The Pine Hill Inn

by J A Whiting

  “Interesting,” Ella nodded. “I didn’t think about that.”

  “Oh, hey.” Matt Center, the young man who worked in the kitchen and was friendly with Leo was just getting out of his car. “What brings you back to the inn?” he noticed Raisin. “Oh, a cat. Is it yours?”

  “Yeah, she likes to come out with us. We were talking again with some of the staff,” Livvy told him. “Do you have a few minutes?”

  Matt checked his watch. “Yeah, I can talk to you. I’m early. It’s not time for my shift yet.”

  They walked to the rear lawns of the inn and sat at a table on a lighted brick patio.

  “What’s up? What do you want to talk about?” Matt asked. The man had an easy, pleasant way about him, in stark contrast to Brian’s sullen demeanor.

  “We’d like to go over a few things about the night Leo was killed,” Ella explained. “Did you notice if Leo’s girlfriend was here that evening?”

  “I didn’t see her. At least, I didn’t notice if she was here. She might have been. Just because I didn’t see her, it doesn’t mean she wasn’t here to see Leo. He didn’t tell me she came out,” Matt said. “It was a busy night. The kitchen was super busy. I got a chance to eat earlier, but a lot of customers came in later than usual and we weren’t expecting them. When Leo came inside from his dinner break, he seemed like he was feeling low. He was really quiet. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but he wasn’t himself.”

  “Did Leo ever say anything about his relationship with his girlfriend? Was the move here impacting how they got along?” Ella asked.

  “Leo told me it was stressful. He missed living with Rose. He said he was lonely sometimes going back to an empty apartment. They were used to living together. I think they shared an apartment in New York for over a year. So yeah, there were a lot of changes when they made the move.”

  “Did Leo mention anything about the possibility he and Rose might break up?” Livvy asked.

  “He didn’t say anything about that to me. We were friendly, but not close pals. We’d only been working together for a few months. I’m not sure Leo would feel comfortable saying anything about a break-up to me,” Matt said. “Oh, you know what? When I arrived for work that evening, I saw Leo talking to his brother at the corner of the parking lot. Remember I told you that every time Larry was here to talk to Leo, Leo would be in a bad mood for the rest of the shift? Well, when Leo came into the kitchen for his shift, he was in a really bad mood. He barely spoke to me, just answered with one word or a grunt. After an hour or so, he got better and seemed like himself. I didn’t ask him what had been wrong. I figured why set him off into a mood again.”

  “So how many times did you see Larry out here?” Ella questioned the young man.

  I’d say, let’s see, about three times. Like I said earlier, the brother might have been here more times than that and I just didn’t see him.”

  “It seems Leo and Larry didn’t have a good relationship?” Livvy asked.

  “I’d agree with that. At least, that was how it came off,” Matt said.

  “And Leo didn’t say much about his brother?”

  “He didn’t.” Matt shook his head. “But there were little things he mentioned like there was a wide age gap between him and his brother, he and Larry didn’t have anything in common, Leo really didn’t know Larry all that well. He only made little comments like that. He didn’t go into details.”

  “When Leo said those things, did he seem angry?”

  “No, not angry. Sort of annoyed that Larry was bothering him at work. Leo didn’t seem to want to make any effort as far as his brother was concerned,” Matt said. “Who knows why? There could be some resentment on Leo’s part that his brother never paid any attention to him when he was younger.”

  “That could be,” Livvy agreed.

  “Listen, I need to get inside for my shift. If I can help at all, just let me know. I still miss Leo. I’ve been thinking of looking for another job. It’s weird being in the kitchen knowing Leo was murdered. I think I’d like a different environment, some place where the reminders of him and what happened aren’t all around me.”

  Ella and Livvy decided to go back inside the inn to speak with Lucy.

  “No, Rebekah hasn’t been making any trouble at all. She’s been quiet as a mouse. Not like other years in the fall when she’s raging and fussing. It’s much, much better this year. I’m sure it’s all due to you and your ability to calm her down. Thanks for making this month a lot easier.”

  “Can we go up to room 11 to see if she’s around? Or have you booked the room?” Ella asked.

  “No way,” Lucy said. “I do not book that room in the fall … just in case, Rebekah gets rambunctious. I don’t need a customer freaking out by strange things going on in the room. Here’s the key. Tell her I said hello.”

  Ella, Livvy, and Raisin climbed the stairs and walked down the long hallway to the room. Ella swung the door open and they went inside to see if the ghost was there.

  Raisin jumped up on the bed and looked around, sniffing the air.

  Ella spoke the spirit’s name several times, but there was no response.

  “Well, she’s not making trouble so that’s a blessing,” Livvy noted and leaned close to her sister when she whispered, “You weren’t planning on asking her anything about her suitor or her death were you?”

  “No. I think we should leave that conversation for another day.”

  Livvy walked around the room. “Could she have crossed over?”

  “No, I can sense her. Not here in the room, but she’s still at the inn. I can feel her presence. And, she’s been on this side for such a long time after she died, I think she might need some help crossing.” Ella went to the window and looked down at the gardens and some movement caught her eye. “Oh, there she is. I can see her shimmering a little bit. She’s at the edge of the meadow.”

