The Secret of Chestnut Hall (A Blooms, Bones and Stones Cozy Mystery - Book One)

by Olivia Swift

  “Presumably Carlton paid the upkeep and Molly was his point of contact,” Dex remarked.

  “His childhood must have been pretty bad,” Jazz added and the two brothers agreed. It was becoming dark outside by that time, and the alarm on the laptop peeped. The three of them all sprang to life and rushed to see the screen.

  “Bet it’s just a bird,” Jazz said but gasped as Dex pointed to the screen that was showing the metal gates, and someone was quietly moving up the garden towards the grotto.

  “What do we do?”she asked.

  “We can see without lights, and we can go quietly,” Evan answered. “If I go right around and come up from the gates and you two come at it from each side, we can close in and surprise the intruder.”

  “Okay. No noise. Take it easy. Evan, when you are at the gates, text us, and we can move in together.” Evan nodded and put the message into his phone ready to send. They closed the door quietly and tiptoed away in three directions. Jazz could feel her heart beating like a drum. It was exciting but frightening at the same time, and she was glad that there were two men to tackle whoever was out there. Dex went down the grass towards the grotto entrance but stopped until he received the message. Jazz jogged around to the new pathway through the trees and stopped at the top of the garden. Her phone vibrated against her leg in the pocket of her jeans, and she saw Dex start to move towards the cave. She cautiously stepped down the zigzag steps of rock and saw Evan appear from the gates side. Both men stepped to the entrances as Jazz jumped lightly down beside Evan, and he shone the silver light.

  “Who is in there? Come out now. You are trespassing.” There was a gasp of indrawn breath, and the two men stepped inside the grotto. Their two lights shone on a slight figure in the center of the cave with a spade in hand. A hole was begun in the center of the floor. The intruder lifted the spade as a sort of protection, and Dex shot forward and grabbed it.

  “No need for violence.” the figure said and pulled the hood away from the head to reveal a mop of curls and the face of a young woman.

  “A woman,” Evan said in surprise. “Just who are you and tell me why I should not call the police.”

  The person in front of them was about twenty years old and had fiery red hair. It seemed there was a temper to match because she told them that she was recovering property that was rightfully hers and they could go ahead and call the police if that was what they wanted to do.

  “Come outside and explain yourself,” Evan responded. “If whatever you are looking for was here when I bought the place, it is mine and not yours. Come outside.” He turned and led the way while Dex gave her a slight push to make her move after his brother. “Well?” Evan prompted. She sighed, shuffled her feet, and protested for a short time but eventually said she was looking for something her mother had buried there.

  “What was it?” Jazz asked, and the girl seemed to see her for the first time.

  “Money, of course, and some jewelry.”

  “Who are you?” Dex asked. “Why would anyone bury anything in here? It’s been boarded up for years.”

  “I heard in a roundabout way that the grotto had been discovered and came to see.”

  “Who are you?” Evan repeated the request, and she said her name was Camille.

  “Camille Delonga.” The three onlookers all took the name onboard at the same time.

  “Delonga?” they all said together, and she nodded.

  “You are related to Maddie Delonga?” Evan asked, and she said that Maddie was her mother.

  “Your mother?” Jazz repeated in amazement. “So, she was not murdered?” For the first time, a smile flitted across the face of the newcomer.

  “She left here before he tried it. She had been beaten lots of times and knew she had to get out before anything worse happened.”

  “Let’s go up to the house. You can have a coffee and tell us what you are looking for,” Evan said, and she looked at all three of them.

  “Okay, I guess I’m outnumbered”. The four of them walked back up the grass and into the huge kitchen.

  “Have a seat,” Evan said and set the coffee on the go.

  “This place needs bringing up to date,” Camille stated as she looked around.

  “Never been touched since your mother was here,” Evan replied to her observation. “It will be gutted and modernised.”

  “I’m sorry,” she apologised as he handed her a coffee. “I run off at the mouth sometimes.”

  “Right,” Dex said as he drank from his own cup. “Tell us what this is all about.”

  Chapter Eight

  The girl had a smattering of freckles across pale skin. Her red hair was a corkscrew mop that looked impossible to keep under control, and she had tawny-coloured eyes that were now twinkling. They were twinkling at the two men anyway, and she was dressed, Jazz observed, in high-end designer wear even though it was jeans, a top, and boots that could have strutted down a catwalk. She had been wearing fine leather gloves that were now thrown onto the side table.

  “I was born after my mother had escaped from here. My father was the man she left---Jeremiah Wendell---and I had no desire to meet him at all.” She took a breath. “It suited my mom to stay hidden and let the stories speculate about whether he killed her or not. She left with a few clothes and the jewelry that she was wearing. I think it was very hard for her at first because she had no money and she was pregnant.”

  “So, she did not take a whole lot of cash?” Evan queried, and she shook her head.

  “She buried some jewelry and money in the grotto, and the man she was hoping to come with her was supposed to find it and meet her. He never came, and I think that was the worst blow of all.”

  “Who was he?” Dex asked, but Camille did not know.

