Murder Checks Inn Page 7

  “And what makes you think she’s out here?”

  Alex said, “I’ve got to protect my sources. So, can I see her?”

  “It all depends, Alex. Are you going to harass her, too?”

  “I just want to talk,” Alex said. “Please, it’s important.”

  Another figure stepped out of the mist wearing a cape done in blue instead of Amy’s red.

  “It’s okay, Amy, Alex and I have already met. I’d like to think we’re friends.”

  Amy turned to Julie. “You know what Sandra said; you shouldn’t be talking to anyone right now.”

  Alex said, “Amy, we don’t know each other all that well, but if you’d like to go into town and ask around, I guarantee you’ll find out that I don’t take advantage of people. I’ll come back out after you two have decided whether I’m trustworthy or not.”

  As he headed back to his truck, Julie said, “We don’t need to check your references, Alex. I trust you.”

  Amy said, “I do, too. It’s just that you’ve got a lot at stake, Julie.”

  Julie laughed. “I came here with nothing, and if I leave that way, there’s no real change in my life, now is there?”

  Amy said, “That’s fine. It’s your decision. Listen, I’m walking back to the studio. I have to finish that sculpture for Clarion Industries.”

  Alex said, “Ladies, I’d be glad to give you both a lift back.”

  “And miss this fog? It’s a lot more fun walking,” Amy said.

  Julie interjected, “I don’t mind riding, Amy. It’ll give us a chance to talk.”

  Amy said, “Suit yourself then,” as she disappeared back into the mist, pulling the hood up as she vanished from sight.

  Alex held the door open for Julie as she slid onto the seat. “Have you two known each other long?” he asked.

  “Since college. We were roommates our freshman year. I was kind of surprised when that letter from your uncle came mentioning Elkton Falls. I’d been planning to visit Amy all along.” Julie turned in her seat and looked at Alex. “Listen, I’m sorry you’ve wasted a trip out here. I’ve decided to withdraw my claim on the estate. It’s just not worth it to me emotionally. If I’d known Mathias, even met him once, I might feel differently about it all, but I just can’t fight with his family for something I’m not all that sure I deserve. Honestly, I just want to get out of Elkton Falls and never come back.”

  Alex said, “Don’t you think your father’s wishes should be honored?”

  Julie said, “My father? I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, Alex. I can’t see that Mathias had any right to make that claim on his deathbed; he was never there for me when he was alive, not once in all those years.”

  It was a point Alex couldn’t argue. He and his own father, though they’d gone through some rocky times in their relationship, had carried a strong bond between them that went well beyond a mutual love for their lighthouse in the mountains.

  Alex decided it was time to bring Julie up to speed on the latest developments in town. After telling her about the forgery in Jase’s appointment book, he said, “You realize you’re a suspect in Jase’s murder, don’t you? How is it going to look if you just take off? Armstrong’s not going to like it.”

  The idea was obviously something Julie hadn’t considered. “Oh, Alex, I could never have killed your uncle. We never met, but the time I spoke with him on the telephone, he was extremely nice to me. How can anyone think I could do such a thing?”

  “That listing in Jase’s appointment book the night before he was killed looks bad to Armstrong.”

  Julie said, “I gathered as much from what the sheriff said when he came out here this morning, but I swear, I never had an appointment with him, that day or any other.”

  Alex nodded. “I believe you. Jase’s secretary and I compared the handwriting, and someone besides Jase put your name in that book. It looks like someone’s trying to frame you for murder. You must be a real threat. Don’t you see that?”

  “It just doesn’t make sense,” Julie said as Alex crept down the lane.

  He took a deep breath, then said, “I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I’m going to say it anyway. Julie, shouldn’t you consider the possibility that you do have a stake in all this? Mathias asked you to come here to meet the rest of his family, your family, when it comes right down to it. I’m not making excuses for his abandoning you, but it does look like he truly wanted you to share in his wealth. I don’t think it’s just about the money though, or he could have sent you a check and been done with it. Wouldn’t you like to have a connection with someone you’re related to by blood? Isn’t it worth another try?”