  Livvy joined her sister at the window. “I see the glimmer. I wouldn’t have noticed it on my own.”

  The light next to where Rebekah was standing began to change as if someone was walking through it, and suddenly, Leo appeared, his body see-through, with little bright points of light all over him.

  The ghost glanced up to the window, and nodded.

  Rebekah’s form brightened so that her body was more visible. She made eye contact with Livvy and Ella, and then the two spirits slowly faded from view and disappeared into the darkness.

  “They’re together,” Ella said. “I’m glad. Maybe Rebekah is a comfort to Leo. Maybe she’s helping him adjust to his sudden and unexpected situation.”

  “And maybe Rebekah is happy for the company,” Livvy suggested.

  Raisin trilled from behind the women.

  “You agree, cutie?” Livvy picked up the sweet cat and held her in her arms.

  “Let’s go home.” Ella yawned. “I’m ready to fall into bed.”

  While walking to their cars, Livvy asked, “How was your dinner with Liam? We’ve been so busy I haven’t thought to tease you about him.”

  Ella chuckled. “I can’t believe you missed an opportunity. Maybe we need to be busy more often.”

  “So how was it?”

  “It was good. He asks thoughtful questions. He really seems open to a new way of looking at the world.” Ella opened the back door of the car so Raisin could jump onto the rear seat.

  “I know all of that about him,” Livvy said. “But what about attraction? Did any sparks fly between you?”

  “We had a nice time talking.” Ella didn’t address the question.

  “Raisin likes him. If the cutie cat likes him, he must be a good guy.”

  Ella got into the driver’s seat with a smile. “If Raisin likes him so much, maybe she should date him.”

  Livvy rolled her eyes. “Don’t give that cat any ideas.”

  18

  It was late afternoon when Ella and Livvy were on the highway to Boston to meet with Rose Mahoney again. Ella was planning to reach out to Rose ab
out getting together one more time, but Rose beat her to it. The young woman wanted to talk again, but didn’t specify why.

  When the sisters arrived at the pub for the meeting, Rose waved at them from a corner booth.

  “Thanks for coming all the way out here,” Rose told them. “My schedule wouldn’t allow me to drive out to Quinsigamond for at least another week. I have an hour for dinner, then I have to go back to the office. It’s crunch time on a project and we’re working ridiculous hours.” Rose had dark circles under her eyes and little lines at the corners of her mouth. She seemed low-energy and down in mood.

  “We don’t mind coming into town,” Ella said. “It’s only about forty-five minutes away from Quinsigamond.”

  “Did you have something in particular you wanted to talk about?” Livvy was hoping to get right into a discussion so she could get home in time to put Jack to bed.

  Rose looked down and adjusted in her chair. “I don’t like to accuse anyone.”

  Goosebumps formed on Ella’s skin as she waited to hear more.

  “Look, I don’t like Leo’s brother, Larry,” Rose said. “I don’t trust him. I told the police this same thing.”

  “Why don’t you trust him?” Ella carefully watched the young woman’s face.

  “He was always badgering Leo. He showed up at the inn to see Leo on the day he died.”

  “How do you know that?” Livvy asked.

  “I saw Leo that day during his dinner break. We had a work thing that ended earlier than I expected so I drove out to see him.”

  Ella could see signs of fatigue and nervousness on Rose’s face and in her movements. “Did the move here cause any strain in your relationship?”

  “No.” Rose was about to say that everything was fine between them, but her shoulders drooped, and she said something else. “It was a lot more difficult than we thought it would be. It was a mistake not to find an apartment together. We both were so busy at work that we didn’t get to see each other enough. We were being pulled in different directions. Things would have been easier if we lived together and could have time together.”

  Ella’s voice was empathetic. “Were you headed for a break-up?”

  “Oh, no. Not from my side of it, and I don’t think Leo was thinking that way either. I would have been devastated if he wanted to leave me. I was hoping for a future together. This was a long-term thing for me. I was committed to Leo.” Rose nodded. “I was determined to make things work for us.”

  “Someone at the inn mentioned that Leo had been in a bad mood that day.” Livvy took a swallow from her coffee mug and set it down. “You saw him that day. Did you notice he was feeling down?”

  “I did notice.” Rose removed her sweater and placed it next to her on the booth seat. “We’d both been frustrated that we weren’t seeing each other enough. Leo was worried that finding an apartment half-way between our work places would be hard on both of us since we’d have longer commutes to work. He was feeling overwhelmed by all the changes, and so was I.”

  “Were things better between you after you talked during Leo’s dinner break that evening?” Livvy asked.

  “I felt more upbeat. I think Leo did, too.”

  Ella felt some unease when she heard these statements. Matt at the inn was clear when he told them that when Leo came back into the kitchen from his dinner break, he was in a sour mood.

  “During Leo’s break, he talked to you about Larry? Leo mentioned that Larry was at the inn when he arrived for work that day?”

