Murder Checks Inn (Book 3 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries) Read Online Free PDF

really
care which group she belonged to; all he knew was that she could
have had something to do with his uncle’s death.
    “ What I do here at Hatteras
West is my business,” he said briskly, trying to skate past
her.
    “ When it concerns my
family, it becomes my business,” she said forcefully.
    Alex said, “You heard Sandra; Julie is a
part of your family now. Your son and daughter have a half sister,
whether any of you have the decency to acknowledge it or not.”
    Cynthia’s eyes flared. “So you don’t deny
it? You are in league with that tart?”
    Alex said flatly, “The only thing I care
about is who killed my uncle. Not that it’s any of your business,
but Julie needed someone to talk to today, and I happily obliged. I
don’t have the slightest interest in getting involved in your
family’s problems. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to
do.”
    Alex tried to get around her, but Cynthia
put a hand lightly on his arm. There was a look of repentance on
her face, though Alex couldn’t help wondering if it was rehearsed.
There was even something that rang false about the woman’s
indignation.
    “ Alex, forgive my outburst.
I forgot how you must be grieving. It’s just that when my
children’s welfare is at stake, I can be a bit of a mother bear.
Again, please forgive me.
    “ There’s nothing to
forgive,” Alex said, trying to keep his tone level. “Now, if you’ll
excuse me, I really must get to work. I’ve got a funeral to
plan.”
    Was that a glimmer of real guilt peeking
through Cynthia’s carefully constructed facade? It happened too
quickly to tell, gone as fast as it had appeared. She said, “I am
truly sorry for your loss.”
    “ Thanks,” Alex muttered as
he finally escaped and headed for the refuge of his tiny
office.
    Alex found Mor Pendleton sitting behind his
desk, his feet propped up on top of a stack of paperwork and
leaning back in his chair.
    Mor stood up abruptly when Alex came in.
“Sorry to hear about Jase. Anything I can do?”
    Alex said, “Thanks, but Tony’s helping me
with everything. He’s up in room ten now, unpacking.”
    “ And how is he? I was
surprised when I saw him in town last week. At least I thought it
was him.” There was still a hint of steel in Mor’s voice whenever
he talked about Tony.
    “ He’s the same as always,
but you’ve got to be wrong about Tony being in Elkton Falls. It
would take an act of Congress to get him back here. I’m just sorry
it took Jase’s murder. Enough of that. How’s bachelor life treating
you now that Emma has deserted you?” Mor had been dating Alex’s
resident gem hunter, Emma Sturbridge, since she’d moved to town.
They’d come close to breaking it off earlier but had somehow
managed to patch things back together well enough to continue their
relationship.
    “ Emma called yesterday. She
got to Georgia just fine. Why she has to go prospecting for gold
all the way over there when we’ve got gold in North Carolina is
beyond me. That lady’s actions defy all logic. I just don’t
understand women.”
    Alex smiled slightly. “Well, if you ever do,
be sure to share your wisdom with me.”
    Mor laughed. “You’ll be the second to know.”
His expression turned somber as he asked, “You want me to call her
back home, what with all that’s going on here?”
    As comforting as it would be to have Emma
Sturbridge nearby, Alex decided it wouldn’t be fair to bring her
back from her first vacation since she’d moved to Elkton Falls.
“No, I’ll be okay.”
    Mor glanced at his watch. “Just thought I’d
ask. Well, I’d better take off. Les wants to talk about something
over lunch. It’s got to be serious; he even offered to pay.” Lester
Williamson was the other half of Mor or Les, the handyman duo that
kept Elkton Falls up and running.
    Alex asked, “You sure you aren’t just
ducking out before Tony gets downstairs?”
    Mor grinned. “That, too.”
The smile disappeared as he added, “Listen,