  “She just refused to mention him. He had proved to be a liar, and she had to manage as best she could.”

  “Did things get better?” Jazz asked as she eyed the expensive casual wear.

  “She did meet a man in the end who became the dad I never had.” She paused. “He still is, but I didn’t tell him I was coming here. He would have either stopped me or insisted on coming along.” She laughed. “I just said I was visiting a friend.”

  “Did you try last night as well?” Evan asked, and she nodded.

  “I just thought that if there was anything still buried there, I had a claim to it and my mom had nothing at all for a very long time.”

  “But there’s nothing,” Jazz added. “We wondered why the earth was bare in that spot.”

  “Not the spot at the back. It was buried under where the table used to stand in the center and the stones replaced.” Evan stood up and paced around the room. He came to sit beside Jazz and covered her hand with his own.

  “If we all dig that up tomorrow and find there is something there, I have no objection to you claiming all or part of it. I have to say, I don’t think we will find anything.”

  “We were going to put gravel down in there tomorrow, but that can wait,” Jazz said. Dex asked if Camille had anywhere to stay for the night and she shook her head.

  “I will just sleep in the car.”

  “To be fair, we don’t know you and what you say might all be lies,” Dex observed and looked at Jazz. “I don’t suppose she could stay with you and your sister?” Jazz looked at the girl across the room and shrugged.

  “I guess we can manage that but you can bring her down and her car stays here.”

  “Agreed,” Evan said and squeezed her hand.

  To say Kim was surprised was an understatement, but Jazz rang and asked her to sort the spare room. Evan drove the intruder down and brought her inside. He kissed Jazz on the cheek and said that they would sort it all in daylight. She walked him to the door and turned back to find her sister making something to eat for the visitor. The three girls talked for some time, and Jazz got a greater insight into the life the mother had led with Jeremiah Wendell and could understand why the son had left as soon as he could.

 
; “We don’t know why the first wife died,” Kim remarked.

  “He was a big man and a nasty piece of work,” Camille said. “My mom never told him she was pregnant and she never wanted him to have any control over me.”

  “I’m sorry she suffered so much. She must have felt very lonely,” Jazz added.

  “Do you think she was in love with the man who never came?” Kim asked, but Camille didn’t know.

  “Probably,” she said. “I guess she never said because she felt so let down.” They finished the supper and showed the visitor to her room. At the door, she stopped and thanked them.

  “Friends call me Miller, not Camille,” She said and went inside the room.

  Miller appeared for breakfast and offered to help. Kim said she could come and see the greenhouses and a bit of watering was always welcome. Jazz collected her things, rang Evan to say all was well, and then collected their guest for the run to Chestnut Hall. Kim grabbed a jacket.

  “Wouldn’t miss this for the world,” she said. “Count me in.”

  By the time everyone had been brought up to date, Miller had met the whole team. Carly was almost jumping up and down with excitement and Ben offered his considerable muscle for the dig. The newcomer fluttered her eyelids and gave him a smile that knocked him sideways. Jazz smiled at Evan who had noticed as well. Rob had brought the wood chips but left the machinery in the trees, and Jazz set the digger to work on the new pond as machinery cost money when it was standing idle. Shovels, spades, and trowels were produced, the generator was turned on, and the lights sprang into life. Ben, Dan, and Rob all did the heaviest work with others taking a turn and trundling wheelbarrows of soil away. Jazz looked and thought how it would all have to be brought in again at some stage. The hole became wider and deeper, but there was nothing to be found.

  “I think,” Evan said at last, “we are not finding anything. I’m sorry Camille.” She nodded and accepted the disappointment. Ben dropped a spade of soil into the wheelbarrow and saw something different. He picked it up.

  “I’m no expert but is that a stone of some sort?” He handed it to Jazz who showed it to Miller.

  “It’s an emerald,” she said and rubbed it clean. They took it into daylight and passed it around. Carly held out a hand to see the gem and Jazz told them that her second in command was a bit of an expert because, in her other life, she made jewelry. Carly rubbed the stone and turned it over in her hand.

  “I use semi-precious stones, but I am pretty sure that is a real emerald. The color is wonderful.”

  “I’m afraid that is all of your treasure,” Evan said as Carly handed it back to the visitor. “You are welcome to take it as your property.” A tear threatened to squeeze out of her eye, but she thanked him and placed the gem in a small purse that she tucked in her pocket.

  “I hate to say it, folks, but the soil all has to be put back in.” There were moans and groans, but Ben picked up the wheelbarrow and a spade. Carly went to help, but they were stopped by Karl who had left the digger and was calling for Jazz.

  “What has happened?” he asked. “Is the site not suitable?” He shook his head and got his breath back.

  “I’ve stopped digging because I think I’ve disturbed a body.” There were gasps. “I am pretty certain that I can see part of a skull.” The group all looked at one another aghast and then, with one accord, all started towards the digger in what was to be the pond. Karl told them that he had to report any finds of bones to the authorities and he had to stop digging.

