Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [31]
It startled him to find his own name printed on the front of the paper, and with trembling hands, he opened it. It was short, simple, and to the point. In Jase’s handwriting, it said, “Alex, enjoy these as I have. My treasures are now yours. Jase.”
A soft sob escaped Alex’s lips as he folded the note back up and returned it to the bottom of the box. It was too soon to take it all in. Alex put the collection back in the box, then slid it, along with the books and the folder, under the edge of his bed. He was too tired to find a spot for them on his crowded nightstand tonight.
Just before he turned out the light, Alex glanced at the clock by his bed and saw that it was nearing midnight. There was no sign of Elise and Peter. He was still wondering what that meant as he drifted off to sleep.
“Hey, Alex, got a second?”
Alex had been signing checks and paying bills the following morning, and any interruption was a welcome one.
Even from his brother.
“Come on in, Tony,” he said as he closed his checkbook. There was no way he wanted his brother to see the details of his finances.
Tony sat across from him and said, “Listen, I’ve been feeling a little guilty about the way this has all played out. Jase was wrong to give me all that money. I’d like you to at least have some of it.”
Alex shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to pass.”
“You’re too proud for your own good, Alex.” Tony took a deep breath, then said, “Listen, I grew up here, too. I know what it takes to run this place. You’re just barely scraping by; don’t try to deny it.”
Alex said, “I’m doing well enough. You don’t understand, Tony, it’s truly not a matter of pride.” Alex paused a second, then added, “Well, not entirely. The thing is, I’m getting exactly what Jase wanted me to have; no more, no less.”
“You’re as stubborn as Dad ever was,” Tony said in disgust.
“Said the kettle to the pot,” Alex answered with a smile.
Tony laughed. “Yeah, I guess you’ve got me there. Okay, let’s forget we ever had this conversation.”
“Are you kidding? My brother offers to part with some of his money, and you expect me to forget it? Not on your life.”
Tony nodded, then said seriously, “Alex, I thought I should let you know, I’m leaving tomorrow morning. This place,” he gestured with a sweep of his hand to take in all of Hatteras West, “it just doesn’t have anything for me anymore.”
Alex admitted, “I didn’t figure I’d ever see you back here again.”
Tony shrugged. “You were the one in love with the lighthouse, not me. I outgrew Elkton Falls a long time ago, and this place, too.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Alex said softly.
“Hey, no offense intended,” Tony said.
“None taken. We chose different paths, that’s all.”
Tony stood and stretched. “Well, I just wanted to clear that up.”
“Consider it done,” Alex said as he watched his brother leave. The offer of sharing Jase’s money had startled Alex,
truth be told. Maybe he’d been wrong about his brother. Perhaps Tony had grown some in the years since they’d talked last.
There was a knock on the door, and Mor walked in. “Is this a bad time?”
“There don’t seem to be many good ones lately, so come on in,” Alex said.
Mor started to edge out of the office. “We’ll catch up later.”
Alex stood. “Listen, I’m sorry. I’m just having a hard time with all that’s been going on around here the past few days.”
Mor said, “I just came by to see if you wanted to go get Jase’s stuff, but we can do it another time.”
Alex looked at the latest bills still to pay, then said, “Now’s as good a time as any. Let me tell Elise, then we can go.”
Alex found Elise starting her rounds upstairs. “I need an hour or two in town. Can you cover here?”
Elise said, “Absolutely. Are you getting things set up for tonight?”
“No, Jase took care of all the arrangements before he died. It’s weird, almost as if he knew something was going to happen.”
Elise said, “Alex, he wasn’t a young man.”
“He was still too young to die,” Alex replied.
“I didn’t mean anything