Reservations for Murder - Tim Myers [51]
“You’re welcome to come up to the inn and look around.”
“Why don’t you collect your mail, and I’ll give you a ride back? It’ll give us a chance to talk.”
Alex said, “I appreciate the offer, but I really need the exercise. Tell you what. The rooms are all unlocked. Why don’t you go up and check it out. I won’t be long.”
“Sounds good,” she said as she drove the rest of the way to the inn. Alex wasn’t being antisocial; the walk was one of his favorite parts of the day, a chance to be alone with his thoughts for the twenty minutes it took him to stroll to the box and back. In his busiest days of the year, it was the only time he truly had to himself. Elise had offered to walk with him at first, but he’d kept making excuses, and she’d finally stopped asking. It was his time, and he guarded it closely.
After he collected the mail, Alex walked back to the inn, glancing up at the lighthouse as he sorted through his mail. It was mostly bills, a few welcome deposit checks and a ton of junk mail.
Jenny was just coming out of his office when he walked inside. “I was just going to leave you a note. I thought you were never coming back.”
“Have any luck?” he asked as he put the mail down on the front desk.
“No, I’m not sure where it’s gone. So, have you heard anything about Jefferson’s murder? I can’t believe our esteemed sheriff let Bill Yadkin go.”
“You sound positive he did it,” Alex said.
“Well, when you take into account how much he hated Jefferson, his horrid temper and the murder weapon itself, I don’t see how it could be anybody else.”
Alex could think of at least three other people who could have committed the crime, but he kept the names to himself. “Did you hear about Marilynn Baxter?”
Jenny nodded her head sadly as she said, “I’m surprised it took her that long to try.”
“Did I miss something?”
“Yes, but it’s not your fault. Alex, there’s a fair circuit some of us go on; it’s the only way to pay the bills. It’s mostly weekends, little fairs like this one where we have a chance to sell our wares and demonstrate our crafts. It’s kind of a vagabond lifestyle, and we get to know each other pretty well. Almost too well, if you ask me. I’ve been waiting for Marilynn to snap. She’s been fooling around behind Craig’s back for months.”
“How did you feel when you found out she was sleeping with Jefferson Lee?”
Jenny dismissed his statement with the wave of a hand. “It didn’t happen while we were dating. Jefferson must have gone after Marilynn right after I dumped him. There just wasn’t any real spark between us.” She inhaled sharply, then suddenly said, “Oh my God.”
Jenny had suddenly gone white.
Alex asked urgently, “What is it?”
“I just figured out why she tried to kill herself. I wonder if she killed Jefferson herself! That would explain why she took those pills. She couldn’t face going to prison for the rest of her life.”
“Slow down, Jenny. Do you have any proof that Marilynn killed him? What possible reason would she have for murdering him, especially the way it was done?”
“Don’t be such a man, Alex. She killed him to save her marriage. You know she’s powerful enough to do it, working with her hands like she does. I don’t doubt for one minute when she tried to end the affair, Jefferson told her he’d tell Craig what they’d been doing if she stopped seeing him. There’s no doubt in my mind he would have used every bit of leverage he had. Suddenly it all makes sense.”
Alex said, “Jenny, don’t spread that rumor around town. Marilynn’s got enough problems as it is at the moment.”
“You’re right, Alex. It’s all sheer speculation, anyway.” She glanced at the clock above the desk. “I can’t believe the time. I’m late! Gotta run.”
Jenny had been gone less than a minute when the telephone rang. “Alex, have you heard the news?”
It was Rachel, and she sounded upset.
Alex asked, “What’s happened, Rachel?”
“Marilynn Baxter’s dead.”
Alex felt his heart sink at the news. He couldn’t believe she was gone! Since he’d been the one to find