by Bobbi Holmes
“It might also solve the local Stoddard problem,” Walt told Danielle as he glanced to the window, assuming the angry ghost was nearby the house.
“You think it’s more than one person?” Lily asked.
“It has to be,” Danielle said. “We know there were at least two people involved—John Smith and the woman who impersonated me.”
“Or one person is behind it and they hired the others, like they hired Smith,” Ian said.
“And Samantha, if she was the one who took your cellphone,” Lily suggested.
“I think what we need to do is follow the money,” Ian said.
“If you mean who profits from Stoddard’s death, the most obvious person is Darlene,” Lily said.
“I know MacDonald doesn’t see her as the killer. I guess she was pretty broken up over Stoddard’s death,” Danielle said.
“Seriously?” Ian scoffed. “Spouses are always prime suspects. I can’t believe a few tears would get to MacDonald.”
“I’m not saying he’s dismissed the possibility, exactly. But if the motive is money, she’s just acting a little odd when it comes to the estate.”
“How so?” Ian asked. Danielle started to explain about Earthbound Spirits’ claim to Isabella’s estate, and how Darlene made no attempt to contest the will, but he already knew. Lily had told him.
“Maybe she knew she didn’t have a valid claim. Earthbound Spirits have a decent legal team. Perhaps she figured she would just cut her losses and take Stoddard’s share; it’s still a lot of money.”
“The thing is…” Danielle wished she could tell Ian everything, but that wasn’t feasible. “It’s hard to explain, but I have this gut feeling the will Stoddard found was valid.”
“We know it was valid,” Walt said.
“Gut feeling?” Ian asked.
“It’s more a collection of things I’ve overheard…pieces of the puzzle I’ve put together.”
“Maybe what we need to do is have a closer look at Stoddard’s will, Isabella’s will, the estate, and Earthbound Spirits,” Ian suggested.
“I know Clarence Renton was the one who wrote Isabella’s will. I bet he would know which one is the most current,” Danielle said.
“If Darlene was walking away from all that money when she was legally entitled to it, that would definitely put a different spin on this,” Ian said.
“What would it mean?” Lily asked.
Ian looked at Lily. “Blackmail perhaps?”
“If whoever killed Stoddard wasn’t hiring hitmen to come into my home to murder me, I suppose I wouldn’t have a problem sitting back and letting the Frederickport Police Department sort this out. After all, I wasn’t particularly fond of Stoddard in the first place.” Danielle glanced to the window and wondered where the angry ghost was now.
“I’ll see what I can do about getting a copy of the wills—Stoddard’s and Isabella’s. It’s a start, anyway,” Ian said.
“I suppose I could call up that private detective I worked with when Lily was missing, and see what he can find out about Stoddard’s company and do a little digging on Darlene,” Danielle suggested.
The discussion stopped when Will came into the house. He poked his head into the library to say hello to everyone and then went up to his room. Ian and Sadie went home about thirty minutes later and Danielle, Lily and Walt retreated to Lily’s room.
“Is Walt here?” Lily asked when they were in her bedroom on the first floor.
“Yes.” Danielle glanced over to Walt who leaned against a wall fidgeting with an unlit cigar.
“I assume there was more to that story you told me and Ian. And one thing I keep wondering, where was Walt when that guy first showed up?”
Lily scooted up on the bed and leaned against the pillows piled against the headboard. Danielle took a seat in the nearby chair. She told Lily, while Walt silently listened, the unabridged version of the day’s events, ending with Stoddard’s reaction to Will.
“Are you saying nice Will Wayne is in someway involved in all this?” Lily asked.
“I have no idea. But Stoddard was definitely upset. Of course I couldn’t ask him any questions with Will there.”
“I know what I need to do,” Walt announced.
“What?” Danielle asked.
“I’m going to keep a closer eye on your guest.” Walt disappeared.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Late Monday evening Danielle went outside to find Stoddard. She wanted to know why Will’s presence angered him. Unfortunately, the bitter ghost refused to discuss Will Wayne, aside from accusing Danielle of plotting with Wayne to destroy his family.
On Tuesday morning, she tried again, before Will came down from his room for breakfast. Stoddard remained uncooperative. Danielle wondered if there might be someone else in Frederickport, familiar with Stoddard’s family history, who might know of Wayne’s connection to Stoddard.
Danielle arrived unannounced at Marie Nichols house shortly before nine, Tuesday morning. She dressed casually for the visit, wearing cuffed faded denims and a white lace blouse, with her hair pulled back into a tidy fishtail braid. Marie cheerfully welcomed Danielle and invited her into her sitting room for a cup of coffee.
“You must have been terrified,” Marie said as she poured the coffee. Danielle had just filled her in on yesterday’s drama.
“I’m surprised it hasn’t been on the radio yet.” What Danielle really meant was, she was surprised Marie hadn’t already heard about the attempt on her and Joe’s life. Marie seemed to know what was happening in town before the local newspaper or radio.
“There might have been something in the morning paper, but I’m afraid the sprinkler got to it first.” Marie sat down on a chair across from Danielle.
“I didn’t look at the paper this morning either.” I was too busy trying to reason with a stubborn ghost.
