by Tim Myers
“You’re kidding, right? Hunting season’s getting ready to start, everybody’s been stocking up.”
“Could I see your records?”
Shantara said, “I can’t do that, not with all the confidentiality stuff we have to promise to do in order to keep our license. Hang on a second, would you?”
Shantara walked to her office, one even smaller than Alex’s, got a folder out of her filing cabinet and laid it on her desk. When she rejoined him, a customer walked in. “Could you wait in my office? I should be about five minutes.”
“I don’t mind waiting out here,” Alex said. “That way I can look around.”
“You really should wait in my office,” Shantara insisted.
Alex said, “Sure, sorry, didn’t mean to get in your way.”
He felt like a nitwit when he saw the folder on her desk. It was a list of all the folks who had bought guns and ammo from her in the past two weeks.
After looking through the folder, Alex saw that Shantara was right. It seemed as though half the town had bought supplies for hunting season, including several women. Skip’s name was there, and so was Rose Lane’s, along with Sheriff Armstrong, David Daroo, who was the minister of the Baptist Church and Doc Drake’s name as well.
It looked like another dead end.
Alex closed the folder and found Shantara dusting some jars of pumpkin butter. “I forgot you were here,” she said, grinning slightly as she studied him. “Now what were you asking me before?”
“I forgot,” Alex said. “It must not have been all that important.”
“Sorry I couldn’t help,” she said.
“Thanks,” Alex said as he walked out. It was time to gather more information, if he could, on some of the people from Elkton Falls involved in what had happened at the inn. And to do that, Alex knew the source he needed to tap.
He just hoped the bookstore owner was in.
He found Hannah Parsons nestled into one of the overstuffed chairs in her bookstore, lost in a copy of Carolyn Hart’s Death on Demand. It was an appropriate choice, given that the mystery centered around a bookstore. Though the woman was well into her eighties, Hannah was as fit and spry as anyone Alex knew, and there was always a happy smile on her face.
“Alex, I’m surprised to see you here. You’ve had some excitement out your way, haven’t you?”
“Word spreads fast,” Alex said.
Hannah smiled. “One of the sheriff’s deputies loves romance novels, he told me about it a few minutes ago. I’m so glad you and Elise are all right. Did they catch the ruffian behind it?”
“Not yet,” Alex said. “Do you mind if I ask you about a few folks in town?”
“Well, Alex, you know I’m not one to gossip, but I’d gladly help in any way I can.”
“What do you know about Reston Shay? I mean besides all the stuff that’s public knowledge.”
“Behind the scenes information, is that what you’re looking for? Let’s see, some folks say he cheated his way into his fortune, but don’t you believe it, he inherited every dime of it. There was a scandal thirty years ago about one of his maids, but that’s about it, if you discount the crazy stunts he’s pulled in the meantime. I got one of those flyers he was handing out for his birthday party in the park. You know that story, don’t you?”
“I remember.” Alex knew the bookstore owner could make the tale last half an hour, and he didn’t have the time. “The scandal with the maid, was that because of theft, by any chance?”
Hannah shook her head. “Nobody in their right mind would steal from Reston Shay, he’s got a mean temperament. No, I’m talking about the maid he fired for not returning his affections. He could tell any story he wanted to, but folks around here knew better.”
“What was the maid’s name? Is she still in town?”
“Oh yes, she never left Elkton Falls. I’m surprised you didn’t hear about it, but you were just a kid back then, weren’t you? I thought Rose was going to kill him when he dismissed her.”
“Rose Lane?” Alex asked.
“None other. What’s wrong, Alex?”
“Nothing,” he said, trying to hide his excitement. If Rose had that kind of motivation to hate Reston Shay, which it sounded like she did, she might decide to ruin him by stealing the Carolina Rhapsody emerald. But could she kill Cliff? And did she hold a grudge for that long? Alex needed to talk to Rose herself and get a handle on how she still felt. Les’s story about Rose’s dismissal didn’t match the bookstore owner’s, and Alex found himself wondering which version, if either, was the true one.
Alex had one more question for the bookstore owner. “Did you know Cliff very well?”
“Our paths crossed a time or two, but I can’t say I cared for him.”
“Why was that?” Alex asked.
“I hate to speak ill of the dead, but the man was always looking for an angle, some way to get rich quick, and if it came at somebody else’s expense, that didn’t seem to trouble him one bit.”
That was startling news. No one Alex had talked to had had anything bad to say about the guard. “Was there any incident in particular you had in mind?”
“The last fire chief told me there was never any way to prove it, but he was certain the man burned down his family homestead for the insurance four years ago, and it just so happened to be two days after his divorce was final.”
“That could have been a coincidence,” Alex said.
“The chief said he couldn’t prove it, but that fire was deliberate. The house had been on the market almost a year, but nobody wanted it, at least not in the condition it was in. The way I heard it, Cliff convinced his ex-wife it would never sell, got her to sign off on it for a tenth of its value, then before the ink was dry he torched the place. She was as mad as a wet cat.”
“Whatever happened to her?” Alex asked.
“I never met her. This all happened across the border in Salem Mountain. I wish I knew more.”
