The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds

by Bobbi Holmes

  “You guys want a sandwich? I have a ton of food in the kitchen and we have a while before guests start arriving,” Danielle offered.

  “Yes! I am starving. Lily was a slave driver this morning!” Ian moaned.

  “I try,” Lily said with a grin.

  “If the guests aren’t arriving then take off the necklace and let me try it on!” Cheryl stomped her right foot angrily.

  “Knock it off Cheryl, or I’ll have Joe arrest you.”

  “Please, no domestic squabbles,” Joe teased.

  Determined to have a closer look, Cheryl reached out and grabbed hold of the necklace. Everyone but Walt had their backs to the cousins. Seeing what Cheryl was doing, Walt raised his hand and gave her a powerful shove, sending her stumbling backwards away from Dani before falling onto the floor, landing on her bottom with a thud. The sound caught the attention of the others. They turned around quickly, surprised to find Cheryl sprawled on the floor.

  “She hit me!” Cheryl screeched.

  Joanne, who had been in the kitchen, heard the commotion and stepped out into the hall.

  “I didn’t touch you!” Danielle held the necklace protectively. To her surprise, it came off her neck. “But you apparently broke the necklace!”

  “She assaulted me!” Cheryl wailed, grabbing her cheek which was already starting to show evidence of bruising.

  Joe walked over to Cheryl and put out his hand. She took it and stumbled to her feet, still holding onto her injured cheek.

  “It’s your own fault. You shouldn’t have been grabbing at the necklace. If it had been me, I would have smacked you too.” Lily walked to Danielle and inspected the damage.

  “I didn’t hit her,” Danielle said weakly as Lily looked at the necklace.

  “Looks like one of the little loops broke by the latch,” Lily said.

  Joe reached out and touched the side of Cheryl’s face.

  “Ouch!” Cheryl winced.

  “Maybe you should put some ice on that,” Joe suggested.

  “I should have you arrest her!” Cheryl cried.

  “I didn’t see what happened,” Joe said. “But if I did arrest her and she told the court you grabbed the necklace off her neck, I think you might end up in a bit of trouble yourself, considering what that necklace is worth.”

  “But it is half mine!”

  “For the time being, legally the necklace belongs to Danielle. You have no rights to it. Maybe you can get the courts to overturn the terms of your aunt’s will. But for now, keep your hands off the necklace. Do you understand?” Joe said.

  Cheryl glared at Joe and then looked over at Lily, Ian and Joanne, who silently stared in her direction. Stomping her foot again, she turned her back to them and marched to the parlor and threw open its door. Angrily she entered the room and slammed the door behind her.

  “What am I going to do?” Danielle asked, looking at the necklace in her hands.

  “There’s some of that wire in the kitchen,” Joanne suggested. “That Lily was using for some of the decorations. It’s pretty thin, but strong.”

  “That would work,” Lily agreed. “For now, just re-secure the latch with the wire, no one has to see it.”

  “Wonderful,” Danielle scoffed. “A million dollar necklace held together with craft wire.”

  “Just be happy it happened now, and not at the party,” Lily said as she led the way into the kitchen.

  Once in the kitchen Danielle handed the necklace to Joe, who’d offered to make the repair. Sitting at the kitchen table, she watched as he secured the latch to the chain using the wire. After the makeshift repair was complete, Joe handed the necklace back to Danielle.

  “I really didn’t hit her,” Danielle said as she fastened the necklace back around her neck.

  “I didn’t see what happened,” Joe said. “But it was probably just a reflex.”

  “Reflex?” Danielle asked with a frown.

  “She was obviously hit on the face,” Joe said. “You probably didn’t even realize you’d done it.”

  “I’m sorry, Danielle,” Walt said. “They think you hit your cousin. I didn’t mean to hit her. I just wanted to push her away.”

  “Dani, Joe is right. The way she was grabbing at you, I don’t blame you for knocking her on her butt,” Lily said.

  “But I didn’t.” Danielle said tersely.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Danielle was in her room touching up her makeup when there was a knock at the bedroom door.

