Room for Murder Read online

  Mor pounded him gamely on the shoulder. “You’ll do fine. Look at all the practice you’ve been getting lately.”

  After the reception was over, Mor and Emma were the last ones to leave. Alex marveled that his two good friends had actually decided to get married. Here he was, waiting for his first promised date with Elise, and Mor and Emma were already tying the knot. His much-anticipated first date with his housekeeper wasn’t far away, though; it was set for that coming Saturday night. Alex and Elise were free of their encumbrances and entanglements, so finally they were going to be able to see if there was anything more to their relationship than just friendship.

  After the betrothed pair left, Alex and Elise began to clean up the mess left behind.

  “The wedding’s going to be beautiful,” Elise said as she finished sweeping the lobby floor.

  Alex said, “It looks like I’ll be a part of it after all. Mor just asked me to be his best man.”

  Elise’s budding smile froze as Mor and Emma walked back into the lobby. It was obvious from one look at their faces that something was desperately wrong.

  “What happened?” Alex asked, afraid that the engagement was already off.

  Mor said, “You’d better call Sheriff Armstrong. Somebody’s slouched over in the front seat of my truck.”

  Alex felt an icy fist clench his heart. “Passed out or dead?”

  “Dead,” Mor said simply, and Emma started sobbing softly beside him, collapsing against Mor for support.

  As Mor reached for the telephone, Alex asked, “Any idea who it is?”

  Mor nodded, looking grim as he dialed the sheriff’s number. “I’d never seen him before in my life, but Emma recognized him right away. Hang on a second, I only want to have to say this once.” Mor turned his attention back to the telephone. “Sheriff, this is Mor Pendleton. You’d better get out to Hatteras West. I just found a body in my truck.”

  There was a pause, then Mor added grimly, “Yes, we know who it is. Somebody just killed Emma Sturbridge’s ex-husband.”

  Chapter 2

  After Mor hung up the telephone, Alex said, “This is incredible. Any idea what happened?”

  Mor snapped, “What makes you think I would know? I’ve heard enough horror stories about the man to want to beat the daylights out of him myself, but I wouldn’t kill him. He was a brute and a bully, Alex, but I swear, I never saw him before today in my life.”

  Elise guided Emma over to one side of the lobby, one arm around the woman’s shoulders. The two of them talked in whispered murmurs.

  Alex asked Mor softly, “What did Emma have to say?”

  Mor said, “She was just as stunned as I was. What was he doing here, Alex? And how did he end up in my truck? This looks bad, I know that, but I swear, somebody’s trying to set me up.”

  Alex said, “Don’t worry, Sheriff Armstrong will be here soon.”

  Mor snorted. “And that’s supposed to make me feel better? Alex, how would you like to have your fate in his hands? You know we don’t get along, we never have. And now Strong Arms is going to be messing around in my life, butting into things that aren’t any of his business.”

  “He’s better than you give him credit for,” Alex said. “The man’s come a long way.”

  Mor put both hands on his friend’s shoulders. “Listen, you’ve got to promise me you’ll look into this. Armstrong depends on you, Alex. He’ll listen to your suggestions; he’s done it in the past. Don’t let him railroad me.”

  Alex had never seen his friend so intense. “I’ll do what I can,” Alex promised, wondering how he always seemed to get sucked into the sheriff’s investigations. This was different, though; there was no way he could say no to his best friend in the world. If Mor needed him, Alex would be there, no questions asked.

  He just hoped he would be able to help.

  Alex walked over to Emma and Elise, with Mor close behind him. Alex said, “Emma, I know this isn’t the greatest time to ask you questions, but did you have any idea your ex-husband was coming to Elkton Falls?”

  “I never dreamed he’d come here,” Emma said. “That part of my life was over.” Did she avert her eyes as she answered him?

  Alex pushed her harder. “Emma, this is important. You’ve got to tell me the truth.”

  Mor said firmly, “Alex, she’s just had the shock of her life. Take it easy on her.”

  Alex said, “The sheriff is going to ask her the same questions I’m asking. I’m just trying to get to the bottom of this before he gets here.”