“Thanks, Hannah, you’ve been a big help.”
“Any time, Alex.”
Alex left the bookstore in search of Rose Lane. He had to know if the incident with Reston Shay was still driving her, even after all these years, and if she had it in her to commit murder to get back at him. Alex knew he didn’t have any way of telling for sure if she was lying, but he trusted his gut. He thought about getting the sheriff before he talked to the woman, especially since her name had been on that ammunition purchasing list in Shantara’s store, but if he kept his questions light enough, he should be fine.
Or so he hoped.
Chapter 16
It didn’t help his confidence level that she was cleaning her rifle when she let Alex into her home, a small cottage barely big enough for one person.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Alex said.
“Just getting ready for hunting season,” she said. “I see that look in your eyes. You think it’s crazy for a woman to be out in the woods? I get my buck every year, just like my mamma did, and her mamma before her. There’s nothing like the taste of fresh venison.”
Alex had never been a fan of hunting, but he knew that for many of his neighbors, it was a way of life. He posted the land around the lighthouse inn when hunting season approached every year, and folks knew to pass over his land. There were no grudges or hard feelings though, since Alex’s guests usually ended up spending money in town and the last thing they wanted was to drive them away. But the shots were never that far off, and Alex always breathed a sigh of relief when the season was over for another year and none of his guests were among the fatalities.
“Did you change your mind about the job?” Rose asked. “Sorry you wasted a trip, but I don’t want to work there anymore.”
“May I ask why?”
“Too many steps, and I’m getting too old.”
Alex wondered about the feeble excuse. After all, if the woman was vigorous enough to go traipsing in the woods with a heavy rifle, and carrying back a buck, she could surely ha
ndle a few steps at Hatteras West.
“That’s not why I’m here,” Alex said. “Do you have a minute? I wanted to talk to you about Reston Shay.”
“What about him?” Rose said tightly.
“I understand you used to work for him, but I’ve heard a couple of different reasons why you left.”
“Awful nosy, aren’t you?” Rose said as she held the rifle up, pretending to study the sight a foot from Alex’s nose.
He said, “It happened a long time ago. I figured nobody ever gave you a chance to tell your side of the story.”
“That’s water long under that bridge, there’s nothing left to talk about, and nobody left to care. If that’s why you’re here, I’ve got work to do.”
Alex decided to push his luck a little more. “How do you feel about Reston Shay now?”
“Are you asking me if I was happy somebody stole something he loved from him? Oh yes, you can believe that, but I take no joy in that guard getting himself killed, and that’s all I have to say.”
Alex had pushed hard enough, at least while his subject was holding a rifle in her hands, one she evidently knew how to use. But the interview had left him more confused than ever about whether Rose Lane had had anything to do with what happened at the inn.
Alex would have loved to speak with Cliff’s ex-wife, to see if she had been trying to get even with her ex-husband for the money he’d cheated her out of, but without the sheriff’s resources, he had no way of tracking her down. That was one task he was going to have to leave to local law enforcement.
In the meantime, he’d left Elise alone long enough.
It was time to get back to the inn. He should have insisted that Armstrong leave at least one of his patrolmen at Hatteras West, or, at the very least, Alex should have asked Skip or Mor to keep an eye on things. He had to start being more cautious when it came to dealing with the dangers to his guests at the inn, and more critically, to Elise. Her welfare was becoming more and more important to him every day. Alex honestly didn’t know what he would do without her, and it had nothing to do with running the inn. As he raced back to Hatteras West, there was a sense of dread growing in the pit of his stomach, an ominous feeling that something had happened to Elise at the inn while he’d been off playing amateur detective. And if it had, he’d never be able to forgive himself.
Alex burst in through the front door. He skidded to a stop as he saw that his fears had been groundless; Elise was safe enough, sitting on the couch by the fireplace talking to Skip.
His fear must have shown on his face. “Alex, what’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing but my overactive imagination. What’s happening?”
Skip shook his head. The former police detective said, “We were just discussing the second shooting. It seems kind of odd that somebody would take a shot at you inside the lighthouse.”
“I can’t figure out why they’d do it, either,” Alex said. “We’re no closer to coming up with an answer to this mess than the sheriff is.”
Elise said, “That’s not what he means. Why didn’t the shooter just wait until we were far enough outside, instead of taking his chances while we were still so close to safety?”
“I don’t know, maybe he rushed his shot,” Alex said as he sat beside Elise. Just her presence gave him a warm buzz that replaced the dread he’d felt so recently.
Skip said, “I guess it could be that, but I doubt it. Here’s what I think. Those shots were a warning. Otherwise, you’d both be dead.”
The finality of the tone in his voice sent a chill through Alex’s heart. If things had gone just a little differently, one or both of them wouldn’t be sitting there.
“Alex, are you all right?” Elise asked, putting her hand lightly on his arm.
He returned the touch, and he was pleased to see that she didn’t pull away. “I will be.”
Skip, aware that they were having a moment, said, “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I want to look around a little more.”
“It’s getting pretty dark out there,” Alex said.
“Perfect for cover, wouldn’t you say? I haven’t done a stakeout in a long time. Would you mind if I watched the inn tonight, just for my satisfaction?”
