Read Murder Checks Inn (Book 3 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries) Online

Authors: Tim Myers

Tags: #blue ridge mountains, #cozy, #fiction, #inn, #lighthouse, #mystery, #north carolina, #tim myers, #traditional

Murder Checks Inn (Book 3 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries) (24 page)

BOOK: Murder Checks Inn (Book 3 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries)
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As Tracy’s opponent, Oxford Hitchcock, took
the stage for his own speech, Alex asked, “Elise, is everything
ready inside?”

They were having a reception in the lobby of
the new building after the speeches were finished, and he wanted to
make sure everything was just right.


The punch is chilling, the
finger foods are on their trays, and I’ve got three college kids
decked out in their finest to serve our guests. I heard the chamber
group warming up a few minutes ago, and they sounded
wonderful.”

Alex said, “I’m still not sure about
classical music at Hatteras West. It’s a little highbrow for Elkton
Falls, don’t you think?”

She patted his arm. “Alex, don’t worry,
everyone will love it.”


I still say we should have
gone with a bluegrass band.”

Elise said, “The next time we have a
building dedication, we’ll do just that.”

Alex sighed. ‘To be honest with you, I never
want to have to go through this again.”


That makes two of us. But
don’t worry so much, our troubles are over.”

On the stage, Oxford was wrapping up his
comments, praising apple pie and motherhood, and the crowd roared
again. Oxford was a popular man around Elkton Falls, serving on the
Town Council for twelve years as well as handling the treasurer’s
duties. He was a stout, heavyset man with a full mane of silver
hair and a voice that echoed through the hills. As he spoke, Oxford
locked both thumbs under his “signature” suspenders.

Oxford Hitchcock was in sharp contrast to
Tracy Shook in just about every way: he bellowed, while she always
spoke softly, and though Oxford could put away more food than any
man, woman, or child at one of his political barbeque events, Tracy
never seemed to do more than nibble around the edges of her plate.
Oxford was massive and barrel-chested, while she was a slender
woman with the biggest blue eyes Alex had ever seen.

Tracy and Alex had been friends since
elementary school and had stayed close. Tracy and her ex-husband
Conner, on the other hand, had grown to dislike each other more and
more over the years following their divorce. Conner was running
Oxford’s mayoral campaign, and the general consensus at Buck’s
Grill was that the only reason he worked with such enthusiasm was
to rob Tracy of her chance for victory.

Longtime Mayor Grady Hatch took the stage as
Oxford walked off, and for the first time that day, the applause
was across the board, genuine and heartfelt. Grady had been running
Elkton Falls since Alex had been a kid. The mayor’s face was
flushed, and there was a rasp in his voice as he talked to the
crowd. “Well now, I’m sure you’all are tired of the sound of my
voice after all these years, so I’ll make this brief.” There was a
burst of laughter from the audience, since Grady was notorious for
his clipped comments in public.


Even more so than usual,”
Grady added with a smile. He was clearly enjoying his last days in
office, with most of the petty squabbles of his political life left
behind. Grady had stunned Elkton Falls when he’d announced that he
wouldn’t be seeking reelection. Folks were just starting to realize
they’d been taking him for granted all along, but no one could talk
him into changing his mind. For weeks, Grady had told anyone who
would listen that the second he left office, he was going to buy a
motor home and see the world. The only thing Grady had promised to
participate in after leaving office was the “Save the Bridge” fund,
a committee Alex had grudgingly agreed to serve on himself, since
he believed so strongly in its cause. Elkton Falls sported one of
the last covered bridges still standing in North Carolina, and
Grady had made it his personal cause in life to see the bridge
restored with private money when Raleigh had turned down his
request for preservation funding.

Grady told the crowd, “Save your applause
for someone who really deserves it. We’re here to celebrate the
dedication of this fine structure,” he said, gesturing to the new
building, “and the man who made it happen. Alex, come on up here
and say a few words.”

Alex shook his head numbly. He absolutely
hated speaking in public.

Elise gave him a nudge. “Go on, Alex.”


I can’t,” he said. Why had
Grady done this to him? Alex would rather take a beating than talk
in front of all those people.

She nudged him and said, “You can do it,
Alex. Don’t look at the crowd.


Focus on me,” she added as
the applause started to fade.

Alex took in a deep gulp of air and walked
toward the stage like a man on his way to his doom.

As he approached the microphone, he walked
past the mayor and whispered, “Grady, I’ll get you for this.”

The mayor chuckled. “You’ll have to stand in
line, my boy. There are a lot of folks with bigger grudges than
yours waiting to take a shot at me.”

Alex walked up to the microphone as panic
swept through him. Everyone was staring at him! He fought the urge
to bolt from the platform as his frantic gaze found Elise. Taking a
deliberately deep breath, Alex kept his gaze on her as he said,
“Thanks for coming, everybody. Now let’s all go inside and enjoy
the refreshments and music.”

