Karen MacInerney - Murder Most Maine (Gray Whale Inn Mysteries, No. 3)

Murder Most Maine: A Gray Whale Inn Mystery 2008 by Karen MacInerney.

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First e-book edition 2010

E-book ISBN: 978-07387-2024-1

Book design by Donna Burch

Cover design by Ellen Dahl

Cover illustration 2008 Bob Dombrowski/Artworks

Editing by Connie Hill

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To Abby and Ian, the lights of my life.

I love you!

As I sipped my first coffee of the daya mug of steaming French Roast, topped off with hot milk and a dash of sugarI pulled open the kitchen curtains of the Gray Whale Inn and watched a robin belting out a love song in a nearby maple tree. After several months of nothing but the sound of the wind whipping past the eaves, his lilting call was a delightful change of pace.

It was my second May in Maine, and although the bluebonnets had carpeted the hillsides in my former hometown of Austin two months ago, flower buds were just starting to appear on the hillsides of Cranberry Island. It was already in the 90s in Texas, but here, the last of the snow had just recently melted.

I gazed out the window at the big blue van I had transported to the island over the winter for hauling guests and luggage, and my outlook darkened a bit. The first birds might be returning to the island, ready to get spring underway, but the van was still hibernating. Despite a full tank of gas, I couldnt get it started, which was not good news, because it was the first day of the Lose-It-All Weight Loss retreat, and ten people were due at the Gray Whale Inn that afternoon. It was a big booking for me, and the last thing I needed was for something to go wrong.

Of course, as it turned out, the van was the least of my troubles. But I didnt know that then.

I picked up the phone and dialed, turning to stare out the back window at the green spruce trees, the white-capped blue waves, and the fresh green field below the inn, which I knew would soon be awash in the blues and pinks of lupines. It was fresh, sereneand deceptively peaceful.

Cranberry Island Store, my best friend trilled. Charlene was the owner of the little store that was often called the islands living room; it was also the islands pantry, post office, and gossip hub. Which came in very handy: kind of one-stop shopping.

Its me, I said.

Nat! The big retreat starts today, doesnt it? How are you holding up?

A little stressed, I admitted. If the food order doesnt come in right, I dont know what Ill do. Hosting a weight-loss retreat was a new thing for me, and I had high hopes for it. If it went well, there was a good chance the Gray Whale Inn would be a regular location for it. After a lean winter at my fledgling inn, I was hungry for business. Ironically, though I was relieved the retreat would fatten my businesss rather anemic balance sheet, I was also hoping it would force me to start trimming my own calorie intake. At my annual checkup a few weeks ago, both my cholesterol levels and the number on the scale had come up on the high side, and my doctor had issued a rather stern warning to cut back on the cupcakes. Since I was the owner of a bed and breakfast, and surrounded daily by tempting treats, this proclamation was not welcome news.

Relax, Nat. Im sure everything will be fine, Charlene said. And if you need anything, you know Ive got staples at the store.

Thanks, I said.

Im glad you called; I tried getting in touch with you last night, but the phone lines went out for a few hours. Which was normal on Cranberry Islandalong with regular power outages. Theres some big news.

What happened? I asked, my heart in my throat.

Nobody got hurt, Charlene said quickly; she must have heard the dread in my voice. At least not recently.

What do you mean?

You know how they started the lighthouse renovation?

Yeah, I said. I couldnt believe they started in February. In that brutal weather!

Theyre trying to get it done before tourist season, she reminded me.

After years of discussion, the island had recently decided to renovate its historic lighthouse, which had been boarded up for years. I was all in favor of the project, of coursenot only are lighthouses a big attraction for visitors (and potential guests), but there was something magical about the round white building that graced Cranberry Point.

Anyway, I guess you havent heard the big news. They found a skeleton hidden inside it.

Youre kidding me, I said, my eyes drawn to the window and the innocent-looking lighthouse in the distance. Id gone by that lighthouse a zillion timesas had everyone else on the islandand had never imagined that there was a body inside it. The hairs on my arms stood up just thinking about it.

Nope. Apparently its an adult, but thats all they know at this point. Theyre taking it to a lab on the mainland for testing.

A shudder passed through me. So thats two historic murders on the island. Id recently discovered that a young woman had been murdered almost 150 years ago in the Gray Whale Inn, and although it had never been solved, Id found a diary that implicated one of the islands most prominent citizens. How many other secrets were hidden on the island? I wondered. Biscuit, my ginger-colored and slightly obese tabby, brushed against my legs, and I jumped.