Reservations for Murder

by Tim Myers

  It was a feeling in great demand lately, and in very short supply. He’d only met one other person on earth who made him feel that everything would turn out all right, no matter how glum things looked at the time.

  And she was currently three hundred miles away.

  After Alex finished his early morning chores, it was still too early to start on the rooms, so he decided to catch up with Emma and Shantara and see how the preparations for the last day of the fair were going. He had his own list of things to do for the Lighthouse Lighting ceremony that night, but all that could wait. By the time he got caught up with his day’s work once the rooms became available for cleaning, the exhibits would be all packed up and gone.

  Jenny was already working at her booth, moving the shuttle back and forth at a furious pace as her feet tapped out different codes on the wooden pedals below her. She could really fly. In front of her, a soft pattern of blues, greens and grays emerged from the yarn. How did she ever manage to keep all those tiny threads of yarn straight? She offered him a quick nod accompanied by a brief smile, then went back to work.

  Rachel Seabock was hard at work on a piece of oak wedged securely in her handmade bench that included a clamping vise on one end. She was working the wood with a long, two-handled knife as Alex approached. “Wow, that edge looks sharp,” he said as she peeled a curled shaving from the wood.

  “It’s a drawknife, and it has to be; this oak can be tough to work.”

  “You’re really good at what you do, aren’t you?”

  Rachel said, “Are you surprised to find a woman working with her hands?” as she jerked the knife through the wood again.

  “I’m surprised anybody can master these old tools. My dad taught me woodworking with power tools. I can’t imagine doing it all by hand.”

  “It’s different, but to be honest with you, that’s why I like it.” She slapped her bench and said, “My dad made this shaving horse, but everything else I use is mine. That’s how I met Bill in the first place. I needed a new froe, and he made me one out of a car spring.” Rachel frowned a moment, then added, “Alex, I’m really worried about him.”

  Alex looked over at the blacksmith, who was hammering a piece of steel into submission, a scowl plastered on his sweating face. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “When he didn’t show up here last night, I went back to his house and waited for him there. He didn’t come home at all, and he won’t talk to me this morning. Why can’t he see I’m just trying to help?”

  Alex had to measure his words carefully. “Rachel, he’s a grown man. Maybe he needs to work things out for himself.”

  “Well, maybe he doesn’t know what a good thing he has until he loses it,” she said abruptly. “If he doesn’t straighten up soon, he’s going to find out, because I’m not going to be there for him if he keeps this up.”

  “Would it help if I talked to him?” The last thing in the world Alex wanted to do was to come between the lovers, but he couldn’t stop himself from making the offer.

  Rachel considered it a moment, then said, “No, you’d better not say anything to him. No offense, but you’d probably only make things worse.”

  “If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”

  Alex watched her work the oak blank, drawing the metal across the wood with a sure and steady hand. It amazed him how much raw physical strength a traditional woodworker needed. It was a lot different than flicking on a power tool’s switch, and he found a new admiration for someone with the ability to do things the old way.

  Alex drifted away as the crowds started to come in and gather around the crafters. Shantara’s gatekeeper must have collected the money early in an attempt to stem a rushing tide.

  If that was the case, she’d failed miserably. Alex couldn’t believe all of the townspeople he saw. Shantara joined him as he watched many of the fair visitors head inexorably for the murder scene, bypassing the few craftspeople actually working.

  Shantara came up beside him and said, “You know, the smartest thing I did was to make every day require a different event ticket. I read on the Internet that a lot of organizers offer show passes good for both days, but I didn’t want the hassle of another ticket to keep track of. I’m getting people back I never expected to see out here again. At least there aren’t any worries about the fair making money.”

  Alex said, “Shantara, a lot of the people might have come out to see the murder scene, but I’m willing to bet they’ll stay for the craft demonstrations since they’re already here. Your exhibitors are getting truck-loads of new exposure.” Before Shantara could cut him off, Alex added, “I hate to see a murder committed here more than you could imagine, but we didn’t have anything to do with it. It’s no more my fault for rebuilding the Main Keeper’s Quarters than it is yours for organizing this fair.”