  Rose’s brow furrowed. “He did. He told me Larry dropped by. He thought Larry was a pain. Leo didn’t like to talk to me about Larry. He knew Larry made me angry.” Rose rubbed her forehead. “Larry was such a pest. He couldn’t get it through his head that Leo wasn’t interested in a relationship.” The young woman pushed some strands of hair from her face. “That’s what I wanted to bring up with you.”

  “That Leo didn’t want to be friendly with his brother?” Livvy was confused.

  Rose seemed slightly impatient. “Yes, that, but Larry was after Leo’s money. Leo and his brother had different fathers. Larry didn’t inherit anything when Leo’s dad passed away. Larry was after Leo to lend him some money. He also asked Leo if he had a will and who was the beneficiary. He kept telling Leo about the importance of having a will now that he had a lot of money. Larry told Leo he should probably be the beneficiary, for now at least.”

  “Did Leo have a will?”

  “I don’t know. We were both young. We didn’t think about those kinds of things. We weren’t married, we didn’t have kids. I suppose Leo should have had one since he had so much money, but I don’t think Larry should have been nagging Leo about it. It made Larry seem like all he was after was Leo’s money. I didn’t like it. I would have told Larry so, if I’d had the chance.”

  Ella’s mind was racing. Did Leo have a will? Who would he have named as the beneficiary? Is this the reason someone killed him? To get at the money?

  Livvy straightened in her seat. “Where did Leo keep his important papers?”

  “I think he had a safety deposit box at the bank,” Rose said.

  “Which bank?”

  Rose told them. “Leo’s checking and savings accounts were there.”

  Ella asked calmly, “When Leo inherited the money, he must have had a lawyer or a financial advisor handling the transfer of the inheritance. Do you know who he worked with?”

  As Rose shook her head, her eyes welled up with tears. “The information must be in the safety deposit box.”

  “Did you tell these things to the police?” Livvy asked.

  “No. I wanted to tell you first. The police wouldn’t care what I thought. Maybe you can tell them my suspicions,” Rose suggested. “Tell the police. Tell them I think Larry must have killed Leo to get the money.”

  On the car ride home, Ella and Livvy talked about Leo’s brother, Larry.

  “I know that in Massachusetts, if there’s no spouse, no children, and no parents living when someone passes on, then the estate goes to the siblings of the deceased.” Ella changed lanes after someone cut in front of her.

  “Maybe Rose is right about Larry killing Leo,” Livvy said. “Larry must have known that Leo’s money would have gone to him if Leo didn’t have a will. Leo didn’t need to name his brother as beneficiary. Without a will, Larry would have inherited his brother’s estate, but with a will, the money would transfer to Larry more quickly.”

  “Larry could have been infuriated that Leo got such a large inheritance,” Ella guessed. “Rose said that Larry asked his brother for a loan. Larry might be in financial trouble. His art might not be selling as well as it once did. He could have overextended himself and now he’s strapped for cash.”

  “Should we tell Jonas about this?” Livvy asked.

  “I think we should,” Ella said. “When we get home, I’ll call his office and leave a message. He’s probably already looked into this, but I’ll tell him Rose is adamant that Larry be considered a suspect.”

  “Can you imagine coming up with the idea to kill a sibling to get the person’s money?” Livvy shook her head at the thought.

  “It’s a good thing none of us have much money,” Ella joked. “No one is tempted to do away with one of us to get their hands on a fortune.”

  “I knew there was a good side to not being a millionaire,” Livvy kidded.

  Ella dropped her sister at her house and they wished each other goodnight.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow evening,” Livvy said. “I’ll pick up you and Raisin right after I close the shop.”

  Once Ella was in her pajamas sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea and a cat on her lap, she placed the call to Jonas Damon explaining that she and Livvy had spoken with Rose Mahoney again and she strongly suspected that Larry killed his brother. Ella brought up wills and safety deposit boxes and suggested the detective get in touch with Rose.

  Pulling a cashmere throw over her legs, Ella decided to read for a while b
efore going to bed early. She hadn’t finished more than four pages of her book, when some swirling, shimmering particles took the form of Dorothy Browning, former owner of Ella’s antique Cape.

  Raisin lifted her head and meowed at the ghost as Ella looked up from her book.

  “Hello, Dorothy.”

  Tomorrow is the Magical Ball, am I right? Dorothy spoke to the young woman’s mind.

  “Yes, it is. We’re all looking forward to it. We’ll get to hang out with Mom, Aunt Kay, Kara, and Colleen. We’re only staying in Salem one night.”

  Before you leave Salem, be sure you and your relatives hold a witches’ circle.

  A chill ran over Ella’s skin. “Why should we do that?”

  Because it won’t hurt for you and Livvy to have more protection.

  Ella stared at the ghost. “Are Livvy and I in danger?”

  You’ve handled danger before, and you’ll handle it again. Just make sure you receive the strength of the circle before you come home. Tell the women I said so.

  The ghost disappeared.

  “She always does this,” Ella told the cat with a groan. “She always tells me to watch out for something, or to make sure I use a certain spell, but never, ever tells me why.”

  Raisin kindheartedly rubbed her head against the woman’s leg.

  19

  When Livvy pulled into the driveway of her mother’s house in Salem, Jodie hurried out to greet them and gathered her two daughters in her arms for a warm hug.