Franco nodded. “Of course, we didn’t know about it back then. But it explained a lot. Like why Mac broke it off with Laverne and then took off to Europe earlier than planned. He just wanted to get as far away from that crazy woman as possible.”
“Why didn’t he go to the police?” Joe asked.
“He was afraid she’d say he was involved. You know, revenge for turning her in to the cops and not returning her feelings. Anyway, he told us about it the other day, right after he ran into Laverne in some restaurant. It really shook him.”
“So why would Chet kill him?” Joe asked. “Was he involved with the fire?”
“Mac didn’t think Chet even knew about it. But if Laverne went to her brother with some twisted version of the story, he might have killed Mac to protect his sister. Probably why Chet drove off some cliff.”
“What do you mean?” Joe asked.
“Knowing Chet, he panicked after they killed Mac. That’s probably why he drove his car off the road.”
When Arlo’s and Angelo’s turns in the interrogation room came, their stories were similar to Franco’s. Each swore they never intended to hurt anyone and reminded Wilson and Thomas of the fact that none of them were carrying weapons at the time they had broken into Marlow House. Of course, that didn’t include the tool they’d used to literally rip the doorknob off Danielle’s front door.
“It wasn’t arson,” Brian told Joe when he came in for work early Tuesday morning. The two officers sat alone in the lunchroom.
“That’s what I thought, but they all swore that’s what Mac had told them,” Joe said.
“They’re just throwing Laverne under the bus to get the attention off them,” Brian said.
“Maybe, but they all told the same story. All claimed Mac had told them about the fire after he ran into Laverne at a restaurant.”
“Who’s to say Mac wasn’t lying to his cousins?” Brian suggested.
Joe shrugged and sipped his coffee.
“So what does Kelly think about you putting in all these extra hours?” Brian asked.
“She understands. She knows I’m trying to build my savings account.”
“What, so you can get married?” Brian asked.
Joe smiled and sipped his coffee again.
Brian laughed. “I knew it! But, Joe, you two are already living together. If you want to get married, just do it.”
“I’m not going to jump into marriage. First Kelly and I are seeing how things work out with us living together. It’s kind of an adjustment living with another person.”
“Don’t I know it,” Brian muttered under his breath. “Did you forget I was married twice?”
“When I get married, I want it to be just once.”
“I should’ve been married just once. After my first one didn’t work out, I should’ve learned my lesson and not tried again,” Brian said with a snort.
Joe rolled his eyes and took another drink of coffee.
“So, tell me, why did the FBI do the raid at Marlow House? I heard you were already on the scene.”
“They had Marlow House under surveillance, and when they saw the Bandonis break in, they wanted to get all their men in place before they went in.”
Brian frowned. “Waiting like that was risky. Who knows what might have happened had they waited a few more minutes.”
“According to Danielle, they planned to lock her and Marlow up in that wooden crate where the portraits had been stored and then set the place on fire.”
Brian cringed. “Crap. She must have been terrified.”
“I guess, considering the way she was all over Marlow afterwards.”
Brian arched his brows. “Does this mean she and Chris are no longer a thing?”
“If they are, they have an odd relationship. He saw the cars there last night and came over after they had arrested the Bandonis. Lily and Ian were over there too, and Heather.”
“Damn, the entire Beach Drive bunch.”
“Pretty much. But it was Marlow Danielle was all over.”
“All over how?”
Joe shrugged. “You know, leaning all over him while he comforted her. It was strange. Last thing I heard, no one could stand that guy. Now she’s fawning all over him, and frankly, I think the real truth, Marlow about got her killed, and she’s too naïve to see it.”
“You still think he’s mixed up in this?”
“Absolutely. I know the FBI says those paintings of his are the reproductions. But I’d bet anything he planned to switch the paintings for the originals. Maybe the chief being there that night foiled their plans.”
“How so?” Brian asked.
“The chief helped them load the paintings in the crate. Maybe that wasn’t supposed to happen. We both know Marlow insisted on taking Danielle and the chief out to dinner that night while Bandoni backed out at the last minute and stayed at Marlow House. I bet his cousins were supposed to come over and help him switch the paintings that night, and something happened, and they couldn’t do it.”
“One flaw in your scenario,” Brian said.
“What’s that?”
“If they couldn’t switch the paintings, then they knew the paintings in the crate were the fakes not the originals. So why all this interest in the fakes?”
Joe looked at Brian and frowned. He scratched his head and said, “Hell, you’re right. I’m not thinking straight.”
“Maybe you would think a little straighter if you got more sleep. And you aren’t going to do that by putting in all these extra hours.”
Thirty-Six
On Tuesday morning Danielle stood in the entry hall with Adam while Bill Jones examined the damage to her front door. Crouched on his knees to get a closer look, Bill said, “They ripped the knob right off. Screwed the door up good.” He glanced over to Danielle. “And you say the Bandonis did this?”
Danielle nodded. “Yep.”
Bill stood all the way up while dusting his hands off on the sides of his work pants. “I always liked Arlo; he’s the middle brother. But Franco, I thought he was a little off.” He tapped the side of his head with one finger. “If you know what I mean.”
