Room for Murder (Book 4 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries) (21 page)

Elise said, “We’re going to be at her
cottage this evening working on the birdseed throwaways instead of
rice. That should keep us busy until late.”

Alex nodded. “The guys are coming out here
around seven, and I can’t imagine it lasting past ten. Since Mor’s
staying out here tonight, I’m putting him in Number 7 as soon as I
get it cleaned up.”

That was Lenora’s room. “She was an
interesting woman, wasn’t she?” Elise asked.

“
Once I got over the shock
of being her model, I really got to like her. She was pretty
closemouthed about what she was sketching, though. I asked her half
a dozen times to let me see her work, but she always turned me
down.”

Elise said, “You know how artists can be
about their creations.” She paused, then said, “I’ve got a light
load this morning. Why don’t I help you clean your rooms
today?”

“
That sounds great. To be
honest with you, I’d be glad for your company. I’ve missed working
side by side with you.”

She nodded. “Good. Let’s do it then.”

When they got to Number 7, Alex and Elise
were surprised to find something taped to the mirror.

It was a charcoal sketch of Alex, with the
lighthouse in the background.

Elise studied it, then said, “She really is
quite good, isn’t she?”

Alex replied, “That’s the first thing of
hers I’ve seen. The whole time she was drawing me, I wasn’t allowed
to even peek.”

Elise studied the drawing another full
minute, then said, “You’ve really got to have this framed.”

“
Why would anybody want to
have a drawing of me on their wall?”

“
I think it’s perfect for
the lobby, Alex. If you won’t frame it yourself, I’ll have Mor do
it.”

Alex shook his head. “That’s all I need, my
best friend thinking I’ve lost my mind plastering the inn with my
own picture.”

“
Well, someone needs to
frame it.”

Alex reluctantly said, “If you really think
it belongs here, I’ll do it myself.”

Elise found a folded note on the dresser and
handed it to Alex. “Here, this is for you, too.”

He opened it and read aloud, “A small gift
for all you’ve given me. Lenora.”

Elise said, “Well, she was certainly fond of
you.”

“
It’s the inn. You know how
it affects some people that way.”

After they finished cleaning the room, Elise
carefully removed the tape holding the sketch and carried it
gingerly to her room. Alex wasn’t sure how he felt about having his
own portrait hanging in the lobby, but from the look in Elise’s
eyes, he knew it was useless to argue.

Soon enough it would be just one more part
of Hatteras West, blending in with everything else, a hodgepodge
that had somehow become a tapestry of his heritage.

Lenora had made sure that she’d always be a
part of the inn.

Mor and Les came out to Hatteras West
together a little before seven. Since Emma didn’t believe in
wedding rehearsals, there was no need for a rehearsal dinner,
freeing Mor the night before the wedding. Les, grinning broadly by
his side, had a six-pack of beer in one hand and a bottle of
champagne in the other.

“
Wow, you broke out the
good stuff,” Alex said.

Les said, “I swore to myself on the day we
became partners that if this hound dog ever settled down, I’d give
him a bon voyage. So where should we have this little party?”

Alex said, “Mor, it’s your call. The place
is just about empty, so wherever you want is fine.”

“
How about the top of the
lighthouse?” he asked with a grin.

Les said, “You know, I haven’t been up there
in donkey years. Lead on.”

Mor looked startled. “I was only
half-kidding. I’m not sure those steps and your alcohol are the
best combination.”

Les said, “Come on, man, where’s your sense
of adventure?”

Alex grabbed some glasses from inside his
room and met the two men at the top of the lighthouse.

The view was beautiful, never failing to
take his breath away. Alex had been delighted with the suggestion
to hold the bachelor party on the observation platform. In fact, he
planned to have his own bachelor send-off up there, if it ever came
to be, no matter how remote that possibility looked at the
time.

Lev was still out of breath by the time Alex
joined them at the top, and he was afraid they might have to carry
the older man back down after a few drinks.

Mor must have been thinking the same thing.
“Are you doing okay, partner?”

