Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [67]
Steven drifted upstairs, no doubt to avoid his mother’s foul mood, and after they were both gone, Elise said, “So what do we do now?”
He tapped the document with his finger. “There’s nothing much we can do but wait.”
Half an hour later, Steven and Ashley came downstairs together, with Ashley holding the urn full of their father’s ashes. Cynthia had stormed upstairs long ago. Evidently, her lawyer was already gone for day, just as Alex had hoped. Steven was carrying the urn that held his father’s ashes. “Alex, do you have a minute?”
“I’m sorry, Steven, but I can’t give you the will any more than I can turn it over to your mother. Sandra’s instructions were firm.”
“That’s not it at all,” Ashley said. “Steven and I were so impressed with the ceremony scattering your uncle’s ashes hat we wondered if we could do the same with our father.”
“I don’t know if I’m up to another send-off, Ashley, and I know the town council won’t approve a lighting so close to last night.”
Steven said, “We don’t want any of that. We just wanted to make sure it was okay with you if we did it ourselves at the top of the lighthouse, just the two of us.”
Elise said, “Don’t you want to ask your mother to join you?”
“No, she doesn’t have a sentimental bone in her body,” Ashley said. “Steven and I want to do this together.”
Alex looked at them intently, then said, “Let me ask you this. If Julie’s truly his daughter, too, doesn’t she have a right to be there as well?”
Ashley said, “Steven and I grew up with him. She knows him through a single letter. Even if they share DNA, he’s still not her father. Please.”
Elise said, “She’s got a point, Alex.”
“Go ahead then,” Alex said. “Put this sign up when you go in. Everyone around here will respect it.” Alex dug through a drawer and pulled out a Lighthouse Closed sign.
“Thanks, we greatly appreciate it,” Ashley said as an errant tear ran down her cheek.
“Are you all right?” Elise asked her.
“Excuse me,” Ashley said as she hurried out of the room.
Steven lingered behind. “Ashley’s been really feeling Dad’s absence lately. This is all too much for her.”
“Funny, she said the same thing about you, Steven,” Alex said.
“Sure, I was upset, but she was his favorite, no matter what she says. I’d better get up there. She shouldn’t be alone.”
After Steven was gone, Elise said, “So, where’s your safekeeping spot?”
Alex moved over to his bed and pulled out one of Jase’s books on hidden treasures from beneath it. It was the volume he’d taken from his uncle’s desk in his office. “It’s kind of appropriate we use this as a bookmark, don’t you think?”
As Alex opened the book to put the document inside, a single sheet of stationery fluttered out. Alex retrieved it, and as he read, his face went white.
“What is it?” Elise asked as Alex bolted for the door.
“Call Armstrong, Elise. I know who killed Jase, and if I don’t act fast enough, somebody else is going to die.”
Alex heard voices above him as he raced up the lighthouse stairs. He had to get to the top before something happened! For one of the few times in his life, he cursed every one of the 268 stairs that led to the top of the lighthouse. As he raced upward, Alex’s heart pounded in his chest. Would he get there in time, or would another victim be taken at the top of the lighthouse he so loved?
No, he couldn’t let that happen.
Not again.
Chapter 20
“Go ahead, Ashley, pour the ashes out over the edge.”
“Steven, you should help me, too.”
“Okay, I’m coming,” Steven said as Alex burst through the door.
Ashley saw him and said, “We’d really rather be alone right now, if you don’t mind.”
“Yes, Alex, this is a private ceremony,” Steven said in a hard voice. Alex saw he was two steps from his sister as he said it.
“That’s close enough,” Alex said. “Ashley, move away from the railing.”
Steven saw the look on Alex’s face and knew instantly he’d been discovered. Taking a bold step, he moved toward his sister, pinning her against the narrow railing.
“Steven! What are you