Reservations for Murder (3 page)

“Just go out there and make it a
success.”

“Aren’t you two coming?” Shantara asked as
she headed for the door.

“We’ll try to come out later, but we’ve still
got an inn to run.”

“And I’ve still got my fair!”

After Shantara was gone, Elise said, “Alex, I
don’t know how you did it, but you saved the day.”

“All Armstrong needed was to see things
objectively.”

Elise said, “Now that you’ve taken care of
that, what are we going to do about this murder?”

“We’re going to let Sheriff Armstrong handle
it,” Alex said firmly.

From the look in Elise’s eyes, Alex could see
that she didn’t believe him, not for one second.

Chapter 3

Alex tried to clean off the pile of papers on
top of his desk before the sheriff started his interviews. He was
still working when Armstrong came to the door with Shantara not far
behind. Evidently, she was first on the sheriff’s list of suspects,
something that surprised Alex.

“Let me just get this out of the way,” he
said as he opened the top drawer of his desk and shoved the rest of
the bills inside.

Alex was about to leave when Shantara asked,
“Alex, is there any way you could stay for this?”

Armstrong said, “Now, Ms. Robinson, this is
just a preliminary interview. Having Alex here isn’t going to do
you any good; he’s not a lawyer.”

“No, but he’s a friend, and I can use all of
those I can get right now.”

Alex said, “Shantara, I don’t know what I can
do, but if the sheriff doesn’t mind, I’d be glad to stay. But
honestly, maybe you’d better call a lawyer.”

“I don’t need one, not if you’re here with
me.”

Put that way, Sheriff Armstrong had little
choice but to let Alex stay. They’d worked together often enough in
the past, albeit reluctantly at times.

Alex felt strange seeing Sheriff Armstrong
sitting behind his desk, Shantara across from him. There was no
room for a third chair in the small space, so Alex leaned against
the rich, honeyed pine wall.

The sheriff pulled out a small notebook and
said, “First of all, where were you last night?”

Shantara looked surprised by the question. “I
was home asleep. Where were you?”

Armstrong frowned. “Now, Ms. Robinson, you
won’t do yourself any good by having an attitude with me.”

Alex said, “Sheriff, where else would you
expect her to be? And why should it matter where she was last
night?”

“My investigator just informed me that the
time of death was most likely sometime between midnight and four
a.m.” The sheriff added, “Alex, I’ve agreed to let you sit in, but
you’re going to have to keep your comments and questions to
yourself if you want to stay.”

“Sorry,” Alex said contritely. He didn’t
believe for one second that Shantara was guilty of murdering
Jefferson Lee. She had too much to lose, even granting the wildly
remote possibility that anything could push her to such a desperate
act.

Armstrong nodded once, then said, “Ms.
Robinson, can anyone verify that you were home last night?”

Shantara said, “Are you asking me if I’m
sleeping with anybody at the moment, Sheriff?”

Armstrong blustered, “Now, ordinarily, that
would be none of my business. I don’t much care what grown,
consenting folks do behind closed doors, but I’m trying to see if
you’ve got any kind of alibi for the murder.”

Shantara shook her head. “I’m sorry to say
that I sleep alone these days, Sheriff.”

Armstrong pushed on. “Did you make any calls
or get any during those hours? Can anybody verify you were
home?”

“I turned off the ringer on my phone and put
the answering machine on last night. I was whipped from moving the
fair yesterday at the last minute, and to be honest with you, I’d
just about had my share of people for the day.”

Armstrong wrote something else in his
notebook, then said, “Okay, let’s move on. Did you have any reason
to kill Jefferson Lee?”

Alex had a tough time keeping his mouth shut.
The very nature of the crime most likely cleared Shantara in his
mind. He doubted she’d have the physical strength to skewer the
blacksmith, even if she had motive enough to do it.

Shantara said calmly, “I knew him, but I had
no reason to want him dead. Even if I were going to kill him, why
would I do it at my own fair? I’ve got everything riding on this,
Sheriff.”

That was a point Alex had wondered about
himself.

Armstrong said evenly, “Maybe you weren’t
thinking clearly. He goaded you into a rage, and you killed him. If
it was self-defense, I’m sure we can work something out.”

“I work out at Tracy’s Gym sometimes, but I’m
not that strong.” Shantara turned to Alex. “You saw how he was
pinned to that post. Do you think I could possibly do that?”

Remembering Armstrong’s warning, Alex merely
shook his head.