  Elise said, “She didn’t kill him, Alex.”

  Emma put a hand on her arm. “It’s all right, Elise, I know Alex just wants to help.” She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, then said, “The way I’m carrying on, you’d think I still loved the man, but I stopped being anything but afraid of Toby Sturbridge a long time ago. He was a horrid husband, and it wasn’t just the violence, though that was bad enough. Toby gambled our money away faster than I could earn it, and he owed some really bad people. It’s hard to say who I was more frightened of during the last years of our marriage, my husband or the loan sharks who used to come around to the house looking for him.” She waved her handkerchief in the air like a white flag, then added, “It was just the shock of seeing him like that. I know I must sound like a monster, but truth be told, I’m glad he’s gone. The man’s been haunting my nightmares for years. All his bad karma finally came back for him, and I can’t honestly say I’m sorry.”

  Alex said, “Emma, the sheriff’s going to ask you about your relationship with him, things you thought were buried in your past. Be ready for his questions.”

  She seemed to stiffen her spine. “Alex, I’ve done nothing wrong. The only fault I had was staying with a man like that as long as I did.”

  Alex said, “You know Armstrong. He’s going to stay after you until he’s satisfied you’re telling the truth.”

  He saw Emma flinch, and on a hunch, Alex asked again, “You didn’t know he was here, did you, Emma?”

  “Alex, that’s enough,” Elise snapped as Mor started to speak himself. There was a thunderous expression on the big man’s face that Alex knew was a precursor to the storm sure to follow.

  Before he could say anything, Emma said in a hoarse voice, “I’m sorry. You’re right, I knew he was here. He asked me for money, demanded it from me, and threatened me if I didn’t give it to him.” She turned to her brand-new fiancé and said, “Mor, I didn’t tell you because I was hoping he’d just go away.” She turned back to Alex and said, “Is there a chance in the world the sheriff’s going to believe me?”

  Alex said, “I honestly don’t know, but you have to tell him the truth. All of it.”

  Sheriff Armstrong was going to have a field day with Emma’s blunt honesty and her confession that she knew her ex-husband was in town. Alex knew who Armstrong’s two prime suspects were going to be: the battered ex-wife and her fiancé. It was going to take his best efforts to stop the sheriff from focusing on Emma and Mor and persuade him to look for the real killer.

  The thought, however brief, flickered through his mind that maybe one of them had in fact had something to do with Sturbridge’s death. Emma had every right to wish ill of the man, he had been a nasty bully from all accounts, and Alex knew from past experience how protective Mor was of anyone and anything he loved. Was it possible one of his friends could have committed murder?

  If Mor thought he was protecting Emma, Alex was afraid the answer to that question wasn’t going to be all that easy to uncover.

  Sheriff Armstrong came flying up Point Road in his cruiser with the siren blaring and lights flashing. More than anything in the world, the sheriff loved to show the folks of Elkton Falls that he was on the job. Armstrong had nearly lost his last election for sheriff, and Alex had been surprised to find the man taking his work much more seriously, though the sheriff hadn’t been able to break his ingrained habit of announcing his presence whenever there was a crime. Armstrong was actually
turning into a pretty decent law enforcement officer, but he still needed a nudge in the right direction now and then, and Fate had appointed Alex to push.

  Alex and Mor walked out onto the porch as the squad car approached. Emma and Elise had declined to join them. Just as well, Alex thought. There would be plenty of time for questions later.

  Alex saw the sheriff’s cousin and Canawba County’s chief forensics expert, Irene Wilkins, in the front seat beside Armstrong. She must have had an opening in her schedule as Elkton Falls’ resident beauty parlor operator. Irene was no lightweight when it came to crime scene investigation, she’d won several awards for her forensic work, but it was the fact that she kept Armstrong in line that Alex admired most about her. One “Ducky” from her, and all the puffed hot air shot right out of the sheriff. Irene was definitely not a book to be judged by its cover. Looking at her teased hair and listening to her brash manner, it was sometimes too easy to forget that she’d aced every class she’d taken in forensics, and was building up such a strong reputation that even many of her peers were grudgingly calling her in to consult on some of their tougher cases.

