Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [56]
“There you are,” Tony said. “We were beginning to wonder about you.”
Alex said, “Ashley, did you know Steven was looking for you? He said it was important.”
Ashley said, “Steven’s sense of importance doesn’t often match mine.”
Alex hated to lie, but he had to get Tony alone. “He looked a little upset to me, to tell you the truth.”
Ashley said, “I’d better go find him,” then disappeared quickly inside the inn.
Tony started toward the inn, too, but Alex touched his arm lightly. “We need to talk.”
Tony pulled away as he said, “So, we’ll talk on the front porch.”
“Why don’t we sit here on the lighthouse steps,” Alex insisted. “We’ve got a lot more privacy here.”
Tony said, “Fine. What’s on your mind, little Brother?”
“I just have one question for you, and I want the truth. Tony, did you kill Uncle Jase?”
Tony snapped, “Have you lost your mind? What are talking about?”
Alex said, “I know Jase was cutting you out of the will, and I also know how desperate you were for money.”
Tony said, “How did you find that out?” A look of suspicion crept across his face. “Did you go through my things, Alex?”
“Why not? You went through mine. I kept trying to figure out why someone would search through Jase’s possessions, first when they were on Mor’s truck, and then again in my room. You were looking for the journal, weren’t you?”
“Get a grip, Alex. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” All the signs were there; his brother was lying.
Alex snapped, “Come on, Tony, I found his journal in your suitcase.”
Tony said, “Okay, I admit it. I took it after we left Sandra’s office that day she read the will. Alex, I expected Jase to follow up right away when he said he was writing me out of his will. Nobody was more surprised than I was when Sandra read the version that left me all that money. You’d better believe the first thing on my mind was getting my hands on that journal before Armstrong started snooping around. I knew how Jase recorded everything in his life in there. I followed you over to his house, and the second you disappeared into his bedroom, I went in to look for it myself. It wasn’t that tough to spot; it was right on the stand by the door. I nearly had a heart attack when you came out of that room, but I didn’t have a choice. That journal would have set me up as a murderer, and I had no desire to be the sheriff’s only suspect for a murder I didn’t commit.”
“Do you expect me to believe you, Tony?” His brother’s body language, the tone of his voice, even the way he stared at Alex screamed that he was telling the truth. But that couldn’t be. There were too many facts that pointed straight at his brother.
Tony jammed a finger into Alex’s chest. “I told you, I’m not lying! Do you really think I could have killed him? The last time I saw Jase, he was mad as a wet cat, but he was still very much alive. Jase was furious with me the last time we spoke, and I’ve got to live with that for the rest of my life. I’ll never have the chance to say how sorry I am about everything.” Tony looked Alex straight in the eye. “I did not kill our uncle, Alex. You know what? I’m past caring what you believe. Now get out of my way. I’m leaving Hatteras West forever, and I’d advise you not to try and stop me.”
As Tony blew past him, Alex knew in his heart that his brother was indeed telling the truth!
Alex hurried after him as Tony went upstairs to retrieve his bag, anxious to catch up with his brother and try to set things right between them. After all, if Tony left Hatteras West now, he knew his brother would never come back.
Alex was surprised to hear a police siren as he raced toward Tony’s room. What had happened now to bring the sheriff back to Hatteras West?
Tony had his bag in one hand as he blew past Alex toward the front door.
Alex said, “Don’t go like this. We need to talk about it.”
Tony said, “I’m finished talking, Alex. I wish I could say it’s been nice being related to you, but I’m not going to lie to you.”
Alex watched him storm out the front