  “That’s what I’ve done,” he went on, but he looked at Evan. “As it’s your property, I guess you will have to report it.” Evan nodded, and they all stopped near the big, earth-moving machine. Karl pointed to where he was scooping soil and stepped forward. Evan went with him, and the others followed on cautiously. Dex stepped behind them and Jazz was at his side.

  Karl pointed and touched the piece of skull with his finger.

  “I can tell, even from the cab, that that is a skull and it sure looks human to me.”

  “Not recent though,” Dex added, and Evan nodded. He walked around the spot and looked to see if any other bones were showing.

  “That looks like a bone,” Jazz said as she pointed. Dex took a pencil and lifted the piece that she had spotted. He nodded and agreed it was bone.

  “Guess you need to phone the police,” he said to Evan. “We had better leave it undisturbed.” Jazz decided that the workforce should go and work on the long border altogether.

  “The police will want to question everybody, I should think. We might as well get the work done while we wait.” Carly took her cue from Jazz and shepherded Dan and Ben away to start work. Rob said he would start putting wood chips on the new pathway and Miller went back to the house with the rest. Karl stayed with the digger and pulled out a newspaper to read while he waited. Kim was still in the party. The whole group ended up in the kitchen. Evan took the initiative and phoned the local precinct. There was a conversation about who and what and where and then he put the phone down.

  “We have to wait for detectives to arrive and touch nothing,” he smiled at them. “Like in all the best movies.” Jazz had switched on his coffee machine, and he took over and handed out refreshments.

  “Do you want me to leave?” Miller asked him, but he shook his head.

  “We won’t say anything about you breaking in though. Just a friend from out of town.”

  “Thanks,” she said and pulled the emerald from her pocket.

  “Put that away,” Evan said. “It is not anything they need to know about. They need to get specialists in to see how old the bones are and if there is anything suspicious.” He looked around the room, and everyone seemed to be in agreement.

  “I’ll go and tell Rob if you tell the others,” Kim said to her sister, and the two girls left the house to pass on the information. Jazz took the chance to inspect the border at the same time and took some notes of plants needed to fill gaps and build up the collection. When she reached the kitchen again, it was just in time to see an unmarked car drive into the yard.

  Detective Mallarchy Mackay introduced himself and his assistant, Detective Felix Sanchez. Sanchez had a fresh-faced look about him that gave the impression he just left school. In fact, he had a mind as sharp as a tack, and that was what Mackay liked about the youngster. He was slim with dark hair and dressed in fashionable clothes. In contrast, Mackay was wearing a suit that had seen better days with an open-necked, checked shirt. The most notable thing about his appearance was the extraordinarily blonde hair that was cut close to his head. It was totally out of character with the rest of him. He often wished it would turn grey and spare him all the comments. He had piercing, ice-blue eyes that always took in a whole scene at a time but also had a disarming, friendly manner about him that put people ease. He used this talent as he met the group in the house and introduced himself and his partner.

  Chapter Nine

  “I will take your names, first of all, and then we should go and view this discovery,” Mackay started, and his assistant took out a recording device to take the details. “You called this in, I think?” The detective looked at Evan who nodded and gave his name. The young assistant drew a breath and asked if he was the mountaineer.

  “Yes, but please don’t leak that to the press. I came here for peace and quiet,” Evan answered, and the detectives said they would keep that information as private as possible. “I bought the place and plan to upgrade it myself but booked Jazz here to update the garden.” Mackay moved on to Jazz who told him briefly what they had done and how they discovered the boarded-up grotto.

  “There used to be a little rill that led down to some sort of pond, but we planned to dig it out and put a modern liner in. The digger discovered the skull.” Mackay asked a few questions and took everyone else’s details before asking to see the bones.

  “There are other people working in the garden who saw the skull as well,” Jazz said. “I can bring them if you would like me to
.”

  “Let’s look at the bones first,” Mackay answered.

  They all walked down the grass and Karl came to meet them. He showed the detectives the skull, and they put gloves on hands and covers on shoes before going to inspect it. Sanchez took photos from various angles, and Mackay told them he would have to send forensics to collect whatever was there. He rang in the request for the relevant teams and spoke to everyone else in the garden. It left everyone feeling that they were in some sort of limbo. It all took a lot of time, and when the detective said it was all right to leave, Jazz sent Carly, Ben, and Dan home. Rob decided to finish laying the wood chips, and Kim hurried off to catch up work at the nursery. Karl drove the digger off the site.

  Dex, Evan, and Jazz saw the forensic people arrive in white overalls with hoods up. It was a large number of people, and they looked out of the kitchen window as work progressed.

  “Maybe we should forget the pond idea and do a simple water feature instead,” Jazz remarked, and the two men agreed that it was probably for the best. Evan made some food, and the three of them discussed what to do next.

  “I think the people who supply rocks and water equipment have some things that might work. I’ll drive down and see,” Jazz said. Evan asked if he could go along and she smiled at him. “Be good to get away for a while.” Dex looked out and said that the police team was packing up and moving away, so they went out to meet Mackay.

  “At first glance, the forensic people think the bones are so old that we do not need to worry but will know exactly when they get to the lab.”