Room for Murder - Tim Myers [57]
“We’ve got a busy morning ahead of us if we’re going to vote in the election today.”
Lenora smiled softly. “So, are you voting for green or red?”
“I’m not voting by color. The entire town’s gone crazy with red and green, gold and blue. I’ve been supporting Tracy since I first found out she was running for mayor. I just hope she wins. Is there something I can do for you?”
“Alex, I’m afraid it’s nearing the time for me to move on. I plan to check out tomorrow, and I was wondering if you’d have time to pose for me one last time today.”
He scratched his head as he studied the register. “I’d love to help, but I’ve got my hands full the next twenty-four hours.”
She nodded. “I understand. Perhaps I could follow you around as you work this morning and get a few quick sketches while you clean.”
“You’re a hard lady to say no to, aren’t you?”
She shrugged. “I don’t mean to be so persistent, but it’s important to me.”
Alex was about to decline, then surprised himself by agreeing to her idea. “If you can’t think of a better way to spend the morning, you’re welcome to tag along with me.”
She smiled brightly. “Wonderful. When do we get started?”
“Now’s as good a time as any. We’ll do your room first.”
All morning long, Lenora followed Alex around, talking little but sketching furiously. She was filling up sheet after sheet on her pad, focusing on him as he cleaned floors, scoured bathrooms, made beds, and dusted furniture.
He said, “Am I going to be able to see these before you go?”
“Perhaps I’ll share one of them with you. We’ll see.”
Elise knocked on the door later when he was working and said, “Alex, I need more...” Her words died as she spotted Lenora in the room with him. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were with someone.”
“She’s shadowing me today,” Alex said.
“I won’t interrupt, then,” Elise said.
Lenora looked up from her sketch pad and said, “Please go about your business, you won’t disturb me.”
With Elise’s gaze still on Lenora, she said, “I need more window cleaner and we’re out in the supply closet.”
Alex went to his cart and handed her his bottle. “This is my last room and I’m just about finished. I’ll get more from Shantara later.”
Elise merely nodded as she accepted the cleaner, carefully avoiding eye contact with either one of them as she left.
Now what was that all about, Alex wondered. He tucked the last corner of the blanket in on the bed and said. “That’s it. You’ve got to be tired of sketching me by now. You must have drawn a dozen pictures today.”
Lenora closed the pad and held it close to her. “I could draw you for a week. Alex. There’s something about you, something deep and clear that I can’t seem to capture. I wish you could pose for me in my studio.”
“Where’s that?” Alex asked.
“Paris.” she answered simply.
“Unless you’re talking about Paris, Kentucky, there’s not much chance of that. I don’t do much traveling in Europe.” Truth be told, Alex had never been west of the Mississippi, let alone outside the United States. Being an innkeeper held two major drawbacks for travel; not enough time or money.
“A pity, that,” she said. “I’d like to give you something for your trouble.”
Alex smiled. “I’d never admit it to anyone else, but I kind of enjoyed it.”
“Still, you deserve something,” Lenora said.
“Draw something for me, then,” he said, joking.
Lenora merely nodded. “Thank you again, Alex.”
He found Elise downstairs waiting on him. She said, “Where’s your shadow?”
“She’s finished with me,” Alex said.
Elise replied, “If you say so.”
Alex said, “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we grab lunch at Buck’s after we vote?”
There was a hesitation to Elise’s reply, and Alex added, “We can go Dutch if you’d like.”
Elise shook her head. “No, I’d be delighted to join you for lunch as your guest.”
It wasn’t exactly the second date he’d been hoping for, but at least it was something.
Chapter 17
“I can’t believe the polls are this crowded for a local election,” Elise said as she and Alex waited in line to vote at Elkton Falls Elementary School.