Death Checks Inn (Aspen Valley Inn 1) Read Free Page B

and said gently, “Do you know this man?”
    Behind him at the top of the stairs, she met Heather’s teary gaze and said, “It’s her husband. Her dead husband.”
    Wyatt spoke softly, “I can see that he’s dead .”
    “No, no. You don’t understand ,” said Lacey, “her husband Adam died several years ago.”
    Heather sobbed loudly and Joan and Suzy seemed to be supporting her, one on each arm.
    Wyatt looked down at the body and asked , “Is that a railroad spike in his chest? Where did that come from?”
    Pale and shaken Lacey said quietly, “I think I know where it came from. Come with me, I’ll show you. ”
    She led him to the top of the second floor landing and continued down the guest hallway. About half way down she stopped and pointed. She was pointing to a n art niche carved into the wall, one of several located in this hallway. This particular niche contained a display of old mining equipment. Amongst the gold pan, small tools and implements were a couple of similar metal spikes.
    She reached to pick up one of them and Wyatt grabbed her arm . “Don’t,” he said, “evidence.” Still holding Lacey by the arm Wyatt steered her back to the small group on the landing. He looked around at the stricken faces and announced, “This is now a crime scene. No one is to leave the premises. Please do not touch anything until we can process the scene. Each of you will need to be interviewed. Lacey is there somewhere private where we can conduct the interviews?”
    Lacey thought quickly and then suggested the small library off the reception area. Several more people came in the front door. Lacey assumed these were the coroner and the crime scene tech nicians.
    Wyatt was huddled deep in conversation with the group downstairs. Lacey gathered the stunned guests and led them to a tiny sitting area at the end of the hall. Surely they could wait there at least until the body was removed. No one spoke as they sat on the small couch and chairs grouped invitingly near a huge window that looked out over the back of the property. Lacey noticed that night was fading and the pale light of dawn was just beginning to appear. How did this happen? Good God, was someone right here in this group a murderer? As she looked around from face to face, she could tell that this horrible thought had also occurred to the others. How had someone else gotten into the Inn? She knew she had locked everything up tight. However, the victim had gotten in. How? Why? So many questions.
    She heard her sister, Charlotte’s voice downstairs, “I don’t care about your rules. I’m going to see my sister!” She hurtled up the stairs and engulfed Lacey in a comforting hug. She took off her sweater and placed it around Lacey’s shivering form.
    Lacey now realized she was wearing only a tank top and boxer shorts. Joan and Suzy were dressed in a similar fashion. Heather Mason had on a robe, as did the honeymoon couple. She hoped that they would be allowed to dress properly before being interrogated by the officers downstairs. She had to wash the blood off her hands. She turned to Charlotte and asked, “How did you know?”
    Charlotte spoke drily, “With all the commotion and vehicles heading up here, who doesn’t know something happened? I didn’t think I would see a body. I thought maybe someone had fallen or something.”
    Oh, how I wish that were all, thought Lacey.

Chapter 6
     
    An officer accompanied each one of them to their rooms while they cleaned up and got dressed. A technician took a photograph of Lacey’s hands and then told her she could wash them. Three technicians roamed the premises taking pictures and dusting surfaces with black powder. Thankfully, the body had been removed presumably to the morgue. One by one, they were lead into the library to talk with Wyatt and a Detective Peterson, borrowed from the Colorado Springs police department. Lacey was last.
    Just like the others, Lacey was photographed and fingerprinted. She