It made them both smile.
Connor closed his hand over hers on the table.
“That was a beautiful epitaph you wrote for Lorelei.”
“It came to me right after we found her. I pulled it out of the air.”
“You got it from your heart.”
* * *
At the end of this long and emotional day, Connor dropped Laura off at her apartment.
She looked around for Empress Isabella because she wanted to have a chat with the cat, but the feline was nowhere to be seen.
“Hey, Isabella! I could use some help here!”
What form that help might take could be decided later. Laura just wanted to see the cat because she hadn’t been very nice to Isabella the last few times she saw her. There seemed to be frequent lapses in the cat’s behavior that warranted scolding. Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen the cat for several days, maybe close to a week. Hard to tell because Laura had been so busy with this memorial and finalizing the details for the Heritage Days Festival, not to mention warding off the press and everybody else’s questions. Perhaps the empress was punishing her?
Could be.
Maybe.
Chapter 42
“That was a beautiful poem you wrote, Laura,” Jenna said. “I saw you had it carved on Lorelei’s tombstone, too.”
“Yes, it was,” Erica agreed. “Where’d you steal it from? Ow!”
The cry was from getting her hand slapped by Jenna.
“The ceremony was nice,” Max told Laura. “For once, we had the whole town listening to something. Nobody whispering or coughing. Reminds me of the day Harry called the town meeting to announce you were coming back.”
“That kind of pin-dropping attention doesn’t happen very often,” Kelly agreed.
“Yeah, and how about that drug bust at the Old Library?” Erica said.
“Not the kind of notoriety this town needs, though. It was a pseudo-fentanyl operation where they were cloning actual drug distributors’ paperwork and labels and making some empty pills and selling them as real fentanyl,” Jenna commented.
“I heard,” Max added, “they were about to send the stuff to our medical center.”
“Can you imagine what effect that would have had on people here, like someone with cancer who needs it?” Kelly said.
“I know. This time Charlie Kovacs didn’t have to hype up the story. This was a big deal on its own,” Nick said. “My guess is he’ll stretch it out as long as he can, and we’ll see updates in the Bulletin for years.”
When the laughter died down, Laura jumped at the opportunity to change the subject.
“Okay, so that’s it for our training, guys,” she said, shortly after eleven o’clock on Saturday morning as the group of long-time friends was walking back to the parking lot. “Dunk tank, here we come!”
Erica, Laura, Max and Nicky were all trained on how to operate the dunk tank and to spot when something wasn’t working just right. They were grateful, however, that the tank company was providing a helper on the day. Jenna came along to make sure everyone remained on their best adult behavior and signed all the proper liability release forms. Kelly came along just to laugh at them.
“Who’s being dunked besides Connor and the other cops?” Max asked.
“A firefighter whose name escapes me—” Laura began.
“Alan Hall,” Erica said.
“Thanks, and one swimming pool lifeguard named Scott something.”
“Scott Somers,” Erica filled in the blank again. “They’re both hotties but don’t tell my boyfriend Torrey I said that.”
“Oh, and Eric Williams. What about you guys?” Laura asked Max and Nicky.
Both shook their heads.
“How come not?”
“We’re not celebrities in the town. No one would buy tickets.”
“How did you ever get Eric to agree to it?” Kelly asked.
“I didn’t. He called me and volunteered.”
“What’s going on with him lately?”
Laura shrugged.
“He may have finally met someone for whom he wishes to change his attitude, but that’s just a wild guess.”
“Susan is nice. But wow, we sure have a full line up now, don’t we?”
“Yes, we’ll have to allot time slots, but that’s really better all around because no one is worn out.”
“Unless we want to schedule Sven for a couple of double shifts,” Kelly suggested.
“What’s behind this?” Laura demanded.
Erica took the wheel of her parents’ van as they all climbed aboard.
“Okay to tell, Kel?”
Following Kelly’s oh-why-not look, Erica continued.
“When they were dating, he gave her two tickets. One for rolling through a stop sign and one for parking about one inch too close to the corner—or was it out too far from the curb? I forget. Anyway, her parents took the car keys away for a month because they were still paying for her car insurance and one ticket was a moving violation.”
Kelly made a face.
“It was embarrassing,” she said. “I had to ride the bus to my college classes!”
“Well, at least he’s going to get dunked,” Laura said. “Connor wore that white glove for two weeks to make sure, and Sven has no choice but to keep his part of the bargain, so he’ll be sitting in the tank.”
Laughter filled the van.
After Erica dropped everyone off except Laura and pulled her parents’ van into the parking space behind the florist shop, she turned to her last passenger.
“You know I was joking, Laura, about your poem, right? It was really pretty. I liked it.”
“Yes, I knew you were kidding,” Laura responded, giving her friend a playful arm punch.
“How did you guys find those bones in the Old Library, anyway?”
Here it came, but Laura was expecting it.
“I didn’t find anything. The FBI did, at least according to Charlie Kovacs and our local news stations.”
“Didn’t you help them?”
