Part 19 (2/2)
”To Alaska? I can't pick up and leave everything like you can.”
”I don't see why not. You're self-employed, so you can create your puzzles wherever you are. It's absolutely beautiful there. You'll love it.”
I was tempted, there was no doubt about that. Still, I had some very real responsibilities here. ”Sorry, but I can't.”
A hint of determination came out in his voice. ”Can't, or won't?”
”Zach and I are into a situation here in Parson's Valley,” I explained. ”I'm needed here.”
”I'm sure your husband can handle things on his own. He strikes me as being quite capable,” my uncle said. ”We can invite Thomas as well. He'd probably welcome the opportunity to return to Anchorage himself. Did I tell you about the nature preserve we visited when we were there? It's an incredible place.”
”I'm certain it is,” I said. ”May I ask you something?”
”Anything,” he said. ”You know that.”
”Why the hard sell on me taking a trip with you all of a sudden?”
”It's not that sudden,” he said after a moment's pause. ”I've made the offer several times, and yet you continue to turn me down.”
”Something I'm sure you're not all that used to,” I said. ”Think of my refusal as being good for your soul, a lesson in humility.”
”My soul is just fine, thank you very much.”
There was a pause, and he added, ”It would be great fun, Savannah, I can promise you that.”
Suddenly, I had a suspicion about what was driving his suggestion we take a trip. With a firm edge in my voice, I asked, ”Zach called you, didn't he?”
He hesitated, and then said, ”In the spirit of full disclosure, I phoned him first.”
”But he told you to get me out of town.” It wasn't a question, because there was no doubt in my mind that was what had happened.
It was clear that my uncle knew when he was beaten. ”He suggested it, and I heartily agreed that it was an excellent idea.”
”It is, but it's going to have to wait. There's been a murder here, as I'm sure my sweet husband told you, and I'm implicated in it. I'm not going anywhere until we find the killer.”
”Then let me hire a private detective to work the case for you. Savannah, I have more money than I'll ever be able to spend in twenty lifetimes. Let me spend some of it on my family. I'd never be able to forgive myself if something happened to you because I was hesitant to act.”
”Thank you, I do appreciate it, but I'm fine.” I didn't need a private detective muddying the waters. It was hard enough to get folks to talk to me. If we brought in yet another foreign presence, I had a feeling the information flow would shut down completely. I'd already alienated Rob, and possibly more folks in town than I realized. I couldn't afford to do any more of that.
”Are you certain?” he asked.
”I am, but that shouldn't keep you from going back to Alaska. I know you loved it up there, too.”
”As a matter of fact, I'm looking into acquiring some property there.”
That surprised me. I had been under the impression that my uncle's holdings were restricted to the southeastern part of the country. Alaska was many things, but part of the southern United States was not one of them.
”Are you going to buy a hotel there?”
He chuckled. ”No, I'm not looking to acquire any new business properties at this moment. The last time I was there, I was looking at a lodge for my own use; and yours, too, of course. I was hoping to get your approval before I bought it, and that's the complete truth. Your blessing in this means something special to me.”
”Then you have it,” I said. ”I know how great your taste is. If you like it, I'm sure I'll fall in love with it, too.”
I could hear my uncle take a deep breath on the other end of the line. ”If you won't come now, will you at least promise to join me there for a vacation when this is all over?”
”Zach and I would love to,” I said. In actuality, my husband had been itching to go to Alaska since he'd been a boy, but life tended to get in the way of his plans. He had two loves in his life: his job and me.
”I'll hold you to that. We'll invite Thomas as well and make it a party.” He hesitated, and then added, ”At least tell Zach I tried, would you?”
”I will,” I said. ”Should I expect a call from Uncle Tom next?”
Uncle Barton chuckled softly. ”Do you mean he hasn't called you yet? I doubt he would offer you Alaska, but I'm surprised he hasn't tried to get you to Hickory.”
”I'm sure it's coming,” I said.
After we hung up, I figured I'd go ahead and be proactive, so I called my other uncle while I was in the mood to deal with their foolish, if well-meaning, intentions of getting me out of town.
Uncle Tom picked up on the first ring and said, ”Savannah, I was just getting ready to call you.”
”I figured you were, so I thought I'd save you the dime. Uncle Barton already struck out, so you can save your breath,” I said with a laugh. ”I'm not leaving Parson's Valley.”
”Good enough,” he said simply.
”What, no pleas to get me to join you? No tries at tempting me with trips, or anything else I can't refuse?”
He chuckled before he replied. ”Savannah, I've known you since you were born, something Barton has lost out on, to his eternal regret. I've seen you dig in your heels before, and I know when it's time to let it go.”
”Thank you, Uncle Tom. I love you.”
”I love you, too. Take care of yourself.”
”Right back at you.”
After we hung up, my spirits were suddenly lighter than they had been just a few minutes earlier. Those two men and my husband were the only real family I had left in the world, and hearing their voices never failed to do me a great deal of good.
Now it was time to figure out who I needed to talk to next to look for information that would help me solve this crime.
That question was answered for me when the front doorbell rang, and I couldn't believe who was standing on my porch when I opened the door.
Chapter 15.
”CAN I HELP YOU?” I ASKED SANDRA OLIVER AS I STEPPED out onto the porch.
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