“So can you fix it?” Adam asked.
“This is a nice old door. Would be a shame to put something else in here. This one has character.”
“Oh no, I don’t want another door!” Danielle said. “I was hoping you could fix this one.”
“I could do it. But I’d have to remove it, take it back to my shop. Can’t promise to have it back this week. That would mean I’d have to board up your front door in the meantime,” Bill told her.
“How about buying an inexpensive door to temporarily replace this one?” Danielle suggested.
“It would be cheaper to just board it up.”
“I really don’t want to nail up sheets of plywood; that’ll mess up the siding. Not to mention, everyone will have to come in through the side yard,” Danielle said.
Bill shrugged. “Okay. It’s your money.”
Danielle flashed him a smile. “Thanks. When can you start?”
Bill glanced at his watch and then looked back at Danielle. “I can go pick up a door now and then get back here and switch them. I’ll have to get some hardware too, that’s if you want to be able to lock up the front door.”
“That would be wonderful.” Danielle beamed.
“Thanks, Bill,” Adam told him.
Bill glanced over at Adam and rolled his eyes and then said a brief goodbye to Danielle before leaving out the front entry. As he made his way down the front walkway, heading to his truck, he muttered under his breath, “Surprised you didn’t just get the Bandonis to fix the door like you conned me into fixing the library window. That wouldn’t have cost you a penny.” He chuckled and then added, “But better for me.”
Danielle let Adam into the parlor, where Walt was lounging on the sofa, book in hand. He looked up when they entered the room.
“Can he fix it?” Walt asked.
“I thin
k so.” Danielle glanced from Walt to Adam, who stood silently at her side.
Walt looked to Adam and smiled. “Hello. Have we met?”
“Walt, this is Adam Nichols. I told you about him.”
Walt’s smile broadened. “Hello, Adam. I understand you’re the one who originally sent me information on Marlow House. You’re the Realtor, right?”
Adam nodded, yet said nothing.
“I understand I was a major jerk to you when we met,” Walt said cheerfully.
Adam’s eyes widened. He glanced to Danielle, who flashed him a smile. He looked back to Walt.
“Umm…well, you were with your fiancée, and I just don’t think you wanted to be bothered.”
Walt shrugged. “No. I think I was a jerk. At least, that’s what Danielle has told me.”
Speechless, Adam glanced from Walt to Danielle.
“Would you guys like something to drink? Coffee, iced tea maybe? Lily dropped off some cinnamon rolls from Old Salts. Would you—”
Before Danielle finished her question, both Adam and Walt blurted, “Yes!” to the cinnamon rolls. Danielle chuckled and said she would be right back.
Once Adam was alone in the parlor with Walt, he wandered to one of the chairs facing the sofa and sat down, while Walt held his book open, as if preparing to read again.
“How long are you staying in Frederickport?” Adam asked.
Walt closed the book on his lap. “I’m not sure. At the moment, I’m taking one day at a time.”
“Sounds like you’ve had a lot of excitement since you got out of the hospital. A murder one day, and then someone ties you up and intends to set you on fire.”
“Yes, it has been a little more excitement than I need.” Walt smiled at Adam.
“You know, Danielle, she’s all right,” Adam said, his tone serious.
Holding the now closed book on his lap, his left leg propped on the coffee table, Walt nodded. “Yes, I agree.”
“My grandmother and Danielle were very close.”
“Yes, Danielle has mentioned your grandmother—Marie. She sounded like quite a character. Danielle speaks fondly of her.”
“I sort of think of Danielle as my kid sister.”
Walt’s grin broadened. “That’s interesting. She’s mentioned she thinks of you as her unruly kid brother.”
Unable to suppress his grin at that comment, Adam let out a snort and said, “I’m older than her.”
“It’s nice you both think so fondly of each other.”
Adam’s expression grew serious again, and he looked into Walt’s eyes. “Here is the thing, Marlow, be careful with Danielle. She has a lot of friends in Frederickport, and none of us want to see her taken advantage of.”
Walt arched his brow. “How would I do that?”
“I know she probably feels sorry for you; after all you’ve been through. But don’t wear out your welcome, if you know what I mean. You were kind of a jerk when you were staying here before. Danielle, well, she tends to be a little more forgiving than she should be. But you need to know the rest of us won’t be that forgiving.”
Walt smiled at Adam and leaned back in the sofa. In a quiet voice he asked, “Is that a warning?”
“You just need to know we’re watching, and we won’t let you do anything to take advantage of her.”
Walt’s smile widened. “In spite of everything, I think I like you, Adam. I’m glad you’re such a loyal friend to Danielle. She’s worthy of that loyalty.”
Adam frowned. In spite of everything? Adam thought. What does that even mean?
Before Adam could press Walt on his meaning, Danielle returned to the parlor with a tray carrying three glasses of iced tea and three cinnamon rolls.
Danielle had just handed Walt and Adam each a glass of iced tea when she heard a man scream, “What are you doing here?”
“Who’s that?” Danielle asked, looking at the doorway leading into the entry hall.
“Who’s what?” Adam held his hand out, eagerly waiting for her to pass him a cinnamon roll.
