Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [6]
Steven said, “I can’t believe you’d take her case against me, Sandra. I thought we were friends.”
Sandra said softly, “I’m sorry, Steven, but I’m friends with most of Elkton Falls. I can’t turn my back on a client in need.”
Ashley said defiantly, “There’s more at issue here than a case of hurt feelings. We won’t stand for this. Do you understand?”
Julie started to say something, but Sandra put a hand on her arm and said, “It wasn’t exactly the warm embrace my client was hoping for. We’ll see you in court.”
Sandra started to leave, but Julie lingered. Though her voice quivered, there was steel in her words. “I didn’t do this on purpose. I’m just respecting my father’s last wish.”
“Whoever he may be,” Cynthia said with cold dismissal in her voice.
Alex had watched the exchange as if he were seeing it through someone else’s eyes. His own part of the tragedy was just starting to sink in. Nothing would be the same with Jase gone.
After Sandra and Julie left the inn, Elise asked, “Alex, is there anything I can do?” Her words brought him back as she lightly touched his shoulder.
He said, “I need to sit down.”
She led him to a nearby chair in the lobby, and Alex slumped into it. Elise asked, “Would you like anything?”
“Water,” Alex croaked.
He looked up at the sound of voices and suddenly realized that the Trasks were still there. He was going to have to pull himself together. Jase would have expected nothing less of him.
Alex heard Ashley ask, “So what happens now? I’m not about to let that imposter get her greedy little hands on Father’s money.”
Steven said, “You heard Sandra. If she’s really our sister and Dad wanted her to inherit, how can we stand in her way?”
“Just watch me,” Ashley said.
Cynthia looked at both her children. “Is it agreed, then? We fight this imposter’s claim?”
Ashley nodded, but Steven refused to meet her gaze as he said, “I still don’t think it’s right. How can we go against his wishes?”
Cynthia said, “I’m warning you, Steven, if you don’t stand with us against this woman, you’ll be cut off yourself. I’ll see to it.”
Steven stood, and as he headed for the door he said, “Do what you have to, Mother.”
After he was gone, Cynthia said to Ashley, “Don’t worry, he’ll come around. I’m sure Steven is wrong; we should have no problem getting representation from Charlotte here once they find out what’s at stake. Now, let me call a few friends and see if I can come up with any recommendations. Dear, I’m afraid this isn’t going to be as simple as we thought.”
Ashley groaned. “So we’re really going to have to stay here the full week?”
“At least that,” Cynthia said with an air of resignation in her voice.
Elise gave Alex his water, then said, “Why don’t I send the Trasks to a hotel in Hickory? You don’t need to have guests around right now, especially ones tied in with all of this.”
Alex said softly, “I want them to stay.”
“It’s too much,” Elise insisted. “You need some time to deal with losing your uncle.”
Alex said resolutely, “Check them in, Elise. I need to find out if one of them killed Jase. I can’t do that if they’re staying somewhere else.”
Elise nodded. “Whatever you say.”
As she checked the three guests into their rooms and showed them the way upstairs, Alex was happy to have the lobby back to himself. What had started out as an interesting situation had suddenly turned very ugly.
But one thing was certain. No one was leaving Hatteras West until Alex uncovered the truth about his uncle’s murder.
Chapter 3
“Tony, it’s Alex.”
He’d dreaded making the telephone call to his brother, but he really had no choice. As Alex dialed the number, he suddenly realized that they were the last of the Winstons, their particular branch of the family tree, anyway. Tony was a confirmed bachelor after a pair of failed marriages with no children from either union, now wedded only to his work,