  Armstrong shut off his lights and siren as he pulled up beside Mor’s truck, now deserted in the field that had served as overflow parking behind the Main Keeper’s Quarters. Alex and Mor reached them just as Armstrong’s door opened.

  The sheriff said, “Doc Drake’s on his way,” as he heaved himself out of the cruiser. Armstrong’s steady politicking at Buck’s Grill was apparent from his massive girth.

  “Hello, boys,” Irene said as she collected her investigation kit from the backseat of the squad car.

  Armstrong asked Mor, “First thing I need to know is, did you move or touch anything?”

  Mor said tersely, “It’s my truck, Armstrong. My fingerprints are bound to be all over it.”

  Armstrong said, “Don’t get your tail in a knot, Pendleton, I need to ask these questions. Now let me ask you again, did you touch the body or anything around it?”

  Mor said, “I pulled him back to see if he was still alive. He was colder than January when I touched him, though.”

  Armstrong nodded toward the body. “And you said you recognized him right off the bat?”

  “I told you on the phone, I’ve never seen him before in my life,” Mor said. “When Emma told me who he was, I didn’t believe her at first.”

  Armstrong nodded as Irene joined them with her video camera. There was no nonsense in Irene’s voice as she said, “Excuse me, gentlemen, but I need some room to work. After I shoot the video, I want to take some Polaroid shots, then I’ll get down to the close work.”

  As the three men stepped well away from the vehicle,

  Armstrong said, “I’m going to need to talk to Emma Sturbridge. Either of you have any idea where she’s at?”

  Mor blocked the way back to the building. “Hang on a second. She’s just had a real shock. Give her some time to get herself together, will you?”

  Armstrong shook his head. “I’m going to do my best not to upset her, Mor, but it’s real important I talk to her as soon as I can.”

  “I said you’re going to have to wait.” There was steel in Mor’s voice as he stood his ground.

  Armstrong took a deep breath, then said, “You need to think long and hard about interfering with this investigation, Mor. Now I know better than anybody that the two of us have never really gotten along, but that doesn’t rightly matter at the moment. I’ve got a job to do, and I’m going to do it; you can bet your last hat on that.” Armstrong paused, looked hard into Mor’s eyes, and added, “It can go hard on you if you mess with me. I’m not trying to throw my weight around here, but I am going to speak with her, whether you like it or not.”

  Alex said, “He’s right, Mor. The sheriff’s just doing his job”

  Mor argued, “I still say she’s in no shape to talk with anybody.”

  “Well, she’s talking to me,” Armstrong said flatly.

  Mor shook his head. “Not until she’s talked to a lawyer. I know how you are, Armstrong. The likeliest suspect is the only person you focus on, and I won’t have you putting Emma under your microscope. You have any questions, you can ask me.”

  Armstrong, finally letting his anger show, said, “The honest truth is that right now I’ve got two chief suspects, and you’re one of them. You want me to start with you, you’ve got it. Let’s go, big man.”

  Alex asked, “Where are you taking him?”

  Armstrong said, “Irene’s got the crime scene covered. I figured it might be easier to talk down at my office where we won’t be disturbed. You don’t mind coming along, do you, Mor?”

  “Believe it or not, Sheriff, I want this killer caught just as much as you do. Just leave Emma alone.”

  Armstrong said softly, “Mor, you’re going to have to stop telling me how to do my job. Emma will get her turn, and there’s not a thing in the world you can do about that. Now go get in the backseat of the cruiser. I’ll be right there.”

  Mor did as he was told, looking back at Alex as he opened the door. “Tell Emma where I went. And call Sandra for me, would you? Have her meet me at the sheriff’s office.”

  Alex saw Armstrong grimace at the mention of Elkton Falls’ most aggressive female lawyer. Alex and Sandra had dated off and on until Elise had come to the Hatteras West Inn, changing things between them forever. It had amazed Alex to discover that Sandra was a much better friend than girlfriend, once they got over their shared past. She was the perfect choice when someone he knew was in trouble with the law, especially since he’d lost his uncle Jase.