  “Dani?” came Lily’s voice from the hallway.

  “Come in.”

  Lily opened the door and asked, “You okay?”

  “I really didn’t hit her. Where is everyone?”

  “Downstairs in the kitchen, why?”

  “It was Walt.”

  “Walt hit her? Is he here?” Lily glanced around the room. She sniffed the air but didn’t notice any tobacco scent.

  “No.”

  “Why did he hit her?”

  “He didn’t mean to. She was grabbing for the necklace and he pushed her away. I’m afraid he pushed a little too hard and his aim wasn’t terrific. Smacked her in the face.”

  “And knocked her on her butt. Serves her right.”

  “But everyone thinks I hit her.”

  “I know. We were talking about it in the kitchen. They don’t really blame you. They sort of figure it was a knee jerk reaction on your part. At least Ian and Joe think that.”

  “What does Joanne think?”

  “She didn’t say. Actually, she didn’t say much.”

  “I don’t go around hitting people!”

  “I know that.”

  “But you thought I did.”

  “I’m sorry, Dani. I just figured if it was me I would have knocked her on her butt already. Actually, I was kinda proud of you, considering the crap she’s been getting away with. Although I noticed she actually cleaned her room. That surprised me.”

  “She didn’t. It was Walt.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Walt. He was trying to help so he dumped everything in her suitcase and made her bed. Put the suitcase in the closet.”

  “Well good for him! Gotta love a ghost that cleans house!”

  “I don’t know about that. When I say he dumped everything in her suitcase, I mean that quite literally. She had makeup and crap all over the dresser and he just dumped it with her clothes in the suitcase. I imagine when she opens it everything is going to be stained with makeup and who knows what.”

  Lily started to laugh. “I really do like Walt!”

  “Easy for you to say. There’s going to be hell to pay when Cheryl opens her suitcase tonight.”

  “Let’s worry about that later. We have a party to go to and you look terrific. Come on, let’s grab something to eat and try to forget about your annoying cousin.”

  Danielle went downstairs to the kitchen with Lily. She had just enough time to finish half a sandwich when the doorbell rang.

  Ian glanced at his watch then said to Danielle, “You’re on, kid.”

  “Let’s get this party rolling!” Danielle said cheerfully.

  By the time Danielle, Lily, Ian and Joe reached the front door, Cheryl had already answered it. Standing in the entry was Marie Nichols and her grandson Adam. Danielle greeted the elderly woman with a quick hug and was taken aback when she noticed Cheryl clinging to Adam’s arm.

  The group noisily exchanged greetings and when Marie noticed Danielle eying her grandson and Cheryl, she reached over, patted her hand and whispered, “Oh, I am sorry dear. I know we hoped something would work out between you and my grandson but it seems your lovely cousin has snatched him up.” Marie’s whisper was loud enough for Cheryl to overhear. Cheryl glanced up and looked Danielle in the eyes, smiling. Taken aback by Marie’s comment, Danielle wasn’t sure how to respond.

  “You’ve done a great job decorating Marlow House, Danielle. Quite patriotic,” Adam said. Danielle wasn’t sure if he was ignoring his grandmot
her’s comment or hadn’t heard it. Since he and Joe had been talking at the time, it was possible he hadn’t, even though Cheryl, who stood close by his side, had heard it.

  “Thank you, but Lily and Ian did most of it. And thanks for bringing your grandmother today,” Danielle said politely.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” Adam grinned at Cheryl, who giggled and squeezed his arm.

  “Am I missing something? Have you two met already?” Danielle asked.

  “Seems they met yesterday,” Marie explained.

  “They met yesterday?” Danielle asked under her breath.

  “So that is the necklace,” Adam said taking a step closer, pulling away from Cheryl. Diamonds and emerald sparkled, brightly illuminated by a ray of sunshine streaming in one of the windows. Adam let out a low whistle of appreciation.

  “Just don’t try to touch it or she’ll hit you,” Cheryl said as she reached up to touch her bruised cheek.