  They rode in silence a few minutes until Alex’s head-lights picked up Amy’s welding shop and studio through the breaking fog, a converted barn that had once housed cattle. Alex turned off the engine but made no move to get out.

  Julie finally said, “You know, maybe you’re right. Alex, Mathias Trask thought of me as his daughter, and he wanted me to have a share of his family and his estate. It would be wrong of me to deny him his final wish.”

  Alex nodded, then tried to get out fast enough to open Julie’s door, but she beat him to it.

  Amy came out of the mist behind them, the hood of her cape still pulled up. As she pushed it back, she said, “Is everything all right?”

  Alex was about to say something when Julie chimed in, “Everything’s just fine. We’re finished with our little talk.”

  Alex wanted to ask a few more questions, but the firmness in Julie’s voice was hard to contradict. “For now, at least.”

  Amy said brightly, “Enough talk about the dark things then. Come see what I’m doing,” she added as she led them to the barn doors and flung them open.

  Inside, sitting on a turntable pedestal in the middle of the barn, was a towering sculpture that at first looked like an odd collection of junk. As Alex studied it, though, he could make out the form of a body inside the twists of steel. A projection that had at first appeared to be tacked on became a hand reaching upward, and once he found that in the steel, he saw the face gazing up as well.

  Amy looked at it a moment, then asked, “So what do you think I should call it?”

  Alex studied it for a few seconds more, then said, “How about Reaching for the Stars?”

  Amy shrugged as Julie applauded and said, “What a great name, but she’s calling it Exceeding Dreams. I’ve got to admit, it’s kind of growing on me.”

  Amy said, “Hey, I don’t name them, they tell me what they should be called.”

  Alex said, “I’ll have to trust you on that. Listen, I’d better get back to the inn. Elise has been covering the place for me all day.”

  Julie said, “Couldn’t you at least stay for a bite to eat? We’re just having sandwiches, but you’re more than welcome to join us.”

  Alex was tempted, but he was also leery of leaving Elise too long at the inn alone. “Thanks, but I’d better get back. How about a rain check?”

  Amy nodded, her thoughts already back to the steel.

  Julie walked him out, staying close to him as they neared the truck. As he got in, she said, “You have a real positive energy, Alex. I like it.”

  “Thank you kindly, ma’am. I’d like to talk more later, if that’s all right with you.”

  “I’d be delighted,” she said, and he drove off into the fog.

  Though the two properties were within a few miles of each other by the map, the roads he needed to take him back home would take at least twenty minutes, especially in the fog. Alex wondered about Julie’s change of heart as he headed back to Hatteras West. Had she truly decided to give up her inheritance before Alex spoke with her, or had it all been for his benefit? He liked Julie, there was no doubt about that, but could he believe her?

  He still hadn’t made up his mind as he pulled up the long lane of Point Road that led to the lighthouse’s front door.

  Alex’s heart fell when he saw a shiny new BMW par
ked out front. He’d half wished it was Sandra’s or even Tony’s, but he should have been so lucky.

  It appeared that Peter Asheford had made good his threat to come to Elkton Falls.

  Steeling himself, Alex parked his truck and walked inside.

  Peter and Elise were sitting by the fireplace in deep conversation when Alex walked in. They both stood as he approached, Peter sticking by her side.

  Elise said, “Alex, if you don’t mind, we’re going to go ahead and take off early.”

  Nodding to Elise without really looking at her, Alex looked in Peter’s direction as he said, “Absolutely. Thanks for hanging around.”

  Peter walked forward and offered his hand to Alex. “Good to see you again. The last time I was here, your other building was burned to the ground. Fantastic start at the reconstruction job. Elise gave me the grand tour.”

  Alex took Peter’s hand, fighting his instinct to warm to the man. Peter Asheford was a natural-born salesman, no matter what else he might be.

