Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [53]
Tony was back!
Alex turned to Tony, making sure the copies were out of his line of sight. “Catching up on my records. You wouldn’t believe the forms I have to fill out around here. You’re back early. What happened to Hiddenite?”
“I decided it wouldn’t be any fun by myself. Tell you what, why don’t I help you finish up the rooms, then we can go to Buck’s together and grab something to eat.”
Alex said, “You don’t want to spend your last day here cleaning, do you?”
Tony said, “Just let me change, and I’ll be right with you.”
Ashley came downstairs, and Alex called her over. “Still going up to the top of the lighthouse?”
“I am,” she said. “Did you change your mind about the tour? I’d love to learn more about the history of this charming place.” Ashley had certainly done an about-face regarding Hatteras West.
Alex said, “I’m really jammed, but my brother Tony knows almost as much about Hatteras West as I do. He grew up here, too. I’m sure he could tell you some fascinating stories about our history.”
Ashley was a pretty woman, away from her husband and children, and just as Alex had guessed, Tony rose to the bait. “I know more than you’ve forgotten, little Brother. I’ll be glad to take you, Ashley.”
“Are you sure it’s not too much trouble?”
Tony said, “Part of the Winston service, ma’am.”
Alex whispered, “Thanks, this will really help me out.”
“No problem.” Tony turned to Ashley. “Are you ready for the grand lighthouse tour?”
“Absolutely.”
As soon as he was sure they were well on their way, Alex folded the copies and tucked them into his back pocket. His hands didn’t stop shaking until the journal was safely back in Tony’s bag upstairs in his room. Alex did a perfunctory sweep of the place, straightening a few things as he searched, but he didn’t come across anything else that looked out of the ordinary.
Alex decided to lock himself in his own room downstairs and see if he could come up with a way of breaking the code of Jase’s handwriting, but after ten frustrating minutes, he decided he was going to have to call in an expert.
After making sure Nadine was still in the office wrapping
things up, Alex put a sign on the desk that said, ‘Gone into town. Back Soon’, and left.
Tony was shouting something from the top of the lighthouse as he drove by, but Alex pretended not to hear. “Oh, Alex, I’m thrilled you found Jase’s journal.”
Alex handed Nadine the photocopied pages, and she asked, “Don’t you have the original?”
Alex said, “It’s still at the inn.” He didn’t bother explaining. He wasn’t ready to share his suspicions with anyone yet about exactly what Jase may have written in his journal.
“Very well.” Nadine retrieved a pair of reading glasses and tackled the sheets. After a few moments, she said, “Oh, my. Are you certain you want to hear this, Alex?”
“I’m a grown man, Nadine, I can take whatever Jase had co say. Give it to me straight from what he wrote.”
Nadine said, “Very well,” then she started to read. “‘Alex seems happy enough fighting to keep his inn alive, it’s hopeless going it alone, but his heart’s in the right place. That boy needs a good woman by his side. Elise Danton? No, she’s already got someone. I must see if there’s anyone in town I can interest him in. That boy deserves some happiness in his life.’ Alex, there’s more, but it’s along the same lines. Shall I continue?”
“No, you can skip ahead.” He’d thought he recognized his name a few places in the pages, but that was all he’d been able to decipher. He’d deal with Jase’s feelings later; right now, he was looking for clues.
Nadine continued, “‘Tony is in desperate need of money again. I wish I could say it was a surprise, but I’d been expecting it. There was a new twist though, an ugly one at that. He came to me today demanding his inheritance! The impudence of that boy! I’m drafting a new will as soon as I get the chance! He’s out! Alex can use it all to prop up that inn, if he so chooses, or he can sell everything and make himself a fresh start! I’m finished with Tony, that’s the only thing