She tried to make a joke of it as the onlookers gasped. "Earth to earth, and all that," she said as she peeled the remnants of the clay off the wheel. "That's all for now, folks. We're going to take a little break. Don't forget, everything you see behind me is for sale."

As Marilynn cleaned her hands in a bucket of water, she said, "I'll get Shantara to watch the booth while we're gone. We can't make any money if we don't have anybody here selling our wares."

Craig said, "The sheriff wants us one at a time, and he wants to see us now!"

"He's just going to have to wait," Marilynn said calmly. "Shantara! Could you come over here?"

Shantara joined them and readily agreed to take over their sales while they were gone.

As the three of them walked to the inn. Alex said, "I don't know what the sheriff's going to say about this. He only asked me to get one of you."

Craig started to snap a retort when Marilynn put a hand on his shoulder, "He's in luck. Today's special is two potters for the price of one."

Alex said, "Do you mind me asking how well you two knew Jefferson Lee?"

Did Craig flinch at the question? He couldn't tell for sure; the hot afternoon sun was in his eyes.

Marilynn stepped in and said, "We've done a few fairs with him in North Carolina and parts of Tennessee, but we traveled a lot more than he did."

Craig grunted, "Jefferson liked to stay close to home. For everything."

The man was definitely on edge. Alex decided it might be a good time to give him a shove. "Did you have any reason to hate him, Craig?"

The man started to speak when Marilynn interrupted coolly, "Who's running this investigation, Alex, you or the sheriff?"

"The sheriff is, of course. I just couldn't help wondering about it from the way your husband's been acting."

"It's none of your business then, is it," Craig said before Marilynn could stop him.

"You're absolutely right," Alex agreed, smiling.

They were on the front porch by then, and the couple hurried in ahead of him.

Armstrong didn't look all that surprised that they'd come together.

"I just need one of you right now. That way the other can go back to your booth," he said.

Marilynn said, "That won't be a problem. We have someone watching it for us. Don't you think it would be more efficient if you talked with both of us at the same time?"

"Ma'am, I'll do it my way, if you please. Since you're so eager to talk, why don't you go on in first?"

Craig started to say something, but Marilynn cut him off yet again. It was a wonder the man ever got to say anything. "Let's get this over with, Sheriff, I have a living to earn." Marilynn turned to Craig. "Why don't you go back to the booth? I'll come get you when the sheriff's ready for you."

Craig obviously wasn't thrilled with the plan, but Alex could see there was no room for debate. The potter stormed past Alex and slammed the door on his way out.

Marilynn said, "You'll have to forgive him. Craig hasn't been sleeping well lately."

"He can join the club," the sheriff said. "Murder gives me insomnia, too."

As they disappeared into his office, Alex couldn't help feeling that Armstrong was wasting his breath with Marilynn Baxter. She was too cool to let anything slip. He would love to hear the sheriff's interview with Craig Monroe, though. That should prove to be very interesting.

As predicted, Marilynn's time with the sheriff was brief, and from the look on Armstrong's face, not all that productive.

After she left in search of her husband, Armstrong said, "That woman missed her calling. She should have been a lawyer." There was no admiration in his voice as he said it.

"Maybe you'll have more luck with her husband."

"I doubt it. By the time she's through with him, I doubt I'll be able to get him to admit his own name."

As predicted, by the time the sheriff got Craig in Alex's office, the man was as silent as the nearby mountains. Armstrong shook his head sadly as Craig left the lobby.

"Well, that was purely a waste of breath."

Alex asked, "What now?"

"It's time I talked with our lady woodworker. I've been putting it off, since Rachel blew up at me, but I've got to interview her. She's strong as an ox, and I don't relish making her any madder at me than she already is."

Alex smiled. "Just another benefit of being sheriff."

"I'd send you to get her if I thought she'd come, but I've got a feeling she isn't exactly eager to talk to me."

