Murder Checks Inn (Book 3 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries) (12 page)

unflappable Irene was actually blushing!
“Oh, I wouldn’t go that far. We simply enjoyed each other’s
company.”

Alex touched her hand lightly. “Irene, you
were crying when the sheriff and I came by your shop the other day,
and here I thought it was just the chemicals. Listen to me. If you
gave Jase some companionship in his last days, I couldn’t be
happier. I’m just amazed you managed to keep it a secret. I thought
the kudzu vine was impossible to beat.”

“
Well, Jase was a crafty
old rascal. He had a real knack for keeping his private life
private, if you know what I mean.”

Alex said softly, “And no one in town knows
you’re grieving, Irene. I’m so sorry for your loss,” he said as he
gently patted her hand.

Tears welled up in Irene’s eye. “Alex
Winston, you are the sweetest man I know. I should be the one
offering words of comfort to you.”

Mor came back and slid an iced tea in front
of Alex, with another for himself. He said, “Your steak will be
right up, sir, but they were all out of champagne. Anything else
from the bar while you’re waiting?”

It took Mor a second to realize he’d
interrupted something. “I just remembered, I have a call to make,
if you two will excuse me.”

Irene put a hand on his arm. “You’re not
going anywhere until you sit down and tell me your plans.”

“
What plans are
those?”

“
Mor Pendleton, I’ve been
running To Dye For nearly twenty-seven years. Do you think there’s
a chance in the world I haven’t heard what Les has
done?”

Mor said, “Now, why am I not surprised?” Mor
looked at his tea, swirled the glass a few times without taking a
sip, then said, “To be honest with you, I haven’t decided yet.”

Irene said softly, “Elkton Falls needs you,
Mordecai Pendleton. Don’t leave us.”

The big man was obviously uncomfortable by
the serious turn of the conversation. “Don’t worry, you’re not
going to get rid of me any time soon.”

Alex said, “Irene, we’ll see you at the inn
tonight for the send-off, won’t we?”

“
I don’t know, Alex, I’m
not sure—”

“
Nonsense,” Alex said. “I
want you there as my personal guest. I’m sure it’s what Jase would
have wanted.”

Irene said, “I’ll be there, then.” She threw
a twenty on the table over her bill. “Lunch is on me, gentlemen,”
Irene said as she rushed out of Buck’s before the men could say
another word.

“
Alex, my friend, your way
with women is unparalleled in the history of all
mankind.”

“
What can I say? It’s a
gift. I just can’t believe you got out of another lunch
tab.”

Mor shrugged. “Hey, you have your gifts, I
have mine.”

The two men started back on foot after
finishing their meals. Alex said, “I’ve got to tell you, that was
the best club sandwich I’ve ever had.” Mor had ordered Alex’s usual
club for him, though Sally Anne had called it a steak when she’d
delivered it, a curious frown on her face.

Mor patted his stomach as he said, “Yeah, my
country-fried chicken was pretty good, too. It was sweet of Irene
to treat us.” The handyman took a few more steps, then said,
“Tonight’s going to be tough on you, isn’t it?”

Alex kept his gaze on the sidewalk as he
spoke. “I guess I got it from Jase, but I never did care for
funerals. For the longest time I swore I wasn’t going to have one
myself, but I’m beginning to think Jase might have had the right
idea. Inviting all your family and friends to one last blowout has
a touch of style that fit the man just right. I’m sorry he’s gone,
especially the way it happened, but I’m also happy

that Jase made it back to Elkton Falls. It
was wonderful getting reacquainted with him again.”

Mor started walking faster as they neared
his truck. Alex asked, “What’s the rush?”

Mor pointed to one of the boxes they’d so
carefully sealed. The top had been torn off, and a few books
spilled out onto the bed. “Alex, somebody’s been messing with
Jase’s stuff.”

Chapter 11

The closer they got to the truck, the more
apparent it was that someone had been tampering with the boxes
they’d so carefully packed. Alex and Mor jumped up into the bed of
the truck and tried to see if anything was missing.

After they’d examined every box and Alex had
started resealing the tops, Mor said, “I don’t see that anything’s
gone. Alex, it was probably just some kids who couldn’t resist
seeing what was inside.”

Alex sealed another box, then said
reluctantly, “You’re probably right.”

Mor said, “You think it’s something more
ominous than that, don’t you? Alex, not everything’s a mystery
waiting to be solved.”