  Alex said, “Thanks. I’m really proud of it.”

  “As you should be.” Peter lowered his eyes as he added, “Sorry to hear about your uncle. I hope there won’t be any bad feelings between us.”

  “Why on earth should there be?” Alex asked.

  Peter said, “I had no idea when I bought the cottage that it belonged to your uncle. I just don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of your tragedy.”

  Alex knew someone had bought his uncle’s rental cottage, but he’d had no idea it was Elise’s fiancé was behind his eviction. That was no way to look at it; Jase was done with the house forever. “It’s a great place. I’ll have his things cleared out by tomorrow night.”

  Peter shook his head. “Nonsense. There’s no hurry; I plan to be here a long time.”

  Elise glanced at her watch and said, “We really need to

  Peter nodded, then said, “Good afternoon, Alex.”

  “See you later,” he said as he watched them walk away.

  So that was that. Peter Asheford had made his intentions quite clear. Elkton Falls had just gained a new resident, and at the same time witnessed the dying of a dream. If there had been any doubt in his mind before, Alex now knew that there was no way he could compete with this man for Elise’s heart, not when it appeared that Peter Asheford already claimed it.

  It was, sadly, time to move on.

  After they were gone, Alex went into his office to clear some of the paperwork he’d been neglecting lately. It seemed as though there was always a bill to pay or a letter that had to be answered. A great many people thought it was some elaborate joke when they heard about the lighthouse in the mountains, so Alex had to assure them of the fact that Hatteras West was indeed run as an inn where they could stay.

  Alex’s stomach rumbled as he continued through the pile of mail. Paperwork could eat up more of his day than his guests sometimes. When Alex glanced at the clock, he saw that it was nearly time to eat dinner. He was just finishing up a letter to a woman in Wilmington named Susan in need of assurance that the inn in fact truly existed, when the front door of the inn banged open. It was Steven Trask, and from the look on his face, he was frantic about something as he stumbled in.

  Alex jumped up from his desk. “What’s wrong?”

  Steven said, “I was out walking the grounds, and I swear someone was following me! When I called out to them, they wouldn’t answer. I ran all the way back here. Someone’s stalking me!”

  “I’m sure it’s nothing as serious as all that,” Alex said, trying to soothe the man. “The woods around here can play strange tricks on you, especially at dusk.” Most likely it was a squirrel or some other small forest animal skittering about on the trails. Steven had city boy written all over him.

  “I’m telling you, someone was following me!”

  Alex thought about it a second, then asked, “Is it possible it might have been our groundskeeper? If you’re not expecting him, Vernum can be a little startling, but I can assure you, he’s harmless.”

  Steven wasn’t buying it. “I’m not imagining things, and I’m not talking about someone on your staff. This was an intentional attempt at rattling me! Now are you going to call the sheriff, or am I going to have to do it myself?”

  Alex said, “Just hold on a second. How about this? Why don’t I go check it out myself.” He reached behind the desk and pulled out a large flashlight.

  “You’re actually going to go out there alone?”

  Alex nodded. “I was raised here. Don’t worry about me; I’ll be fine.”

  Steven looked at him in disbelief, then said, “I personally think you’re insane, but be my guest. Be warned, though. If you’re not back in ten minutes, I’m calling 911.”

  Alex said, “Give me at least thirty minutes before you do anything like that.”

  Steven said reluctantly, “We’ll make it twenty. I’m not normally so jumpy, but I’m telling you, Alex, somebody’s out there, and they’re up to no good.”

  Alex saw real fear in Steven’s eyes. Could he be right? Was there someone stalking a guest at the inn? And could they possibly have anything to do with Jase’s murder?

  There was only one way to find out. Clutching the flashlight a little tighter than he needed to, Alex walked out the front door into the growing night.

  Chapter 9

  “Hello? Is anybody out there?”

  Alex called out into the darkness, not expecting a response, but he heard something crashing through the woods ahead of him. From the sound of the footsteps, it was a little too big for a chipmunk or a squirrel.

