Murder Checks Inn (Book 3 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries) (9 page)

Chapter 8

A creeping fog hugged the road as Alex drove
up the lane to Amy Lang’s homestead. It was an odd sight for early
afternoon, but the weather had been strange lately as cold and warm
fronts kept colliding over the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. The gravel path was mostly obscured by the swirling
masses of white, and Alex slowed his truck considerably as he
drove.

Breaking out of the fog just ahead of him,
an apparition appeared in a flash of red. Alex slammed on his
brakes and stopped the truck. He’d come awfully close to hitting
something!

“
Why, if it isn’t Alex
Winston himself.”

Amy Lang’s jet-black hair tumbled out as she
pulled back the hood of her bright red cloak.

“
I could have killed you,”
Alex said, his voice shaking.

Amy laughed. “Nonsense. I knew where you
were, even if you didn’t see me. I was ready to jump if you got any
closer.”

Alex looked at her outfit and said, “I
really like your cloak.”

She twirled in it, and the material danced
elegantly around her with a few wisps of swirling fog dancing in
rhythm. Amy said, “It’s an Irish walking cape. Stunning, isn’t
it?”

Alex laughed gently. “You’re doing
everything in your power to keep the eccentric artist myth alive,
aren’t you?”

She smiled. “What can I say? It lets me keep
my prices up.” The banter subsided as Amy asked, “What brings you
out this way? I know you’re too busy with the inn to just pop in
unannounced.”

Alex said, “Let me get my truck off the road
first. I don’t want to get rear-ended. Would you like a ride back
to your place?”

“
You didn’t answer my
question.”

Alex knew Amy well enough to realize that
she wasn’t going to budge until he answered her. “I need to speak
with Julie Hart.”

“
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 parked 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.