by Marja McGraw
“I see.”
Pete hadn’t said a word, except to greet the woman. Unlike me, he was keeping his feelings at bay. I could tell by his face that he was taken with the home.
He finally spoke up. “How old is this house?”
“It was built in 1892 and it used to be a dairy. Oh, and there’s a small house in the rear. I think they call it a Mother-In-Law Quarters.”
My mind instantly turned to Dolly, my next door neighbor and surrogate grandmother.
“I have to be honest, though. Someone came by yesterday who was quite interested in the house. You must know them. They’re also staying at the bed and breakfast.”
Red flags went up in my head faster than lightning.
“I don’t suppose their names would be Phil and Gloria, would they?”
“Why, yes. The funny thing is, she thinks ghosts haunt the area. The very idea! That’s ridiculous.”
I hated to admit it to myself, but the idea that Gloria was interested in the house made me want it even more.
All the while we talked, Bertie continued to show us around the house. It was a typical farmhouse with an extra large kitchen, a dining room, living room, and a den had been added. There were three bedrooms upstairs, and each one had been decorated to reflect an older time.
Needless to say, there was an attic, but this one had been kept clean. There weren’t any old trunks and there was no junk that needed to be sorted.
Bertie was a tidy little woman, and watching her made me feel like she probably had more energy than me, even at her age.
I glanced at Pete and he nodded.
“Bertie, would you mind if we take another look around the house?” he asked. “I’d like to study a few things about the structure.”
“Be my guest. We’ve had everything updated. My husband was quite handy and did a lot of the work himself. By the way, if you don’t mind me asking, do you believe in ghosts?”
“No,” I replied firmly.
“Good, because you won’t find any here.”
Pete and I wandered back to the kitchen while Bertie settled herself on a couch in the living room.
We looked at each other.
“I love this house,” I said.
“So do I.” Pete reached out and ran his hand across the counter top. “I like what they’ve done with the place. There’s lots of old junk – “
“Antiques,” I interrupted.
“Okay, antiques, but they don’t come with the house. We can do whatever we want to with the place. I’m sure you have ideas already.”
“I do.” I glanced around. “There’s not much I’d want to change though.”
We decided to talk to Bertie about her asking price and found her now standing at the window, watching the rain. She looked sad, and I understood when she turned around with a picture of her husband in her hands.
“Are you sure you want to sell the house?” I asked.
“Oh, yes. Life goes on, doesn’t it.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Let’s talk.” Pete took her elbow and led her to the couch.
She told him what she wanted to get out of the house. “My husband and I lived here for about fifty years. We took good care of the place. I know there’s a lot of yard to take care of, and I have a riding lawn mower. I’ll include that with the house.”
I knew when I looked at Pete’s face that we were about to make a deal. My heart skipped a few beats.
“We’d like to make an offer on the house,” he said.
Bertie nodded. “Give me a moment to call my son. He’s handling the sale for me.”
She dialed a number and called Pete over, introducing the two men over the phone. While they talked, Bertie and I retired to the kitchen where she made tea.
“This house is filled with good memories,” she said, handing me a cup. “I have a feeling you’ll add to those. I don’t generally make snap decisions, but I immediately took a liking to you and your hubby. You seem like such a wonderful match. It’s just a feeling because I don’t know you, but sometimes I just let the Lord guide me.” She smiled and took a sip of her tea.
“Pete and I are very happy together. We’re actually here on a belated honeymoon.”
“Well, my goodness. Newlyweds. How late is your honeymoon?”
“Oh, about nine months.”
We made small talk for a few minutes while waiting for Pete to meet us in the kitchen.
“What kind of work do you do?” Bertie asked.
“I’m a private investigator.”
She raised one eyebrow and set down her tea cup.
Chapter Thirty-three
Bertie sat up straighter and started to laugh. “I’m an avid mystery reader. If I hadn’t aged so darned fast, I’d have liked to do what you’re doing. But can you make a living at it?”
I had a feeling she was worrying about house payments. “Between Pete and me, we have enough to pay cash for the house, if that’s a concern.”
“Oh, no. I was just thinking that if you lived here there probably wouldn’t be much call for a private eye. Besides, I didn’t know that kind of work could be so lucrative.”
“Ah. As a matter of fact, we’re working on a case right now. And, no, it’s not that lucrative.”
She tipped her head and studied me for a moment. “Don’t tell me. You’re staying at the bed and breakfast, so it must be the Bonnie Singleton murder. Am I right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t ma’am me. My mother was a ma’am. I’m just ol’ Bertie.”
“Okay, Bertie.” It was difficult to think of this woman as ol’ Bertie when she was refusing to age by remaining stylish and well-kept.
This time she tipped her head backward and kind of looked down her nose at me, but with a different intent than when Gloria had done the same thing. She started slowly nodding her head. “I’ve got it. You’re the ones who found old Sally’s body, am I right?”
“Wow! Word really gets around fast in this town.”
