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

Alex wasn’t going
to argue with him, he said kindly, “Alex, I’m sorry you lost your
uncle. Believe me, I’m doing everything in my power to find the
killer.”
    As Alex left, he nearly added, “So am I,”
but he kept that last remark to himself.
    Alex had done as Nadine had requested and
delivered the appointment book to the sheriff. It wasn’t time to
head back to Hatteras West yet, though. If he pushed it, he still
had time to pay a visit to Julie Hart out at Amy Lang’s homestead
near Hatteras West. It was possible that there was something she
wasn’t telling him, and he was bound and determined to find
out.

Chapter 8

    A creeping fog hugged the road as Alex drove
up the lane to Amy Lang’s homestead. It was an odd sight for early
afternoon, but the weather had been strange lately as cold and warm
fronts kept colliding over the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. The gravel path was mostly obscured by the swirling
masses of white, and Alex slowed his truck considerably as he
drove.
    Breaking out of the fog just ahead of him,
an apparition appeared in a flash of red. Alex slammed on his
brakes and stopped the truck. He’d come awfully close to hitting
something!
    “ Why, if it isn’t Alex
Winston himself.”
    Amy Lang’s jet-black hair tumbled out as she
pulled back the hood of her bright red cloak.
    “ I could have killed you,”
Alex said, his voice shaking.
    Amy laughed. “Nonsense. I knew where you
were, even if you didn’t see me. I was ready to jump if you got any
closer.”
    Alex looked at her outfit and said, “I
really like your cloak.”
    She twirled in it, and the material danced
elegantly around her with a few wisps of swirling fog dancing in
rhythm. Amy said, “It’s an Irish walking cape. Stunning, isn’t
it?”
    Alex laughed gently. “You’re doing
everything in your power to keep the eccentric artist myth alive,
aren’t you?”
    She smiled. “What can I say? It lets me keep
my prices up.” The banter subsided as Amy asked, “What brings you
out this way? I know you’re too busy with the inn to just pop in
unannounced.”
    Alex said, “Let me get my truck off the road
first. I don’t want to get rear-ended. Would you like a ride back
to your place?”
    “ You didn’t answer my
question.”
    Alex knew Amy well enough to realize that
she wasn’t going to budge until he answered her. “I need to speak
with Julie Hart.”
    “ And what makes you think
she’s out here?”
    Alex said, “I’ve got to protect my sources.
So, can I see her?”
    “ It all depends, Alex. Are
you going to harass her, too?”
    “ I just want to talk,” Alex
said. “Please, it’s important.”
    Another figure stepped out of the mist
wearing a cape done in blue instead of Amy’s red.
    “ It’s okay, Amy, Alex and I
have already met. I’d like to think we’re friends.”
    Amy turned to Julie. “You know what Sandra
said; you shouldn’t be talking to anyone right now.”
    Alex said, “Amy, we don’t know each other
all that well, but if you’d like to go into town and ask around, I
guarantee you’ll find out that I don’t take advantage of people.
I’ll come back out after you two have decided whether I’m
trustworthy or not.”
    As he headed back to his truck, Julie said,
“We don’t need to check your references, Alex. I trust you.”
    Amy said, “I do, too. It’s just that you’ve
got a lot at stake, Julie.”
    Julie laughed. “I came here with nothing,
and if I leave that way, there’s no real change in my life, now is
there?”
    Amy said, “That’s fine. It’s your decision.
Listen, I’m walking back to the studio. I have to finish that
sculpture for Clarion Industries.”
    Alex said, “Ladies, I’d be glad to give you
both a lift back.”
    “ And miss this fog? It’s a
lot more fun walking,” Amy said.
    Julie interjected, “I don’t mind riding,
Amy. It’ll give us a chance to talk.”
    Amy said, “Suit yourself then,” as she
disappeared back into the