Room for Murder - Tim Myers [22]
It was the best way to deal with it, at least until they had more information.
Alex and Elise walked inside to the switch, and Alex said, “Will you do the honors?”
“Are you serious? I know how much you love doing it, Alex. You go ahead.”
Alex said, “Please, Elise, I’d like you to. The last time I lit it, you weren’t around to see it.”
Elise nodded. “I’m so sorry I missed the last Lighting. Alex, are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
With a schoolgirl’s grin, Elise said, “I’d love to.”
She punched the switch, and the light above them jumped to life. After a moment, it started to turn on its base. They walked out to the platform and watched as the beam cut through the countryside, leaving a path of light wherever it touched. There was sudden cheering from down below, and Alex saw several of his guests on the porches of the two buildings looking up at them. The beam ran through three circuits before Mor said, “You know the rules, Alex, three times around and it’s got to go off. Grady was pretty clear about that today.”
He nodded. “Elise, do you want to cut it off?”
“I can’t hog all the fun. You go ahead.”
Alex walked back inside to the switch, his finger hovering over it just a second before he finally killed the light.
Things went suddenly dark without the light, and Alex stood there until his eyes grew accustomed to the night. The cheers below had heartened him. Many of his guests came to the inn to see the lighthouse working, and nearly all of them were disappointed when they discovered that the light was usually dark. Blast it all, he needed to get the Town Council to let him light it more. He could position the lens toward the mountains where not many folks lived and leave it on for just a minute or two every night before it swung back on Elkton Falls. If Tracy was elected mayor, he was going to enlist her support and make it happen.
Maybe then they could keep the inn as full as it was at the moment, and Alex would have a chance to actually make a decent profit.
Elise and Emma led the way down the stairs with sturdy flashlights Alex had brought up. By the time they got to the base, the guests had already gone back inside.
Mor said, “Well, that was worth the cost of admission, no doubt about it.” He turned to Emma. “Are you ready to head back into town?”
“I’m ready,” she said as they all offered their good nights.
Mor said, “I’ll follow you back. I don’t want you getting into any trouble.”
“Then who’s going to watch you?” she asked with a smile.
Soon enough, it was just Alex and Elise.
“I’ll help you wash the dishes,” Alex said.
She stifled a yawn. “Actually, I’m beat. I think I’ll do them in the morning.”
That was odd. Usually they lingered over shared tasks in the evening, enjoying each other’s company. There was no doubt about it. Something, however subtle, was changing between them.
Alex was still pondering the mood shift when Paul and Sheila, the newlyweds, rushed in. “You lit up the lighthouse,” Sheila said in disgust.
“We had to replace a switch, so we did a check of the light.”
She snapped, “You don’t have to tell me, we heard about it in town. Paul and I were eating in some dreadful place called Mama Ravioli’s or some such nonsense when someone rushed in to announce it. By the time we got outside, the light was off. I demand you turn it on again.”
Alex said, “Sorry, I wish I could, but there’s a town ordinance that says I can’t. This was a special case.”
Paul reached for his wallet and said, “Surely another minute or two won’t hurt. She’s really got her heart set on it.”
Alex declined. “I do apologize, I should have said something.”
Jan and Corki came downstairs and spotted Alex talking with the newlyweds.
Jan said, “Oh, Alex, that was wonderful.”
Corki added, “Absolutely spectacular. I can’t believe we actually got to see it.”
Jan said, “I got pictures!”
As the two ladies walked past toward