by Sarah Fox
My own phone was still out by the road somewhere but searching for it would have to wait until morning. I figured Brett had gone up to bed, and I decided to join him instead of spending the rest of the night on the couch. The light over the stairway was on, and when I reached the foot of the steps, I heard faint noises up above. I paused, listening and trying to figure out what was going on, but all I could make out was a scuffle and a quiet thud.
As soon as I reached the second floor, I saw that the light in the tower room was on, the door half open. I pushed it open wider. Bentley was curled up in the middle of the floor, but he jumped up when he saw me, his tail wagging as he skittered across the hardwood floors to greet me. Flapjack was snoozing on the window seat and didn’t so much as stir upon my arrival.
Brett had his back to me, but he turned and smiled as I ran my hand over Bentley’s fur.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Warm, and it’s wonderful.”
His smile faded and a crease formed between his eyebrows. “Did I wake you?”
“No, I didn’t hear anything until I reached the stairs.” I rubbed my sleepy eyes. “What are you doing?”
“I had a brainwave after you fell asleep.”
I put a hand to my mouth to cover a big yawn. “Please tell me this has something to do with Camelia and Grace’s secret hiding spot.”
“It does.”
That brought me more fully awake.
“All Camelia said in her diary was that the hiding spot was in this room, right?” Brett said.
“Right.”
“So maybe the hiding spot has nothing to do with the actual structure of the room.”
I tried to guess what he was getting at. “The furniture?”
Brett grinned at me. “Exactly.”
My gaze swept around the room. “There were a few pieces of broken or damaged furniture in here when I moved in, but decades have passed since Camelia wrote her diary. Whatever furniture was in here back then could be long gone.”
“Could be. Or not.”
I could tell by his grin that he’d found something.
“Where is it?”
His grin took on a hint of deviousness. “Maybe I should let you look for it.”
I tried my best to glare at him, although it wasn’t an easy task when I was looking into his gorgeous blue eyes. “It’s the middle of the night and I’m half asleep. You’re in danger of making me grumpy.”
He pulled me over to him. “Maybe I think you’re cute when you’re grumpy.”
I growled—only half annoyed—and shoved at his chest. “Brett!”
Bentley added his voice to the mix with a loud woof.
Brett laughed. “All right. I’ll show you what I found.”
He reached up to the top of the nearest bookcase and pushed at the molding along the front edge. I drew in a quick, surprised breath when the top of the piece of furniture lifted up like a lid.
A smile spread across my face. “A secret compartment! Is the letter inside?”
“I haven’t looked yet. I thought you should do the honors.”
I didn’t want to stand on the room’s antique reading chair so Brett wove his fingers together to create a step. I was full of expectation as he boosted me upward, but when I got a look in the compartment, my smile disappeared and my spirits plummeted. The compartment was empty.
“Anything?” Brett asked.
“Nothing.”
He lowered me to the floor.
“I was so sure it would be there.” I couldn’t hide my disappointment.
“So was I.”
I tugged at the trim along the bottom of the case, but it didn’t budge. I moved on to the next bookcase, my hopes rising again. Bentley followed me, his tail wagging.
“I already checked the others,” Brett said. “This is the only one with a hidden compartment.”
As he spoke, I tested the tops of the other bookcases. He was right, not that I’d really doubted him.
“I’m sorry, Marley. I didn’t mean to give you false…”
I spun around to face him when he trailed off. “What is it?”
He was examining the first set of shelves again. “This reminds me of a bookcase one of my great aunts showed me years ago.” He ran a hand down the gleaming wood and tugged at one of the side panels. It swung open, revealing another compartment, stretching nearly the full height of the bookcase, several small hooks inside.
“For storing jewelry and other small valuables,” Brett said.
Whatever might have been stored there at one time, there was nothing left. I tested the other side panel and it too opened.
“Empty,” I said with a frown.
“Try the bottom again.”
“It wouldn’t budge the last time.”
“I know, but I had the same problem with the side panels earlier. The top had to be open before the sides would open.”
I brightened. “So maybe the sides have to be open before the bottom opens?”
I dropped to my knees and tugged at the piece of trim while Bentley nosed at my hands, trying to get in on the action. This time the piece of trim slid out toward me, revealing a shallow drawer.
My eyes widened when I spotted a folded, yellowed piece of paper lying inside. I picked it up carefully, afraid it might disintegrate in my hands, disappearing before I could read the words written upon it.
“Bentley, no,” I said, moving my hand out of his reach as he tried to press his nose to the letter.
I got to my feet slowly, never taking my eyes off the paper.
Brett stood next to me as I carefully unfolded the letter. Despite the passing of decades, the tidy, inked handwriting was still easily legible.
Hardly breathing, I read the letter silently as Brett looked over my shoulder.
