Part 4 (2/2)

Alex said, ”I'm surprised you've already heard about that.”

Evans laughed. ”Alex Winston, you've lived in Elkton Falls your entire life. I thought you'd be used to the kudzu vine by now. Word spreads faster than the vine itself in summertime,” Evans said as he took another sip from his gla.s.s.

Alex finished off the last of his tea and handed the gla.s.s back to Evans. ”Thanks for the drink. It was excellent, as always.”

”Are you certain you won't have another sip? There's plenty, Alex.”

”I'd love to, but I've got work to do.”

Evans shook his head slowly. ”The harried life of the innkeeper, Alex, leaves little time for reflection.”

Alex patted the man's shoulder gently as he stood. ”You're preaching to the choir, Evans, but the work has to be done.”

Alex went back to his office to retrieve the copies he'd made of the note he'd found in Jefferson Lee's room.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Alex realized the copies were gone!

Alex knew he'd left them on his desk by the copier in his rush to return the postcard to Jefferson's room. Why hadn't he tucked them safely away before he'd gone to return the original? It would have only taken a second or two.

Someone had to have real bra.s.s to slip into his office and take the copies. That meant that whoever had done it had most likely spotted Alex going into Jefferson Lee's room earlier.

Someone at the inn was watching him, and Alex didn't like it one bit.

Alex was just about to look for Elise when he suddenly realized something. He'd ruined the first copy he'd made, and he'd tossed the skewed sheet into the trash can beside the copier. Alex hurried to the trash and saw that the thief had missed one copy after all. The block letters, at least most of them, were printed firmly on the discarded sheet.

Alex smiled grimly to himself. He still had a copy of the note after all, one the killer didn't realize he had.

Now how in the world was he going to figure out who had written it? Alex folded the paper carefully in half and walked out to rejoin Evans Graile.

”Evans, did you happen to see anybody going into my office in the last twenty minutes?”

”Why, is something missing?” the older man asked eagerly.

Alex shook his head. ”No, I just wanted to know if anybody was looking for me.”

”Not that I saw, Alex, but I must admit I was busily brewing my tea until just a few moments before you joined me.”

”Thanks, anyway,” Alex said as he moved over to the front desk. He spun the guest book around and studied the names of everyone who had signed in recently to see if he could spot any similarities to the handwriting on the note in his hands. A slight chill swept over him when he saw Jefferson Lee's name written in flowing script. Could the man have printed the letter himself?” Alex just couldn't bring himself to believe that. As he studied the sign-in book, it was impossible to match the block print on his copy with any of the guests' signatures.

He was just about to give up when a voice nearby caught him by surprise.

”What are you doing, Alex?”

Chapter 7.

”It's just one of my lists,” Alex said as he quickly tucked the folded copy under his arm. ”Running an inn, you have to keep lists of all kinds of things to do. Jenny, shouldn't you be at the fair?” When he saw the expression on her face, he added, ”Is something wrong?”

Jenny admitted, ”I just can't believe Jefferson's gone. It's finally hitting home. I just had to get away for a few minutes.”

”I've heard you two were close.” He watched her carefully for some kind of reaction.

Jenny frowned, her nose crinkling just like he remembered. She said, ”That's not what I mean. Life is truly short, isn't it? Jefferson and I went out once or twice, but do you want to know the truth, Alex? I never really got over you.” She moved a step closer, and Alex found himself backing into the registration desk.

”I seem to recall you were awfully glad to get rid of me at the time.”

She wasn't about to let him off that easily. ”I was a fool, Alex, and I'm not afraid to admit it.”

Alex couldn't believe what he was hearing. ”How come you never said a word about all this when I went back to Sandra? That didn't seem to bother you at all.”

Jenny looked him straight in the eye. ”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 wors.h.i.+ped 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 bypa.s.s 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.”

<script>