“And Joe is going to be alright?” Marie asked.
“Yes. They just wanted to keep him over for observation. I called over there this morning and talked to him. Looks like they’re releasing him today.”
Marie shook her head. “Quite shocking. Two murders in our little town—and now this attempt on you and Joe. This used to be such a safe place!”
Danielle didn’t remind Marie of Walt’s murder, or the fact Marie’s own father had found the body. In fairness, that had happened almost a century before.
“Are they certain you are out of danger?” Marie asked.
“We don’t believe it was ever about killing Joe or me, but about deflecting attention off Stoddard’s real killers.”
“I hope they catch them quick. We don’t need those kinds of people in our town,” Marie said.
“I did have a question for you,” Danielle asked.
“Something to do with the murder?” Marie sipped her coffee.
“No, not really,” Danielle lied. She would rather Marie assume her interest in Will was more casual.
“I’ll let you ask me anyway,” Marie said with a chuckle as she set her coffee cup on its saucer.
“We have a guest staying at Marlow House.”
“I thought you weren’t going to take anyone until Lily was finished with her treatments.”
“I guess we sort of changed our minds.” Danielle picked up her purse and pulled out a piece of paper. It was a picture of Will, which she had printed off from the Internet. While Billy Bob Wayne had a web presence—with photographs—it listed no information on his personal or family life. She handed the picture to Marie.
“What is this?” Marie looked down at the picture in her hand.
“He’s the one staying at Marlow House this week. His name is Will Wayne. He used to live in Frederickport. I was wondering if you knew him.”
Marie shook her head, “Will Wayne?”
“He owned a large car dealership in Phoenix. Actually, he was something of a local celebrity there. Went by the name Billy Bob Wayne, was featured in lots of corny commercials. Always dressed like a cowboy. St
ill does, in fact. He sold his dealership recently and retired. But he used to live here. He’s a widower. Both his wife and daughter are buried in the Frederickport cemetery. I was hoping maybe you knew him when he used to live here.”
Marie handed the picture back to Danielle. “Sorry dear, I don’t recognize him.”
“From what I understand, he lived here years ago. He probably looked a lot different back then.”
“The name’s not familiar, either,” Marie said.
Danielle stared at the picture a moment and sighed. She slipped it back in her purse. “Oh well, it was worth a shot.” I guess there is always my private detective.
“You said his wife and daughter are buried here. Do you know when they died?”
“No. But I got the impression it was back when he lived here—and from what I found online, I know he’s been in the Phoenix area for over twenty years. I believe he started his car dealership in the nineties.”
“And you don’t know how they died?” Marie asked.
“No. I never asked.”
“Hmmm…” Marie thought a moment. “I remember a horrible car crash—but this was about thirty years ago—where a mother and her daughter were killed. So tragic. The family had just moved to Frederickport, hadn’t lived here six months when it happened. But I don’t remember their name. The husband, he only stayed a few months after the accident, then moved. I heard he couldn’t bear driving on the same highway where his wife and baby were killed.”
“Thirty years ago? That might be the right timeframe.”
“I do recall, it was the same week that time travel movie was released. Hmm…now what was the name of that movie?” Marie frowned, trying to recall.
“Time travel?”
“Yes, with that nice young actor…what was his name? The one who has Parkinson’s.”
“Do you mean Back to the Future?” Danielle asked.
“Yes! That’s the movie.” Marie smiled.
According to Danielle’s memory, Back to the Future was released in the mid-1980s.
“Do you remember if the family was connected anyway to the Gusarov family?”
“Stoddard’s family?” Marie frowned.
“I was just wondering if they knew each other.”
“It was a small town back then. Everyone seemed to know each other. Although, I don’t remember that family’s name. They weren’t here that long. I only remember them because of the tragic circumstances.”
“Do you know what caused the accident?”
“It was a drunk driver. The driver wasn’t a local.”
“What happened to the driver?” Danielle asked.
“He went to jail. I assume he’s out by now. But I really don’t know. So, do you think your guest is the same man whose wife and daughter was killed back then?”
Danielle shrugged. “I don’t know. I just assumed they both died around the same time since they’re buried here together, and it’s been years since he lived here.”
“Why did you ask if he knew Stoddard?”
“Well…I figure the subject of Stoddard is bound to come up with everything that is happening and with Lily staying with me. I’d just like to be careful what I say in front of him if he and Stoddard used to be buds,” Danielle lied.
“I doubt they ran in the same circles.”
The two women chatted for another thirty minutes before Danielle told Marie she needed to be on her way. She had a number of errands to run, which included buying a new iPhone and stopping at the police station to get an update on Joe, and John Smith.
By the time Danielle finished most of her errands it was past noon. She still wanted to stop at the police station, but she was hungry so she decided to stop by Pier Café and grab something to eat. When she walked into the restaurant, she found Adam Nichols sitting at the lunch counter eating a burger.
“It’s the never-a-dull-moment-Danielle-Boatman,” Adam greeted when he saw Danielle.
She walked to the lunch counter and looked at the empty seat next to Adam. “Do you mind if I sit here?”