  “I suppose you’re right, but I’ve got a confession to make, Alex.”

  He leaned forward so he wouldn’t miss a word. Shantara wrestled with telling him something, then changed her mind at the last second. Instead of whatever it was she’d been wanting to say, Shantara added limply, “I’ll be glad when this is over.”

  “Shantara, is there anything you’d like to talk about? We could go into my office. You know I’m here for you, don’t you?”

  She looked tempted for a moment, then said, “I’m sorry, Alex, there’s just no time.” Almost whispering, she added, “It’s too late, anyway.”

  Alex was about to press her further when Bill Yadkin yelled, “Shantara! I need you over here. Now!”

  She squeezed Alex’s shoulder as she said, “Sorry, I’ve got to go.”

  “We’ll talk later,” Alex said hopefully.

  “Absolutely,” she answered with no conviction at all as she walked away.

  Shantara’s aborted confession left him troubled. He’d seen enough of the fair to last him a lifetime. Now that the exhibitors were into their day, Alex could work on the rooms, and in the process, perhaps discover something about what was really going on at Hatteras West.

  Evans Graile was at his usual spot when Alex walked in. “Morning, Evans. How are you today?”

  “I’m ambivalent, my friend. I hate to see the fair end, it’s been such a prime source of entertainment for me, but I do relish the last few moments of solitude at Hatteras West before I leave. I’ll be checking out tomorrow.”

  Alex was startled by the news. “I didn’t think your house would be done for another month.” Honestly, with the new construction bills triple what he’d expected, Alex had been glad for Evans’s steady contribution to his financial well-being.

  “The house won’t be ready, but I’m growing restless here. I thought a European trip might be in order.”

  It was nearly impossible for Alex to believe that this near shut-in was going on a tour of Europe! “What made you decide to do something so drastic on the spur of the moment?”

  Evans stared at his hands as he admitted, “If you must know, it was Jefferson Lee’s death.”

  As Alex started to apologize, Evans said, “No, dear boy, I don’t blame you for what happened, not in the least. I didn’t sleep at all last night. It finally sank in that someone was actually dead! That young man’s murder just showed me that none of us know the number of our days left, and I’m not going to fritter away another minute sitting around watching the world pass me by! No, sir, I’ve spent enough time on the sidelines to last me the rest of my life.”

  It was a statement filled with irony, considering the fact that Evans’s eyes never left the crowds milling about outside as he spoke.

  “Are you going on this trip alone?” Alex asked.

  “No, I’m not quite up to that,” he admitted. “I’ve invited my cousin Harry Roberts to go with me. We’ll make it a bachelor tour and have a grand old time.” Alex knew Harry left the house even less than Evans did. He wondered if the two of them would even leave their hotel room once they arrived in Europe, but he admired their spirit.

  “W
ell, we’re going to miss you, Evans, but I hope you two have a wonderful trip.”

  “I know we shall, Alex. Tell you what, I’ll send you a postcard from the Tower of London. I’ve always wanted to go there, and I’m going to do it before I’m too old to enjoy the experience.” He rubbed his hands together vigorously. “And high tea in England! I can hardly wait!”

  The world was just full of surprises.

  Alex got Elise’s cart from the closet upstairs and started toward the first room on his list. He wanted to be certain he was out of Jenny’s room before she came back.

  Her bags were packed, and her door stood open. Alex was relieved that she was leaving. He’d had a secret fear she’d decide to stay on, and then he wasn’t sure what he would do with her. Alex stripped the sheets and cleaned the room, then set everything right again for the next guest. Though he could barely tell the room had been occupied, he still gave it his normal, thorough cleaning. Alex prided himself on running a first-rate inn, something he shared with Elise, and he was determined not to let their high standards slip while she was away.

  Rachel’s bags were by the door as well, but it was obvious she hadn’t even slept in her bed the night before. The towels were still fresh, and the seals in the bathroom were all still in place. She had indeed gone back into town, waiting on Bill Yadkin all night.

