Murder Checks Inn - Tim Myers [69]
One look at Vernum’s face told Alex that he’d guessed correctly.
“Did Jase tell you?” was all Mathias could say.
Alex said, “No, he’d never violate a trust. It’s the only way things added up. Whenever I spotted you on the grounds, you were near where your family was, even if it meant you had to be around other people to be close to them. I found you trimming shrubs you’d already tackled the day they arrived, remember? It was out of character, and it made me suspicious. Then, on the porch, I swear you were getting ready to tell me something when Ashley came out. You admitted knowing Jase, and I couldn’t see your paths crossing in that many ways until I realized that you’d need an old friend to help pull this off, and I could easily see it appealing to my uncle’s off beat sense of humor. Then when I found an odd-looking stamp in the shed where you were sleeping, I remembered Ashley talking about your stamp collection on the day she arrived. As soon as I put it all together, it was the only way your behavior made sense.”
Ashley said, “This can’t be true. Our father is dead.”
Steven said, “Nice try, Alex, but I’m not buying it either. He’s not Mathias Trask.”
Vernum said wearily, “I suspected you’d doubt me. You both need proof? Steven, when you were nine you had a crush on Lilly Taylor. You sold your bicycle to a friend in order to buy her flowers, remember? And Ashley, when you were seven you scraped your knee on a fence rail. Remember how you cried in my lap? I gave you one of my rings to cheer you up, and you asked me if you broke your arm would you get a new car, remember?”
Ashley said, “But you were so fat! And your hair! Nothing’s the same about you.”
In a deep, rich tone, Vernum said, “Nothing? Don’t you recognize my voice? I have changed rather dramatically, haven’t I? I don’t miss carrying around all that extra weight, but I must admit, I’m looking forward to being clean-shaven again.”
Ashley was ready to believe, but Steven couldn’t. “So Cynthia told you all that family history. So what?”
“Son, it’s true. There’s no reason to hurt your sister. I’m sorry to say that there is no great estate waiting for you on the other end. Truth be told, I’m nearly broke. All I have left are my stamps and my family.”
Steven shoved Ashley toward them, but before Alex could tackle him, he pulled out a gun. Ashley stumbled into Alex, the urn suddenly in Alex’s hands.
Alex asked, “Who am I holding, Mathias?”
“Ashes from my grill, Alex. Son, give it up. There’s no escape for you, can’t you see that?”
Steven said, “That’s where you’re wrong. Nobody had better get in my way. I’m getting out of here.”
Vernum said, “You’re not going anywhere, Son.”
“You think I won’t shoot you?” Steven screamed as he turned the gun toward his own father.
Alex seized the chance and threw the urn’s contents into Steven’s face. The ashes blinded him for a moment, and Alex dove for the hand holding the gun. One shot fired as they wrestled for it, and Alex suddenly felt himself heading over the rail!
With a final lunge, Alex grasped the rail as he was going over! As he held on with all his might, Steven pounded at his hands, fighting to break his grip. As Alex looked on helplessly, Vernum pulled Steven away. He could hear them scuffling, but he couldn’t spare a second’s concentration. Suddenly, Alex heard a shot. If Steven had retrieved the pistol, Alex knew that the next bullet was for him. Fighting to pull himself back up over the edge, he could feel the railing slip in his grasp.
Then Ashley’s hands reached over and helped steady him as he somehow managed to climb back to safety.
As Alex slumped against the rail, he looked over to see Steven lying near his feet, a small pool of blood forming around him. Vernum held his son’s head in his arms, crying softly. Ashley joined him, and the two of them held their own private wake over the body.
Elise rushed through the door, with Armstrong a few steps behind. She threw herself on Alex, smothering him with her embrace. “Oh, Alex, when I saw you go over the rail, I nearly died. I can