A few minutes later, Rachel came back in with the sheriff. He'd been wrong about one thing; she was perfectly willing to talk to him. In fact, from the sound of it, Armstrong wasn't going to be able to get a question in between the verbal attacks. Alex was truly glad he wasn't in the sheriff's shoes.

Alex touched the woodworker's shoulder lightly to say something when she grabbed his hand and pulled it off her. She was strong! When she saw that it was Alex, she immediately released her grip. "Sorry, I didn't know it was you."

Alex fought the urge to rub the feeling back into his hand as he said, "Take it easy, Rachel. Sheriff Armstrong wants the same thing as you do, to find out who killed Jefferson Lee."

"Well it certainly wasn't Bill." she snapped.

"So answer his questions and help him move on."

Rachel took a breath, then said. "Of course you're right, Alex. I'm sorry I snapped at you."

She turned to the sheriff and said, "Let's get this over with. Aren't you coming?"

As she stepped into Alex's office, Armstrong said, "Thanks."

"My pleasure."

After the door closed, Alex briskly rubbed the stiffness out of his hand. He'd had no idea looking at Rachel just how strong she was. An unwelcome thought crept into his mind. She would have had plenty of strength to drive that spear into Jefferson Lee's chest. He had discounted the women up front, not thinking they had the physical power to accomplish it, but it was time to reconsider. Added to that was the fact that Jefferson Lee had been her boyfriend's rival, intent on destroying the young blacksmith's career. Had Rachel decided to take matters into her own hands? It was a possibility well worth considering.

She was much meeker when she left Alex's office, even offering him a nod and a slight smile as she walked past.

Alex found Armstrong at his desk. "Have any luck?"

The sheriff threw his hands up. "n.o.body's seen anything or done anything around here at all. They're nothing but a bunch of innocent lambs."

"So where does that leave you?"

Armstrong leaned back in Alex's chair, and the seat protested. The sheriff said, "I've interviewed all my suspects out here. It's time to catch up with Irene and see if she's come up with anything." As Alex walked him to the squad car, the sheriff said, "I'll be in touch, Alex." Getting into his car, he said awkwardly, "By the way, I was sorry to hear about Elise."

"She's not gone forever, Sheriff. She was called away on a family emergency."

"Uh-huh," the sheriff said quickly as he started the engine.

After he was gone, Alex watched the trail of dust from the squad car as it sped down the lane. Why was everyone so quick to a.s.sume that Elise was gone for good?

Were they jumping to conclusions, or did all of Elkton Falls know something that he didn't?

He went back into his office and saw something sparkling in one corner near the copier. Alex retrieved a bracelet, swung it on two fingers, then put it in his pocket. It looked familiar, and he was sure Elise must have dropped it when she'd been cleaning his office. It only made him realize more how much he missed her.

But he couldn't dwell on her departure. He had an inn to run, and as if that wasn't enough, he'd promised Shantara he'd find the murderer.

There just weren't enough hours in a day.

Chapter 9.

Alex was relieved when the fair was finally over for the evening, the crowds of visitors gone at last. One more day and it would be finished. A part of him regretted agreeing to let Shantara hold the fair at the inn, particularly during the Lighthouse Lighting festivities, but he knew in his heart that he'd honestly had no other choice. The lighting was scheduled for tomorrow night's closing ceremonies, but for the first time since he'd taken over The Hatteras West Inn, he wasn't eager to fire up the Fresnel lens. The murder had thrown a dark cloud over everything, and Alex wasn't looking forward to hitting the switch at all.

It didn't help that Elise would miss it, too.

It was stressful enough running Hatteras West by himself without the added traffic of visitors wandering through the inn during the day. He'd caught one woman actually trying to sneak out the front door with one of the lanterns displayed in the lobby just as the fair was shutting down for the day. She dropped the lantern when he'd caught her, shattering the gla.s.s in it. Alex had been so shocked by her actions that he'd just stood there as she raced out the door without her prize.

It was the last straw. Alex cleaned up the mess, carefully searching the floor to make sure he hadn't missed any errant pieces of gla.s.s. After he was certain he'd retrieved every last sliver, Alex posted a hastily scrawled sign on the front door that said Guests Only in bold, thick letters.