  When he got to the room Craig and Marilynn shared, he knocked twice before using his passkey to open the door. Alex stood there in the doorway staring at the feminine shape lying motionless on the bed.

  After all his earlier searching, he’d found Marilynn Baxter at last.

  But was he too late?

  Chapter 14

  Alex rushed to the bed. Had the killer struck again? If his pounding on the door hadn’t stirred Marilynn, Alex knew she could be in serious trouble. He tried to shake her awake. “Marilynn, are you all right? Marilynn!” As Alex leaned over the bed beside her, he found a prescription bottle, now empty, near one hand.

  “Marilynn,” he shouted. Her eyelids seemed to flutter for a second before they stopped again. She was still alive!

  Alex rushed to the telephone and called Doc Drake’s office. He knew Doc usually liked to get an early start on the day.

  “He’s not here, Alex,” Madge the nurse told him. “As a matter of fact, he said he was going to check out the fair before he started work today. I expect he’s already out at your place. I’ll be glad to beep him if you want.”

  Alex slammed the phone down before she could say another word.

  He tore down the stairs and nearly knocked Evans Graile down. “Evans, go up to room number seven. Marilynn Baxter’s overdosed on something.”

  The man looked shocked by the news. “What can I do for her?”

  “Sit with her until I can get Doc Drake,” Alex commanded. The older man was startled by Alex’s urgent tone, but he hurried up the stairs as Alex ran out onto the front porch.

  “Doc! Doc Drake,” he called out over the crowd.

  The smallish doctor appeared before him as if by magic. He even had his black medical kit with him. “What is it, Alex? Tabby Hilston sprained her ankle, and I promised her I’d take a look at it.”

  “Marilynn Baxter overdosed on something upstairs.”

  Doc’s face went white. “Which room?”

  “Number seven.”

  As he rushed past Alex, the doctor said, “There’s an EMS van at the front gate. Go get them. Alex, do you know what she took?”

  “I have no idea,” Alex said frantically, “there was a bottle by her hand, but the label’s been torn off.”

  “Okay, I’ll handle it. Go get the EMS crew. I’ll be upstairs with her.”

  Alex tore through the crowd, ignoring a dozen hails and greetings. He didn’t have time for niceties, not with Marilynn Baxter’s life hanging in the balance.

  The EMS team, a youngish man and a middle-aged woman, were standing around drinking coffee near the front gate.

  “There’s an emergency at the inn! The doctor needs you there right now.”

  Both cups hit the ground as the workers piled into the van.

  Alex said, “Cut through the field. You can get to the back entrance of the inn without running anyone down.”

  As the emergency rig raced off toward the inn, Tom Lane, the young money collector for the day, grabbed Alex. “What’s happened? Is Shantara all right?”

  It was obvious the young man had a huge crush on the shopkeeper. “She’s fine, Tom. It’s one of my guests.”

  Tom shook his head in wonder. “Man, you surely do have a lot of stuff happen around here don’t you, Mr. Winston?”

  “More than you can imagine,” Alex said as he hurried back to the inn.

  The EMS crew was carrying Marilynn out on a stretcher as Alex approached the back porch. There was a clear plastic mask over her face, and Doc Drake was by her side.

  “Is she going to be all right?” Alex asked.

  Doc shot out, “It’s too soon to tell,” as he jumped into the back of the vehicle.

  With the siren wailing and lights flashing, the EMS van left Hatteras West, racing toward the hospital to save the potter’s life.

  Evans met Alex at the back door.

  Alex said, “Listen, I’m sorry I was so abrupt with you earlier. I didn’t mean to snap like that.”

  “Nonsense, Alex, you did the right thing. I do hope she’ll be all right. I’m afraid I wasn’t much help up there.”

  “You were with her, Evans, that’s what matters.”

  “I suppose you’re right. Alex, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll leave the inn a little earlier than I’d planned. I’d like to check out today if it won’t inconvenience you too much.”

