Reservations for Murder - Tim Myers [18]
“So what did you say?”
Shantara sighed deeply, then admitted, “I told him if he tried to collect, I’d kill him.”
Alex couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Was anyone else around when you said it, Shantara?”
She nodded glumly. “It happened in my store, Alex. A dozen people probably heard me. I didn’t exactly lower my voice when I threatened him. I was upset.”
Alex had to admit that his friend certainly had gotten herself into a jam.
After a few moments of thought, Alex said, “Here’s what I’d do if I were you. Keep this loan arrangement to yourself. It’s not going to do you any good volunteering the information to the sheriff. He’s got a one-track mind, and you don’t want it focused on you.”
“What if he asks me about it later? Won’t it look like I’m trying to hide something if I don’t come clean now?”
Alex walked to her side. “Shantara, if you tell him now, he’s bound to get suspicious. Let me dig into this some more. Your arrangement may never come to light.”
Shantara leaned over and kissed him quickly on the cheek.
“What was that for?” Alex asked.
“For not asking me if I killed him. Thanks for believing in me, Alex.”
“You’re welcome. Now let me see what I can find out.”
There was a knock on the door. Alex opened it, and Sandra Beckett walked into the small space.
“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” Sandra asked.
Shantara said, “No, I was just leaving. I’ve got to get back to the fair.” Without another word, Shantara left the room.
“What was that all about?” Sandra asked.
“We were just covering a few things about the fair,” he lied. Changing the subject, Alex asked, “Did you have any luck with the sheriff?”
Sandra nodded. “That’s what I came by to tell you. Armstrong’s released Bill Yadkin, at least for the moment. He warned Bill not to leave town, but the sheriff knows he’s going to have to come up with more evidence before he can charge him with murder. Our sheriff told me to let you know he’ll be here shortly to finish interviewing suspects. I’ve got a feeling he’ll be trying to find some corroborating evidence to nail our young blacksmith friend.”
Sandra paused at the door as she was leaving, trailing one hand on the frame. “Alex, if you need to talk, just give me a call. I know it could get lonely without Elise here.”
“Everything’s fine,” he said impatiently.
She said, “I’m not doubting it for an instant. Just remember, sometimes it helps to have a friend nearby.”
Before he could reply, she was gone. How had Sandra already picked up on the fact that Elise was gone? That’s when he remembered that Betsy Jenkins, the town’s only travel agent, was Sandra’s secretary’s sister-in-law. There was no doubt in Alex’s mind that as soon as the ticket had been ordered, a follow-up telephone call went out. That was just great. Soon everyone in town would think she’d abandoned him.
Elise’s absence was going to be a hardship, there was no doubt about that. Alex wasn’t sure how in the world he was going to run Hatteras West single-handedly and solve Jefferson Lee’s murder at the same time, but he was going to give it everything he had.
He had given Shantara his word.
Chapter 8
By the time Sheriff Armstrong showed up, Alex was nearly finished folding another load of towels fresh from the dryer. Elise had taken care of cleaning the rooms before she’d gone, but he still had a great deal to do if he was going to keep his guests happy.
“You have a second?” the sheriff asked. His tone was the nicest it had been in days.
Alex finished folding the last towel. “Absolutely. I heard you released Bill Yadkin.”
Armstrong said, “Let’s just say I’m looking at all my options before I jump one way or another. I don’t want to do anything official until I’m ready.”
“What can I do for you, Sheriff?”
“Do you mind if I use your office again? I want to talk to that pottery couple, the woodworking lady and