The Extinguished Guest (A Lexie Starr Mystery, Book 2) by Jeanne Glidewell Page A

doesn't work, we might be able
     to do a cross-check on the computer to see who the phone number belongs to."
    "Good idea, Lexie," Stone said. I smiled as he cleared his throat and continued, "For
     someone who used to be opposed to the very idea of owning a cell phone, you seem to
     be quite familiar with the things now."
    "I've learned they really are very handy and useful, if not downright critical at
     times. I love my new Nokia phone," I admitted. "I don't know how we all got by without
     them for so long."
    "Me either. I still need to look for a different phone carrier, though. One that gets
     a stronger signal here in Rockdale than my current carrier. The service I used in
     Myrtle Beach doesn't seem to fare well here in the Midwest. It seems like I'm on analog
     roam most of the time."
    "I'll bet that gets expensive in a hurry."
    "Uh-huh, it sure does. Hey, are you hungry? While the investigators are at the inn
     taking the last couple of statements, we could stop and get some lunch at the Corner
     Cafe," Stone suggested.
    "Yes, let's do. I'm starving. I was served a full breakfast at the hospital, but I
     didn't recognize anything on my tray, so I hesitated to eat any of it. I drank the
     coffee, of course—"
    "Of course."
    "—and ate one slice of cold, soggy toast."
    * * *
    When we finished eating our bowls of vegetable-beef soup with crackers, we left the
     cafe and climbed back into Tony's car. Stone started the engine in order to turn on
     the heater, and then dialed the inn on his cell phone. After numerous rings, Cornelius
     Walker finally answered the phone.
    "Hello, Cornelius, is Crystal there?" Stone asked.
    "Yes, I'm sure she is. I just saw her a while ago," Cornelius said. From the passenger
     seat I could plainly hear his nasal voice over the phone. "I'm not sure where the
     delectable young angel in an apron is at the moment, however. Would you like me to
     go find her for you? Tracking down beautiful women is my forte."
    "No, no, that's fine, Cornelius," Stone said, laughing at Cornelius's remark. "Do
     you know if Boris Dack has returned to the inn yet? He had expected to return around
     eleven."
    "I think he's just arriving now, as a matter of fact. I see a blue car pulling up
     the drive. It looks like his Chrysler Concorde. Do you want me to go outside and bring
     him to the phone?"
    "No, that's not necessary. We'll be back to the inn shortly, anyway. Oh, but Cornelius,
     you could do me a favor. I need you to tell Crystal we're going to be stopping at
     the store to get some chicken, rice, and zucchini for tonight. Lexie will help Crystal
     fry the chicken. Crystal expressed a concern this morning about what she was going
     to prepare and serve for supper."
    "Okay, fried chicken does sound good. I'll tell her as soon as I see her again," Cornelius
     said.
    "Are you sure you won't get side-tracked and forget?"
    "I'll remember. I promise. I do have a pornographic memory, you know."

 
     
     
    Chapter 8

     
    Detective Wyatt Johnston was sitting at the kitchen table when we arrived at the inn.
     He'd helped himself to a cup of coffee while chatting with Crystal as she cleaned
     up the lunchtime dishes. She'd just finished serving a simple mid-day meal of sandwiches
     and fruit salad. The leftovers from the meal were spread out on the table in front
     of the officer. Detective Johnston was eyeing the food in anticipation, like a buzzard
     bearing down on road kill.
    He gave me a questioning look as he motioned toward the platter of leftover sandwiches.
     "May I?" he asked, as I unloaded the groceries from the paper sacks and placed them
     on the marble counter for Crystal to stash away in the pantry.
    "Sure, help yourself, Detective. Whatever you or the other officers don't eat will
     go to waste. Stone and I stopped for lunch on the way home, and everyone else has
     already eaten, as well. Help yourself to some fruit salad, too."
    I wasn't surprised when he ignored the last offer. Detective