by Tim Myers
Elise joined him outside. “I was beginning to wonder if you were ever coming back.”
“Why, what’s up?”
“Besides the fact that I’m dying of curiosity? Not much. So what did you discover?”
Alex said, “Not nearly as much as I’d hoped. There are prison cells with more personal stuff in them than Cliff’s place had.”
“Well, in a way that tells us something, too, doesn’t it?”
“Whatever it is, it’s beyond me. Sorry I was gone so long.”
Elise smiled. “You’re back just in time. I just finished folding the last clean sheet, and our guests have all checked in. It’s time to tackle that lens.”
Alex groaned. “Oh no, I forgot all about it.”
“Well I didn’t,” Elise said as she grabbed their buckets and rags from just inside the door. “We’re going to start cleaning the lens this afternoon.”
“Where’d you find those?” he asked, pointing to the battered old case that held his father’s binoculars.
“I was cleaning the attic and found them the other day. We should be able to see the world with them from the upper platform.”
He laughed. “Are we working or birdwatching?”
Elise said, “What’s wrong with doing a little bit of both?”
Alex followed her up the stairs of the lighthouse, knowing that whatever leads he still had to follow up on would have to wait. Once Elise got something in her mind, there was no stopping her. If there was anyone in the world who wanted Hatteras West to shine more than he did, it had to be his head housekeeper, and also one of his closest friends in the world.
Cleaning the thick glass segments of the elaborate prism lens system of the lighthouse was a massive undertaking, since the Fresnel lens was twelve feet high and six feet in diameter. Twenty-four bull’s-eye prism lenses were equally spaced around it, creating a myriad of surfaces in need of attention. It wasn’t all that demanding mentally though, and the work gave Alex and Elise a chance to talk.
As Elise worked on one of the lenses, she said, “You need to bring me up to date on what you found at Cliff’s apartment.”
“Like I said, it was meticulous. The only thing I saw out of the ordinary was lots of books and a few photographs.”
“Do you remember any of the titles?”
“Exciting stuff like Modern Gemology and Tectonic Plate Formations.’’
Elise said, “So he was a rockhound like a lot of folks around here. Tell me about the pictures.”
As Alex worked on a particularly tough spot of haze, he said, “There was one interesting thing about them. A couple of shots had been altered. Somebody took a razor and cut out one of the people posing.”
“Sounds like a relationship gone sour. What were the backgrounds of, do you remember?”
“One was on a lake, another was in the mountains. Now I remember, there was one that had been taken in front of a sign that said Mount McKinley.”
“So Cliff liked to travel,” Elise said. “Funny, he didn’t strike me the type.”
“I’ve got a feeling there’s a lot we don’t know about the man. Armstrong said there was an ex-wife somewhere, but he hadn’t been able to track her down.”
“How recently did she become his ex?” Elise asked.
“According to the sheriff, it’s been years. I can’t imagine anybody holding a grudge that long.”
“I don’t know, you might be surprised. So who else had a reason to kill him?”
“Anybody greedy enough to go after the emerald. The theft itself had to be planned ahead of time, since he had a replica made and ready to use.”
Elise said, “Let’s make a list of the folks around the inn that day. There might be something we’re missing.”
“Reston Shay was here,” Alex said simply. “We’ve already discussed the possibility that he might steal the stone, collect the insurance, and still get to keep it.”
Elise said, “Skip was here, along with the other guards, but I can’t imagine them doing it. They had to alibi each other.”
Alex said, “Fiona White was here peddling her muffins, Patrick Thornton was here, and so was Claudia Post. I’d still like to know what was in Thornton’s tube. I’m kicking myself for not opening it when I had the chance.”
“Don’t forget, Claudia Post told you that she’d seen Monet at the inn that day. Rose Lane was out here, too, remember? Cliff had to warn her to stay away from the emerald. She could have been getting a closer look to see if her fake matched the real thing.”
Alex told her about Rose Lane’s animosity toward Reston Shay, and added. “So she could have stolen the gem out of spite, but I can’t see her killing Cliff. For that matter, it could have been any of the guests we had slaving with us at the time, including Melva. Whoever did it have dashed back upstairs just as easily as running out the door.”
Elise shrugged. “I’m more confused than I was before.”
“We need more information. I just wish I knew how to go about uncovering it,” Alex said.
Elise paused a moment and turned to look out at the world instead of focusing inside the lighthouse. “Wow, I forgot how beautiful it was up here at the very top. She took out the binoculars and scanned the horizon as she spoke.
“Not many folks get the opportunity to see the mountains from this perspective. They were well above the first balcony at the pinnacle of the lighthouse, and the view was one Alex never grew tired of. As a young boy, he could remember climbing the lighthouse at night with his sleeping bag, a flashlight, and a book, camping out there and gazing out at the world from his very own aerie.
Elise lowered the binoculars and said, “You know, we probably should be getting back. There’s more lens surface here than I remembered, and there’s no way we’re going to be able to finish it this evening.”
