Inn the Spirit of Murder by Rhonda Blackhurst

Author:Rhonda Blackhurst [Blackhurst, Rhonda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC022000 FICTION / Mystery & Detective / General
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2024-03-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Sister Eunice was all too grateful to hitch a ride with me back to the inn to escape the risk of Sister Alice’s sidecar. Aspen, however, appeared less than enthused—a passenger meant he had to sit in the back seat like the dog that he was instead of the human he thought he was.

Except for the cars belonging to the inn’s employees, parked along the far edge, only two remaining vehicles were in the small lot. One of those, I believed, was from housekeeping.

After letting Jade and Lily know I was back, I left Aspen with them and went to my office to check my computer for any applications that may have trickled in. I swallowed my disappointment when the results yielded nothing. Sister Alice said she’d spread the word at St. Michael’s, but I’d hoped the electronic call-out would have hooked someone’s attention for efficiency more than anything. Seeing the application and resume beforehand could eliminate unnecessary interviews, a colossal waste of time for everyone involved. I heaved a sigh.

I snagged a red spiral notebook from the top drawer of my desk and opened it to a fresh page. To organize a legion of disconnected parts, I began writing suspect names to better see the whole. First was Luka: there was open hostility between him and Ivan. If I was to include mitigating factors, though, he was the church’s deacon, a father, husband, and Godly man. Or was he? I camped here for a moment before deciding I’d pop into the coffee shop and chat with Roman. The quiet kid he was, he’d probably have few words to say unless Sister Alice was with me. People generally disclosed more information with laity or a clergy member. Didn’t they? Next to Luka’s name and probable motive, I wrote in parentheses speak with Roman.

Next, there was Tom. He had motive and opportunity—opportunity because he didn’t have an alibi and motive because his wife had an affair with Ivan. Still worse, she was pregnant with his kid. Not to mention the temper I’d witnessed at the library. I softly tapped my pencil tip a few times on Tom’s name. This didn’t look good for him at all.

Then there was Jade. I scribbled her name next to Tom’s. She, by her own admission, was with Ivan in the room I found his body shortly after. A lover scorned was as great a motive as any, especially pregnant and hormonal. I shuddered.

Tony—Ivan stole something of value from him; they worked together nearly every day, giving Tony’s animosity toward Ivan plenty of time to pick up steam. And both had free access to the inn’s kitchen at any hour.

I leaned back in my chair and chewed on the inside of my cheek. Considering Tony as the culprit was a struggle. Sure, he’d confessed disdain for Ivan, but so had several others. Even Marcie and Frank didn’t like Ivan. And a stolen recipe seemed a weak motive. But then, I wasn’t familiar with the life of a chef.

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