Dear Gracie,
I want you to know that I’m safe and that I’ve left of my own free will. I’m with Harry, and we’re going to get married. I know some people think bad things about him, but they’re wrong to. Harry’s a good and gentle man, and I love him deeply. I wish I didn’t have to go, to leave you and Mom and Dad, especially without saying goodbye, but Harry and I didn’t see any other option. It was too dangerous for us to stay in Wildwood Cove. I can’t explain why, not without putting you in danger too, so I hope you’ll trust that we’re doing what we have to do. One day, when it’s safe again, I’ll get back in touch. For now, please keep this to yourself. If Mom and Dad find out, they’ll search for me and Harry, and if they do that the wrong people could find out where we are. I’m enclosing the address of a friend in Seattle. You can write to me there and I’ll get your letters eventually. I’ll understand if you hate me for leaving like this, but I hope you won’t. I’m praying that you’ll look in our secret hiding spot and find this letter.
With love,
Camelia
When I finished reading the letter, I realized I had tears in my eyes.
“She never did get in touch with her family again. She thought Grace was too angry to send her any letters through her friend.”
“And Grace never looked in the hiding spot,” Brett said.
“Like everyone else, she thought Camelia had left unwillingly. Grace never had reason to think her sister would have had a chance to prepare before disappearing. It probably never crossed her mind to look here.” I raised my eyes to meet Brett’s. “It’s so sad.”
“It is,” he agreed.
I leaned against him and he rubbed his hand in slow circles on my back.
“I need to show this to Joan,” I said.
“Tomorrow.” Brett kissed the top of my head. “For now, let’s try to get some sleep.”
Chapter 31
It took weeks to find the remains buried in the woods. The search didn’t start immediately after
Joan and I presented everything we knew to the sheriff’s department, but once the ground had thawed and everything was organized, the search finally began, starting in the forest at the edge of what was once the Sayers family’s property. It was ground-penetrating radar that located the remains. The grave was fairly shallow, and not far from the spot where the Sayers’ house had stood.
News of the find spread rapidly, but I already knew about it by the time word passed from diner to diner at The Flip Side. Ray had contacted Joan soon after the discovery of the skeleton, and she’d called me right away.
Once the pancake house was closed for the day, I set off on foot for Joan’s house, wondering if she’d have any further news. Although I was in a hurry, I paused when I reached Main Street, distracted by the sight of someone familiar. Ivan had just emerged from the law office where Lisa worked. He held open the door and Lisa followed him out onto the sidewalk. He took her hand and she raised herself up on tiptoes to kiss him. Before they turned and walked away from me, I saw a bright smile on Lisa’s face. I noticed a hint of a smile on Ivan’s face too.
They disappeared around the corner at the end of the street without ever noticing me and I made no effort to get their attention. It had only been days since Lisa had told me they were now a couple and I wanted to leave them to enjoy their time together.
Continuing on my way, I hurried to Joan’s house and greeted her with a hug.
“Have they confirmed that it’s Tassy?” I asked.
“No,” Joan said as she hung my jacket in the foyer closet. “All they know so far is that they have a female human skeleton.”
“It might take time to identify her,” I said. “But hopefully they will.”
We were about to sit down in Joan’s living room when movement outside the window caught our attention. Ray had pulled up in his cruiser. As we watched, he headed up the walkway to the front door. We met him there, Joan opening the door before he had a chance to knock.
“Do you have any further news, Sheriff?” Joan asked once he was inside.
“I’m afraid not. I just wanted to let you know that this investigation will take time. Rumors will probably fly around town now that we’ve found the remains, but at this point we’re unable to officially identify the deceased.”
“There was nothing to identify her at the scene?” I asked.
“Unfortunately, no. I was in contact with Cecelia McEnroe—Tassy James’s youngest sister—last week. According to her, Tassy always wore a gold chain with a small dragonfly pendant. She never took it off. The James family was poor, and it was the only thing of value Tassy owned. She inherited it from her grandmother.”
“But you didn’t find the necklace with the remains?”
“No. There’s no necklace.”
“But it could still be Tassy,” I said, not wanting to give in to disappointment. “She could have lost the necklace during a struggle when she was killed.”
Ray nodded. “Any number of things could have happened to it. If it’s Tassy we’ve found, we should be able to get a firm identification eventually.”
I glanced at Joan. She’d gone quiet, and I noted with alarm that her face had paled.
I put a hand to her arm, worried she might be about to faint. “Joan? Are you all right?”
“Yes.” The word was barely audible. She took a step away from us. “I’ll be right back.”
She disappeared up the stairway to the second floor.
I looked to Ray, but he appeared as puzzled as I was.