Alex agreed. “It’s pretty massive, isn’t it? Why don’t we break the job up over several days? That way we have a perfect excuse to come up here and get away from the world.”
Elise said, “The world is never all that far away, is it? Do you ever regret having such a demanding job?”
As they gathered their supplies and started the climb back down, Alex said, “It’s the only way of life I know. I have to admit, I’m tempted by Harry’s offer. It would be great staying in a lighthouse located on an actual body of water.”
“It would certainly be different,” Elise said. “Have you really thought any more about it?”
He said, “I wanted to talk to you a little more before I call Harry. It’s kind of presumptuous of me to assume you’ll do whatever I choose.”
Elise said, “Come on, I think it would be fun. We should absolutely do it.”
Down at the base of the lighthouse, Alex opened the door, stepping aside so Elise could pass through first.
As he did, a bullet thudded into the wood of the doorframe.
Someone was shooting at them!
Chapter 15
Alex grabbed Elise and pulled her back inside the base, then slammed the doors shut.
“What happened?” she asked breathlessly.
“Unless I miss my guess, whoever shot Vince is having a little more target practice.”
“That’s crazy. Why would anybody shoot at us?”
“Maybe we’re closer to the killer than we think,” Alex said as he deadbolted the doors. As long as they stayed inside, they should be safe, but how long could they remain holed up in the lighthouse? Sooner or later they had to come out, and if the shooter was still there, it would be the easiest thing in the world to pick them off as they left.
They could be in for a long wait.
“This is one time I regret not having a cell phone,” Alex said.
“Don’t worry, we’re safe enough in here. I just wish I knew why they were shooting at us.”
“It would help, wouldn’t it?”
Alex headed back up the stairs. Elise asked, “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to look out the w
indow on the first landing. Maybe I can see who’s after us.”
She grabbed his arm. “That’s also a good way to get shot. Don’t you think the shooter’s watching the windows, too?”
“I’ll be careful,” Alex said.
Alex peered out through the first window. It was lucky the windows lined up with the doors below. With any luck, he could spot the shooter without being seen. Carefully, he edged toward the opening. As he leaned closer so he could see better, Elise grabbed his arm and pulled him back. A split second later, the glass shattered as the bullet crashed through.
“That was too close,” Alex said, feeling his legs shake at the idea of how near a miss it had been. “Thanks.”
“Now will you come back downstairs?” Elise asked.
“You’ve convinced me,” Alex said.
Just then, Alex heard a car coming up Point Road toward the lighthouse. He had to alert whoever was coming that there was a shooter loose at Hatteras West.
“What are you doing now?” Elise asked.
“I have to warn whoever’s coming,” Alex said. “And get shot at again?”
“I have to take that chance.” Alex got close to the window again, being careful to keep out of the shooter’s line of sight. As he heard a car door slam, he shouted, “Go back. Somebody’s shooting at us.”
Armstrong called from below, “Alex, is that you?”
“Sheriff, somebody on the property has a gun.” He couldn’t see the sheriff from where he stood, but he heard the man scramble back to his car and slam the door. After a minute, Alex heard him call, “Hold on, I’ve got my men on their way.”
Less than ninety seconds later the first squad car came, l and in ten minutes all four of Elkton Falls’ patrol cars were parked in front of the inn. Fifteen minutes after that, Armstrong called out, “Alex, it’s all clear. You can come out now.”
Alex unbolted the doors, and he and Elise stepped outside. He asked, “Did you catch them?”
“No, whoever it was got away clean. We’ve got one bullet lodged in your doorframe, if we ever get anything to match it to.”
“There’s one inside the lighthouse, too. If we could find the one that shot Vince, I’ve got a feeling all three will match.”
“You need to be careful, Alex. Somebody’s got it in for you. Are you all right, Elise?”
“I’m fine now. So what are you going to do about this?”
Armstrong shrugged. “I’ll step up the patrols out here, but I can’t tie everybody up without more to go on. Chances are whoever took those shots at you is long gone.”
Alex shook his head. “It just doesn’t make sense. Why would somebody shoot at us?”
‘There are a lot of nutcases in the world, Alex. You’ll go crazy if you try to figure them out.”
Elise said, “Sheriff, why were you coming out here in the first place?”
Armstrong said, “I hate to mention it now. It doesn’t seem all that important.”
Alex said, “Well, you’re here. What’s going on?”
Armstrong said, “My church is having a cake sale to raise money for foreign missions, and I was kind of hoping Elise could make something for it. She’s the best baker around.”
Elise laughed, as much from the release in tension as the odd request. “Sheriff, I’d be delighted. While you’re at it, you should ask Fiona White for a donation.”
Armstrong said, “The Muffin Lady? I already asked her. She only does muffins, can you believe that? It’s hard to believe there’s enough business around Elkton Falls for that.”
“She probably works Hickory, Bethlehem, Granite Falls, and Hudson, too. She might even go all the way to Lenoir.”
“That’s still not a big territory, not when you’re talking about muffins. Listen, if you two see anything suspicious, and I mean anything at all, I want you to call me, day or night, you hear?”