  “I understand how you feel, but where will you stay until your trip?”

  Evans grinned slightly. “I’m sure Harry will put me up. To be honest with you, he was a bit miffed when I opted to stay with you instead of him during my renovations. I thought it would be more peaceful here, if you can believe that.”

  There was nothing Alex could say to that. He couldn’t blame Evans Graile a bit.

  There was entirely too much excitement at The Hatteras West Inn for his taste, too.

  Shantara found Alex a few minutes later. “Alex, did I just see the EMS people leave?”

  “Marilynn Baxter just overdosed on something. I found her up in her room while I was cleaning.”

  Shantara started weeping gently. “Alex, this has turned into the biggest nightmare of my life. Why did I ever start this?”

  Alex took her by the shoulders. “Shantara, this isn’t your fault. Jefferson Lee would be dead even if there’d never been a Golden Days Fair. Marilynn must have had more problems than any of us realized to try to take her own life like that. You’re not to blame for any of it.”

  His words seemed to soothe her. She hugged him gently, then said, “Oh, Alex, I couldn’t have pulled this off without you, and I end up repaying you with nothing but trouble.”

  He shook his head. “Shantara, you’ve got to accept that none of this is your fault. By tonight, the fair will be over, and you can start putting it behind you.”

  “I can’t wait” she said. “I feel like I’m taking blood money.”

  Before Alex could say anything else to calm her, Tabby Hilston limped in, one arm draped around Mor Pendleton’s neck.

  Mor said, “Alex, did you happen to see Doc Drake? He disappeared on us.”

  “He had an emergency,” Alex explained, not wanting to go into the details of Doc’s absence. Tabby didn’t look the least put off. In fact, she seemed to enjoy Mor’s proximity.

  Emma suddenly crashed through the door. “There you are. Mor, I’m sure the lady needs to sit down and take a load off that ankle. There’s no need for you to keep supporting her.” Emma’s face was stern as Mor lowered Tabby into a chair.

  Tabby looked unhappy with the new arrangement. She said, “If Doc’s not here, how am I going to get to his office? I can’t dr
ive with this injury.”

  She looked expectantly at Mor, but Emma stepped in before he could say a word. “I’ll be glad to take you, dear. Mor, would you be so kind as to bring the car around back? I’ll have Tabby there when you do, and I can run her into town myself.”

  “I’d be glad to go with you,” Mor said, and Tabby beamed.

  Emma wasn’t about to give up that easily. “That’s sweet of you to offer, but I can handle her all by myself. Why don’t you stay here with Alex? We won’t be long.”

  Alex could see Mor clouding up, but the truth was, he really would like his friend’s company. “Why don’t you hang around, Mor? You can help me change the sheets upstairs.”

  “Oh, that sounds like pure joy,” Mor said, rolling his eyes at Alex.

  Emma purposefully ignored the sarcasm. “Good, it’s settled then.”

  Mor knew when he was up against an unmovable force, so he went for his car as Emma had requested. Alex had known his friend too long not to recognize a storm on the horizon between the two of them.

  After Tabby was safely loaded into the car and the two women had driven away, Mor followed Alex upstairs.

  As Alex stripped Marilynn Baxter’s bed, Mor said, “Why do some women get so possessive, Alex? It’s not like Emma and I have anything exclusive going on. Sure, we have a great time together, she’s a wonderful woman, but my word, I can’t even talk to another woman without looking over my shoulder first. It’s worse than being married.”

  Alex said, “If you’re asking for my advice about women, you’re talking to the wrong man. I don’t have a clue.”

  Mor started laughing in agreement. “We’re a real pair, my friend. Have you heard from Elise today?”

  “No, but that’s understandable. Her father’s undergoing surgery today, so I don’t expect to hear from her anytime soon.”

  Mor, in a rare serious mood, said, “You really miss her, don’t you?”

  “More than I probably should,” Alex said as he spread the new sheets out on the bed. Despite his earlier theatrical objections, Mor helped him tuck the corners in.