Murder Checks Inn (Book 3 in the Lighthouse Inn Mysteries) by Tim Myers

home Jase had made for himself. There was nothing of the
man left there. Alex wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting, but
there was no trace of Jase’s quick laugh or his bright smile in the
walls around him. The essence of his uncle, what made him special,
was long gone in one sense, and in another very real way buried
deep in Alex’s heart.
    There was nothing left behind to savor, to
grasp, to love.
    Peter was welcome to all that was left
behind.
    It was quick work packing the few personal
things of Jase’s in his office. Sandra had agreed to take care of
the law books and his pending files, a dealer was taking all the
furniture on consignment, and what little was left fit into three
packing boxes.
    Nadine hovered over them as they worked. As
Mor carried a box downstairs, Alex finished packing up the last
bits of his uncle’s life and found the companion book to The
Treasure Below, Treasure in the Hills, on his desktop. Alex added
it to his stack as Nadine said, “I swear I meant to do this myself.
I just didn’t realize you’d want it done so quickly.”
    Alex said, “I don’t mind, Nadine. I hope you
don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m surprised you’re still here.
I can’t pay you anything for your work. I wish I could.”
    Nadine said, “Your brother’s taken care of
it till the end of the week, Alex. He said it was the least he
could do.”
    Alex nodded. So Tony had done the right
thing after all. “That was good of him. You know I would have done
it myself, but...”
    Nadine touched his shoulder lightly. “Alex,
you don’t have to explain anything to me. I knew what Jase was
going to do, though I tried to talk him out of it till I was blue
in the face. He said his books would mean more to you than any
stocks or bonds ever could. I’m afraid he might have seen your
construction out there as a sign that you were doing well enough on
your own financially.” She paused, then said, “You know how worried
he was about your brother.”
    “ No, I didn’t know anything
about that. What are you talking about, Nadine?”
    She looked flustered. “Oh, dear. I’m afraid
I’ve already said too much.”
    Alex wasn’t about to let it go that easily.
“Not enough, in my opinion. What’s going on?”
    “ Alex, I really shouldn’t
say.”
    He was in no mood for games. “Then I’ll just
have to ask Tony myself.”
    “ No, you can’t do that,”
she pleaded.
    “ One way or the other, I’m
going to find out.”
    Nadine nodded. “I know you, Alex, you’re
like a dog with an old bone when you’re trying to get to the truth
about something. All right, I’ll tell you, but you must swear never
to let your brother know you’re aware of his situation. Tony’s in
trouble financially. He came to Jase a few months ago and asked him
for a loan. Your uncle gave him something, but Tony kept saying it
wasn’t enough. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the two of them had
words. The walls here aren’t that thick.”
    “ Why didn’t he come to me
if he was in trouble?”
    “ Alex, Tony knew you
couldn’t give him the kind of help he needed. From what I gathered
before, Jase’s inheritance will just barely get him out of trouble.
That’s why he got so much of the stock.” She looked as if she was
going to cry. “Oh Alex, please don’t tell him I told you about
this. Your brother has a lot of pride, more than is good for him,
I’ll wager.”
    “ I won’t say a word,” Alex
promised.
    Nadine said, “I’ve got to get some fresh
air,” as she dabbed at her cheeks. “If you wouldn’t mind, could you
lock up when you leave?”
    As soon as Alex was alone, he walked to the
safe where Jase’s body was found. There was no chalk outline on the
floor, just a single stain on the carpet where he’d died.
    A horrible thought suddenly struck Alex.
    What if they were all on the wrong track
about Jase’s murder?
    What if Mathias’s will wasn’t the real
reason Jase had been killed? Was it possible, the