“Alex, I warned you—”

Shantara interrupted. “He didn’t say a word,
just like you told him.”

Armstrong studied Alex a second, then turned
back to Shantara. “Have you ever seen the metal rod that was used
to kill Jefferson Lee?”

“I’ve seen a dozen of them, Sheriff.”

“Where?” Armstrong asked as he sat up
abruptly in the chair.

Shantara said reluctantly, “If I don’t tell
you, I’m sure somebody else will. That shaft had Bill Yadkin’s
swooping curlicue on the end. It’s one of his. There’s no doubt
about it.”

It was amazing how fast the sheriff wrapped
up the rest of his interview with Shantara. As Armstrong hurried
out the door, he said, “You’re free to go for now, Ms. Robinson,
but don’t leave town.”

After the sheriff rushed out, Shantara said
wearily, “I hate sending him after Bill Yadkin, but he was bound to
find out sooner or later.”

“It’s not your fault, Shantara.” Alex had
recognized the distinctive pattern on the shaft as well, but he’d
refrained from telling Armstrong about it until he had a chance to
talk more with the young blacksmith himself. Knowing Yadkin’s gruff
nature, it would be all too easy for the sheriff to take his
responses as hostility, and Armstrong did not respond well to
attitude from anyone.

In less than two minutes, Armstrong was
towing the young blacksmith into Alex’s office.

“I need some privacy for this interview,”
Armstrong said. “You’re both going to have to clear out.”

Alex tried to protect Yadkin as best he
could. “Do you want me to get you a lawyer?” he asked before the
door could close. Alex’s former girlfriend Sandra Beckett was the
only lawyer in Elkton Falls he knew well enough to call, but he
didn’t want the young blacksmith intimidated into saying something
he shouldn’t.

Yadkin snapped, “I’ve got nothing to hide. I
hated the snake, and everybody knows it.”

Armstrong’s eyes lit up as he pushed Alex and
Shantara out of the office.

“This is not good,” Shantara said
plaintively. “What are we going to do?”

There was only one real choice in Alex’s
mind.

He had to call Sandra, whether Yadkin wanted
her or not.

Sandra’s secretary put him through
immediately. The lawyer said, “What’s up, Alex? I’m buried under a
mountain of paperwork at the moment.”

Alex said, “I wouldn’t bother you if it
weren’t important. Bill Yadkin’s in trouble. Sheriff Armstrong is
interviewing him right now about the murder of Jefferson Lee, and
I’m afraid he’s going to say something he shouldn’t.”

Sandra shifted gears quickly. “I heard about
the murder a few minutes ago.” It always amazed Alex how fast news
traveled in the small town on the kudzu vine, faster than any
gossip’s grapevine in the world.

Sandra asked pointedly, “Why does the sheriff
think he’s guilty?”

“A shaft of iron with Yadkin’s trademark on
it was used to kill Lee, and I just heard Yadkin tell the sheriff
that he hated the man’s guts.”

“Don’t let him say another word, Alex. I’ll
be out there in seven minutes.”

Rachel burst into the inn as Alex was hanging
up the telephone. “Where are they? I just heard the sheriff hauled
Bill away.”

“Take it easy, Rachel. They’re in my office.
I just spoke with Sandra. She’s agreed to talk to your boyfriend,
but he’s refusing his right to a lawyer.”

“We’ll just see about that,” Rachel said as
she pounded on Alex’s office door.

As the door opened, Rachel tried to push past
Armstrong, but the sheriff wouldn’t budge.

Nearly out of breath, Rachel said, “Sheriff,
you can’t talk to him without his lawyer present.”

“I offered; he declined. Besides, no charges
have been filed. Now, you’re interrupting an official investigation
here.”

Rachel shouted, “Bill, don’t say a word. Alex
called a lawyer for you.”

“I don’t need a lawyer. I didn’t kill him,”
Yadkin snapped.

Rachel said fiercely, “You idiot, that’s why
you need someone to protect you.”

Yadkin said strongly, “I can handle this
myself, Rachel. I don’t need you meddling.”

Instead of backing down this time, Rachel
said firmly, “If you do this on your own, we’re through! I mean it,
Bill. You of all people should know I don’t make idle threats.”

Alex wondered how much effect the ultimatum
would have on the young man. Finally, just as the sheriff smiled at
the silence, the blacksmith said, “Okay, you win. I guess we’d
better wait for this lawyer fella.”