“
Fine,” he said, panting
slightly. “Just need to get my wind back,” he added. After a few
moments, Les said, “enough of this foolishness. It’s time for a
toast.” He popped the cork off the champagne and poured the
bubbling liquid into each of the glasses.

After setting the bottle down, Les lifted
his glass and the others joined him. He looked at Mor a second,
then said, “To you, Mordecai Pendleton, the best partner, and best
friend a man could ask for.”

Alex added, “To Mor, the true best man,” as
the three men clinked their glasses together.

Mor, uncomfortable with the raw sincerity of
his friends, said, “Drink up before it goes flat.”

Les killed his drink with one pull, then
said, “You boys can have the beer, but I’d be proud to keep you
company a little while longer. If I’m going to get down those steps
on my own, I’d better stop drinking right now. Don’t let that stop
you two, though.”

Alex leaned against the lighthouse, his back
against the solid wall of the structure. He felt grounded whenever
he touched it, as if his body became, for one instant, a part of
the lighthouse itself.

Alex asked Mor, “Any nerves about
tomorrow?”

“
I just wish it were
already over. You know how I hate a fuss.”

Les said, “Listen, nobody’s going to be
looking at you. This wedding is Emma’s time to shine. The best
advice I can give you is to take one step back and let her
glow.”

“
Why should I take wedding
advice from a grizzled old bachelor like you?” Mor asked, teasing
his friend with their usual banter.

Les wasn’t having any of it, though, not
tonight. “Take it from a man who’s spent his life looking for what
you’ve found, my friend. She’s a keeper.” With a wink to Alex, Les
added, “If you hadn’t gotten off your duff and asked her to marry
you, I might have gone after her myself. She’s a big, handsome
woman, just the kind I fancy.”

Mor said, “Sorry to disappoint you, but
you’re just going to have to find somebody else. I’m not about to
let her go.”

Les patted Alex on the shoulder. “Looks like
after tomorrow it’s just the two of us.”

Mor said, “Speak for yourself. Alex has his
heart set on Elise.”

Les shook his head. “Just remember me when
you’re both happy and married off, will you?”

Alex said, “After my first-date disaster
with her? I don’t think you have to worry about me any time
soon.”

Mor said, “I’ve got faith in you,
buddy.”

“
Thanks for the vote of
confidence. I can tell how sincere you are by the certainty in your
voice.”

“
What? No, it’s not that. I
just wish ... never mind.”

“
Go ahead,” Alex said.
“What is it?”

Mor said, “What I would have really liked is
for Armstrong to have figured out who killed Toby Sturbridge before
the wedding. I’m afraid it’s going to hang over our heads like an
ax tomorrow at the ceremony.”

Les said, “Alex and I know you and your
bride are innocent, and most of Elkton Falls knows it, too. Don’t
fret about things you can’t change.”

Mor smiled gently. “You’re just full of
advice tonight, aren’t you?”

Les said, “Pay no attention to me. It’s the
alcohol talking. Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me, I’m turning in
early tonight. I want to be fresh as a daisy for the festivities
tomorrow.”

Mor asked, “Do you want me to go down the
steps with you?”

Les snapped, “I may be more than twice as
old as you are, but I’m a long way from feeble. You two finish up
your little party here. I’ll be fine.”

Both men leaned over the rail until they saw
Les down below. He waved up at them, then got into his truck and
drove back toward town.

Alex and Mor looked off into the distance,
taking in the moonlit land beneath them, enjoying the silence of
good company.

“
What we really need is a
good fog,” Alex said. “There’s nothing like it from up
here.”

Mor said, “I’d just as soon the weather stay
clear until after the wedding.” He gestured down to the canopy set
up below for the wedding tomorrow. “I’m still not sure it was such
a great idea doing this outdoors. We’re probably going to get edges
of rain from that hurricane.”

Alex said, “Buddy, it was an argument you
were bound to lose. Don’t worry, I’ve ordered fair weather until
the ceremony, and just to be sure, I didn’t wash my truck. That’s a
sure sign of clear skies.”

Mor said, “I appreciate the sacrifice, but
you’d better park in back of the inn or Emma will have you out
there washing it before the wedding.”