  “Oh dear, what happened?” Marie asked with a concerned frown as she took a closer look at the fresh bruise.

  “Dani hit me.”

  “I did not hit you!” Danielle insisted.

  The doorbell rang again.

  “I can’t believe Danielle would hit you on purpose. I’m sure it was an accident,” Adam said, giving Dani a kind smile. He took Cheryl by the arm and whispered, “Why don’t you take me on a tour?”

  “Your cousin has a peculiar sense of humor,” Marie murmured. She watched her grandson and Cheryl walk toward the library.

  Ian opened the front door and greeted the six people standing on the front porch. Danielle didn’t have time to think about Cheryl. Guest after guest flooded into the house.

  Joe stuck by Danielle’s side as Ian and Lily played tour guides and led groups of visitors through Marlow House, and then took them outside for refreshments. Joanne took charge of the food, intermittently taking fresh platters outside, refilling dishes, offering beverages and cleaning up after the guests.

  Danielle knew some of her guests, but not all. Ben Jones and Millie Samson from the museum showed up, as did Samuel Hayman from the jewelry store. Danielle’s attorney, Clarence Renton arrived about an hour after Marie and Adam. Steve Klein, the bank manager showed up with his wife and several bank employees. They claimed they could only stay for a short time, yet ended up in the back yard enjoying the refreshments and each other’s company, and didn’t seem in a hurry to leave. Danielle resisted the temptation to scold them for discussing her bank business with Cheryl. But the last thing she wanted was for Cheryl to overhear the conversation and start telling more people she had hit her.

  She was delightfully surprised when Astoria resident Emma Jackson showed up, accompanied by a young couple from Emma’s church. Emma, the centenarian who had been an eyewitness many decades ago, had placed Walt Marlow’s killer at the scene of the crime. On Lily’s suggestion, Ian had arranged a meeting with Emma and had since decided to do an article, and possibly a book, on the woman’s life.

  Danielle spent most of her time mingling and modeling the Missing Thorndike, while answering questions about Marlow House and what the bed and breakfast would offer to its guests. Yet it was the necklace that seemed to capture the most attention. Some people wanted to reach out and touch the brilliant stones, but Joe gently discouraged guests from handling the piece, reminding them the necklace was an antique.

  It wasn’t until after 2:00 p.m. that Danielle was able to tear herself away from her guests and grab something to eat. Joe excused himself to visit the restroom, believing Danielle and the necklace would be reasonably safe while he stepped away for a moment.

  A number of the people who had stopped by had already left, but a group of twenty or more gathered in the backyard taking advantage of the rented lawn furniture and enjoying the food Danielle had prepared, while a few more played croquet. New guests continued to arrive, but at a trickle rate.

  “I think your open house is a success,” Lily said when she entered the kitchen a few minutes after Danielle. The two friends were alone in the room.

  “Seems like a good turn out. I’m trying to remember everyone’s name. I should have had them wear name tags.”

  “What’s with your cousin and Adam? Did you have any idea they knew each other?”

  “Not a clue. According to Marie they met yesterday. I guess Cheryl asked him to be his date for today. Marie was rather tickled. I think she wants to get her grandson married off.” Danielle shuddered at the idea.

  “What in the world was Marie talking about? You and Adam?”

  “Don’t ask me. I don’t know what that was about. If she only knew how I really felt.”

  “I about died when she said it. But you better be prepared for Ian after the party.”

  “Ian? What do you mean?”

  “He thought it was pretty hilarious—you and Adam. Expect some teasing.”

  “Just tell him to be prepared. I might have to knock him on his butt. You know I can do it.”

  “Humm, right. With Walt’s help. Speaking of Walt, is he here?” Lily glanced around the room.

  “He was a minute ago. I think he’s in the library.”

  “I thought he was going to stick by you and help watch over the necklace.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe after knocking Cheryl on her butt he decided he’d just leave the job to Joe.” Danielle shrugged and looked out the kitchen window into the back yard.