Adam glanced at the empty seat then back at Danielle and grinned. “Is it safe? I heard hanging out with you can get a person killed.”
“Ha ha.” Danielle rolled her eyes and sat down. “So you’ve heard?” She turned the coffee cup sitting on the counter in front of her over, to be filled.
“The entire town’s heard.”
“Are you okay?” Carla the waitress asked when she walked up behind the counter and filled Danielle’s cup.”
Adam nodded toward Carla. “See.”
“Yes, Carla, I’m fine.” Danielle smiled. “I’d like to order a roast beef sandwich, fruit instead of fries.”
“Got it. What would you like to drink?”
“Just coffee is fine. Maybe some water.” Danielle took a sip of the coffee.
“You must have been terrified! I heard all about it—” Carla paused mid-sentence when the cook rang the bell. She flashed Danielle a smile and then went to pick up the order in the pass through window to deliver to a table on the other side of the café.
“So are you really? Fine, I mean?” Adam asked in a more serious tone.
“I’m alive aren’t I?” Danielle took another sip of coffee. “I’m going to regret this.”
“Regret what? Being alive?”
“No,” Danielle said with a chuckle. “The coffee. I already had a couple cups at your grandmother’s and some this morning at home. I don’t normally do coffee this late in the day. I’m going to be buzzing tonight.”
“I knew you were at Grandma’s. She called me, told me about your visit. But I’d already heard about what’d happened yesterday. Scary stuff.”
“Yes it was.” Danielle turned her head and studied Adam. “You dated Isabella for a while; you must have spent some time around Stoddard.”
“They weren’t that close. It’s not like we ever had Sunday dinners with them. But I’ve known Stoddard for years, before I ever started dating Isabella. Knew all Stoddard’s wives.”
“Do you have any theories about who killed him?”
“Not really.” Adam took a bite of his burger.
“What do you know about Darlene?” Danielle asked.
Adam set the burger on his plate and considered the question for a moment. “Not much, really. I know Isabella didn’t care for her. But Isabella wasn’t thrilled with any of Stoddard’s wives. She felt each one got younger—and dumber.”
“Do you think Darlene might have killed Stoddard?”
“Hard for me to picture Darlene as the black widow.”
“Why? Was she madly in love with her husband?”
“Not sure I would call it love exactly. She was pretty needy. It wasn’t just Stoddard’s money she wanted—and I don’t doubt that’s the main reason she married him—but she relied on him for everything. I simply don’t see her going to all that trouble and risk to kill him off, and for what? To get total control of his money? Nahh…she wanted him to take care of her in more ways than just financially.”
“Why do you say it wasn’t love exactly?”
“Her affair, for one thing.” Adam shrugged and finished his burger.
“Her affair?” Danielle practically choked on her coffee. “Darlene has a boyfriend?”
“Had. Yet, I wouldn’t call him a boyfriend exactly. I just know she had a little fling back when Isabella and I were still together. But she ended it.”
“Did Stoddard know?”
“I have no idea.” Adam took a sip of his soda and pushed his plate to the far edge of the counter.
“How did you know about it?”
“Isabella saw her go into a hotel with some guy over in Astoria. Would never tell me who it was. She thought it was pretty hilarious at the time, said it served Stoddard right, considering how he kept marrying younger.”
“Did Darlene know Isabella saw her?”
“No. I think Isabella found it amusing to keep the secret. Stoddard always acted all high and
mighty, tried to push Isabella around, wanted to tell her how to run her life. She took pleasure in knowing he was a clueless cuckold husband. But apparently the affair was brief.”
“How do you know that?”
“Isabella told me. I don’t really know how she knew. But she was pretty convinced Darlene was faithful after that one time. She joked once that Darlene got boring, throwing herself into the role of the faithful wife. But all that was back when Isabella and I were still dating.”
“I’d love to believe Darlene killed Stoddard so she could be with her lover. A nice simple motive. Well, it would be, if the affair hadn’t ended so long ago.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Danielle was surprised to find Joe at the police station when she stopped by after lunch later that afternoon.
“I knew they were letting you out of the hospital, but I’m surprised to see you here,” Danielle said from the doorway leading to Joe’s office.
He looked up and smiled. “Where else would I be?”
Danielle stepped into the room. “How are you feeling?”
“A little achy today. I guess I’m not as young as I thought.”
“You were slammed against my floor pretty hard.”
“I feel it today.”
“Has Smith regained consciousness?”
“He’s in a coma,” Joe said solemnly.
“Too bad. I’d love to know what he has to say.”
“If he would say anything.”
“True,” Danielle agreed. “Is the chief here?”
“Yeah, he was in his office earlier. I think he’s still there.”
“Thanks. I need to talk to him.” Danielle turned to the door then paused, briefly looking back at Joe. “Don’t overdo it today, okay? You should probably go home and rest.”
“Yes Mom.” Joe grinned.
Danielle rolled her eyes and then went to find MacDonald.
The door to MacDonald’s office was ajar. Danielle knocked on it and peeked inside. The police chief was alone, sitting at his desk sorting through papers. He looked up and waved Danielle in, motioning for her to shut the door all the way, after she entered.