he wanted it. You never got the chance to meet Jase, but I can tell you, he embraced the world. I’m sure he would have invited you all himself, if he could have. Jase always was one who believed the more the merrier.”
Steven looked uncomfortable. “But still, I can’t help feeling we are somewhat responsible. After all, it was Father’s will that led to his death. How can we show our faces at the man’s wake?”
“You can’t blame yourself,” Alex said, adding to himself, Unless you’re the one who killed him.
Steven looked as if he was about to say something else when his sister came