Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [4]
“The brass one? Of course I do, I gave it to him for Christmas last year.”
Armstrong said, “Well, somebody cracked him on the back of the skull with it. Irene said there were no prints, it was wiped down pretty good, but the points of impact match perfectly.”
“So my lighthouse killed him,” Alex said in disbelief.
“It could have been anything, Alex. The killer struck at the last minute and happened to grab that paperweight you bought him.”
“I still can’t believe it,” Alex said haltingly.
Armstrong coughed once, then said, “I hate to do this right now, Alex, but I have to ask you something. Is there a Trask family staying with you?”
“They’re over there,” he said softly. “Jase was on his way out to talk to them. Do you think one of them might have had something to do with his murder?”
The sheriff ignored his question and walked over to the group.
Armstrong approached Cynthia and said, “Ma’am, are you Cynthia Trask?”
“Cynthia Shays-Trask,” she corrected him. “What can I do for you, Officer?”
“It’s Sheriff, ma’am. I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news for you. Jase Winston isn’t going to be able to make his appointment with you today.”
“Why not?” Ashley demanded.
Armstrong explained to the family, “I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you folks this, but Jase Winston is dead.”
Cynthia said, “What do you mean, he’s dead? Who could possibly have a reason to kill an old country lawyer?”
“Now, I never said anything about murder,” Armstrong said calmly.
Cynthia was unruffled by the intensity of his stare. “So he died from heart failure. He’s still dead, isn’t he?”
Alex fought the urge to strangle her.
Armstrong said, “No, as a matter of fact it was murder, but I’m curious to know why you jumped to that particular conclusion.”
“Sheriff, I live in a large city. When I hear someone has died, my mind jumps naturally to murder.”
Steven asked, “Have you caught the killer?”
“Not yet,” Armstrong admitted.
Ashley said, “I’m assuming you’re not out here on a courtesy call. Sheriff, what exactly does this have to do with us?”
“That’s what I was hoping you’d be able to tell me. The safe in his office was standing wide open, but as far as his secretary can tell, there’s only one thing missing. She found an empty folder inside with the heading. ‘The Last Will and Testament of Mathias Trask.’”
At that moment, Cynthia Shays-Trask fainted dead away.
Ashley cradled her mother’s head in her lap. The matriarch quickly came around from her faint.
“Mother, are you all right?” Steven asked softly.
“I’m fine, Steven, it was just the shock of hearing the horrid news.”
She hadn’t fainted when she’d found out Jase was dead, Alex thought bitterly; it was the fact that the will was missing that had made her swoon.
Elise said, “Maybe you should drink this,” as she offered Cynthia a glass of water.
After taking a healthy swallow, Cynthia said, “That’s much better. Thank you, my dear.” She turned to Armstrong and asked, “Now, why in the world would anyone want a copy of Mathias’s will?”
“It’s more serious than you think. Seems it was the only copy there was.” Armstrong looked at the people gathered in the lobby and asked, “Would you all mind telling me where you were between six and nine this morning?”
Ashley exploded, “Do you mean to tell me we’re suspects?
You’re out of your mind, Sheriff. Do you honestly believe any of us would kill a stranger for our father’s will?”
“The way I figure it, one of you didn’t like the contents of that new will. I’m sure the thief didn’t mean to kill old Jase, but it happened. If Mathias wrote one of you out of the will, I’m betting you figured a little cut of the pie was better than nothing at all. That’s probably what’s going to happen if this will doesn’t turn up; most likely his worldly goods will get split up between the three of you. Now, one at a time, I need to know where you were.”
Steven said, “Back up a second, Sheriff. We didn’t know there was a will involving us until last week, or even that there was anything my father