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

silence was all the answer she
needed.
    Shantara paced around the cramped room.
“Alex, I knew it was a mistake taking a loan from him, but I didn’t
know where else to turn. The bank had already turned me down, and I
was in real danger of losing the store.”
    “What made you go to him?”
    “I knew he had money to burn, Alex. Jefferson
had more things going on that just his blacksmithing.”
    Alex said gently, “So you let him get a
foothold in your store.”
    Shantara wrung her hands together. “Alex,
you’d better believe I regretted every second of it! There were no
papers drawn up, nothing legal, anyway, just an IOU from me to him.
It made my skin crawl, the way he’d come into my store and act like
it was his. Alex, that’s the main reason I created this fair! It
was the only way I could get him off my back. I had some of the
money, and the proceeds from the fair would have covered the
rest.”
    Alex studied her carefully. “There’s more to
this that you’re not telling me.”
    Shantara moved to the window, refusing to
meet his gaze. She didn’t confirm or deny Alex’s accusation
immediately.
    After a few moments, she said, “Alex, I’m
honestly scared.”
    “Go on,” Alex said softly.
    In a shaking voice, Shantara said, “When I
told Jefferson I was finally going to be able to pay him off, he
said I wasn’t taking the extra interest into consideration. He was
trying to extort more money from me, Alex. He was threatening to
take my shop.”
    “So what did you say?”
    Shantara sighed deeply, then admitted, “I
told him if he tried to collect, I’d kill him.”
    Alex couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Was anyone else around when you said it, Shantara?”
    She nodded glumly. “It happened in my store,
Alex. A dozen people probably heard me. I didn’t exactly lower my
voice when I threatened him. I was upset.”
    Alex had to admit that his friend certainly
had gotten herself into a jam.
    After a few moments of thought, Alex said,
“Here’s what I’d do if I were you. Keep this loan arrangement to
yourself. It’s not going to do you any good volunteering the
information to the sheriff. He’s got a one-track mind, and you
don’t want it focused on you.”
    “What if he asks me about it later? Won’t it
look like I’m trying to hide something if I don’t come clean
now?”
    Alex walked to her side. “Shantara, if you
tell him now, he’s bound to get suspicious. Let me dig into this
some more. Your arrangement may never come to light.”
    Shantara leaned over and kissed him quickly
on the cheek.
    “What was that for?” Alex asked.
    “For not asking me if I killed him. Thanks
for believing in me, Alex.”
    “You’re welcome. Now let me see what I can
find out.”
    There was a knock on the door. Alex opened
it, and Sandra Beckett walked into the small space.
    “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” Sandra
asked.
    Shantara said, “No, I was just leaving. I’ve
got to get back to the fair.” Without another word, Shantara left
the room.
    “What was that all about?” Sandra asked.
    “We were just covering a few things about the
fair,” he lied. Changing the subject, Alex asked, “Did you have any
luck with the sheriff?”
    Sandra nodded. “That’s what I came by to tell
you. Armstrong’s released Bill Yadkin, at least for the moment. He
warned Bill not to leave town, but the sheriff knows he’s going to
have to come up with more evidence before he can charge him with
murder. Our sheriff told me to let you know he’ll be here shortly
to finish interviewing suspects. I’ve got a feeling he’ll be trying
to find some corroborating evidence to nail our young blacksmith
friend.”
    Sandra paused at the door as she was leaving,
trailing one hand on the frame. “Alex, if you need to talk, just
give me a call. I know it could get lonely without Elise here.”
    “Everything’s fine,” he said impatiently.
    She said, “I’m not doubting it for an
instant. Just