“Erica, remember those boxes of books I bought from Peter Fulton? Guess what I found in one of the books—Lorelei’s library card. And when I was helping Melba set up the display at the New Library for Heritage Days—which, by the way, you’re going to love—I printed out a bunch of sign-out sheets for different years where people signed out the books they checked out. Remember, no computers yet! I found a page in 1918 on microfilm that showed Lorelei checked out a book on the day she disappeared. I looked it up in the current computer catalog and the book was still there. I turned it all over to the police to handle.”
“Wow. So she never left the library and somebody killed her there and stuffed her body in a window seat? That’s horrible! How’d the FBI know where to look?”
Laura shrugged.
“Well, she got a nice send-off. Torrey was sitting behind me and had to give me a tissue when he heard me sniffling.”
“You know, I like Torrey more and more. I really think he’s a keeper, Erica.”
“You and me both.”
And then it was Laura’s turn.
“Hey, Erica. You know how Max and Nicky always come out to help me when I need something big and heavy lugged around?”
Erica nodded but got very quiet.
“Know anything about why they always jump when Connor asks them?”
“I couldn’t say.”
Laura heard, I know, but I can’t tell you.
And what was obviously missing here, as well, was Erica telling Laura to ask Max and Nicky, or even Connor. So Laura let it go because Erica, the one who knew everything that went on in the town, second only to Harry Kovacs, wasn’t going to talk. That, in itself, was very telling. Now she had to know.
Next one on the list to ask: Harry Kovacs.
* * *
The Raging Ford Bank & Trust Company had Saturday afternoon hours! Who knew?
And not only that, but the very person Laura wanted to talk w
ith was also there: Sabina Flynn, the bank manager. And she had time to talk with Laura. Nice when it all came together.
“How are you settling in to married life with Jack?” Laura asked, smiling.
“Oh, it’s wonderful! I wanted to marry that man from the day I first met him,” she sighed. “So what can I help you with today, Laura?”
“I’m curious about the owner of the Old Library.”
“Isn’t that out on Route 4?”
“Yes. I wanted to get with whomever I’m supposed to get with to talk about renovating it. I heard it’s in a trust.”
“Did you check county records?”
“Yes, and they told me the Raging Ford Bank & Trust Company is the trustee of the trust that owns it.”
“Hmm,” Sabina murmured and looked it up in her system. “The bank is trustee for a number of trusts in this area, but I’m not familiar with all of them yet. Here it is. Oh—it’s a sealed trust.”
“But it’s not a blind trust.”
“Right, but if it was filed with the request to be sealed, I can’t tell you anything about it. Not the beneficiaries or anything.”
“I was afraid you were going to tell me that. When does the trust end or has it already?”
“One hundred years and not ended yet. That much I can tell you.”
“Wow, that’s a long time for a trust. How do they have real estate tax payments set up, since the person or persons who set it up are no longer alive? Can you tell me that?”
Sabina nodded.
“Apparently when the trust was first set up, a fund was included to pay for taxes, oh, and insurance, as well.”
“Can you tell me how much land is included?”
“No, but you’d probably be able to get that from the county.”
“Well, I did, sort of, but it looks like a huge parcel of land. I was hoping to get that corroborated.”
“Sorry, Laura. Sealed.”
“Can you tell me when the hundred years expires?”
“Yes. In three years on October first.”
“So I have to wait three years to talk to the beneficiary of the trust about renovating that beautiful Victorian building.”
“I think so.”
“Oh, one last question. Does the beneficiary know they’re a beneficiary?”
“I don’t know the answer to that, sorry. My guess is no since the trust has been in place for almost a century.”
A sealed trust, nearly one hundred years old.
Why would someone set something like that up?
Was it connected with Samuel Rage or the Dowells or Munleys? And if so, how would they have known a hundred years ago whom to designate as a beneficiary?
* * *
Laura took over the shop for the last of the Saturday stragglers and gave Alison a big hug.
“I’ve really appreciated all the help you gave me these last couple of weeks. I’ve had a lot on my plate.”
“My pleasure, dear. This is the most fun I’ve had in years. It’s fun selling things!”
After the shop closed for the day, Laura made a few phone calls and a few plans for a small gathering after the Heritage Days Festival.
Then she looked for the cat again.
Chapter 43
“I heard the flea market yesterday was a total success!” Kelly said, as she hauled a bag of secret stuff over her shoulder, similar to what Laura was carrying over to the area of the school grounds where the infamous dunk tank was already standing, being filled.
“Absolutely. I even found a few things I can re-sell in the store that look barely touched. Got them from someone who’s moving and ‘everything must go.’ ”
The women waved to Max and Nicky setting up the tank with the company-provided assistant.
“Where’s the schedule, Laura?” Nicky called.
“Right behind us. Erica’s bringing it.”
“Where do you want these bags?” Kelly asked.
“Hidden for now. How about under that draped ticket seller table by the tank?”
So that’s where they stored their secret stuff.
It was barely past dawn, but booths were already popping up all over the parking lot and grounds. Food concessions had backed their trucks up to their designated spots and were unloading and setting up. Then the trucks vanished into one of many cul-de-sacs in the neighborhood.
