“So.”
“Hear me out. They would have known that whoever bought this place would see the opening, explore the tunnel, and discover what they were up to.”
Juniper didn’t quite get where this was going, but nodded anyway.
Jack got up and paced beside the table while he talked. “So he or she covered it up.”
“Okay, but that still leaves one big plot hole in the theory. The million-dollar question, really: if they covered it up, how are they getting in to torture me?”
He grinned like a kid. “That’s what we need to figure out.”
“You’re not helpful.”
“You’re not following me. My guess is the entrance is covered, but it opens up somehow.”
“Like a secret passageway?” Juniper laughed. “And you accused me of reading Eve’s spy novels.”
He stopped pacing, rested his hands on the table, and leaned over. “I never did get properly seduced.”
“And you never will unless we find that tunnel entrance and solve this mystery.” Before she knew it he had scooped her up and slung her over his shoulder.
“What do you say we try out that new bed?”
“Jack, put me down. There are people here.”
“There are always going to be people here, Junie, it’s an Inn. I suggest you get used to it.” Jack carried her up the stairs while she rotated between laughter and swear words.
“Jack.” Her voice grew serious when he reached the third step. He set her down.
“What is it?”
“Look.”
Jack looked at the bottom of the stairs where she was pointing but he didn’t seem to see anything.
“What am I looking at? Did you find the hidden door?”
“You can’t see her?” Juniper asked, turning to look at Jack’s blank face.
“See who?”
“Victoria.” But the ghost was gone when she turned back.
“That was the longest I’ve ever seen her for. She must be getting stronger. She was almost solid, not just a floating light. Daemon hoped she would get strong enough to tell us who was behind this. Of course at the time we thought maybe it was a poltergeist.”
“Daemon?”
“Daemon Wraith. The ghostbuster.” Juniper replied. “That reminds me, have you seen her diary? Remember the little leather pocketbook that Lulu gave us?”
Jack nodded. “Yes, I think I saw the box you packed it in. I’ll have a look later.”
***
Juniper got her second wind after she ate. Finn and Jack had moved the bulk of the furniture in and the three of them had sat down and eaten ham and swiss sandwiches from Deer’s deli. Jack was now looking for Victoria’s diary while Juniper made a list of things she still had to do before the opening. One of the things on her list was to check on the order she’d placed with Louise. This was as good a time as any, so she told Jack where she was going and headed out. Louise was putting the finishing touches on a cheese display when Juniper entered her shop. Jelly’s mingled with jars of nuts, and Louise had layered packaged cheeses all through it.
“Your display is gorgeous,” Juniper said. “I’ve never seen a cheese shop look so stylish before.”
Louise just about beamed. “Thanks.” She sighed. “I have a bride coming in today who wants a cheese theme at her wedding. Must be nice to be a bride,” she said, sounding defeated.
“I take it Rudolph is still being…” Juniper searched for a word.
“A pain in the rear.” Louise finished it for her.
“Why didn’t you tell me Rudolph was the one telling people I was selling the Inn?”
Louise’s face reddened. “I’m sorry, Junie. I should have said something, but he didn’t actually say you were selling, he said he thought you would.”
That was the same thing, in Juniper’s mind. “Well, I talked to him yesterday and straightened him out. But that’s not why I’m here. I wanted to check to see if everything was on schedule.”
Louise said it was, and they discussed when she should start putting things in place.
Before Juniper left, Louise asked her how the meeting had gone. Juniper told her about the meeting, Hatti, and the tunnels.
“Ooh, secret tunnels sound so mysterious,” she said. “You’re living a movie plot.”
Juniper laughed. “Yes, a horror movie.”
“I guess so,” she said. “Keep me posted on those tunnels. If you find a way in, I’d love to see them.”
“Will do.”
***
The phone rang as Juniper was getting ready to leave the Inn. Finn had already gone and, by four, she’d decided to call it quits, too. They were having dinner at Jack’s parents place. Juniper was tempted to let the call go to voice mail, but made herself answer it. Hallelujah. It was the Building Inspector. She’d called days ago to schedule the final inspection, and he was calling to let her know that he couldn’t make it but that someone else would be there the next morning.
Thank goodness, with only two days to go. She was going to miss a day of sledding at the Bohemian Caravan Christmas Festival with Jack and his family but this was the big inspection that would permit her to open the taproom, so what choice was there?
Thirty Four
_____________
J ACK and Juniper spent their first night together watching old Christmas movies in their new bed at the Gothic Haunt. Juniper didn’t want to take any chances that there would be sabotage again before the big inspection. Before bed and then again in the morning, they walked through each room, checking and double-checking everything. Juniper was relieved to find all was in order.
Juniper had some time before the inspector was due to arrive, so she went over to Cookies and Corsets to grab a cappuccino while Jack headed off with Pike, Finn and his family for a day of fun at the Caravan Manor’s Winter Carnival. Jack had offered to stay back to keep her company but there was no point in both of them missing out. Besides, this was a tradition for the town, not to mention his nieces and nephews would have been heartbroken to sled without him.
One of Pike’s part-time baristas was at the counter, which was typical for a Saturday.
