by Bobbi Holmes
“I’m sorry, Dani.”
“Yeah, me too.” Danielle walked over to the sofa and sat next to Lily, propping her feet on the coffee table. “She could sure be a pain in the butt,” Danielle chuckled. “I think I might actually miss her.”
“Does it help knowing…I mean…”
“That there is something more after this?” Danielle asked.
“Yes.”
“I suppose so. But I’m not really sure what that something is. And it’s not like I can summons up my departed loved ones whenever I feel like a little chat.”
The doorbell rang. Lily stood up and said, “I’ll get it.” Danielle nodded and closed her eyes, leaning back on the sofa.
When Lily answered the door Brian was standing on the front porch. He was in uniform.
“Hi,” Lily greeted. “You’re Joe’s friend, Brian, right?”
“Yes. I’m here to see Ms. Boatman, on official business.”
“Sure. Follow me, she’s in the library.”
Brian followed Lily down the entry hall and to the library.
“Dani, Brian is here to see you. He says it is official business.” Lily announced when they entered the library.
Danielle opened her eyes and got to her feet. “Hello Brian. Has there been any news?”
“I was wondering if we could talk, alone?” Brian asked.
“Umm…sure…”Danielle looked at Lily.
“I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me,” Lily said as she left the room, closing the double doors behind her.
“Why don’t you sit down,” Danielle pointed to the chair across from the sofa. When Brian took a seat she sat back down on the sofa. “So what is this all about?” Danielle asked.
“At the party, after Cheryl took off with the necklace, what did you do?”
“What did I do? I hung around here. I still had guests and people were still coming. I couldn’t very well leave.”
“So your cousin takes off with a million dollar necklace and you don’t go after her?”
“Joe did that, you can ask him.”
“When did your guests finally leave?”
“Everyone was gone by the time it was dark. I sort of planned it that way because I figured most would want to leave to go watch the fireworks show.”
“What did you do then? Did you go watch fireworks?”
“No. I really wasn’t in the mood for fireworks, considering Cheryl had taken off with the necklace.”
“So you stayed here all night?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have any witnesses?”
“Lily was here.”
“For the entire night?”
“She went over to Ian’s for a while.”
“Where is that?”
“Across the street. What is this all about anyway?”
“I understand you hit your cousin before the party.”
“I did not hit her. She grabbed for the necklace and slipped.”
“According to witnesses she claimed you hit her.”
“Well, she was wrong. I didn’t.”
“Joe said her face was bruised.”
“Joe said that?”
“Yes.”
“Well I don’t know how it got bruised but I didn’t do it.”
“I understand you haven’t taken any reservations yet for the B and B.”
“No, with Cheryl missing…and now with her death…I think I want to give it some time. Maybe open next season.”
“Or not at all?”
“I’d think you’d understand why I’d want to postpone the opening.”
“I certainly do. Inheriting over ten million dollars probably doesn’t make you too anxious to move forward with your plans. Why be an inn keeper when you have all that money?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re Cheryl’s heir. She left everything to you. How fortunate for you.”
“No, I don’t believe that. Cheryl had other relatives; she wouldn’t leave it to me. And even if she did, her estate isn’t worth ten million dollars.”
“What do you think it’s worth?”
“When her parent’s died, I heard the estate was worth five million.”
“Five million is still quite a fortune, isn’t it? I bet you’d never have to bother turning this place into an inn.”
“Everyone saw Cheryl leave that night. Even if I wanted to find her, I had no way of knowing where she was. You honestly think I would be able to track her down faster than Joe?”
“Perhaps you knew all along where she was going.”
“How would I know that?”
“Maybe she mentioned the bungalow to you before that night. It’s my understanding Adam took her there the day they met.”
“And if she did mention it, would she really use that as a hiding place knowing it would probably be one place I’d look—especially since she took off with Adam?”
Brian considered her words for a moment and then said, “Perhaps it started out as a publicity stunt.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re good at grabbing attention for your inn. Maybe you cooked this up with Cheryl, she would run off with the necklace, it would stir up the press like when you initially found it. But then you started thinking about all that money, and figured this would be a good time to really cash in.”
• • • •
Adam sat at his desk trying to focus on the invoices before him. It was a difficult task considering he couldn’t stop thinking about Cheryl. He didn’t notice his assistant standing nervously by his office doorway, while several police officers stood behind her. He looked up when she cleared her throat and said, “The police are here.”
Adam set his pencil on the pile of invoices and watched as Joe Morelli and two other officers, one male and one female, filed into his office. Joe held a piece of paper in his hand. He lifted it over his head and said, “We have a warrant to search your office, Adam.”
“Should I be calling my attorney?” Adam asked, still sitting behind his desk.
“I suppose that depends on what we find.” Joe tossed the warrant on Adam’s desk and gave a little nod to the female officer. She went directly to the green vase sitting in the bookshelf. Adam watched as she lifted the vase down from the top shelf and looked inside.
