Room for Murder - Tim Myers [42]
“So you’re back to square one on that case,” Alex asked.
“Alex Winston, are you telling me you’re butting your nose into two of my investigations?”
Alex admitted, ‘Tracy asked me to keep my eyes open, and that’s what I’m doing. I’m not trying to interfere at all. Sheriff. Trust me. I’ve got enough on my plate as it is.”
That seemed to mollify the sheriff somewhat. “Tracy Shook frets too much, she always has. You’d think she’d be occupied with this big debate tonight instead of worrying about what I’m up to.”
“To be honest with you, she’s probably worried about both.”
The sheriff said, “She’d better focus on Conner, at least for tonight. I was at the barbershop this morning and he was getting a trim. Man, that guy holds a grudge. He’s been telling everyone in sight that he’s coming after his ex-wife with both guns blazing.”
Alex suddenly had a thought. “Have you considered the possibility that Conner might have had something to do with Oxford’s murder?”
Armstrong looked surprised by the prospect. “You think he might have killed his own candidate? Why would he do that, Alex, when everybody knew Oxford was in the lead in the race? He was looking like a shoo-in.”
Alex said, “Maybe he wanted to beat Tracy himself. Or maybe there was more going on there than anybody knows about. He could have his own reasons.”
“I’ve talked to him a little about the case, and he didn’t strike me as that likely a suspect,” the sheriff admitted.
“I wouldn’t write him off just yet,” Alex said. “There could be more there than meets the eye.”
Armstrong just shrugged as his telephone rang. “Excuse me, Alex, I’ve got to take this. I’ve been waiting for a call from Raleigh all afternoon.”
After that, there was nothing else he could think to do. Alex left the station and headed back to the inn. It was time to work at his real job and leave the detecting to the professionals.
Later that night, Alex heard a voice beckon him near the front of the auditorium as he walked into the cavernous place. “Hey. I thought you’d be here with Elise.” Mor said as he made room for Alex. “I saved two seats for you guys.”
“She didn’t feel right leaving our guests alone.” Alex admitted. “I know you still haven’t called Emma, or she wouldn’t be out at Hatteras West keeping Elise company. They’re listening to it on the radio together.”
Mor shook his head. “That’s not going to be nearly as good. Radio’s no good for this. You can’t see the flinches, the flushed faces, or smell the fear in the air.”
Alex asked, “So who are you supporting anyway?”
Mor smiled. “I was thinking about writing your name in on my ballot.”
Alex said, “Tell you what, I’ll make you a deal. I won’t vote for you if you don’t vote for me.”
Irma Bean brushed past them as Alex called out to her. He said, “I can’t believe it. Irma Bean isn’t at her restaurant at night?”
Irma said, “Who let you two boys out on your own? I’m looking for Mrs. Hurley. We were supposed to meet here ten minutes ago.” Mrs. Hurley was a retired schoolteacher who taught several night classes at the community college. Mor and Alex had both taken classes from her, though Mor had had more free time in his evenings until Emma Sturbridge had come along.
“I haven’t seen her in donkey years,” Mor said. “But you’re always welcome to sit with us.”
Irma smiled. “I don’t know if my reputation could stand the strain.”
Alex said, “Seriously, is this debate important enough to get you to shut down for the night?”
“My staff’s working, so we’re open as usual, but they’ll have to do without me tonight. This election is more important than feeding people,” she said in a lowered voice. “We’ve got to get that girl elected.”
Mor said, “Irma, I never thought of you as all that political.”
“Mor Pendleton, there’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
“No doubt about that,” he said. They spotted Mrs. Hurley come in through the back, and Irma said, “Excuse me, gentlemen, there she is.”
The high school auditorium filled up quickly, and soon