It was by far the shortest speech of the
day, and the crowd showed their appreciation with enthusiastic
applause. As they filed past the stage to tour the newly completed
building, Grady grabbed Alex’s shoulder.


Your speech was even
shorter than mine,” the mayor said. “I’ll make a public speaker out
of you yet.”

Alex said, “That’s going to be tough to do,
Grady. You just witnessed my debut and farewell performance, all
wrapped up into one.”

Grady shook his head. “We’ll just see about
that. Folks around here have a real fondness for you, Alex; you
could do well in politics.”

Alex shook his head in reply. “No Sir, it’s
not going to happen.” He looked all around for Elise, and Alex
finally spotted her greeting folks on their way into the newly
rebuilt Dual Keepers’ Quarters. That was where he belonged, by her
side, instead of up there making speeches, however brief. Alex was
an innkeeper, like his father before him, and his father before
him, and he was proud to be one. Let the politicians have the
limelight; they were welcome to it. The only light he wanted was
the one he had, perched atop the lighthouse.

As Alex started off the stage, Tracy stopped
him. “Alex, thanks again for letting me speak here today. I need
all the exposure I can get.”

He smiled. “You’re very welcome. How’s the
campaign going?”

She looked a little frazzled around the
edges. “I’m definitely the underdog, so it’s a lot harder than I
thought it would be. He’s making it even worse.” Tracy added the
last jab as she stared heatedly at her ex-husband, standing off to
one side in a whispered conference with Oxford.

Alex said, “Don’t look at it that way,
Tracy. Just think how sweet it will be when you beat him.”


Do you really think I’ve
got a chance?” she asked.


Hey, I’m voting for you,”
Alex said.

Just then Oxford’s booming voice sounded in
his ear. “I hope you give me the opportunity to change your mind,
Alex.”

Alex grinned. “You can try, but I won’t make
any promises.”

Oxford returned the smile. “Then you
wouldn’t go far in politics, my friend.” The big man turned his
attention to Tracy, automatically tucking his thumbs back under his
suspenders. “That was a wonderful speech, Ma’am. I had to stop
myself from jumping up and applauding myself.”

She said sweetly, “If you want to concede
now, Oxford, we can save Elkton Falls the trouble of holding the
election.”

Oxford’s smile dimmed a bit, though he could
clearly see that Tracy was teasing. He said, “Come now, what fun
would that be? I think we’re all looking forward to the battle
ahead. Now if you two will excuse me, I’ve got some meeting and
greeting to do.”

Tracy followed closely on his heels. “Not
without me, you don’t.”

Alex was surprised to find Mor and Emma
standing so close to the chamber group when he got inside. They
were obviously hovering there for some reason. He walked over to
Elise, pointed to their friends, and asked, “What’s going on?”


It’s a surprise. I told
them they could make a little announcement of their own today. I
hope that’s all right, Alex.”


You run this place, too,
Elise. You can do whatever you like.” Alex was a little hurt that
Mor hadn’t asked him for permission himself, and Elise must have
sensed it.

She explained, “Emma’s been planning this
for a week. Mor just found out himself.”


So what’s going
on?”

The musicians stopped, and Elise whispered,
“Wait and see.

As the group took a break, Mor said loudly,
“If I can have your attention, there’s something I’d like to
say.”

Everyone stopped talking and turned to the
big man. Alex could see the flush rising on his friend’s face. He
was no more comfortable talking in front of a crowd than Alex
was.

Once Mor had everyone’s attention, he said,
“Emma and I wanted to share this with everyone. We’re getting
married.” There was more robust applause for Mor’s announcement
than there’d been for any of the politicians earlier. Mor added,
“As a matter of fact, the nuptials will be here, if Alex will have
us.”

Alex smiled broadly from across the room.
“Try to have your wedding anywhere else. Just tell me when.”


One month from today, and
everyone’s invited to the party,” Mor said as the crowd roared
again. As people filed past them offering their congratulations,
Alex tapped Elise on the shoulder. He asked, “So you’ve known about
this for a week?”

Elise grinned. “Are you kidding? I’m the
maid of honor.”

Alex said, “I don’t even know which side of
the aisle I’m supposed to sit on.”

Elise started to say something when Mor
joined them. “Alex, got a second?”


Sure thing.
Congratulations.” He slapped the big man on the back.


Thanks. Listen, sorry to
spring it on you like that, but Emma and Elise cooked this all up.
You don’t mind having the wedding here, do you?”


I couldn’t think of a
better place for you to have it,” Alex said. “I’m
honored.”


That’s great. While I’m on
a roll, let me push my luck a little more, then. How about being my
best man?”

Alex grinned. “I’d be happy to.” A cloud
crossed his face as he added softly, “Oh, no.”


What’s wrong?” Mor asked.
“You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”


It’s not that, I’m honored
you want me. I just realized I’ll have to make another speech if
I’m going to be your best man.”

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.”

BOOK: Murder Checks Inn (Book 3 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries)
4.32Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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