Seconds later, we heard Joan’s footsteps on the stairs again, this time heading our way. She stopped in front of us, her right hand in a fist. She held it out and uncurled her fingers. Sitting on the palm of her hand was a gold chain attached to a tiny, delicate gold dragonfly.
“Tassy’s necklace,” I said with surprise.
“Where did you get it?” Ray asked.
Joan stared at the necklace as if it were an alien object, one she couldn’t quite believe she was holding. “It was my mother’s.” Her voice was hoarse. “My father gave it to her as a birthday gift a few months after Tassy disappeared.”
We were all silent for several seconds before Ray spoke.
“I can ask Cecelia McEnroe if she can identify it as belonging to her sister.”
Joan nodded, her face stricken. She relinquished the necklace to Ray, sliding it into the plastic evidence bag he held open. He left moments later with a promise to be in touch with Joan again before too long.
“I’m so sorry, Joan,” I said, squeezing her hand.
She swallowed hard and her face regained some of its color. “I already knew it was my father who’d killed Tassy, but knowing he took that necklace from the poor girl and gave it to my mother…” She shook her head and put a hand to her chest. “Will you join me for a margarita, Marley? I think I’m in need of one.”
“Of course.”
“Do you think this proves my father’s guilt and Harry’s innocence?” she asked as she mixed our drinks in the kitchen.
“I don’t know if it would in a court of law,” I said. “I guess it could be argued that it was Harry who took the necklace from Tassy and it ended up in your father’s possession in some innocent way.” When Joan’s forehead furrowed, I hastened to add, “I don’t believe that, and I think it would be a bit of a stretch to argue that, but I don’t know what would happen at a trial. I’d like to think that all of the evidence, as circumstantial as it might be, would lead to justice.”
“But there won’t be a trial. My father’s dead and Harry’s dead. I just want people to know that Harry was no killer.”
“I think most people believe that already.”
Charlene had written a piece about Tassy and Camelia for the local paper, with input from Joan. She’d covered the story well, and it had captured the town’s interest. Before Charlene wrote the story, Joan had managed to track down a couple in Wisconsin who’d known Harry and Camelia for years. They’d come up with pictures of the couple and had send them to Joan, so she now had proof that Camelia had lived for many years after leaving Wildwood Cove with Harry.
“Maybe Charlene will write another story now that the remains have been found,” Joan said. “If I tell her about the necklace, maybe that will help to clear Harry’s name even more in the public eye.”
“I’m sure it will.”
That thought seemed to comfort her, at least to some degree.
She handed me one of the margaritas she’d prepared and held up her own glass.
“To Tassy James,” she said. “May she now rest in peace.”
I clinked my glass against hers. “To Tassy.”
Recipes
Candy Cane Pancakes
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ cups milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 large egg
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
3 6-inch candy canes, crushed
Melt the butter and set aside to cool. In a bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. In a separate bowl, beat together the egg, milk, melted butter, vanilla, peppermint extract, and half of the crushed candy. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the liquid ingredients. Ladle the batter into a greased skillet and cook on medium heat until bubbles form on top. Flip and cook the second side until golden brown. Sprinkle with the remaining candy and top with pure maple syrup. Serves 4.
Gingerbread Crêpes
1 cup all-purpose flour
1½ cups milk
2 eggs
¼ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons molasses
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon dried ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Butter for greasing the pan
Chocolate sauce
Sift the flour and brown sugar into a mixing bowl. Add the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, molasses, and vanilla. Make a well in the dry ingredients. Pour in half the liquid ingredients. Whisk until smooth. Add the remaining liquid ingredients. Whisk until smooth again.
Heat crêpe pan or small skillet over low heat for several minutes. Grease lightly. Increase to medium heat. Leave for one to two minutes. Pour ¼ cup of batter into the pan. Tilt and swirl to coat the pan. Cook until lightly browned. Flip with a spatula and brown the other side. Remove from pan. Makes approximately 12 to 16 crêpes.
Place a dollop or two of eggnog whipped cream (recipe to follow) onto the crêpe, fold the crêpe and drizzle with chocolate sauce.
Eggnog Whipped Cream
½ cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons eggnog
Whip the chilled cream in a mixing bowl until soft peaks form. Add the eggnog one tablespoon at a time and continue to whip until medium peaks form.
Eggnog French Toast
1 cup eggnog
3 large eggs
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 slices white bread
2 tablespoons butter
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggnog, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour the mixture into a shallow baking dish. Dip the bread slices into the mixture, soaking for 20 seconds each side. Using a slotted spatula, let the excess drip off.
Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the bread slices in the skillet until golden brown, then flip and continue to cook until the second side is also golden brown. Add more butter to the skillet as needed. Serve with pure maple syrup or dust with confectioner’s sugar. Serves 4.