Free Reservations for Murder by Tim Myers

toward the
mess buzzing and laughing, Shantara called out to them, “Remember,
recycle everything you can.”
    They fell on the fairground in a crashing
wave, laughing and working as they moved through the grass like a
horde of human vacuum cleaners.
    “What are you paying your crew?” he
asked.
    “Minimum wage and pizza at Mama Ravolini’s as
a bonus. They were happy to get the work.”
    Alex said, “From the look of this crowd, I’d
say they’re going to break you with the pizza offer.”
    Shantara smiled. “Irma Bean’s giving me the
pizzas at cost, and the kids only get the bonus if they work both
days. I’ll do all right.” It was amazing how quickly the teens
cleaned up after the fairgoers, though the trampled grass wouldn’t
be as easy to restore.
    “Alex, don’t worry about the grass. I’ve got
enough left in the budget to reseed this area,” Shantara said,
reading his mind.
    “I’ve got it covered. I’d been planning to do
it myself anyway. So, are you happy with the results of all your
hard work?”
    “I guess so. Alex, one of the best reasons I
came up with this idea was to expose people to the old ways of
doing things. It wasn’t just a way to make money. There are skills
that are being lost every day, and we’re not doing nearly enough to
preserve them.”
    Alex said, “Easy, girl, it was just a
question. You don’t have to convert me.”
    Shantara frowned. “It’s just so frustrating.
I imagined people coming out here to see the demonstrations, to
even try their hands at a few of the crafts themselves, and instead
they’ve flocked here to see the murder scene! You want to hear
something ghoulish? Jefferson Lee’s stuff sold like crazy as soon
as everyone found out about the murder. He had a college girl
working his booth, and she kept right on selling everything, even
after he was dead!”
    “Did Jefferson have any family left? I didn’t
know him all that well.”
    “There’s a sister in Hickory; she’ll be
coming tomorrow. Callie told me she wasn’t all that surprised when
she found out her brother had been killed.”
    Alex said, “From what I’ve been hearing
lately, I can’t say I’m all that surprised, either.” Alex shook
himself. “Don’t mind me, I’m out of sorts tonight for some
reason.”
    “It’s got to be hard on you, with Elise
gone.”
    Alex exploded. “Why does everyone think she’s
gone for good? She’s visiting her parents on a medical emergency!
Shantara, I swear to you, she’s coming back to Hatteras West!”
    She looked startled by his outburst. “Easy,
Alex, I just meant it had to be tough on you running the inn by
yourself until she gets back.”
    He laughed softly. “Sorry, it’s just that
everyone I’ve talked to today has made it sound like she’s gone
forever. You wouldn’t believe Jenny Harris. She wants us to start
dating again.”
    Shantara said disdainfully, “It doesn’t
surprise me in the least. I know you two used to go out, Alex, but
you’re better off without her.”
    “It sounds like you’re a little jealous
yourself,” he said, smiling.
    She laughed just a little too loud and too
long for Alex’s ego to take.
    He said gruffly, “Okay, you made your
point.”
    “Nothing personal, Alex, but you’re not my
type.”
    “And just what is your type?”
    She pretended to think about it a minute,
then said, “Let’s see, he’s got to be strong, handsome, rich, don’t
forget a good sense of humor—”
    Alex cut her off. “You’re not asking for
much, are you? And you think you’re going to meet this Prince
Charming in Elkton Falls?”
    “Where there’s breath, there’s hope,”
Shantara said with a twinkle in her eye.
    A young girl with a long ponytail poking out
the back of her baseball cap said, “We’re done here, Shantara. The
gang wanted me to ask you if there was any chance we could get an
early start on that pizza party.”
    “Sorry, Emily, you know the deal; no pizza
until the end of the fair, and