Alex said, “That’s a great idea. I’ll put you on the payroll.” He added, “I’m not sure what you charge, but I’ll pay it willingly tonight.”
Skip said, “I’m not opening a business, Alex, this is just something I want to do.”
“And paying you is something I want to do,” Alex said. He could be just as stubborn as the ex-cop, if it came to that.
Elise said, “Why don’t we discuss payment later? Skip, if you’re not interested in money, how about a free night’s stay at the inn for you or anyone else you’d like to give it to. Is that more to your liking?”
“My sister has been talking about coming up to visit me. She lives in Georgia.”
“Then it’s settled,” Elise said. “I’ll go get you a thermos of coffee. Is there anything else you’d like?”
“I wouldn’t say no to a sandwich or two,” Skip admitted.
“Say no more, it’s coming right up.”
After Elise went off to make the care package, Skip said, “She’s something, isn’t she?”
“I’ve known it from the start,” Alex agreed.
Skip stood up and walked around the lobby. “She loves this place as much as you do. That’s got to be a rare find in an employee.”
“She’s a lot more than that to me,” Alex said.
Skip grinned. “I knew that. I just wasn’t sure you did.”
“I’m not the one who’s the problem,” Alex said after returning the smile with one of his own.
Skip laid a hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Well, take some advice from an old man. That lady is worth the effort.”
“You’re preaching to the choir,” Alex said as Elise rejoined them, a picnic basket in her hands.
“About what?” she asked as she handed the care package to Skip.
“Nothing,” Alex said hastily.
Skip added, “Thanks for doing this. I appreciate it.”
Elise retrieved a throw from one of the couches, one emblazoned with different lighthouses around the country. “You’d better take this, it’s going to get chilly tonight.”
“I can’t get too comfortable,” he said as he took the blanket. “Thanks again.”
“You’re very welcome.”
After Skip was gone, Alex asked, “How’s everything going here?”
“Just dandy. It’s kind of quiet, even though we have nearly a full house.”
“So we don’t have any late-nighters in the group,” Alex said. Usually there was at least one guest who kept night owl hours, staying up late and rising sometime around noon, but for once they had the lobby to themselves.
Elise said, “Give them time, it’s early yet.”
“How about a fire?” Alex suggested.
“That would be lovely,” Elise agreed, and Alex lit the kindling he kept there, always ready for the next excuse to light a fire.
“That’s nice,” Elise said as she settled onto one of the couches. Instead of taking his usual seat across from her, Alex joined her there.
“Alex Winston, what are you up to?”
“Elise, there’s nothing like getting shot at to clear your head. You know what I kept thinking when we were pinned down inside the lighthouse?”
“That we weren’t going to make it,” she said in a soft voice that was barely above a whisper.
“Not just that. I kept thinking how much time we’ve wasted since we’ve met. I don’t want to waste any more,” he said as he leaned forward to kiss her. Even if she pulled away before he could kiss her, he owed himself the attempt.
To his surprise, Elise didn’t pull back at all. They melted together as if they’d been coupled all their lives. After a few seconds, though, she broke away from him.
“Alex. We shouldn’t.”
“Why not, Elise?�
� Alex said. “We’re both consenting adults here.”
“I still don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Alex said, “Come on, you have to admit you have feelings for me too. You can’t hide that.”
Elise said, “I’m not trying to hide anything. I feel something for you, I won’t deny it. But Alex, if we tried to have a relationship, it could ruin everything. If it didn’t work out, I couldn’t bear to stay at Hatteras West. I don’t give my heart lightly, but once I do, it’s a commitment I make with everything I’ve got. That’s why I was so reluctant to end it with Peter.”
Alex knew full well what a difficult time Elise had had ending her engagement to Peter Ashford.
“I’m not asking you to marry me,” Alex said, though the prospect wasn’t exactly out of the question. “I do think that if we let this opportunity pass us by, it might be our last chance of ever being together.”
“Alex, I’m not going anywhere. You know how much I love Hatteras West.”
Alex took a deep breath. “You’ll always be welcome here, I couldn’t run this place without you, I hope you know that. I’m not talking about work right now, Elise. I’ve made no secret about how I feel about you for a long time.” She started to speak, but he held his hand up. “Let me finish or I may never have the courage again. If you honestly aren’t interested in being with me, I’m going to have to do my best to forget about my feelings for you, and the only way I can do that is to move on. I don’t want to, believe me, you are the only woman I want to be with, but my heart can’t take this anymore, at least not the way things stand now.” He felt himself shaking after the declaration, but he knew in his deepest core that it was true. Having Elise there with him every day, working side by side, holding out hope that someday they could be together, was slowly destroying him if it could never be. He was so lost in her he wasn’t sure he’d be able to pull himself back if she didn’t, or wouldn’t, return his love.
“I don’t know what to say,” Elise said.
“I’m not putting pressure on you,” Alex said, “but it’s something you need to think about.” He took her hands in his. “Elise, it’s okay to be afraid, I’m scared myself, but no matter what happens, I believe in my heart we can work things out between us. But we both have to want it, and we both have to be willing to give it a chance. Otherwise, it will never work.”