Giving Joe a nod, she dipped her gloved hand into the vase and said, “It’s here.” Lifting the Missing Thorndike from its hiding place she held it up for all to see. Instead of the glittering piece Joe remembered fastening around Danielle’s neck, it was now splattered in dry blood.
“What the hell?” Adam stood abruptly, his eyes riveted on the bloody necklace in the officer’s hand.
Joe reached back and grabbed the handcuffs from his belt. He stepped to Adam and said, “Adam Nichols, you are under arrest for the murder of Cheryl Hartford…” Adam stood numbly as Joe pulled his hands behind his back and fitted them in the handcuffs. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you…”
• • • •
The police chief looked down at the sealed plastic bag sitting on his desk. Inside it was the Missing Thorndike. Dry blood dulled its shine. He shook his head and said, “Would have been a hell of a lot less trouble if Boatman would’ve just kept the damn thing locked up in the bank until she sold it.”
“I’m really sorry about this, chief,” Joe muttered. The two officers who had accompanied him to Adam’s office stood by his side.
The chief looked up at Joe and said, “So you say he didn’t try to stop you?”
“No. In fact, he didn’t seem a bit concerned about the warrant.”
“I guess we need to get it over to the lab. They’re going to love this. We better get Hayman over here.”
“Hayman?” Joe asked.
“We’ll need to verify it is the real Missing Thorndike bef
ore we send it over there. When they’re done with it, I really don’t want them sending back a piece of costume jewelry and insisting that’s what we sent over.”
Joe pointed to the makeshift wire attaching the clasp to the necklace. “I can’t verify the diamonds and emeralds are real, but that is definitely the necklace Danielle was wearing when Cheryl took it. The chain broke before the party and I added that wire.”
“I’ve no doubt it is the Missing Thorndike, but I want to follow protocol on this one.” The chief picked up the plastic bag and placed it in the evidence box. Sealing the container, he marked the tape. “I’ll take it to lock up myself. Call Hayman and get him over here. The sooner I get this out of here, the better.”
• • • •
Danielle was about to ask Brian to leave when his cellphone rang. He curtly excused himself to answer the call. Disgusted with Brian’s accusations, Danielle left him alone in the library to take the call. She found Lily in the kitchen.
“Did he leave?” Lily asked.
“No, he got a call. The jerk.”
“What happened?”
“He thinks I killed Cheryl.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“I wish I was. Do you know what he told me?”
“What?”
“I don’t know if it’s true. Not really sure how he would know. But according to him Cheryl left me everything. Apparently she was worth considerably more than what her parents left her.”
“How much are we talking?”
“Ten million.”
Lily let out a low whistle. “Wow.”
“I tell you what, I wish people would stop making me their heir. It is starting to be a real pain in the butt.”
“I thought you were happy about Marlow House.”
“That was before the Missing Thorndike. It’s been nothing but trouble. And if Brian Henderson has his way, my most recent inheritance is going to get me locked up. I wonder, do they have the death penalty in Oregon?”
“I don’t think you need to worry about that quite yet,” Brian said from the doorway.
Lily and Danielle quickly exchanged glances, wondering how much he’d heard of their conversation.
“What do you mean?” Danielle asked.
“It seems the Missing Thorndike has once again resurfaced.”
“Where?” Lily and Danielle chorused.
“We got a tip this afternoon that Adam Nichols had the necklace stashed in his office. Seems you were right all along Ms. Boatman. Adam Nichols killed your cousin for the necklace.”
Stunned, Lily and Danielle walked Brian to the front door and watched him make his way down the front walk toward the street where he had parked his car. After they shut the door they looked at each other.
“I don’t believe it. It really doesn’t go along with what Cheryl told me,” Danielle said.
Cheryl suddenly appeared, shouting, “That’s because it isn’t true!”
“Cheryl! Where have you been?” Danielle asked.
“Is Cheryl here?”
“Yes.” Danielle told Lily. She then turned to her cousin and asked, “I thought you’d left for good.”
“So did I. But it seems everything is screwed up here. I can’t leave now!”
Chapter Thirty-Three
“Where have you been?” Danielle asked Cheryl again after they went into the library.
Before she could answer, Walt appeared. “So you’re back. Couldn’t find the light either?”
“I didn’t intend to come back, but I really had no other choice, did I?” Cheryl asked, flopping down into the couch as if exhausted.
“The last time I saw you was when the police arrived at the beach. But the next time I looked, you were gone.”
“I had to see where they were taking me,” Cheryl said. “And might I suggest, if you ever have the opportunity to view your own autopsy, don’t.” Cheryl cringed.
Lily started to sit on the couch when Danielle called out, “No Lily, Cheryl is sitting there.”
“I tell you what,” Lily said, standing up straight. “I’m going into the parlor and read. These one sided conversations sorta drive me nuts. When you’re done, come in and give me a recap of what’s happening.”
“You watched your autopsy?” Danielle asked after Lily left the library.
“Not all of it. Rather pisses me off to think someone would bash in my head like that.”