Suddenly, they heard a series of loud bangs, causing both women to jump in surprise. They looked around in confusion for a second, then both suddenly realized the explosions they were hearing were fireworks.
As the tension began to leave their bodies, they both began to laugh. Juniper ran a hand through her blonde hair. “I guess they must be doing a trial run on tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display.”
They chatted while she made the cappuccino, then Juniper took it back to the mansion with her. Juniper had just finished her coffee when the doorbell to the Inn buzzed.
She swung the heavy wood door open and was surprised to see the man from the deli—Rudolph’s friend.
“Hello, the name’s Red Birch.”
He showed her the paperwork and explained what he was going to look for. Thirty minutes later he was done.
“Congratulations,” He said with a smile. “You passed.”
Juniper could have hugged him. “Thank you. Considering we have a big launch planned for tomorrow, that’s mighty good news and, let me tell you, it’s nice to finally get some good news,” Juniper said. “Come back after we open and dinner is on the house.”
“Will do and I’ll bring the wife, but no freebies necessary. Someone might insinuate I’m on the take.”
“Oh, my.” Juniper laughed, unsure as to whether he was being serious or not.
“Don’t laugh. You wouldn’t believe how often...” He stopped and shook his head. “Oh, well.” He had her sign off on the inspection and they chatted another minute or two, then he was off to his next job.
When he was gone, the reality that the Gothic Haunt was opening the next day on New Year’s Eve hit Juniper and she squealed with joy. She did a little dance around the room. They passed! The Gothic Haunt was a go. After so much hard work and so many things that had
gone wrong, they were actually going to open. With tears in her eyes, she looked up toward the ceiling. She could almost hear Feliz gloating.
She sent an email off to her staff with the confirmed schedule for the next day letting them know the good news and then called Jack. Sadly, she got his voicemail. Perhaps she’d head over to Caravan Manor and catch up on the Christmas festivities. As she passed by the basement door she stopped. The tunnels. She hadn’t given them a thought all day.
Was it possible they missed something yesterday? They’d checked all the walls for an opening, except those blocked by the new shelving. The floor was solid so there was nowhere for a trapdoor, but it wouldn’t hurt to take one more look. Juniper went back to her parlor and grabbed a flashlight just in case. She had just started down the stairs when her phone rang.
It was Jack. “Hello, my love. How are you?”
“Jealous.” Juniper exclaimed.
“Well, don’t worry. You missed a horrendous day,” he said. Juniper heard his nieces giggle in the background.
“You’re a filthy liar but thank you for not rubbing it in.”
“Are you all curled up on the couch with a book or relaxing in the tub?” he asked.
“Neither. I’m in the basement.”
“Of course you are.”
“I thought I’d do one last search for the tunnel entrance and then I’d come join you for some egg nog and sledding.”
“Well, that sounds fantastic, but how about peppermint schnapps and a Christmas movie in our new place instead? We can go sledding tomorrow. The wee ones got soaked. I’m just dropping them off to their mother now.”
Juniper crossed the basement floor to the first wall they’d checked the day before. “Sounds like a very merry night to me. I should be done by the time you get here—especially if I don’t find anything.”
“Alright. Be careful. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Juniper stuffed her phone into the front pocket of her jeans once he hung up. There was plenty of light in the basement, but she turned the flashlight on anyway and aimed the beam at the wall. She moved the light in a grid pattern, then did the same to the other walls. The walnut shelves were laid out in long rows like a bookstore, only it was wine bottles instead of books that filled the diagonal alcoves.
In the center of the room was an island with shelves where the cases and boxes of wine could be stored and on top of the table was a wine wheel rack.
Nothing.
Juniper headed up the stairs and was about to turn off the flashlight when she suddenly had the very distinct feeling she was being watched. She stopped walking and looked around.
Still nothing.
She walked back into the wine cellar and turned in a circle, trying to feel where the sensation was coming from. This was silly. It was time to go upstairs. As Juniper paced back through the door, her breath caught in her throat. Right there halfway up the stairs was the white woman. A split second later the ghost of Victoria disappeared.
Juniper took a few deep breaths and then once again headed up the stairs and that’s when it dawned on her. She always appeared when Juniper was on that midway step and this time she’d reversed it and she’d appeared on the step, herself. Juniper thought long and hard about what that could mean and then she remembered thinking once that not all of the stairs sounded the same. Some creaked and there were a couple that felt like they had more bounce. At the time she’d added it to her checklist. They couldn’t have these stairs rotting out. Now Juniper wondered if it was something else. Juniper banged her foot down on one of the suspicious steps and it almost sounded hollow. She went down a couple and banged again.
Thud. Thud.
Something was off about these stairs. It was a long shot, but she’d checked everywhere else. She bent down and shined the light over the seams of the stairs. Then she remembered one of the stories she’d heard from Jack’s brother at dinner. He’d mentioned that the most sophisticated priest hole was located under the boards of the grand stairway in Harvington Hall. As Juniper tugged, two of the steps moved.
Holy holly.
The stairs were linked by a hinge that allowed them to be lifted as one. Juniper looked into the secret compartment under the steps and, sure enough, there was a ladder down. Not that she needed the ladder, you could pretty much jump down into the space. Hatti had been right after all. There was a tunnel, and she’d just found the entrance.
