Reservations for Murder - Tim Myers [8]
Yadkin snapped, “I’ve got nothing to hide. I hated the snake, and everybody knows it.”
Armstrong’s eyes lit up as he pushed Alex and Shantara out of the office.
“This is not good,” Shantara said plaintively. “What are we going to do?”
There was only one real choice in Alex’s mind.
He had to call Sandra, whether Yadkin wanted her or not.
Sandra’s secretary put him through immediately. The lawyer said, “What’s up, Alex? I’m buried under a mountain of paperwork at the moment.”
Alex said, “I wouldn’t bother you if it weren’t important. Bill Yadkin’s in trouble. Sheriff Armstrong is interviewing him right now about the murder of Jefferson Lee, and I’m afraid he’s going to say something he shouldn’t.”
Sandra shifted gears quickly. “I heard about the murder a few minutes ago.” It always amazed Alex how fast news traveled in the small town on the kudzu vine, faster than any gossip’s grapevine in the world.
Sandra asked pointedly, “Why does the sheriff think he’s guilty?”
“A shaft of iron with Yadkin’s trademark on it was used to kill Lee, and I just heard Yadkin tell the sheriff that he hated the man’s guts.”
“Don’t let him say another word, Alex. I’ll be out there in seven minutes.”
Rachel burst into the inn as Alex was hanging up the telephone. “Where are they? I just heard the sheriff hauled Bill away.”
“Take it easy, Rachel. They’re in my office. I just spoke with Sandra. She’s agreed to talk to your boyfriend, but he’s refusing his right to a lawyer.”
“We’ll just see about that,” Rachel said as she pounded on Alex’s office door.
As the door opened, Rachel tried to push past Armstrong, but the sheriff wouldn’t budge.
Nearly out of breath, Rachel said, “Sheriff, you can’t talk to him without his lawyer present.”
“I offered; he declined. Besides, no charges have been filed. Now, you’re interrupting an official investigation here.”
Rachel shouted, “Bill, don’t say a word. Alex called a lawyer for you.”
“I don’t need a lawyer. I didn’t kill him,” Yadkin snapped.
Rachel said fiercely, “You idiot, that’s why you need someone to protect you.”
Yadkin said strongly, “I can handle this myself, Rachel. I don’t need you meddling.”
Instead of backing down this time, Rachel said firmly, “If you do this on your own, we’re through! I mean it, Bill. You of all people should know I don’t make idle threats.”
Alex wondered how much effect the ultimatum would have on the young man. Finally, just as the sheriff smiled at the silence, the blacksmith said, “Okay, you win. I guess we’d better wait for this lawyer fella.”
“It’s a woman, and she’ll be here any minute,” Rachel explained, the relief thick in her voice.
Armstrong looked like he was ready to spit nails. “Alex, I want to talk to you. Now!” He pulled Alex by the arm into the lobby, away from everyone else. “Now, why did you go and do that? He was almost ready to confess!”
“Sheriff, how can you be so sure he did it? I was afraid he’d say something to you he couldn’t take back.”
“That’s why I was pushing him!”
Alex matched his tone. “And that’s why I called Sandra!”
“Listen up, Alex, I’m not going to put up with you sticking your nose in this case, you hear me?” Armstrong took a deep breath, then said in an easier tone, “I’m the first one to admit you’ve helped me a time or two in the past, but that doesn’t give you the right to interfere. Do I make myself clear?”
Alex nodded. “I hear what you’re saying, but you can’t expect me to stand by and just watch, can you?”
“You’d better believe it,” Armstrong said. “Now, I’ll thank you to stick to running your inn, and I’ll handle the investigations around here.”
Chapter 4
Alex watched as the sheriff stormed back into the office. He was probably right. Investigating crime was a job for the sheriff, not for an innkeeper. But there was no way Alex could just stand around and watch the young blacksmith hang himself!
Armstrong suddenly pulled out of Alex’s office with Bill Yadkin