"It couldn't be much worse," I admitted as I reached for my telephone.

"Who are you calling?" Greg asked.

"I need to get ahold of Moose. We have to find out who killed Gordon Murphy."

As I dialed the number, I saw that Greg was studying me with a pained expression. "What is it?" I asked as Moose answered.

"How should I know?" my grandfather asked. "You're the one who called me."

"Get over to the diner," I ordered my grandfather. "Somebody killed Gordon Murphy, and the police don't have a clue as to where Ellen might be."

"I'm on my way," Moose said as he ended the call.

After I hung up, I turned back to Greg. "What's up?"

"I'm worried, that's all," Greg said.

"There's more to it than that, and we both know it."

"Victoria, there's something that you've got to consider. What are you going to do if Ellen did kill the man?" he asked softly. "Can you turn over the evidence to the police and let them arrest her? Maybe you and your grandfather should just sit this one out."

"Do you think that she's guilty?" I asked Greg calmly.

"Of course not, but you told me yourself how angry she was earlier. She threatened him in broad daylight, Victoria. Even you have to admit that it's possible that Ellen might have killed her ex-husband, not that anyone could blame her if she had."

"I don't believe for one second that she did it," I said.

"But what if you're wrong?" my husband asked me.

"Then we'll put the diner up as collateral if we have to and get her the best attorney we can find. Are you okay with that?"

"It's fine by me," Greg said. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."

I patted his cheek. "I know you don't."

"Just to set the record straight, I really don't think Ellen did it," he added softly.

"I know that, too. You're just looking out for me."

"It can be a full-time job sometimes," he said with a wry grin.

"I can only imagine," I said, matching his smile with one of my own. "She didn't do it, Greg. I know it with all of my heart."

"I hope you're right. There's just one thing, though."

"What's that?" I asked him.

"It would have been a whole lot better if she hadn't run."

I nodded slightly. "I have to agree with you there."

Chapter 4.

"I got here as fast as I could," Moose said as he rushed into the diner a few minutes later.

I glanced at my watch. "I can't believe you didn't get a speeding ticket racing over here," I answered.

"Me, either," he said with a sheepish grin. "The cops must all be out looking for Ellen. Any idea where she might have gone?"

"If she's not at Opal's, I don't have a single idea," I said.

"That's where we can start, then," he said as he looked back at the door. "Where is that confounded woman, anyway?"

"That's what we're all trying to figure out," I said.

"Not her. I'm talking about Martha. She was right behind me."

My grandmother walked into the diner at a much more sedate pace. "Moose, one of these days you're going to kill us both. You know that, don't you?"

"I don't drive that fast," Moose protested.

"It's not just the speed, it's the maneuvering you do, too."

"Woman, I haven't had a wreck in forty years, and you know it."

Martha raised one eyebrow. "That might be true, but what we don't know is how many accidents you may have caused yourself because of your driving habits." She turned to me and smiled. "h.e.l.lo, Victoria. I understand you could use a hand."

"That would be great," I said. "I appreciate you coming in on such short notice."

"Nonsense, it's always my pleasure. I enjoy working with your husband. He's got a deft touch with the grill, doesn't he?"

"I like to think so," I said.

"Enough with the pleasantries," Moose snapped. "Let's go, Victoria."

"Lead the way," I answered, and I followed Moose out of the diner. As we got into his truck, I asked, "Do you have any ideas where else we might look? The sheriff is on his way to Opal's place." I glanced at my watch. "In fact, he's probably already there."

"Maybe we shouldn't be focused on finding Ellen first, then," Moose said as he started the truck.

"Why wouldn't we? Isn't that our top priority?"

My grandfather shook his head. "Finding out who killed Gordon Murphy should be our only aim, don't you think? Let the police track Ellen down. They have the resources, and besides, while they're searching for her, we can start working on our investigation."

"I don't know," I said, the hesitation clear in my voice.

Moose turned the truck engine off. "Then we won't do anything until we can both agree on a game plan."

"Well, we can't just sit here," I said.

"Tell me where to drive, and I'll be happy to comply."

I thought about it, and after a few moments of thought, I realized that Moose was right. If we spent our time looking for Ellen, we wouldn't be doing anything to advance our investigation. Besides, even if we did manage to find her, all we could do was turn her over to the sheriff, and was that something I really wanted to do?

"Okay, you're right. Ellen's on her own at the moment. How should we start looking into Gordon Murphy's murder?"

"I'd say we should talk to the fiancee first, don't you?"

"What makes you think we can find her, let alone convince her to talk to us about Gordon?" I asked my grandfather.

"She has to be somewhere nearby, since they've been staying in town. Where would you think she and Gordon would stay, since they evidently have plenty of money?"

"It has to be The Harbor Inn, doesn't it?"

