Murder Checks Inn (Book 3 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries) by Tim Myers Page B

gone.

Chapter 7

    “ What is it, Mrs. Cooper?”
Alex said with little attempt to hide his ire. He was upset that
his conversation with Elise had been so curtly
interrupted.
    The woman standing before him was obviously
used to being treated with more diplomacy than Alex was showing,
but she didn’t let his abruptness faze her. Instead, a
transformation much like her mother’s came upon her. Ashley
Trask-Cooper was suddenly quite charming as she said in a soft,
friendly tone, “Alex, I know we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot,
and I’d like to correct that right now. Call me Ashley; everyone
else does. And I’ll call you Alex, if you don’t mind. It is Alex,
isn’t it?”
    “ That’s right. So what can
I do for you, Ashley?”
    “ Frankly, I’m worried about
my brother. Have you seen him today?”
    Alex said, “To be honest with you, I’ve been
in and out most of the afternoon and evening. You might want to ask
Elise if you’re really concerned. She’s been here at the inn all
day.”
    Ashley shook her head. “I’m sure it’s
nothing. He’s probably just blowing off some steam. He’s certainly
done it enough in the past. His moods can take such tortuous
swings, and it’s been a tough day for all of us.”
    Me, too, Alex added to himself. “I’m sure
he’s fine,” Alex said aloud. At least Ashley’s mother had possessed
the decency to feign sympathy over Jase’s death. Most likely Ashley
was so wrapped up in her own little world that she didn’t even
notice that Alex had just lost someone dear to him.
    Ashley touched his arm briefly, then offered
him a slight smile as she said, “Thank you, I feel better just
having spoken with you. I’m sure I’m just being silly. Good night,
Alex.”
    “ Good night,” he said as
she headed back up the stairs to her room.
    Alex was used to a certain breed of guests
who wanted to be on a first-name basis with the staff, trying to
kid themselves that they really did believe all people were created
equal. The truth was, he had a sneaking suspicion that what they
really believed was that some were created just a little more equal
than everyone else. To be fair, there was also the much more
genuine type that wanted to be on a first name basis with the whole
world, the people who didn’t know any strangers; there were just
friends they hadn’t met yet. Mrs. Hurley, the home economics
teacher who taught adult education classes at night, was one such
person. She’d once been in a minor car accident while traveling in
Texas, and by the time she’d been discharged from the hospital,
she’s made a dozen new friends who visited her regularly in Elkton
Falls.
    Alex ran into all types running the inn, and
he was thankful that on the whole, his guests were a wonderful,
friendly bunch who loved the lighthouse and grounds nearly as much
as he did.
    After Ashley was gone, Alex found himself
wondering for the hundredth time why Mathias Trask had insisted on
the Hatteras West Inn as the place for the reading of his will.
Alex had never heard of the man, and he’d spent most of his life in
Elkton Falls. Mathias must have moved away when Alex’s mother and
father had been running Hatteras West.
    Most likely the man had fallen in love with
the lighthouse as a boy and had wanted his family to share a last
moment with him there.
    Alex could think of a whole host of worse
wishes to make.
    The next morning, Alex and Elise worked
together in the laundry after cleaning the rooms. Since the loss of
the Dual Keepers’ Quarters, they found things went smoother if they
worked together doing the daily chores that were involved in
running an inn. Once the new building’s construction was complete,
they’d have to split up again to make the most efficient use of
their time, but for now, their days were mostly spent together.
    Nothing was said about their truncated
conversation the night before, and Alex knew he’d have to give
Elise all the time she needed to bring it up again.