Reservations for Murder by Tim Myers Read Free Book Online Page A

“It
took me this long to realize just how wrong I was,” she said
strongly.
    “Jenny, I’m truly sorry, but I just can’t.”
Alex said, just as Elise walked up with a suitcase in her hand.
    She said. “Alex. I’m sorry to interrupt, but
we need to talk.”
    Alex said quickly. “You’re not interrupting.
Elise. We were just discussing Jefferson’s murder.”
    Alex couldn’t take his gaze off her bag. Was
she leaving?
    Jenny looked at Alex intently. “Well, I’d
better get back to my booth before Shantara comes hunting for me.
She doesn’t want us taking any unscheduled breaks.” She added
softly. “Alex, we’ll talk more later.”
    “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing left to
discuss.” he said as she walked away.
    Alex turned to Elise, gestured to the
suitcase and said, “Don’t tell me you’re leaving.”
    Fighting back her tears. Elise said, “I just
got a call from Peter. It’s about Dad.”
    Alex knew how much Elise worshiped her
father, an innkeeper himself, in the mountains of West
Virginia.
    “What happened?” Alex asked.
    “Dad had a heart attack,” she choked out.
“They’re going to do a bypass tomorrow. Alex, I hate to leave you
like this, but I have to be there with him. Peter said it was
imperative that I get there as soon as possible. I’m sorry, I have
to go.”
    Alex said, “Absolutely. Let me grab my truck
keys, and I’ll take you to the airport.”
    “I talked to Emma after I got the call. She’s
going to drive me to the airport. You need to stay here with your
guests, especially with this fair going on. I’m so sorry about
this, Alex.”
    He touched her shoulder gently. “Hey, you
need to be there for him. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
    The inn’s front door opened, and Emma hurried
in. “Elise, I don’t mean to rush you, but we’d better get moving if
you’re going to make that flight.”
    Alex nodded, then said, “Call me when you get
there.”
    “Be careful,” Elise said softly. “I’m not
even going to ask you not to look into this murder while I’m
gone.”
    He smiled. “Good, because I’d hate to have to
lie to you.”
    “Elise, don’t worry about Alex. Mor and I
will keep an eye on him,” Emma said.
    After they walked out, Alex saw that Evans
Graile had shifted his attention to him. The older man offered a
gentle shrug before turning back to the window.
    Alex couldn’t believe Elise was really gone.
He’d come to rely on her help in running Hatteras West, and if he
was being strictly honest with himself, her company meant more and
more to him every day.
    There was no doubt that she had to go; her
father needed her. And now that Elise was gone, Alex was going to
have to work harder than ever.
    But he wasn’t about to give up his murder
investigation. Alex had given Shantara his word, and it wasn’t
something he was willing to break.
    “Alex, can I talk to you a second?”
    “Shantara, I’m really busy right now. I’m up
to my eyebrows in work.”
    “Please, it’s important,” she said.
    Alex nodded reluctantly, then noticed that
Evans Graile was listening to them, though his eyes were still
focused outside. He was certainly getting a show for his money
today.
    “Why don’t we go into my office,” Alex
said.
    She followed him, and after they were inside,
Alex asked, “So, what’s going on?”
    “I owe you an explanation.”
    “You don’t owe me anything. I already said
I’d help you.”
    “I wasn’t playing fair with you before, Alex.
I shouldn’t have pressured you into this without giving you all the
facts.” Shantara let out an explosion of breath, then said, “I owed
Jefferson Lee quite a bit of money. If the police investigation
takes too long, I’m afraid it’s all going to come out and make me
look like I had something to do with his murder.”
    “How much are we talking about here?” Alex
asked softly.
    “Ten thousand dollars. It’s enough of a
motive to make me a suspect, isn’t it?”
    Alex’s