by Bobbi Holmes
Danielle glanced down at Sadie and frowned. “Umm…I think she’s pissed at you.” Danielle reached down and stroked Sadie’s neck.
Standing up, Sadie opened her eyes and lifted her head. She walked toward Walt and then strolled through his body as if he were not there, making her way to the other side of the kitchen, where she lay down and closed her eyes—her back to Walt.
“Aww girl, don’t be mad at me,” Walt begged. “I was so worried about you.”
Sadie lifted her head briefly, opened her eyes and glared at Walt. She made what sounded like a grunting noise, before turning her head from him again. Ignoring Walt, she rested her chin on her front paws and closed her eyes.
“I’m so sorry.” Walt sounded heartbroken.
“She’ll get over it, Walt. Give her time. Where are the Stewarts?” Danielle asked.
“They went back in their room,” Lily explained. “Spent most of the evening poking through the library, looking for their imaginary diamonds. By the disgusting sounds coming from their room a little while ago, they’re back to playing the honeymooners.”
“You’ve been found, Lily!” Danielle blurted out.
“What?”
“After the police left the cemetery, I went to talk to Isabella. Her body was at the cemetery all along. According to what she said, she never let Frederickport.”
“So how does this mean I’ve been found?”
“When Joe was on his way home he drove by here, didn’t see my car so he wondered if I’d had car trouble at the cemetery. He found me there—with Isabella’s body.”
“Oh my god, how did you explain everything?”
“I didn’t. Not really. He called the chief and all these people showed up—it was Cheryl and the beach hut all over again. One of the officers knew Isabella personally and insisted it was her. After running her fingerprints, they knew the dead body was Isabella Strickland which of course meant…”
“That Isabella Strickland wasn’t the woman at the Gusarov Estate.”
“Exactly. I followed the police over there. When I left, they were just taking your body to the local hospital. I gave Joe your parent’s phone number. They’ve probably already called them.”
“What about Ian?” Lily asked.
“I called him on the way over here.”
Danielle’s phone began to ring. She pulled it from her back pocket and looked at it.
“Lily, it’s your mom,” Danielle announced before taking the call.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Danielle’s head rested on a crown of curls, reminding Walt of a sleeping princess. Hovering protectively over her bed, he watched as she and Sadie slept.
Danielle woke to the sound of Sadie’s snoring. Pushed to the far right side of the bed, Danielle opened her sleep laden eyes and looked over at her bed partner. The golden retriever sprawled across the length of the bed, stretched out on her back, taking up more than three-fourths of the mattress’ width. Her sleeping head hovered just inches from Danielle’s face, making grunting snore sounds.
“Bed hog,” Danielle grumbled, giving Sadie a gentle nudge. Feigning sleep, the dog refused to budge.
“Let the poor girl sleep,” Walt scolded. “She’s had a rough night.”
Danielle sat up in the bed and looked over toward the fireplace where Walt stood.
“She’s not the only one. How long have you been standing there?”
“Does it matter?” Walt asked.
“I don’t like it when you watch me sleep.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I was watching Sadie. Not you.”
“Are our house guests still asleep?”
“Yes.”
“What time is it?” Danielle picked up her cellphone off the nightstand and looked at the time. “I’m supposed to be at the police station at nine.”
“What about the Stewart’s breakfast?”
“I need to tell them they have to leave. There is too much going on. I’ll make them a reservation down at the Seahorse Motel. That’s right on the water.”
“They aren’t going to leave willingly.”
“They tried to dognap Sadie! I can’t have them here.”
“And you can’t prove it.”
“Plus Lily’s parents are arriving this afternoon. I told them they could stay here.”
“You have plenty of room. I’m telling you, the Stewarts are not going to go willingly.”
“What am I supposed to do, let them stay indefinitely?”
“No. But I don’t imagine you’ll be able to get them to leave sooner than they originally planned. Weren’t they staying for a week?”
“Yes,” Danielle groaned.
“Maybe you need to find out who they really are. Like I told you, I don’t think their name is Stewart.”
“I’ll see what I can do. I wonder…”
“What?” Walt asked after Danielle didn’t finish her sentence and was silent for a few moments.
“You said they mentioned something about an Isabella saying diamonds were hidden here. If it was Isabella Strickland, then it must mean she knows them. I should go ask her. See what she can tell me.”
“I thought she was down at the cemetery last night, when you found Sadie.”
“She was. I told you she was the one who nailed that creep with a rock.”
“Didn’t she see the Stewarts when they brought Sadie down there?”
“No. According to Isabella, she didn’t see them. Oh…” Danielle looked up to Walt. “I don’t think I mentioned it, but I saw your wife last night.”
“I believe you mentioned something about it.” Walt took a seat on the sofa.