She laughed. “You’d better get used to it, dear. Small towns are like that. Besides, the police officer who’s been working on this is my nephew. You’ve met Joe.”
Pete strode into the kitchen looking quite proud of himself. “It’s a done deal. As soon as we get back to Los Angeles, I’ll send Bertie’s son a cashier’s check. In the meantime, we’ll give Bertie a check for earnest money to make our intent clear.”
“Pete, get this. Joe is Bertie’s nephew.”
“Small world.”
Bertie chuckled. “No. Small town.”
We said our good-byes to the elderly woman and left after Pete wrote her a check, and when I glanced back I could have sworn I saw her do a Happy Dance through the living room.
“I think we just made her day,” I said, smiling.
“You remind me of her in a way.” Pete put his arm around my shoulders.
“In what way?”
“She seems like a very happy woman. I mean, I get the feeling she’s always happy. You’re very much the same way.”
“I can explain that. She’s had a good life. I’m having a good life.”
We decided to forego our trip to the lake and drove back to the B&B.
“You know,” I said, “between what I have left from the treasure I found, and what you have socked away, we’re doing okay for ourselves. Look at us. We just bought a second house and we’re paying cash for it, and we’ll still have a little left over. Not much, but a little.”
Pete laughed. “You’d think we’re rich.”
“We are, but I don’t mean financially rich.” I reached over and patted his knee.
He smiled. “I was thinking.”
“Uh oh. Do I need to worry?”
“No. Maybe we can spend our winters in Los Angeles and our summers here.”
“I like that idea. We’re going to have to ramp up our cases though or we’ll go through what money we have left in nothing flat.”
Pete nodded and we pul
led into the parking area at the B&B.
“I can’t wait to tell Bea,” I said. “We’ll be her neighbors from down the street.”
It had been sprinkling, but as we parked the rain started coming down harder. I thought I heard thunder off in the distance.
We ran for the front porch and stamped our feet before wiping them on a mat, not wanting to track water inside.
Bea stood by the dining room table, tapping her foot and looking too serious. “I just had a phone call.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
She couldn’t contain herself and started grinning. “Nothing’s wrong. Bertie called to tell me the good news. Congratulations! I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have for a near neighbor.”
Pete and I glanced at each other.
“Small town,” we said in unison.
Felicity had been sitting at the table with Stanley, looking through the papers from the cardboard box.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Apparently Bea hadn’t had time to tell them the news, or maybe she figured it was up to us to tell the Hawks about our new home.
“Pete and I were on our way to the lake and stopped to buy a farmhouse.”
“Oh, is that all.” Felicity couldn’t keep a straight face and her tinkling little laugh filled the room. “Congratulations! Will Stan and I be able to stay there once in a while?”
“Of course.” I’d have to tell her about the mother-in-law quarters behind the main house. Stupid, stupid, stupid! We’d never gone out back to check it out. Well, if the main house was an example, the smaller place was certainly nice.
Stanley sat with his mouth hanging open, not seeming to quite know whether to believe me or not.
“It’s true, Stan. Wait until you see it. It’s a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to live in an old-fashioned farmhouse.”
Gloria joined us. “How come you’re so excited?”
“Pete and Sandi just bought a house and it’s right down the road.” Stanley spoke slowly, as though still trying to gather his thoughts.
Gloria’s face darkened. “Right down the road? How far down the road?”
“It’s an old farmhouse just a few minutes from here,” I said.
Her face quickly turned red. “But I wanted to buy that house!”
Phil had walked in behind her. “Now, honey, -- ”
“Don’t honey me. I told you we should have made on offer on that place.”
“There are other houses for sale around here.” Phil was trying to keep her dream alive.
“Not many,” she said, “and none like that adorable little farmhouse.”
I almost rolled my eyes, but caught myself in time. Little farmhouse? It wasn’t all that small, although it was adorable.
“Bide your time,” Bea said. “I’m not sure I’m cut out to run a bed and breakfast. There’s always a possibility I’ll put this house up for sale. Mind you, I said it’s just a possibility.”
Gloria’s face brightened. “When will you know? What can I do to help you make a decision?”
Okay, Phil rolled his eyes behind Gloria’s back.
Bea blinked several times before looking into the woman’s eyes. “I’ll have to weigh all my options.”
I snickered, but Gloria turned and gave me The Look. I forced myself to settle down and changed the subject.
“Felicity, did you find anything else in the box?”
“As a matter of fact, I did.”
“You did?” I was surprised and disappointed that I’d missed something.
Gloria sidled over to stand behind Felicity and read something over her shoulder.
I could see Felicity’s shoulder hunch a little. She took a deep breath and tried to release the tension.
“This note was stuck to another piece of paper. There’s a hole in the top and I think it might have been tacked to the door.”
“What does it say?” I was becoming impatient, partly due to dealing with Gloria.
Gloria pulled the paper out of Felicity’s hand. “I’ll read it to you.”
