The Inn at Holiday Bay: Clue in the Clam, Kathi Daley [early reader chapter books TXT] 📗

he did point out that the term greed seems to fit. Oliver Halifax seemed to have a hunger for money, and he was greedy for attention. He liked to be in the center of whatever is going on, and he’d run for and was elected to the town council recently. His entry into the race was a last-minute decision that seemed to have come from out of nowhere. Most people thought that he didn’t have a chance since the incumbent had been campaigning for months, and when he won, the rumors started circulating that he’d cheated.”

“Did he cheat?” I wondered.

Georgia shrugged. “Tanner wasn’t sure. He did say that there was evidence to back up the claim of those who say he did.”

I didn’t know Oliver Halifax well, but I knew who he was. He was rich, successful, and good-looking. I seemed to remember hearing that he had a wife but couldn’t say that I’d ever met her. If I remembered correctly, Oliver Halifax was some sort of investment broker and a very successful one at that. “Do you know why Oliver even wanted to be on the town council?” I asked. “He seemed like the sort of guy who was already pretty busy.”

Georgia took a sip of her coffee. “Tanner mentioned that Oliver seemed most interested in the new resort proposed for the coastline south of town.”

I’d heard about the project. The proposed mega-resort was causing a lot of controversy in town since there were men and women with strong opinions on both sides of the issue. Those in support of the project argued that the resort would provide lots of jobs and bring a large influx of tourists and tourist dollars to the area, but it was also the sort of commercial project a lot of the old-timers didn’t want to see get a foothold.

“I know that both Ellington Simpleton and Councilman Covington favor approval of the project,” I commented. “I’ve also heard that Evelyn Child and Sonya Greenly are against the development of the area. So I guess the deciding vote would have come down to Oliver Halifax if he hadn’t died. Do you know how he planned to vote?”

“I don’t. Tanner didn’t know either, but he did say that Oliver thrived on being in the hot seat. The guy was the sort who only seemed to be happy when all eyes were on him, which is why Tanner thinks he challenged the incumbent, Dennis Painter, for his seat on the council once he realized that it would be Dennis who had the deciding vote.”

Talk about a crazy reason to run for an elected position.

“Do you think it’s possible that someone knew how Oliver planned to vote and killed him in order to prevent that vote from happening?”

Georgia frowned. “Maybe. The resort is a mega-million dollar project, and if it’s approved, it will completely change the atmosphere of our quaint little seaside town. I’ve heard that emotions are high on both sides. Like I’ve said before, it’s complicated.”

I’d hate to think that anyone would kill a man over property development, but as Georgia had said, emotions were high, so maybe. “Did Colt mention the cause of death to Tanner?”

She nodded. “The medical examiner told Colt that the man was given a lethal injection which would have stopped his heart almost immediately. It appeared as if he’d been killed elsewhere and then taken to the island where the body was staged.”

I thought back and tried to remember what I’d seen. The man had been lying on his side. His legs had been bent, and his arms were resting one against another as if he’d been sleeping. I hadn’t noticed any blood. It really did look as if the man had simply drifted off.

“So someone gave this man a lethal injection, moved him out to the island, and posed his remains to make it appear as if he was simply sleeping. Why go to so much trouble to do things exactly that way?”

Georgia shrugged. “Colt didn’t know.” She looked at her watch. “I need to head inside and jump in the shower. I have the breakfast prep done, but I still need to put everything together.”

“I’m going to sit out here for a few more minutes, and then I’ll get ready as well. I thought I’d take the opportunity to get to know some of the guests who’ve checked in this week a bit better. Oh, and I wanted to remind you that Sydney Whitmore will be arriving later this afternoon. I’d really like to have a chance to talk to her one on one, so perhaps we can have our dinner here on the deck.”

“I think that sounds like a good idea. I’ll have a private meal ready for you at six so you can talk without the others listening in. I’m looking forward to meeting this woman. I wouldn’t want to do what she does, but it is fascinating.”

“I agree. I’m sorry it didn’t work out for Sydney to stay longer, but I understand that she has a demanding job. Can you imagine having a job where you’re on the East Coast doing research involving one serial killer only to be called back to the West Coast early due to the activity of another serial killer?”

“Can I imagine that? No, I can’t, but I suspect there are those who thrive in that sort of environment. Should we try to fill the room for the weekend since she won’t be staying?”

“No, let’s just leave it vacant. I called Lacy after Sydney called me, hoping that Lonnie and Lacy could work something out for at least one night, but Lacy wasn’t comfortable leaving the kids for so long while they were sick.” Lonnie and Lacy had planned to spend time with us at the inn while her parents took their six children to Florida for two weeks, but the twins