“I know the feeling,” Walt said.
“There is one thing I do know: Adam did not kill me.”
“How can you be so certain?” Danielle asked. “You said you can’t remember much after you left the bungalow.”
“I’ve been able to remember more about that night. I remember leaving the hut—after—well, after I died. I didn’t understand what was happening. I panicked. Instead of returning here, I went back to Adam’s. He was right where I left him, snoring away. I tried to wake him up, but of course he couldn’t hear me. Everything was right where it was before I left the bungalow—his shoes, clothes, cellphone, keys, everything. I don’t believe he ever woke up and came to the beach and killed me and returned to the bed. No. It wasn’t him; that I’m certain of.”
“Can you remember anything more about being on the beach...before you were killed?” Danielle asked.
“After you found my body in that beach hut, things started to come into focus,” Cheryl said.
“Like a fuzzy picture getting clear?” Walt suggested.
“Yes,” Cheryl sat up and looked at Walt. “You understand, don’t you?”
“Very much so.” Walt sat on the couch’s arm.
“What else do you remember?” Danielle asked.
“I remember feeling really annoyed at Adam for drinking so much. I was mad at him for ruining the evening. I started to put my shoes on, but then realize I wasn’t sure how to get home from his house, and I sure didn’t want to call you for a ride. I decided the easiest way to find my way back here was to walk along the beach. So I picked up my shoes and purse and slipped out the back slider of the bungalow.”
“I wish you had just called me,” Danielle said.
“So do I,” Cheryl said with a sigh. “I remember standing on the back porch. I could hear the waves breaking on the shore. The moon was up—not a full moon, just a sliver, but its reflection shimmered along the ocean. I remember thinking how lovely it looked. In the distance, to the north, I could see the fireworks. I stood there a while watching and trying to figure out how long it would take me to walk down to the stretch of beach by Ian’s. I remembered his place was just past the pier. And then someone was there. I’m not sure if he came from down the beach, or walked around the house, coming from the street.”
“It was a man?” Walt asked.
“Yes. I don’t know why but his face is still blurry to me—I just can’t quite figure out who he is. I do remember asking him what he was doing there. It surprised me to see him standing in the dark on the beach…behind Adam’s house.”
“What did he say?” Danielle asked.
“He said he was walking down to the fireworks show. He asked me where Adam was—another reason I know it was not Adam who left me in the beach hut. I told him Adam had passed out from drinking too much wine. He asked me what I was going to do now. I told him I was going to walk back to Marlow House.”
“So this is someone you knew…who knew you?” Danielle asked.
“Yes, but I just can’t wrap my head around who he was.” Cheryl sounded frustrated.
“Then what?” Walt asked.
“I remember him saying I’d be smart to go back to Marlow House right away, because the police were looking for me and they thought I stole the necklace.”
“Did you have the necklace on?” Danielle asked.
“Yes. He was looking at it. I remember that. I told him I hadn’t stolen it.” Cheryl looked at Danielle. “I knew you would be mad at me for taking it, but I thought you would understand I only borrowed it. I wasn’t afraid of being arr
ested.”
“Did you ever consider calling me?” Danielle asked.
“No. My night with Adam didn’t go like I wanted, but I wasn’t ready to come back here yet. He—the man on the beach—said we might as well walk together, since he was going in that direction anyway. He suggested I grab something for us to drink for our walk. I went inside and took a couple of beers from the refrigerator.”
“And you have no idea who he was?” Danielle asked.
“No. However, I do know I didn’t find him particularly attractive. But I trusted him. I remember he insisted on opening my beer for me. I thought that was rather old fashioned and gentlemanly, I remember that. We walked along the beach and I started getting really sleepy. He said he knew where some beach chairs were kept, and suggested I sit down for a minute and rest. I was so tired. I just wanted to sit down and go to sleep so I said okay, anything so I wouldn’t have to keep walking. I remember going into that hut, but after that….after that, everything is black. My next memory is leaving the shack and going to Adam’s.”
“He must have hit you over the head and taken the necklace,” Danielle said.
“I suppose…damn, why did I have to do something so stupid?” Cheryl slumped back into the sofa. Closing her eyes, she flung her right wrist over her forehead and let out a dramatic sigh.
Danielle walked over to the sofa and looked down at at her cousin. “I have another question for you, Cheryl. This doesn’t have anything to do with your death.”
Cheryl opened one eye and looked up at Danielle. “What?”
“Did you really leave me your entire estate?”
Cheryl closed her eye and was silent a moment. Finally she said, “Yes.”
“Why? We didn’t even like each other.”
Cheryl sat up abruptly and looked at Danielle. “That is an awful thing to say! How can you talk that way about me? I’m dead!”
“Come on, admit it. You and I have never been close. Just because we didn’t particularly like each other, it doesn’t mean I didn’t love you.”
“You love me?” Cheryl sounded hopeful.
“I suppose I did…do. So why Cheryl—why did you leave me your estate? And how in the world did it get so…so large?”