Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [35]
Tears welled up in Irene’s eye. “Alex Winston, you are the sweetest man I know. I should be the one offering words of comfort to you.”
Mor came back and slid an iced tea in front of Alex, with another for himself. He said, “Your steak will be right up, sir, but they were all out of champagne. Anything else from the bar while you’re waiting?”
It took Mor a second to realize he’d interrupted something. “I just remembered, I have a call to make, if you two will excuse me.”
Irene put a hand on his arm. “You’re not going anywhere until you sit down and tell me your plans.”
“What plans are those?”
“Mor Pendleton, I’ve been running To Dye For nearly twenty-seven years. Do you think there’s a chance in the world I haven’t heard what Les has done?”
Mor said, “Now, why am I not surprised?” Mor looked at his tea, swirled the glass a few times without taking a sip, then said, “To be honest with you, I haven’t decided yet.”
Irene said softly, “Elkton Falls needs you, Mordecai Pendleton. Don’t leave us.”
The big man was obviously uncomfortable by the serious turn of the conversation. “Don’t worry, you’re not going to get rid of me any time soon.”
Alex said, “Irene, we’ll see you at the inn tonight for the send-off, won’t we?”
“I don’t know, Alex, I’m not sure—”
“Nonsense,” Alex said. “I want you there as my personal guest. I’m sure it’s what Jase would have wanted.”
Irene said, “I’ll be there, then.” She threw a twenty on the table over her bill. “Lunch is on me, gentlemen,” Irene said as she rushed out of Buck’s before the men could say another word.
“Alex, my friend, your way with women is unparalleled in the history of all mankind.”
“What can I say? It’s a gift. I just can’t believe you got out of another lunch tab.”
Mor shrugged. “Hey, you have your gifts, I have mine.”
The two men started back on foot after finishing their meals. Alex said, “I’ve got to tell you, that was the best club sandwich I’ve ever had.” Mor had ordered Alex’s usual club for him, though Sally Anne had called it a steak when she’d delivered it, a curious frown on her face.
Mor patted his stomach as he said, “Yeah, my country-fried chicken was pretty good, too. It was sweet of Irene to treat us.” The handyman took a few more steps, then said, “Tonight’s going to be tough on you, isn’t it?”
Alex kept his gaze on the sidewalk as he spoke. “I guess I got it from Jase, but I never did care for funerals. For the longest time I swore I wasn’t going to have one myself, but I’m beginning to think Jase might have had the right idea. Inviting all your family and friends to one last blowout has a touch of style that fit the man just right. I’m sorry he’s gone, especially the way it happened, but I’m also happy
that Jase made it back to Elkton Falls. It was wonderful getting reacquainted with him again.”
Mor started walking faster as they neared his truck. Alex asked, “What’s the rush?”
Mor pointed to one of the boxes they’d so carefully sealed. The top had been torn off, and a few books spilled out onto the bed. “Alex, somebody’s been messing with Jase’s stuff.”
Chapter 11
The closer they got to the truck, the more apparent it was that someone had been tampering with the boxes they’d so carefully packed. Alex and Mor jumped up into the bed of the truck and tried to see if anything was missing.
After they’d examined every box and Alex had started resealing the tops, Mor said, “I don’t see that anything’s gone. Alex, it was probably just some kids who couldn’t resist seeing what was inside.”
Alex sealed another box, then said reluctantly, “You’re probably right.”
Mor said, “You think it’s something more ominous than that, don’t you? Alex, not everything’s a mystery waiting to be solved.”
“Of course not,” Alex said as he finished taping up the last of the disturbed boxes.
Mor looked at his friend, then said, “You don’t believe that for a second, do you?”
Alex leaned against the back of the cab of the truck and
said, “Mor, somebody tried to break