"I would think so," Moose said as he started his truck again and drove toward the edge of town where the nicest place anywhere near Jasper Fork was located. The Harbor was the main location in our area where folks held weddings, showers, and all kinds of joyous festivities. Greg and I had only eaten at the restaurant on three occasions in the past, and I didn't see number four happening anytime soon. We'd had to nearly mortgage the house to afford dining there the last time, and staying as a guest of the inn was out of the question.

"Even if she's there, how are we going to get in to see her?" I asked.

"Don't worry about that. I know someone on the inside at The Harbor. If she's there, we'll figure the rest of it out."

"I wish I had your faith in us," I said with the hint of a smile.

"You know what they say, fake it 'til you make it. The place is really snazzy, isn't it?" Moose asked as the hotel/restaurant complex came into view. I was amazed that such an elegant place was right in our backyard, but someone clearly had money when they'd built it.

"It's pretty cool. Who's your contact there?" I asked.

"Never you mind. I'm going to drop you off at the lobby. Wait for me there."

I looked at my clothes, and I was painfully aware of the common nature of my blue jeans and T-shirt. "Looking like this?"

"What's wrong with the way you look?" Moose asked.

"Nothing, if I'm going to be cleaning the rooms."

"Oh, you're dressed much too casually for that," my grandfather replied.

"Then how am I going to get away with lounging around in the lobby?"

"Maybe you've got a point," Moose said. "Fine, you can come with me, but I'd appreciate it if you'd let me do the talking."

"What kind of contact do you have here?" I asked. My grandfather's sphere of influence in our area was much broader than mine, and I couldn't help but wonder if we were going to call on the head honcho. "Who are we talking to, the hotel's general manager?"

"Why on earth would we want to talk to him? He's a stuffed shirt who rarely leaves his office, from everything I've heard about the man. No, we're going to the person with the real power, the only one who knows everything that goes on behind the scenes."

We pulled up around the back to the service entrance, and Moose parked the truck off to one side. "Remember, let me handle this."

"With pleasure," I said.

There was a skinny young man in a bellman's uniform lounging in back flirting with one of the maids, and it surprised me when Moose walked directly up to him.

"Cal, do you have a second?" Moose asked him cordially.

"Sure thing, Captain," Cal said as he lingered long enough to say good-bye to the housekeeper. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for a woman named Jessie."

Before Moose could say another word, the man nodded. "She's in the Hickory Suite, checked in with one Gordon Murphy. The lady prefers bubble baths, cashews, and romance novels. The man's not much of a reader, but he spends a great deal of time on his cellphone. What else do you need?"

I was a little surprised by the bellman's instant recitation. "Pardon me, but how could you possibly know all of that?"

Cal looked at me a few moments, and then he studied Moose. "I'm a.s.suming that she's with you, is that right?"

"Cal, this is my granddaughter, Victoria," Moose said.

Cal nodded. "Pleased to meet you. Ma'am, I make it a point to know about all of the guests who stay with us here at The Harbor Inn."

"It sounds a bit invasive to me," I said, not meaning to sound so judgmental.

If Cal took offense, he didn't show it. "Okay, think about it this way. One of my jobs here is to see to our guests' every need, at least the ones we're allowed to provide for them," he added with a smile. "Take Ms. Blackstone's nut preference. I keep the closest pantry to her room well stocked in case she runs out of something in the middle of the night."

"Even romance novels?" I asked with a smile.

"You'd better believe it. I keep a selection on hand, as many of our guests like to read a little for guilty pleasure. The reason I know that is because they rarely take the books with them when they leave us. As for Mr. Murphy's telephone usage, I keep chargers nearby that fit most every phone ever made, just in case one's needed. Knowing their habits and preferences is the only way to ensure that our guests get the treatment they're paying for. For them, privacy is a price they are willing to pay for good service."

"But surely they count on your discretion as well," I said.

"Victoria," Moose said a little impatiently. "Cal is talking to us as a favor to me. You understand that, don't you?"

"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I didn't mean any offense by it."

"I didn't take any, so don't worry about it. If you'd asked me anything without having your grandfather in tow, you wouldn't even have gotten my name, rank, and serial number out of me. It just so happens that I owe Moose a pretty huge favor, and this won't even begin to pay it back."

"Cal, I wiped that slate clean a long time ago," Moose said mysteriously.

"You might have, but I know I still owe you, and until we're even, all you have to do is ask."

"Could I ask you one more thing, then? Do you happen to know if Ms. Blackstone is in her room right now?" Moose asked.

"She went for a walk ten minutes ago, as a matter of fact," Cal said. He pointed to a path near the water and added, "If you head off that way, you're sure to catch up with her."

"Thanks, Cal," Moose said. "We really are even now."

"Not until I say we are," Cal said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm due to walk Jimikens for Mrs. Nance. If I'm late, old Jim takes it out on me."