“
Of course not,” Alex said
as he finished taping up the last of the disturbed
boxes.

Mor looked at his friend, then said, “You
don’t believe that for a second, do you?”

Alex leaned against the back of the cab of
the truck and

said, “Mor, somebody tried to break into
Jase’s cottage while I was there, and now somebody’s going through
his things out here in broad daylight. That either took a lot of
guts, or somebody’s getting desperate. Even you have to give me
that.”

Mor rubbed his chin. “I’ve got to admit,
your hunches have paid off in the past. What in the world could
they be looking for though?”

“
I wish I knew. I’m telling
you one thing; the first chance I get, I’m going to dig into this,
and I won’t stop until I find out what’s going on.”

Mor nodded. “I wish I could help, but I’ve
got a full afternoon scheduled. Les and his lady friend are going
for a picnic at Linville Falls, if you can believe that, and he’s
making me pay for taking the morning off.” He added with a grin,
“With Emma gone, I don’t mind keeping busy. I’ve got to admit, I
miss her more than I expected to, Alex.”

Alex grinned at his friend. “Have you
considered the possibility that was the whole point of the
trip?”

Mor smiled broadly. “You could be right.” He
patted one of the boxes, then said, “Let’s get this stuff back to
the inn so I can get to work.”

Steven was on the porch as Alex and Mor
drove up to Hatteras West. When they got out of the truck, he
joined them.

“
Something I can do for
you?” Alex asked.

“
To be honest with you, I’m
used to a faster pace than this back home. I’ve been to the top of
the lighthouse, and I went climbing on Bear Rocks. Do you have any
other suggestions for me?”

“
I’ve got a rack full of
brochures on some of our area attractions,” Alex said. “I’m afraid
whitewater rafting is a little much for a day trip, but there are
some great places to

hike around here.” Alex turned to Mor. “Give
me a second, will you?”

“
I’ll go ahead and start
unloading,” Mor said as he picked up one of the heavier
boxes.

Steven said, “You don’t have to get the
brochures now, Alex, I’m not in any hurry. Do you two need a
hand?”

“
We’ve got it under
control,” Alex said.

“
Honestly, I’m glad to
help,” Steven said.

Mor jumped in. “Alex, can’t you see the
man’s desperate for something to do? Why are you depriving him? I
thought you took better care of your guests than that.”

Alex grinned. “Okay, you asked for it. We’d
love a hand. Pick a box.”

As they carried the boxes back to Alex’s
tiny room, Steven said, “These boxes surely are heavier than they
look.”

Mor was about to say something when Alex
said, “Just some odds and ends I’ve been meaning to bring back to
the inn.”

After the boxes were stacked neatly along
one wall of the room, Mor said, “Well, if you don’t need me
anymore, I’m going to hit the road.”

Alex said, “Hang on a second; I’ll walk you
out.” He turned to Steven. “Thanks again for your help. I’ll be
right back.”

As all three men left Alex’s room, he
carefully locked the door behind them.

Alex stopped Mor on the porch. “Listen,
thanks for everything. I really appreciate your help.”

“
What are friends for?
Alex, you think he’s a suspect, don’t you?” Mor nodded toward
Steven, who was lingering by the front desk.

“
You bet he is. Everyone in
that family is on my list.”

Mor said softly, “And they’re staying at the
inn with you. It might not be a bad idea to watch your back. You
want me

to hang around? There’s nothing on my list
that can’t wait until tomorrow.”

“
Thanks, but I don’t need
my own bodyguard yet. Besides, I know how much work you’ve got to
do. You’re coming to the send-off tonight, aren’t you?”

Mor slapped Alex on the shoulder. “I
wouldn’t miss it for the world. You know how much I love that
overgrown night-light of yours. I’m not about to miss a chance to
see it fired up.”

Alex nodded. “Tell you what. When you decide
to tie the knot, we’ll light it on your wedding day.”

Mor said, “Don’t hold your breath, I’m not
in any hurry to walk down an aisle.”

“
You’re closer to it than I
am,” Alex said with a laugh.

Mor said, “I’d say at the moment it’s more
of a dead heat.”

After Mor was gone, Alex turned back to the
lobby. It was time to talk to Steven a little more thoroughly and
find out just what he might know about Jase’s death.