“We will,” Alex said.
Armstrong nodded. “Good enough. I’m sending Irene out later to collect that bullet. I’m afraid she’s going to have to chop up that frame a little to get it out in one piece.”
Alex groaned at the thought of the lighthouse being attacked yet again. “Just tell her to be careful, would you? I’m going to have a tough enough time patching it up as it is.”
“You know Irene, she’ll do what she has to do. In the meantime, you ought to get that glass fixed.”
“That I can do myself. I’ve got some glass stored in the shed.”
Armstrong patted Alex’s shoulder. “Be careful now, you hear?”
“I’ll do my best,” Alex said. As the patrolmen peeled off and went back to their duties, the sheriff followed close behind.
Alex scanned the trees around the inn, trying to see where the shooter had hidden, but he didn’t have any more luck than the sheriff and his men had.
Elise asked, “Alex, could we go inside?”
He nodded. “I feel it, too. It’s as if someone was watching us, isn’t it?”
Elise shivered noticeably. “I just hope they catch them soon.”
“Until then, we both need to be on our guard, and that means no more lens cleaning until this lunatic is caught, agreed? We can’t take any more chances.”
Elise said, “Hey, I’m not the one snooping around a murder. I’ll promise to be careful if you do.”
“I’m always careful,” he said.
“You know what I mean.”
Alex nodded. “I’ll watch my step.”
Melva came downstairs as they were closing the lobby door behind them. “What was all that commotion about? I saw a dozen police cars out front.”
Alex knew Elkton Falls would have to borrow eight cars to make a dozen, but he let that slide. “Somebody was careless with a gun,” he said.
Melva said, “You certainly run a more interesting place than I imagined. Did you happen to get any more of those postcards in?”
Elise handed her another stack, and Melva took them and headed back to her room.
“I can’t even imagine what she’s going to write tonight,” Elise said.
“I’ve got a feeling this installment will be more suspense than romance.”
“Should we warn all our guests to be careful?” Elise asked. Neither one of them wanted to consider the possibility of shutting the inn down until the shooter was found, but it was obvious the prospect was in both their minds.
“We owe them that, and the chance to leave if they want without penalty. I don’t like having my guests in jeopardy.”
“I know. Oh Alex, just when we get things going again, something like this seems to happen.”
“Do you believe in family curses? You know, some folks believe the lighthouse is haunted.”
“Well I’m not one of them,” she said. “We’ll get through this.”
“With you here, I actually believe it,” Alex said.
“So what do we do now?”
“After we talk to our guests, I’m going into town. There are a few folks there I want to have a word with.”
“Anybody in particular?” Elise asked.
“I’d like to know if anybody’s bought a rifle or ammunition recently, and Shantara’s the only one nearby who sells either one of them. While I’m in town, I’d like to snoop around and find out more about Cliff and Reston Shay.”
“Promise you’ll be careful,” Elise said again.
“Don’t worry about me. After I’m gone, I think you should stay inside the inn, and if you can manage it, keep away from the windows.”
“I won’t go outside, but I won’t let this maniac keep me penned up in my room either.”
“I guess that’s the best I can hope for, isn’t it?”
“You’re lucky I agreed to that,” Elise said, her smile flickering for just a moment before disappearing again.
“Don’t worry, I won’t be long,” Alex said.
“I’m counting on it,” Elise said.
Surprisingly, none of their guests decided to leave Hatteras West. Ale
x was gratified to get the business, he needed every visitor they had, but as he drove into Elkton Falls, he couldn’t help worrying that he’d downplayed the shooting to the point where no one was taking his warning seriously enough. The Hatteras West Inn didn’t need to add to its list of casualties, and if Alex could do anything about it, it wouldn’t.
Shantara Robinson was helping a man with the oddest accent Alex had ever heard in Elkton Falls. After he was gone, Shantara said, “He’s from Wales, can you imagine him stumbling into my store?”
“How did he find you?” Alex asked.
Shantara said, “My advertising goes all over the world.”
When she saw Alex wasn’t buying it, she added, “Actually, he was looking for Blowing Rock.”
“I hope you set him straight,” Alex said.
“Absolutely, right after he bought some of Bill Yadkin’s ironwork. Have you seen his latest stuff? The man’s getting really good.”
“I’m glad he’s having some success. Speaking of Bill, have you seen Rachel Seabock around?” The two had been dating since just before the Golden Days Fair at Hatteras West.
Shantara smiled. “Absolutely, she comes by all the time. In fact, she just brought in the coolest chair.” After she showed it to Alex, Shantara said, “Last I heard they were still going out together. What brings you into town this late in the day?”
“You haven’t heard yet? The kudzu vine must be broken. Somebody took a shot at Elise and me in the lighthouse. Two shots, actually.”
“Is she all right?”
“Thanks for your concern about me,” Alex said.
“You obviously didn’t get hit, not anywhere that counts, anyway.”
He said, “Elise is fine. We were more scared than anything else, but that’s why I’m here. Have you sold any rifles or ammunition lately?”