“What are you doing here?” another man screamed.
Walt glanced to the doorway. He recognized the last voice. “It’s nothing,” he said, nervously eyeing the door.
Perplexed, Danielle looked to Walt, who had clearly heard something, but then she looked at Adam, who appeared oblivious to the fact two men stood out in the entry hall yelling at each other.
“What’s nothing?” Adam asked. He glanced from Danielle to Walt. “What is it? Did you hear something?”
As soon as Adam asked the question, the two men Danielle and Walt had heard started arguing again, their voices louder. Adam continued to be unaware of the shouting coming from the entry hall.
Danielle quickly handed Adam and Walt each a cinnamon roll and then said, “If you will excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
Danielle stepped into the hallway and found Chet and Macbeth’s spirits facing off by the open doorway to the living room. Each man’s features contorted into an angry mask as virulent accusatory words spilled from their mouths.
She groaned, wishing she had not encouraged Adam to stick around after Bill had taken off. At the time she thought it was a good idea. It was an opportunity for him to meet Walt. But now, now she wished she had Walt to help her deal with the two angry spirits who were in the midst of screaming at each other at the top of their lungs. Which, of course, was only a figure of speech. Neither man possessed a lung.
“I’m dead because of you!” Chet screeched.
“You’re dead? You’re one to talk. You might as well have been the one who pulled the trigger!” Macbeth screamed back.
“If I could kill you, I would!” Chet yelled.
“You never were very smart, Chet; you already did that!”
“I did not!”
Danielle took a deep breath and then walked to the spirits. Thus far, neither had noticed her standing outside the parlor door. When she got a few feet away from them, she said in a quiet firm voice, “Would you both just shut up.”
Both spirits immediately stopped talking and turned to Danielle, each blinking in surprise.
“You can see us?” Chet whispered.
“Unfortunately, I can hear you too.”
“I don’t understand. No one has been able to see me yet,” Macbeth stammered.
“What about me?” Chet asked angrily. “I can obviously see you!”
“Don’t be stupid, Chet,” Macbeth snapped. “Oh, never mind. Forget I said that. You’re all about stupid!”
“I asked you two to be quiet,” Danielle hissed. “Now I want you both to go to the library and wait for me. Do you understand?”
“Why do we have to do that?” Chet asked.
“Because Adam is here, and he can’t see or hear you. And if you both want me to help you, then you need to let me get Adam to leave so I can come talk to you both.”
“Why would you want to help us?” Macbeth asked.
Her first impulse was to tell them the truth. She wanted to help them because she didn’t want them hanging around Marlow House. Fortunately, she caught herself before expressing her truthful answer. The last thing she wanted to do was give Chet any ideas and end up with him hanging around. There had to be a better answer.
Finally, Danielle said, “Do you two want to spend eternity together?”
“What do you mean?” Macbeth asked.
“If I don’t help you—if you don’t listen to what I have to say—then you both risk spending eternity together. Do you really want that?”
Macbeth stared at Danielle, his eyes narrowing under his bushy brows. “Why should we believe you?”
Danielle smiled knowingly. “Has anyone else been able to communicate with you?”
“No,” Chet answered.
Danielle shrugged. “Then I suppose that means I know something that you don’t. But of course…if you want to…”
“No!” they shouted at the same time.
“I’ll meet you in the
library,” Macbeth grumbled and then disappeared.
Chet frowned and looked around. “Where’s the library?”
Danielle pointed down the hallway. “It’s the room with all the books.”
Thirty-Seven
“Why can’t the chief just come here?” Walt asked Danielle. The two stood in the kitchen while Macbeth’s and Chet’s spirits hovered just inside the back door. Adam had left fifteen minutes earlier, and Danielle had just finished apprising Walt of the situation.
“I called him, and he can’t get away from the office. But I’ll need you to stay here until Bill comes back. I don’t want to leave the house open.”
Walt nodded. “I understand.”
“You really aren’t Clint, are you?” Macbeth asked.
Looking at Macbeth, Walt shook his head. “No, I’m really not.” When introductions had been made after Adam’s departure, Danielle had explained Walt’s true identity.
“That’s kind of creepy.” Chet cringed. “Stepping into someone else’s body.”
“Considering some of your actions when you were alive, I don’t think you are in any position to judge,” Danielle snapped.
Chet frowned at her. “You know, you’re sort of an opinionated woman. I don’t think we could have ever worked out.”
“Now that you’re dead, you finally figured that out?” she asked.
Chet’s frown deepened. “And you’re kind of mean too.”
Danielle rolled her eyes, yet Walt said, “Danielle, go easy on poor Chet here. He has a big adjustment to make.”
“Whatever,” Danielle muttered as she snatched her purse from the counter and headed to the doorway. She stopped when she got to the spirits, who stood blocking her way. “You two need to stay here with Walt.”
They both shook their heads. Macbeth said, “No. This is about my eternity, and I’m going with you.”
“Me too!” Chet chimed in.
Danielle turned to Walt, looking for support. He only shrugged and said, “I understand how they feel. Plus, how are you going to convince Laverne to believe you without their help?”
The Ghost of Second Chances Page 23