At least Juniper thought it was the entrance. It had to be. The hinges were as quiet as those on a brand-new door. Someone had kept them well oiled.
Juniper dropped down into the hole. Her heart beat faster as she stared down the tunnel as if it were the barrel of a gun—somewhere in that dark abyss was a murderer. She slipped her phone from her pocket to check the time. When would Jack arrive? She didn’t want to wait. He’d have to catch up with her. She went in. The passageway was damp but, surprisingly, there were no visible cobwebs or spiders anywhere.
When she’d gone about sixty feet, the passage widened and opened into the cavernous space from Hatti’s photograph. The historian was going to be thrilled when Juniper showed her. From here there were three more tunnels, each going in a different direction. Juniper walked a few feet into the one at her left and shined the light ahead. It looked like this one curved around behind the house, then straightened. She’d save it for last. She retraced her steps and checked the passageway on the right. It was wide enough for three people to walk side by side, but it was not well kept. After a minute or so, she came to another passageway. It only took a couple of minutes to reach the end. There was a door. Juniper gripped the doorknob and hesitated. She had no idea what she’d find behind it. Juniper had to at least take a peek, then she’d go back and wait for Jack. Her scalp tingled with anticipation as she inched open the door.
Darkness. She scanned the room with her flashlight and saw that she was in a basement. Cardboard boxes lined the walls, and some were stacked in the center of the room. Empty crates were tossed in a pile in one corner.
Juniper moved up the stairs and entered the shop above. Holy Havarti.
This was the cheese shop.
Juniper crept quietly back down the stairs.
Accidentally tripping over one of the crates and knocking down a whole stack. She paused to see if Louise had heard but thankfully there was no movement.
When she started to move again, she noticed that one of the lids had popped off, pill bottles spilled out of the crates. Juniper picked one up. Ibuprofen. Now, why would Louise have a crate full of headache medicine? Juniper twisted the cap—her head was pounding and she could sure use one right now. Inside were tiny packets of white powder. Cocaine. No, not lovely Louise!
And here, she’d been practically keeping her up to date on the progress of her investigation. How stupid of Juniper. Louise probably laughed behind her back every time she left the store.
She walked to another crate and lifted the lid. Inside were multi-vitamins. Juniper twisted the cap open and, sure enough, the bottle was full of colorful candies. This was what Kaden had been talking about, the new street drug MOLLY or MDMA that was being sold to the local high school kids.
Juniper marched through the door, closing it softly behind her. The only illumination was from the flashlight Juniper still carried. She was beyond mad as she made her way back down the tunnel from where she’d come. When she’d safely reached her own basement and crawled up the ladder up through the opening in the stairs, she punched in Kaden’s cell. His voice mail picked up.
“Kaden, it’s me. Call me back as soon as you get this message. I found the killer. You’re never going to believe it, but it’s Louise and she’s trafficking drugs. I just found a tunnel from her basement to mine.” Juniper hit the end button and called Jack. He picked up on the first ring.
“I found it,” Juniper said. “I found the tunnel.”
“That’s great!”
“It was under the stairs.” Juniper started to tell him about Louise wh
en a voice behind her said, “Hang up the phone if you want to live.”
Juniper spun around. It was Rudolph.
Thirty Five
_____________
T HE air had changed inside Juniper’s basement, sending gooseflesh over her arms and a tendril of fear took root in her scalp and curled down her backbone. She’d been so focused on calling Kaden and Jack, she only now noticed that the basement lights were switched off.
Rudolph stepped out of the darkness, something strangely disagreeable flashed in his eyes. “I said hang up.”
“I’ll talk to you later,” Juniper said into the phone.
“Wait! What is Rudolph doing there?” Jack said into her ear.
“Good question.”
Jack mumbled an obscenity. “I’ll be there in ten.”
“Now!” Rudolph demanded.
Panic jutted through Juniper’s limbs as thoughts snapped together in her brain like click-lock flooring. That wasn’t just Louise’s basement. She shared the building with Rudolph and he was the one with a pharmacy. How could she have been so stupid?
Instead of just disconnecting, she hit mute and then hit select on Penny’s name. Penny would be able to hear them, but not the other way around. At least if she was going to be murdered, Penny would get the exclusive. She pocketed the phone. “Done,” Juniper said.
He flicked the switch on the wall and turned on the overhead light. Juniper blinked at the sudden brightness of the room. Rudolph held a gun in one hand and a metal baseball bat in the other—Louise’s bat. Rudolph had taken it. Oh God. It was the murder weapon after all. Juniper’s stomach knotted.
“How about you turn around and climb back down into that tunnel, it looks like we’ve got ourselves a date,” Rudolph said.
“I don’t think so. You’re not my type.” Juniper wasn’t going to show him how frightened she was.
“Smart and rich aren’t important qualities to you?”
“More like slimy and rotten.” For a split second she thought about bolting all the way up the stairs, but he’d already killed two people. Shooting her in the back would most likely make his day.
Candy Canes, Corpses and the Gothic Haunt Page 14