Reservations for Murder - Tim Myers [36]
The world was just full of surprises.
Alex got Elise’s cart from the closet upstairs and started toward the first room on his list. He wanted to be certain he was out of Jenny’s room before she came back.
Her bags were packed, and her door stood open. Alex was relieved that she was leaving. He’d had a secret fear she’d decide to stay on, and then he wasn’t sure what he would do with her. Alex stripped the sheets and cleaned the room, then set everything right again for the next guest. Though he could barely tell the room had been occupied, he still gave it his normal, thorough cleaning. Alex prided himself on running a first-rate inn, something he shared with Elise, and he was determined not to let their high standards slip while she was away.
Rachel’s bags were by the door as well, but it was obvious she hadn’t even slept in her bed the night before. The towels were still fresh, and the seals in the bathroom were all still in place. She had indeed gone back into town, waiting on Bill Yadkin all night.
When he got to the room Craig and Marilynn shared, he knocked twice before using his passkey to open the door. Alex stood there in the doorway staring at the feminine shape lying motionless on the bed.
After all his earlier searching, he’d found Marilynn Baxter at last.
But was he too late?
Chapter 14
Alex rushed to the bed. Had the killer struck again? If his pounding on the door hadn’t stirred Marilynn, Alex knew she could be in serious trouble. He tried to shake her awake. “Marilynn, are you all right? Marilynn!” As Alex leaned over the bed beside her, he found a prescription bottle, now empty, near one hand.
“Marilynn,” he shouted. Her eyelids seemed to flutter for a second before they stopped again. She was still alive!
Alex rushed to the telephone and called Doc Drake’s office. He knew Doc usually liked to get an early start on the day.
“He’s not here, Alex,” Madge the nurse told him. “As a matter of fact, he said he was going to check out the fair before he started work today. I expect he’s already out at your place. I’ll be glad to beep him if you want.”
Alex slammed the phone down before she could say another word.
He tore down the stairs and nearly knocked Evans Graile down. “Evans, go up to room number seven. Marilynn Baxter’s overdosed on something.”
The man looked shocked by the news. “What can I do for her?”
“Sit with her until I can get Doc Drake,” Alex commanded. The older man was startled by Alex’s urgent tone, but he hurried up the stairs as Alex ran out onto the front porch.
“Doc! Doc Drake,” he called out over the crowd.
The smallish doctor appeared before him as if by magic. He even had his black medical kit with him. “What is it, Alex? Tabby Hilston sprained her ankle, and I promised her I’d take a look at it.”
“Marilynn Baxter overdosed on something upstairs.”
Doc’s face went white. “Which room?”
“Number seven.”
As he rushed past Alex, the doctor said, “There’s an EMS van at the front gate. Go get them. Alex, do you know what she took?”
“I have no idea,” Alex said frantically, “there was a bottle by her hand, but the label’s been torn off.”
“Okay, I’ll handle it. Go get the EMS crew. I’ll be upstairs with her.”
Alex tore through the crowd, ignoring a dozen hails and greetings. He didn’t have time for niceties, not with Marilynn Baxter’s life hanging in the balance.
The EMS team, a youngish man and a middle-aged woman, were standing around drinking coffee near the front gate.
“There’s an emergency at the inn! The doctor needs you there right now.”
Both cups hit the ground as the workers piled into the van.
Alex said, “Cut through the field. You can get to the back entrance of the inn without running anyone down.”
As the emergency rig raced off toward the inn, Tom Lane, the young money collector for the day, grabbed Alex. “What’s happened? Is Shantara all right?”
It was obvious the young man had a huge crush on the shopkeeper. “She’s fine, Tom.