“It’s a woman, and she’ll be here any
minute,” Rachel explained, the relief thick in her voice.

Armstrong looked like he was ready to spit
nails. “Alex, I want to talk to you. Now!” He pulled Alex by the
arm into the lobby, away from everyone else. “Now, why did you go
and do that? He was almost ready to confess!”

“Sheriff, how can you be so sure he did it? I
was afraid he’d say something to you he couldn’t take back.”

“That’s why I was pushing him!”

Alex matched his tone. “And that’s why I
called Sandra!”

“Listen up, Alex, I’m not going to put up
with you sticking your nose in this case, you hear me?” Armstrong
took a deep breath, then said in an easier tone, “I’m the first one
to admit you’ve helped me a time or two in the past, but that
doesn’t give you the right to interfere. Do I make myself
clear?”

Alex nodded. “I hear what you’re saying, but
you can’t expect me to stand by and just watch, can you?”

“You’d better believe it,” Armstrong said.
“Now, I’ll thank you to stick to running your inn, and I’ll handle
the investigations around here.”

Chapter 4

Alex watched as the sheriff stormed back into
the office. He was probably right. Investigating crime was a job
for the sheriff, not for an innkeeper. But there was no way Alex
could just stand around and watch the young blacksmith hang
himself!

Armstrong suddenly pulled out of Alex’s
office with Bill Yadkin in tow.

“Out of the way, Alex,” the sheriff said as
he led the young blacksmith to the door.

“Where are you taking him, Sheriff
Armstrong?” Rachel demanded. “You can’t arrest him until his lawyer
gets here.”

“Tell Sandra we’ll be over at the jail. I’m
finishing this interview downtown, where there will be less
interruptions.” He looked pointedly at Alex as he said the
last.

Rachel blocked their way. “You’re not taking
him anywhere until Sandra arrives.”

Armstrong said, “Rachel Seabock, I’ve known
you most of my life, but don’t you believe for one second that I
won’t arrest you for obstructing justice if you don’t back off, and
I mean right now.”

Rachel was sobered by the thought of going to
jail, but she wasn’t about to give up. “I’m going with you then,”
she said resolutely.

“You can follow me into town, but you can’t
have a ride. I’m sorry, Rachel, but it has to be that way.”

She pointedly ignored the sheriff and said,
“Bill, don’t say a word until your attorney gets there.”

It looked like the young man was finally
beginning to realize just how precarious a position he was in. Alex
couldn’t really blame Armstrong for his enthusiasm in going after
Bill. After all, the young blacksmith had the means to commit the
murder as well as a pretty strong motive. As to opportunity, Alex
had to admit that just about anyone staying at The Hatteras West
Inn could have killed Jefferson Lee. In Alex’s mind, the most
damaging piece of evidence was the metal spear used to stab the
blacksmith; there was little doubt that Bill Yadkin had forged the
skewer used to kill Jefferson Lee.

After Armstrong had taken Bill Yadkin away,
with Rachel close on their heels, Alex looked around the suddenly
deserted inn. The place was eerily quiet. Alex stepped outside for
some fresh air. Springtime in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains could be delightful, but it could also be a fickle
friend. He’d seen it balmy and warm one day, only to have violent
ice storms the next. Fortunately, for the fair’s sake, the weather
looked like it would be cooperating over the next two days.

On the wide, expansive porch at the front of
the inn, Alex stood beside the half-dozen rocking chairs and
surveyed the grounds. People were just beginning to file in, and
with the murder on the grounds, it could easily turn out to be a
record crowd. Shantara had had the foresight to sell daily tickets
to the event, and from the number of people already drifting in,
she’d easily earn her investment in the fair back today, leaving
the next day for pure profit. His gaze automatically took in the
new construction site, where one of Armstrong’s deputies now stood
guard.

Alex suddenly felt a meaty paw slap him on
the back. “You just can’t stay out of trouble, can you?”

Alex smiled brightly at Mor Pendleton. “You
can’t blame this one on me,” Alex said as he looked at his friend.
He and Alex had played football together, though Mor had been the
star, while Alex had played more of a supporting role. A bad hit in
college had wiped out Mor’s knees, and the man had been forced to
drop out of college and come back to Elkton Falls to join Lester
Williamson in the handyman business. The two men were vital to
keeping Hatteras West up and running, and Mor or Les was a welcome
fixture to all of Elkton Falls.