Alex grinned. “I’ve got a feeling tomorrow
she’s going to be too busy to worry about me.” Alex took a breath,
then added, “Just between the two of us, are you nervous at
all?”

Mor shook his head. “Not one bit. Emma
drives me crazy most of the time, but she also makes me happy for
no reason at all. When this thing blew up and we were apart, I
missed her in a thousand different ways.” Realizing how serious his
tone had become, Mor added lightly, “Besides, at this point, she’s
probably the only one who’ll have me.”

Alex laughed. “If you’re waiting for me to
disagree with you, I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

Mor said, “Enough of this. I’m ready to hit
the sack. Thanks again for letting me stay out here.”

“
I’m glad to have you,”
Alex said.

As they started back down, Alex suddenly
realized that they hadn’t opened a single beer. Not only that, but
there was still half a bottle of champagne left.

It would probably go on record as the
mildest bachelor party in the history of Elkton Falls.

Chapter 19

“
I hope it doesn’t rain,”
Elise said, staring out the window the next day at the dark clouds
on the horizon. It was an hour before the wedding ceremony, and she
and Alex were both busy with last-minute preparations.

Alex said, “We could always have it in here,
couldn’t we?” He gestured around the lobby. “If we move the tables
and sofas into a couple of the guest rooms, we could get the
folding chairs in here and make an aisle.”

Elise studied it a moment, then said, “I
don’t think everyone will fit.”

Emma came in frowning. “It’s not going to
rain, and we’re not moving this wedding inside.”

Alex said, “Easy, Emma, we’re just trying to
come up with a backup plan.”

Emma walked to the windows, scowled up at
the sky, and declared, “We’ll be fine until tonight. It’s just the
front from the hurricane.” She looked at Elise and said, “I need
help getting ready. You’ve got experience with beauty queen makeup.
Can you do anything with me?”

Elise laughed softly. “As if you need it.
Come on, I know a few tricks, but if you ask me, we’ll just be
gilding the lily.”

Emma smiled. “I haven’t been a lily in
years.” She frowned at Alex and added, “Shouldn’t you be with the
groom? Did you steal his car keys and let the air out of his tires
like I asked you to?”

“
There’s not a chance in
the world he’s going anywhere,” Alex said.

“
That’s what I thought with
Toby Sturbridge, but it took him three times to actually make it to
the church. I should have seen that as a sign from
above.”

Alex said, “Emma, Mor Pendleton is no Toby
Sturbridge. You’re getting a good man, and he’s getting a fine
woman.”

She kissed him lightly on the cheek.
“Thanks, Alex. I guess we’ll see you soon.”

After they were gone, Alex wondered what Mor
was up to. He finally found him talking to Grady Hatch outside
where the festivities were set to take place. The mayor had
graciously agreed to give Emma away before he left on his big trip
to see the world, even though the election was still in
dispute.

Alex joined them and said, “There you are,
Mor. What’s going on?”

Grady said, “The board of elections is still
going crazy. They aren’t anywhere close to declaring a winner. I’ve
heard of horse races before, but this is ridiculous.”

“
Can’t wait to hand over
the reins yourself, can you,” Alex said.

Mor said, “Have you seen his motor home?
It’s a real beauty.”

Grady said, “I got more for the house than I
had any right to expect, so I decided to go all out. As soon as the
reception’s over, I’m hitting the road, whether you good people
have a new mayor or not.”

Alex looked up at the clouds. “Are you sure
you don’t want to wait this storm out? It might be better driving
after this front passes through.”

Mor said, “It’s not going to rain, Alex.
Emma’s been glued to the Weather Channel for the last two days.
These are just the edges of the big storm south and east of
us.”

Alex replied, “Yeah, but how are your knees
feeling?” Mor had damaged his knees playing football, and they were
a pair of the best barometers around town.

He admitted, “They’re a little shaky.”

Grady slapped him on the back. “That’s not
the weather, it’s just wedding jitters.” He looked at his empty
glass and said, “If you gentlemen will excuse me, I think it’s time
for another drink.”

Alex said, “You’d better take it easy on
those. We don’t want you stumbling down the aisle and falling over
Emma’s train.”