Read Room for Murder (Book 4 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries) for Free Online

said disdainfully.
    “ Bright and shining. In
fact, this is the first night it’s officially open.”
    “ So much for our historic
honeymoon,” the woman snapped at her spouse.
    The man stepped forward and said to Alex in
a low voice, “Listen, I know this is late notice, but couldn’t you
do a little shuffling for us? I can make it worth your while.” As
he made his request, he slid a hundred-dollar bill across the
counter.
    Alex refused to touch the bill. “I’m truly
sorry, but I can’t help you. Mrs. Nesbitt reserves that same room
every year. If you think you’d be happier elsewhere, there are
quite a few places in Hickory to stay, and it’s not that far
away.”
    The woman shouldered her way past her new
husband and said, “I’m sure whatever you have here will be
fine.”
    Alex nodded. “Good enough. I just need you
to sign in and we’ll get you settled. Will this be cash or
charge?”
    The woman retrieved the hundred and slipped
it into her purse as she said, “Pay the man, Paul. Put it on your
credit card.”
    He obviously wanted to protest, but one look
at his glaring bride told him this was not a battle worth
fighting.
    As Paul filled out the registration, his
bride said, “I’m going to go look at the lighthouse. Come get me
when you’re ready.” As she went out onto the porch, Alex heard her
mutter, “That’s just wonderful. It’s not even lit up.”
    Alex offered to lead the way to their room
after they’d settled the billing, but the man refused his aid. “I
can handle it from here.”
    “ Good night, then, Mr.
Jones.”
    “ Good night.” As he walked
out, Alex heard Jones say under his breath, “Man oh man. What have
I gotten myself into?”

Chapter 4

    Sally Anne came in with a basket of fresh
muffins for the next day’s breakfast just as Alex was about to
douse the fire in the lobby and head off to bed. Corki and Jan had
returned hours ago and were tucked safely in, along with the other
guests of the Hatteras West Inn. Elise was in the middle of reading
Carl Sandburg’s Lincoln, a set of volumes Alex had inherited from
his late uncle Jase, and she’d left him earlier for the privacy of
her room. Was it his imagination, or was there a new awkwardness
surrounding them now that their first date was nearly upon them?
Alex had to admit, he was a little hesitant to meddle with their
friendship and working relationship by throwing romance into the
mix, but the pull he felt for her was too strong to ignore.
    No matter what happened between them, he had
to know one way or another, once and for all, if there was a chance
for romance with her.
    Sally Anne set down the basket and said,
“You look like you’ve got the world’s troubles on your shoulders,
Alex.”
    He said, “No, I’m just trying to put a few
things in perspective.”
    Sally Anne nodded. “I heard about Emma’s ex
showing up here dead. Do they know what happened yet?”
    Alex said, “I figured you’d have a better
handle on that than I would. Your diner is a pretty popular place
with the sheriff and everybody else in town.”
    “ It’s funny, but we haven’t
seen Armstrong since he got the call to come out here. Dad’s
worried he’s starving himself to death,” she added with a
grin.
    As Alex paid Sally Anne’s bill, he said,
“I’ve got a question for you. How’d you like to be my eyes in
town?”
    “ You mean like a spy?”
Sally Anne asked eagerly.
    “ More of an observer,” Alex
said. When he saw her smile dim, he added, “Okay, to be honest with
you, it’s exactly like a spy.”
    Sally Anne said, “How cool. Just tell me
what you want me to do.”
    “ Right now, I need you to
keep your eyes and ears open around the diner. I promised Mor I’d
look into Sturbridge’s death, and I’m going to need your help in
town now that both of my buildings are full.”
    Sally Anne said, “I was kind of hoping
there’d be more skulking around.”
    Alex laughed. “I’ll see what I can come up
with.