  Lily glanced outside and spotted Joanne talking to one of the guests. “That Joanne has sure been a big help today.”

  “You’ve all been so helpful. I could not have done this without you.”

  “No problem, it has been lots of fun. I’ve met some really nice people today.”

  Danielle pointed out the window and asked, “Who is that woman Joanne is talking to?”

  “The one in the green straw hat?”

  “Yes. I don’t remember being introduced to her.”

  “I can’t remember her name; her granddaughter keeps calling her Gran.”

  “She’s here with her granddaughter?”

  “Actually with her grandchildren and daughter. See the five people hovering around her chair?”

  Squinting her eyes to get a clearer view, Danielle studied the people standing around the elderly woman, who looked up from her chair talking to Joanna. There were two women and three men.

  “The shorter woman is the daughter. I remember her name, Joyce. The others are Joyce’s kids. I swear, the way those four hover around that woman you would think she was Queen Elizabeth.”

  “Doting family?”

  “According to Marie,” Lily explained, “the woman is loaded. Her husband invented something—what exactly I have no clue—and she is super rich but tighter than a tick. Marie’s words. I guess she lives with Joyce, but the grandkids dote on her, just to make sure they’re in grandma’s will when the old broad kicks the bucket. Also Marie’s words.”

  “Maybe they simply love their grandma? But I wonder, do you think Marie worries Adam is only nice to her so he stays in her will?”

  “I don’t think so. The way she looks at her grandson I doubt she even considers that possibility. Is that what you think?”

  “Actually, I sort of get the feeling the thief really does love his grandma.” Danielle sighed.

  “I was kind of surprised he stuck up for you this morning.”

  “What do you mean…oh, you mean about how it was probably an accident about me hitting Cheryl.”

  “Yes. Did you see the dirty look Cheryl gave him?” Lily asked.

  “I missed that. But this whole Adam and Cheryl thing rather freaks me out.”

  “I know what you mean.” Turning from the window to Danielle, Lily asked, “Are you and Joe going with us to the fireworks show later?”

  “I considered it. But I really feel funny leaving the necklace here alone, even though it will be in the safe.”

  “Walt will be here,” Lily reminded.

  “I kno
w. I’ll think about it. Although, by the time everyone gets out of here and I put whatever food we have left away, I’ll probably be ready to just put my feet up and crash.”

  “Ian and I will help you put the food away, and we can worry about cleaning up in the morning. Walt will take care of the necklace. I think you and Joe need to come with us. A fireworks show will be a fitting ending to your open house.”

  “Let me think about it.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Clarence Renton stood alone under the shade of a maple tree along the outer perimeter of the side yard. He watched the Kleins play croquet with several of the tellers from the bank. They kept laughing and seemed to be enjoying themselves.

  Beyond the players and to their right were the tables and chairs set up for the day’s event. Most of the chairs were occupied and everyone seemed to be either eating or drinking, while happily chatting away to those around them. Beyond the people and chairs was Marlow House.

  Samuel Hayman, a can of beer in each hand, walked up to Clarence. “You looked thirsty.” Samuel handed Clarence a beer.

  “Thanks Samuel. You must have read my mind.” Clarence accepted the can and promptly opened it, taking a sip.

  “Nice turn out,” Samuel said, nodding toward the group of party guests. Standing under the tree they watched the croquet players.

  “I’d say it was a success,” Clarence said.

  “I’m sure most of them showed up to get a look at the Missing Thorndike.”

  “You’re probably right.” Clarence took another sip.

  “I was wondering, do you think Brianna O’Malley knew that necklace was hidden in the house?” Samuel asked.

  “If she did, she never said anything to me about it. But, I don’t see how she would have known.”

  “I think she might have. I was talking to Adam Nichols about it the other day, and according to Adam, his grandma knew about Walt Marlow stealing that necklace.”

  Clarence turned to Samuel. “It doesn’t mean Brianna knew the necklace was in the house.”

  “Marie and Brianna O’Malley were friends,” Samuel said.

  “They were?” Clarence frowned. “I didn’t know that.”