Evans Graile, back from one of his rare forays into the world, shook his head when he saw the sign. "Not very welcoming, is it, Alex?"

"Sorry, but this fair is driving me crazy."

Evans smiled gently. "Ah, but look what a spectacle it's provided for me. I can't remember the last time I saw so many people without ever having to leave my chair."

"I'm glad you're happy," Alex said as he adjusted the sign. He probably should have used something stronger to tack it in place; someone would probably walk off with his sign as a souvenir.

Evans went on, "To be honest with you, it's a real shame it's all ending tomorrow night, Alex. I don't know what I'll do for entertainment after everyone else is gone."

Alex said, "We've got checkers, chess, books, hiking trails, Bear Rocks, and don't forget the lighthouse itself."

Graile shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid most of those things are a little too strenuous for me, Alex. Besides, I like to watch. I'm not a big fan of actually partic.i.p.ating."

Alex was saved from responding as Jenny hurried up to him. "Can we talk?"

"Sure," Alex said as he led her inside. Evans Graile was close on his tracks. That man wasn't about to miss a thing!

Much to the older man's disappointment, Alex said, "Why don't we talk in my office? I'm still going through a pile of mail I haven't gotten around to yet."

"Anywhere is fine with me," she agreed as they walked inside. Jenny made a point of closing the door behind her, and Alex was surprised when she slid the barrel lock in place as well.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

"You can start by forgiving me," Jenny said as she stepped closer. "I know what you must think of me after the foolish way I acted earlier."

Alex took a step back. "There's nothing to forgive. This murder has everybody out of sorts."

She said gently, "I still don't know what got into me." Jenny smiled slightly. "Alex, should I be offended you weren't even tempted by my offer of reconciliation?"

"No ma'am, that's not it at all. Honestly, it's got nothing to do with you," Alex said.

"You're telling me that there's not even the slightest chance of us going out again?"

He hadn't meant to hurt her feelings, but he obviously had. Alex said softly, "On a date? No, but I'd be happy to do something with you as a friend. I'm sorry."

Jenny said lightly, "Oh well. I suppose Elise must have something to do with it. She really is quite lovely, isn't she?"

"Jenny, there's nothing going on between us. Our relationship is strictly business. Elise is on leave handling a family medical emergency. As soon as it resolves itself, she'll be back at Hatteras West. Why is everyone-" His words were cut off by the telephone.

"Excuse me," Alex said as he answered, "The Hatteras West Inn."

"Hi Alex, it's Elise. I just got in."

"It's good to hear your voice. Can you hold on one second?" He covered the mouthpiece and told Jenny, "I'm sorry, but I need to take this."

Jenny nodded as she quietly left the room, closing the door behind her. As soon as she was gone, Alex bolted it. He wasn't in the mood for any interruptions. "Sorry about that. So how's your dad doing?"

"He's scared, Alex. It just about breaks my heart to see a man as strong as he is so afraid."

"How's your mom holding up?"

Elise laughed softly. "She's already tried to feed me twice since I walked in the door. I swear, if I hang around here too long, I'm not going to be able to fit into any of my clothes. Any new developments on the murder?"

"Nothing I've been able to pick up on. Armstrong's playing this one pretty close to the vest. Listen, you shouldn't be worrying about that, Elise. You've got enough on your mind."

"Believe me, I could use the distraction. This place is like a big empty cave without any guests."

Alex knew Elise's parents ran an inn much like his own, with one important exception: there was no lighthouse on their property. "What happened to everybody?"

"Mom canceled all our reservations until we get through this. There were only a few people scheduled, and they've all been staying here for years, so they understood. Alex, I know I need to be here, but I still feel guilty about leaving you like I did."

Alex started to say something when he heard a strong male voice in the background calling to her, "Elise, we need to go now!"

"Emergency?" Alex asked, concerned.

"Nothing like that, but I'd better say good-bye. I'll talk to you later."