  “I’ll call her the second I get inside,” Alex said as Armstrong started for the squad car.

  The sheriff looked over his shoulder and said, “I couldn’t talk you into forgetting her number for a while, could I?”

  Alex said, “Sorry, but I can’t do that, Sheriff.”

  Armstrong nodded. “I know that, I was half-joking. You can’t blame me for trying, though.” The sheriff paused, then added, “Alex, I know Mor and Emma are your best friends in the world, but I’ve got to do my job. Right now, whether you like it or not, they are my likeliest suspects.”

  Alex nodded. “I understand what you’re saying, but I can’t believe either one of them killed Sturbridge.”

  Armstrong said, “Let’s just hope you’re right. If you are, after I talk to both of them, I can go after the real killer.” The sheriff called out to Irene, deeply immersed in her videotaping, “Give me a ring when you’re ready to come back to town and I’ll come pick you up.”

  Irene waved a hand toward him. “I’m done for the day at the shop, so take your time. I’ve got a good hour of work left to do here.” Almost to herself, Irene said as she panned the camera, “I can’t believe all these footprints. It looks like a marching band came through here.”

  Armstrong nodded to his cousin, then said, “See you later, Alex.”

  After the squad car pulled away, Alex asked Irene, “Can you tell what happened to him?”

  Irene said, “Alex, you know I can’t discuss any of this with you.”

  He said, “Sorry, I know how seriously you take your work. I respect that.”

  “And you’re not going to get anything out of me by buttering me up, either,” she said with a smile as she zoomed in on a particular footprint. “Why don’t you go make that call Mor asked you to? “Ducky” can get carried away when Sandra’s not around to slap his hand.”

  “I’ll do just that,” Alex said as he hurried back to the inn.

  As he walked back to the Dual Keepers’ Quarters, Alex realized things were going to be a lot tougher on him than they used to be. Now that both buildings were reopened for guests, Alex’s penchant for investigation was going to be curtailed greatly. It was one thing skipping out on a handful of guests now and then to track down leads, but with two full buildings, it was going to take nearly all of his time and energy to run the inn, even with Elise’s extensive help. She’d added a conti
nental breakfast to their plan, which made more money for the inn, but also created more work, though Sally Anne from Buck’s Grill brought out the muffins and fruit after the diner closed each night or before they opened the next day, depending on Sally Anne’s schedule. Maybe Alex could recruit her to keep a watchful eye in town, since just about all of Elkton Falls passed through Buck’s doors every day. He’d make it a point to talk to Sally Anne when she made her next delivery to the inn. Perhaps she could somehow help him prove that his best friends were innocent of murder.

  Turning Mor down hadn’t even been an option in his mind. Alex was going to have to do something. He’d given Mor his word, and that was something never to be taken lightly. Somehow Alex was just going to have to make the time. Who needed sleep, anyway?

  As Alex walked into the lobby, Emma kept looking behind him. “Where’s Mor? Why isn’t he with you?”

  Alex said gently, “The sheriff decided to talk to him down at his office.” He saw Emma’s face go white, so he added quickly, “He just wanted to interview him without all the distractions of Irene’s investigation out here.”

  Emma said stonily, “I’m the one he should be talking to, not Mor. This is all my fault.”

  Elise said, “You had no control over your ex-husband. We all know that.” She tried to smile, but had a difficult time doing it as she added, “Don’t worry, Emma. Mor’s a big boy, he can take care of himself.”

  Alex said, “Speaking of which, Mor asked me to call Sandra. Just as a precaution.”

  Elise nodded absently. “Of course.” The two women had an uneasy truce when it came to Alex, but Elise knew as well as everyone else in town that Sandra was the one to call when there was real trouble.

  Sandra’s new secretary, Gretel Hanson, picked up on the first ring. The second she realized who was calling, Gretel asked breathlessly, “Alex, is it true? They found another body at your inn? You’re going to have more ghosts than guests if this keeps up.” She was obviously tickled by her wordplay.