Erica showed up with one of Laura’s white boards, wiped clean of all notations related to Lorelei Rage, and a collapsed tripod. In a bag over her shoulder were dry erase pens and two erasers. She put up the tripod and added the board, not far from the tank and pulled out the much-altered schedule for reference to mark up for everyone to see.
Laura glanced at it and noticed Sven was down for two hour-long shifts.
“Kelly? Did you put Sven down for two double shifts?”
“Why would you think I did that?”
“Well,” Erica put in, “for one thing you said you were going to do that in my parents’ van on the way home from the dunk tank training.”
“It’s for a good cause,” Kelly defended herself.
“Did you think we wouldn’t notice? Fix it, Erica, and erase the two extra half-hours for Sven. Leave them blank. Now we need to fill those two slots. Everybody gets a thirty-minute shift and there has to be a minimum of an hour in between shifts. Hey, Nick, old pal!” Laura called. And somehow, she convinced Max and Nicky each to take one of the two half-hour slots. They were already dressed for the adventure since they were helping to operate the tank and were close enough to get splashed on a regular basis.
Laura turned to Kelly.
“Did you at least bring the nose plugs and ear plugs for everyone?”
Kelly rolled her eyes and handed over the bag.
* * *
Laura wandered among the craft booths being set up and was delighted by more than one of them. She asked the crafters questions about their crafts and what their asking prices were. In the end, she collected a dozen business cards from crafters who expressed an interest in selling their goods through her shop on consignment, agreeing to the ten percent seller’s fee for Second Treasures.
Next, she checked out the food booths and saw that they had a wide variety of foods and drinks for all the patrons of the fair. It looked good. Then she spotted Brenda Christmas, the elementary school principal, also wandering around, checking out the booths. At one booth still empty, Christmas stopped and made a phone call then continued around the grounds, checking the game booths and fish pond and finally made her way to the dunk tank which was now filled.
Laura returned from her walk at the same time.
“Laura, you look like you’re all set and ready to go. Everything looks good.”
“Thanks, Brenda. I hope we make all the money we need from the tank.”
“Me, too.”
“I see you have an empty booth.”
“Not for long. My teachers are coming with their crafts and my beaded favor bags. We’re also having a cake raffle. Wait until you see what kind of cake I made this year!”
Brenda Christmas was famous in Raging Ford for her decorative, specialty cakes that looked like tiered, flowered sunhats or graduation scrolls. Once she made a bust of Spiderman. She also created numerous party favors that sparkled with beads and tinsel threads and ribbons: coin purses, mini wallets, and eyeglass cases, plus more.
“One of the second grade teachers, Heather Clendenen, has been with this school for at least twenty years. She’s the one who got us all started on those little stuffed animals for the kids. She makes beautiful table centerpieces you’ll see at this booth today, too.”
Laura couldn’t wait to see what the cake was for today’s raffle, but she also tucked away this tidbit of data regarding how long the school had used stuffed animals to help younger kids with problems. It was a good thing she’d ruled out the photography studios. This was the confirmation she needed for the last item on the list of her father’s clues. While the teacher Clendenen was not o
n Laura’s final list of twelve, she had already turned everything over to Nolan Frye to figure out the rest.
Just then, Jenna came rushing from her car across the street, wheeling a small money catcher behind her. She was usually on time for everything, but today, she seemed a bit out of sorts. Also breathless from hurrying.
“Slow down, Jenna,” Laura said. “We have time. Everything’s set up. What’s wrong?”
“I’m on a new medication that makes me very sensitive to the sunlight. Is it okay if I sit at the ticket table the whole day? I know it isn’t fair to others, but I just don’t feel that great. I’m sorry; I don’t think I can take part in the…surprise thing. If I feel better, I’ll do it.”
“It’s fine. Sit. Do I need to get you lots of water or special foods?”
“No, it’s okay. I just need to stay out of the sun.”
“Okay, you shout if you need anything. Or text me if it’s too loud.”
Fair opening was only an hour away now, and people were beginning to walk over from their cars or homes and get in line. Now they just had to wait for the dunkees to show up. Within minutes, she saw them sprinting over to the dunk tank from several different directions. She caught sight of Mauricio Sanchez wearing a SpongeBob Squarepants costume and laughed, took pictures of him on her iPhone.
Laura gathered them together by the tank and let the company assistant demonstrate how the seat and reset lever worked, how they should sit straight with their hands on their knees, how to climb back up to the seat, how to climb in and out of the tank. Max and Nicky had the responsibility for maintaining the water level in the tank. Also, Laura stressed the shift in activities as the dunkee changed. Every thirty minutes there would be a rotation of dunkees and helpers similar to volleyball when each team serves.
They all checked out the white board for their scheduled shifts and those who weren’t on first looked around at everything else, especially the food stalls. They all laughed at Mo Sanchez.
It should be noted that Laura had been told Harry Kovacs never came to the first two days of the festival. Yet here he was, she saw, and heading her way near the dunk tank.
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