Free The Extinguished Guest (A Lexie Starr Mystery, Book 2) by Jeanne Glidewell Page A

it."
    "I wanted to make sure you'd be comfortable."
    "I'm quite comfortable, thanks. I'll be completely recuperated shortly. I feel almost
     like my old self today."
    "Good. But you need to rest and take it easy for a while anyway. You scared at least
     ten years off my life when you passed out in the kitchen last night."
    "I'm sorry—"
    "It's not your fault, honey. And I'm glad you got a good night's sleep. It's more
     than I can say for any of the rest of us."
    "Why? Did something else happen?" I asked as he braked the car to a stop at a red
     light.
    "No, thank God. Prescott's murder and the attempt on your life were enough as it was.
     I just think our guests were afraid to go to sleep last night, lest the same thing
     happen to them that felled Mr. Prescott. There were people scurrying about all night
     long, from one room to the next. I had no less than a dozen reports of suspicious
     sounds and intruder sightings. The guests were all carrying weapons of varying degrees
     of effectiveness, from Rosalinda's pepper spray to Cornelius's golf club. And Robert
     Fischer whacked Patty Poffenbarger on the head with his pipe when she surprised him
     as she was sneaking out of the kitchen with a snack. She has an under-active thyroid,
     you know."
    "Yes, of course," I said with a laugh. "I'll bet Patty had a thing or two to say about
     the indignity she suffered. 'Peckish Patty Poffenbarger pissed when painfully popped
     with pipe while packing pillaged pastries from pantry to parlor.' How's that for a
     tongue twister?"
    "Pretty pathetic, my perky partner," Stone said in amusement. "But I admit I couldn't
     say it three times in a row. Are you sure you're feeling okay, honey?"
    "Sorry, Stone. I know I sound half crazy, but I'm just so relieved to be on my way
     back to the inn. I don't like hospitals very much."
    "I can understand that. But I can't help worrying about you," Stone said, patting
     my hand, which was resting on my knee. "You're right about Patty, though. She's pissed
     and still spouting off about an impending lawsuit, I'm sure. It was a long night,
     I assure you. I missed you more than I can say."
    Stone reached over again and rubbed the top of my thigh for a few seconds and then
     placed his right hand back on the steering wheel. His forehead appeared to have several
     new furrows etched in to it.
    "I missed you, too," I said. "So what's going on at the inn today?"
    "Not much so far. It's been pretty quiet this morning. Boris Dack left for his office
     at about seven this morning and told the investigators he'd return by eleven. I just
     spoke with Crystal on my cell phone, and Boris has still not arrived back at the inn.
     I thought we might drive by the D&P Enterprise office building. Harry Turner, rather
     reluctantly, it seemed to me, explained where the building was located. Sound okay
     to you? We can head straight back to the inn, if you'd rather," Stone said.
    "No, I'd like to see the building, and it'd be a good time to do it, while we're driving
     a less conspicuous vehicle—one that doesn't stand out like my yellow Jeep or your
     red Corvette."
    "Yes, that's what I thought. This silver car blends in well. It seems to me as if
     every other vehicle on the road these days is putrid or silver—"
    "Putrid?"
    "Excuse me, I meant pewter. It's beautiful, I'll admit, but it's become such a popular
     color for vehicles, I'm getting sick of seeing it. Does the sign ahead say Executive
     Drive? I can't read it from here."
    I couldn't either, so I found my glasses in my fanny pack and slipped them on. I saw
     the sign read Executive Drive just as Stone made a quick left turn onto the street.
    "That building on the right says D&P Enterprises on its front," I said, pointing to
     a modern, three-story chrome and glass structure. Stone slowed down and steered Tony's
     Chevy into the nearly vacant parking lot. A white cardboard sign was tacked on the
     front door of the building. Stone pulled the car up to the door