  When he flashed the light in the direction of the sound, though, there was nothing there. At least nothing he could see. There hadn’t been a bear sighted in Elkton Falls for ten years, not since the last big drought had driven one down from the mountains in search of food, but they hadn’t had much rain lately, and Alex couldn’t help wondering if one might be around now. His imagination was taking over full throttle, and every shape and shadow around him was assuming the guise of a killer bear or a deranged murderer lurking in wait for him.

  “Stop it, Alex. You know better,” he chided himself out loud. The sound of his voice helped calm him, and the ominous shapes he’d seen for a moment converted back into trees, bushes, and a lawn chair someone had left out in the woods.

  He made the rest of the rounds of the property with a lighter heart after he’d banished the demons from his mind. After circling the path from Bear Rocks to both inn buildings to the lighthouse itself, Alex was satisfied that there was no one or nothing ominous out there. At least not now.

  Alex stopped at the storage shed by the lighthouse to check on Vernum. Perhaps the man had been wandering around the woods on his own, oblivious to the fact that he’d startled one of Alex’s guests. Inside the shed, he found that the cot was still made up, but the arborist was nowhere to be found. Alex saw an odd-looking stamp on the floor and a pile of old magazines spread out on the bed. The collection was so odd, it had to have come from Les Williamson’s collection. Mor’s partner had the most eclectic taste in all of Canawba County. Could Vernum have been the one walking out in the woods? If he had, why hadn’t he identified himself when Steven had called out to him? That was a question he wouldn’t have to ask. Vernum was notoriously shy, and Alex doubted he would respond to any hail or summons coming from a stranger.

  In the morning, Alex promised himself that the two of them would have a long talk, even if Alex had to sit on him to make Vernum stay in one place long enough for more than three words! The man’s shyness was astounding!

  He was still smiling at the image of pinning Vernum down for their dialogue when he walked back into the inn. Steven was at the desk with one hand on the telephone, poised to pounce on the numbers.

  “Did you see anything? Was he still out there?”

  “Whoever or whatever it was is long gone now,” Alex said as he switched off his flashlight. Somebody was out there in the woods. You’ve got to
believe me, Alex; I’m telling the truth.”

  Alex said, “I believe you,” as sincerely as he could muster. “Most likely it was just my landscaper. Vernum is extremely shy; I doubt he’d answer his own mother if she called him.”

  “And if it wasn’t him?” Steven pressed.

  Alex said, “Sometimes people from town come out here and run the trails at night.”

  “In the dark? And why didn’t they identify themselves when I called out?”

  “They could have had headphones on, or be lost in their own thoughts. I’m certain there’s a logical explanation for it, Steven.”

  The young man shook his head. “I’m still not leaving the inn by myself after dark from here on out.”

  “I understand completely.”

  Steven moved to the stairs, then paused and said, “I understand there’s going to be a wake for your uncle here tomorrow night. I’ll do my best to get my sister and mother out of the inn so you can have some time alone to grieve.”

  Alex was touched by the gesture. “You are all invited, Steven. It’s going to be a celebration of his life. That’s the way he wanted it. You never got the chance to meet Jase, but I can tell you, he embraced the world. I’m sure he would have invited you all himself, if he could have. Jase always was one who believed the more the merrier.”

  Steven looked uncomfortable. “But still, I can’t help feeling we are somewhat responsible. After all, it was Father’s will that led to his death. How can we show our faces at the man’s wake?”

  “You can’t blame yourself,” Alex said, adding to himself, Unless you’re the one who killed him.

  Steven looked as if he was about to say something else when his sister came down the stairs. “I thought I heard your voice. Steven Trask, where have you been?”

  “Ashley, I needed to get away for awhile.”

  She said, “The next time you feel the urge to just walk off, tell me where you’re going first. I was worried sick about you.”

  Steven replied, “I guess there’s a first for everything, isn’t there?” He turned back to Alex and said, “Good night, and thanks for your kind offer.”