No One Else to Kill (Jim West Series) by Bob Doerr Read Free Book Online

Sean or Colt Bettes ?”
    Everyone replied either by saying no or shaking their
heads.
    The sheriff left and conversation dwindled as we all
focused on our food. I noticed a few furtive glances that members of the group
shot back and forth to each other, but their importance, if any, was lost on
me.
    Before I had finished eating, four deputies entered the
dining room.   The deputy on the far left
called for Geri and left the room with her and one other deputy.   While they departed, one of the remaining
deputies asked for Vic. The two deputies led him out a moment later.
    “We don’t have to stay right here all day, do we?” Nesbitt
asked.   His question was not addressed to
anyone in particular.
    “I don’t know,” Griffith responded.
    “I think they want us to be available to them.   My guess, that’s anywhere here at the lodge.”
    “Good, because I’m going to my room.”   He walked off carrying his mug of coffee.
    “I think I’ll do the same,” Griffith said and left.
    “Me, too,” Stallings left.
    Harv looked at me.   “Did you know Cross very well?”
    “No.   I only met him
last night at dinner.   Seemed like a nice
guy.”
    “He was.   He could
be gruff, and I guess we all have had our run-ins with him, but I can’t believe
anyone in our group could have done this.   We have all benefited from his management of the company.”
    “It didn’t have to be someone that worked with him,” I
said.
    “I’ve been with the company longer than Cross has.   Nesbitt and I go back to the Hardzog era. A good guy and whew,” Harv shook his head smiling, “what a ladies’ man!   But he’s way too old now to step in.”
    “How about Geri?” I asked.
    “She couldn’t have done it,” Harv almost smiled at the thought.
    “No, I meant take over.”
    “Maybe.   She was part of the management and profited
the most from the success Cross brought to the company.   Of course, she bought in and risked a
boatload of her own money, so that’s only fair.   But all of us have seen our pay, bonuses, and other benefits go up every
year since Cross took over.”
    “Do you have any thoughts on anyone outside your group
having a motive to shoot Cross?”
    “No, not at all,” Harv responded.
    “Well, hopefully the police will be able to figure it
out.”
    “I pray they do,” Harv said.   He stood up and left the room.
    “More coffee, sir?” One of the
wait staff had approached me from behind, a pot of coffee in hand.
    “Yes, please.”
    He looked like he might still be in his teens.   He also looked a little nervous.
    “Crazy morning, isn’t it?” I asked.
    “Scary is a better word for it,” he said.
    “Do you know what happened?” I asked.
    “Only that one of the guests got murdered.   I’m quitting this job once they say I can
go.   So is about half of the staff.   We don’t need this stress.”
    I took my coffee and walked out into the lobby. The police
presence was still obvious, but the place had calmed down a little.   I went out onto the front porch.
    A woman in cowboy boots, black jeans, and a white ski
jacket leaned against the railing.   She
had pulled her hood up over her head for warmth against the cold breeze. I
contemplated getting my own jacket but decided it wasn’t that cold and didn’t
plan to be out here that long.
    A wisp of white smoke drifted by her head before a gust of
wind blew it away from her.   I couldn’t
see her face, but I saw the cigarette in her hand as it went back to the rail.
    “It’s peaceful out here,” I said as I approached the
railing next to her.
    She turned and looked at me. “Jim,” I sensed she was happy
to see me. “How are you dealing with all the chaos?”
    “A crazy day, Bev.   Aren’t you in early?”
    “Rick called me.   He
said he needed the bar opened early today.”
    “Did he tell you what happened?”
    She nodded, “This is going to be tough on Rick.”
    “Rick?”
    “He’s the general manager and also a