“And you didn’t even ask me how she was doing? Not one single question. Aren’t you curious?”
“The woman tried to kill me.”
“Yes, for which she’s being punished.”
“Oh horse feathers! I wouldn’t call being confined to a cemetery a fitting punishment for ending a man’s life!”
“True. But she did try to stop her brother. You need to give her credit for that.”
“I suppose…” Walt shrugged.
“Umm, I did promise her I’d ask you something. I forgot all about it.”
“What in the world would she have to ask me?”
“Apparently, she’s rather lonely down at the cemetery. Bored. She’s been rethinking your marriage—her mistakes—and she wondered…” Danielle began to giggle.
“What’s so funny?”
“She want’s you to move down to the cemetery with her!”
“Surely you aren’t serious?”
“She seemed serious enough. The only reason I agreed to ask you is, it was the only way she’d show me where they’d taken Sadie.”
“Sounds like Angela. Even in death she’s selfish.”
“If I happen to run into her when I go see Isabella, what would you like me to tell her—you know, about her request?”
“Tell her when hell freezes over. And then I’ll gladly take her ice skating.”
“I’m sure she’ll appreciate that.” Danielle grinned.
Sadie began to stir. Danielle reached over and ruffled her fur. The dog rolled over, stood up and gave a quick shake as if she were getting out of a bath. She looked over at Walt, let out a short bark, and then began wagging her tail.
“It looks like she’s not mad at you anymore,” Danielle said with a smile.
Sadie leapt off the bed and jumped onto the couch, sitting on Walt. Her body moved effortlessly through his transparent form.
“Still creeps me out,” Danielle muttered under her breath.
“I’m just relieved she’s safe,” Walt said as he smiled down at Sadie.
“Oh, I had another question for you.”
“More about Angela?”
“No. This one’s about your family crypt. I told you last night that we found Isabella in there.”
“If you think about it, an excellent place to stash a body. Since the Marlows are all go
ne—at least this branch of the family—no reason for the crypt ever to be reopened. If Isabella’s spirit hadn’t intervened, they would have gotten away with murder.”
“They still may. The police don’t know who put Isabella in there.”
“Do they think she was alive when she was locked in the crypt?” Walt asked, sounding horrified.
“No. It didn’t look that way, and from how the cops were talking, they didn’t seem to think so. And when I talked to Isabella, she said she woke up there—as in woke up in death. I’m pretty sure she was already dead when her body was entombed. But my question to you: why weren’t you buried there?”
“Me?” Walt frowned.
“It’s a huge mausoleum. Your grandparents are there, your parents. You and Angela could have easily been entombed there too. Why weren’t you?”
“What a chilling thought.” Walt cringed. “After my grandfather died one of the first changes I made to my will was where I’d be buried. I never wanted to end up in that grim place.”
“The idea of a family crypt bothered you?”
“Horrified me.” Walt shuddered. “I find those buildings of death morbidly grim. I knew it’s what my grandfather wanted. I suppose he’s furious I’m not there, which is just one of the many reasons I’m not anxious to move on to the next level.”
“I suppose I can understand. Some people have an aversion to cremation, others to burial. I have one friend who insists when she dies she just wants them to prop her in the corner and let her dry out naturally.”
“Lovely.” Walt smirked. “I imagine that’s one last request that won’t be honored.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Danielle chuckled. “Have you seen Lily this morning?”
“She told me to tell you she went to the hospital.”
“Good. I hope she gets back in her body soon. I have a feeling the longer she stays disconnected, the more difficult it will be for her to jump back in.”
“By the way, the Stewarts didn’t stay in their bedroom all night.”
“Really? What did they do?”
“They went downstairs to the parlor to watch television. Mrs. Stewart—or whatever her name is—was complaining because there isn’t a television in her room.”
“Oh goodie. I will be sure to point out that the Seahorse Motel has a TV in every room!”
“I have a question about what they were watching—they called it a marathon. They kept playing one episode after another of the same show. Mrs. Stewart loved it—she seems to be a bit of a Dumb Dora. I found the show quite unbelievable.”
“What was the show?” Danielle asked.
“Gilligan’s Island. Silly. Unrealistic.”
Danielle began to giggle. “Well it is Gilligan’s Island. So tell me, what about it did you find so…umm…unrealistic?”
“The coconut pies.”
“Coconut pies?” Danielle frowned.
“If they are stranded on a deserted island, how is it they are able to make coconut pies? I once helped the cook make piecrust when I was a child and it took both flour and lard. I don’t believe either of those ingredients are a commodity one might find on an uninhabited island.”
“Really? The pie? That’s where you draw the line at unrealistic? You didn’t find anything unusual about Ginger’s wardrobe?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ginger’s wardrobe. She had an endless supply of evening gowns. That didn’t bother you, just the pies?”