“Tim,
I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. The Sheriff has asked for my assistance regarding the bank robbery in Little Creek. For some reason they think the robbers may have been from Battle Ground.
I’m sorry I have to set aside my search for your wife.”
“It’s signed Marshal Tibbits.” Gloria handed me the note. “I guess you might have missed something important.”
The crying sound started again. Everyone froze in place and listened intently while the room seemed to take on a chill.
Pete finally turned and headed upstairs, apparently hoping to find the source of the noise.
Gloria dogged his footsteps.
He glanced over his shoulder with fire in his eyes. He didn’t want her following him.
She ignored his look.
Phil shrugged his shoulders. “There’s no stopping her when she puts her mind to something.”
There was a clap of thunder, a loud sob, and the crying ended.
“That was so odd.” Stanley looked up and around, as though he was searching the ceiling for answers. His face was pale and his eyes were wide.
“We’ll figure it out,” I said.
I read the note for myself. “Can you imagine how Tim must have felt to find out that a bank robbery was more important to others than his wife’s disappearance? Of course, the cops may have thought she left him, but I think he knew better. He wouldn’t have spent a lifetime searching for her if he even thought she’d left him.”
Felicity closed her eyes for a moment, deep in thought. “If I’d have been here I would have based my suspicions on whether she packed her clothes and jewelry. If those were still here, then she didn’t leave him.”
Bea held up her index finger, wanting to speak. “And there’s your answer. As so often happens, no one had ever really cleaned out the attic. I found some vintage clothing and jewelry in the attic when I first went up there, and I’m sure it was Sally’s. I gave it all to Binky for her antique store. Well, I gave part of the things to her and the rest to Carolyn from the other antique store. It seemed only fair.”
I glanced around to be sure Gloria hadn’t snuck up behind me. I didn’t want her interfering. “Not that it would solve anything, but I’d like to see her belongings. That’s next on my To Do list.”
I couldn’t help but laugh when Phil said, “Shh. Here comes my wife.”
Chapter Thirty-four
Gloria seemed upset with Pete and continued to follow in his footsteps. “I don’t believe it’s the wind! I know there’s a ghost in this house and she’s crying. Why, it’s enough to break my heart.”
“Yeah, sure.” Pete was practically pouting. He wasn’t at all happy with his shadow.
“Who’s interested in lunch?” Bea asked, trying to change the conversation to something more palatable.
I raised my hand. “Me.”
The others raised their hands, too.
Gloria looked deeply into Pete’s eyes. “We’ll discuss this over lunch.”
“Why don’t you – “
Phil knew which way the wind was blowing and interrupted. “Gloria, why don’t we go out to lunch and then go look at houses? If there’s one haunted house in this area then there are bound to be others.”
Gloria’s face softened. “You do know the way to my heart, Phillip. Let me get my purse from upstairs. Of course, don’t forget that Bea might sell this house.”
He looked downright proud of himself when she left the room.
“Thanks, pal.” Pete looked grateful.
“You just have to know how to handle her.”
The Stewarts left with Gloria hanging onto Phil’s arm.
Sasha crept out of the kitchen. “Is she gone?”
Kimberly looked over her sister’s shoulder.
Bea pulled them out of the kitchen. “Yes. They should be gone for a good long time.”
“Congrat
s on the house,” Kimberly said. “We overheard everything.”
“Yes, congratulations,” Sasha said. “I’m glad you’ll be here part of the time.”
“Thanks.” I smiled at the two women. “Where’s Sam today?”
“He had to work. He’ll be back this afternoon. He’s taken so much time away from his business that he figured he’d better put in an appearance.”
“What kind of work does Sam do?” I asked.
“He has a small store and does appliance repair jobs. He never takes time off, so his two employees were happy to take over for him for a few days.” I could hear pride in Sasha’s voice. “He works hard for his money.”
“I’m sure he does,” I said. “I like Sam. You two make a great couple.”
I turned to Felicity.
“After lunch, why don’t we go into town to the antique stores? I doubt if we’ll find anything pertinent, but you never know.”
Bea looked hesitant before she asked, “Would you mind if I go with you? I know exactly which things belonged to Sally. I’m sure I can help, and maybe hurry things along so you don’t waste your time.”
“We’d love to have you come with us,” I replied. “I think it would be fun.”
“What are we going to do while they’re away?” The expression on Stanley’s face made me feel like he didn’t want to be left out.
Pete stared at Stanley for a moment. “Since Gloria’s gone, we’ll see if we can figure out where that crying sound is coming from, okay?”
“Uh, yes, of course. Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” Stanley believed in ghosts whole-heartedly. This wouldn’t be his task of choice.
“Anything to get Gloria to back off,” Pete replied. “And I think this is the only thing we can do to shut her up.”
Stanley smiled. “Yes. You’re absolutely right. We need to make her… Uh, back off, as you said.”
Bea excused herself and headed for the kitchen to fix lunch.
She brought out salads with a variety of dressings, and homemade chicken noodle soup before turning to go back to the kitchen.