Alex handed Steven a sheaf of brochures,
then said, “I meant it when I said that your family is invited to
the send-off tonight.”

“
I don’t know, Alex. It’s
kind of awkward, us being involved with the missing will and
all.”

Alex said, “Jase wanted it to be an open
invitation. My brother and I would consider it an honor if you
came. All of you.”

Steven hesitated, then reluctantly agreed.
“If you’re sure.”

“
I wouldn’t have it any
other way. Pardon me saying so, but do you have any idea what’s
going to happen to your father’s estate if the will doesn’t turn
up?”

“
I suppose it will
ultimately be divided three or four ways. Mother isn’t about to
leave the outcome to fate. I’ve

tried to talk her out of making a fuss, but
if she has her way, Julie won’t see a dime. I’m not so sure I’m
entitled to any of my father’s money, anyway. I hadn’t seen him in
so long, and to be honest with you, I never really tried to contact
him after he left. I had him for eighteen years; that was enough
for me.”

“
How do you feel about your
newfound sister?”

Steven thought about it a moment, then said,
“If Julie really is his daughter, she has more of a right to the
money than the rest of us. We squandered our chances with Dad. From
the sound of it, she never had an opportunity to get to know him.
He was a good man in his own way, Alex. I think he stayed just as
long as he could, and then the day after my eighteenth birthday, he
took off. Some belated birthday present, huh?”

“
How did Ashley take
it?”

“
She was already away at
college, so it didn’t affect her all that much. Truth be told, I’m
worried about my big sister.”

“
Why is that?” Alex asked
gently.

“
She’s been on medication
for her mood swings in the past, and the depression really hits
her, especially when she’s under stress. I’m afraid all this about
our father is stirring up all those buried feelings
again.”

Alex wanted to ask about his sister’s claim
that Steven was clinically depressed himself, but for the life of
him he couldn’t figure out how to bring it up without sounding like
a fishwife. Instead, he shifted gears and tried another track.
“Your mother must have been as mad as a wet cat when he left.”

Steven said, “Alex, do you want to know the
truth? She would never admit it, but I actually think she was
relieved.”

“
Relieved about what?” Alex
heard a woman’s voice say as she came down the stairs. Cynthia
Shays-Trask swept into the lobby, her gaze steadily on her
son.

“
We were just talking about
tonight,” Steven said guiltily.

“
Come take a walk with me,
Steven,” Cynthia said as she locked her arm in her son’s. Almost as
an afterthought, she said, “I’m sure Alex will excuse
us.”

He didn’t really have much choice. The woman
had a way of imposing her will on those around her that was
overwhelming.

Before the mother and son could get away,
Alex said, “I was just telling Steven, you’re all invited to the
send-off for my uncle tonight. It’s going to be right here at
Hatteras West.”

Cynthia turned to her son and said, “Steven,
I’ll meet you out on the porch.”

There was no room for argument in her
voice.

After her son was outside, Cynthia said, “Do
you truly want us there, or are you just being polite? Don’t worry
about offending me, Alex. You can tell me the truth.”

“
My brother and I really
would like you to come. You didn’t know my uncle, but he would have
wanted you there.”

Cynthia stared into his eyes, and Alex could
feel the pull of her attraction. The woman really did have a way of
getting attention.

She touched his cheek lightly, then said,
“In that case, we would be honored to attend. My family and I will
be there, Alex.”

And then she was gone.

Alex was more confused than ever about the
case as he watched them start off down the path toward Bear Rocks.
Could Cynthia have killed Jase herself? She appeared to be a woman
who left nothing to chance. If there was the slightest possibility
that she’d heard a whisper about Julie’s existence, Alex could
easily see Cynthia stepping in to protect her children’s
inheritance. What about Ashley or Steven? They could have their own
reasons for wanting the will to disappear. What if Mathias had
written one of them out? Alex had read about a case in Charlotte
not all that long ago where a wealthy man had split his fortune
between two sons in a most unusual way. One had been in and out of
rehab for years, never overcoming his addictions, while the other
had quietly worked hard and had prospered. Instead of a prodigal
son reaction, the father had left his wayward son one dollar a year
plus all the money he would use for rehab centers for as long as he
lived, while his brother had inherited the balance. It had sounded
like a reasonable solution to Alex, but the wayward son had fought
the case for years on a technicality before losing. The whole thing
had appealed to Alex’s sense of justice as little did lately.