“I assumed she was like most women and traveled with an extensive wardrobe. You should see what Angela packed for our honeymoon!”
Danielle stared at Walt a moment and then just shook her head. “Actually, the pies are the one realistic thing about the show.”
“How do you see that?”
“Easy. The island has an abundance of coconut trees. From a coconut you can make coconut milk—and from the left over pulp you can make coconut flour. You can also get oil from the coconut which can be used for lard or shortening in the piecrust and coconut sugar, so basically all the ingredients for the pie are found in the coconut.”
Walt considered Danielle’s explanation for a moment then asked, “True, but wouldn’t that take some sort of machinery to exact the coconut oil and flour?”
“That’s why they have the professor, to make whatever they need.” Danielle smiled.
“Humm…perhaps. But it still seems a little farfetched.”
“Like I said, it is Gilligan’s Island!” Danielle laughed.
She stopped laughing when she heard a door slam.
“It must be the Stewarts, they’re awake,” Danielle whispered.
“I’ll keep an eye on them while you get dressed.”
“Okay.” Danielle jumped out of bed as Walt vanished. Sadie let out a bark.
* * *
“Did you just hear a dog bark?” Claire asked as she and Hunter started to walk down the stairs.
Hunter paused and looked back down the hall. “Sounded like it came from Boatman’s room.”
“You don’t think she found the dog, do you?”
“There’s no way she could have. I tied him up real good. He couldn’t have gotten loose.”
“She you mean,” Claire corrected.
“What are you talking about?” Hunter asked.
“You said he couldn’t have gotten loose. The dog was a girl.”
“It was a bitch you mean, and what do I care?”
“But what if she found the dog?”
“There is no way she would have thought to go down to the cemetery to look for that mutt. Let’s get out of here. I want to get down there and get our money, before someone else finds it. Then we can get back here and have some breakfast.”
Claire and Hunter were halfway down the staircase when Danielle opened her bedroom door. Sadie rushed out of the room, heading to the stairs. She stopped at the top of the staircase and looked down at Hunter and Claire. She began to bark. The pair froze and looked up at Sadie, who continued to bark and snarl angrily.
“It’s the dog,” Claire said under her breath as she clutched the handrail.
“I can see that,” Hunter snapped.
“Good morning,” Danielle said cheerfully when she reached Sadie. She looked down at the Stewarts and gave Sadie a gentle pat, telling her to stop barking.
“I see you found your dog,” Hunter said, his eyes fixed on Sadie.
“Yes. Some awful man tried to steal her. He’s been arrested.”
“How do you know he was trying to steal her? Maybe he just found her?” Hunter asked.
“I don’t know about that. The police have him. I imagine they’ll sort the whole thing out. Where are you two off to?”
“We were going out for breakfast,” Claire blurted out.
“Really? Then I guess that means you won’t be having breakfast here. It’s probably for the best; a few things have come up.” Danielle started walking down the stairs, Sadie by her side.
“Why did you say that?” Hunter grumbled under his breath.
“I don’t know. I thought I had to say something,” Claire whispered as she walked with him to the first floor landing. Once downstairs, they waited for Danielle to join them.
“I suppose we could have breakfast now, here,” Hunter said. “We just thought you were still sleeping,” he lied.
“Something came up last night—a family emergency, you might say. I’m expecting some more guests this afternoon and I’m afraid you’ll have to move. I can get you a nice room at the Seahorse Motel.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Hunter said. “It’s our honeymoon. We don’t want to stay anywhere else.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“I told you they weren’t going to be easy to get rid of,” Walt said after Hunter and Claire drove away in the Cadillac. Walt stood with Danielle and Sadie at the front door of Marlow House.
“At least I don’t have to make them breakfast this morning,” Danielle said as she slammed the front doo
r shut.
“You can thank Mrs. Stewart for that. Or whatever her real name is.”
“What do you mean?”
“According to their conversation this morning, they were on their way down to the cemetery to pick up their ill gotten money, and then he planned to come back here to let you cook for him.”
“So why did the wife say they were going out for breakfast?”
“I think it threw her off balance when she saw Sadie and you asked them where they were going.”
“I should have cooked for them. Put arsenic in their eggs,” Danielle grumbled.
“What are you going to do about them?” Walt and Sadie followed Danielle to the kitchen.
“I’ll deal with them later. I’m kinda overwhelmed at the moment. I have to be at the police station at nine. But first I want to grab something to eat and then I have to swing by the cemetery.”
“The cemetery?”
“I need to talk to Isabella. There are still a lot of unanswered questions. I hope she hasn’t moved on yet.”
“You know, it’s a good chance she has. You helped her do what she came here for. Her body has been found, her friends know she’s dead and now she can have a proper burial. There’s no reason for her to stay.” Walt watched as Danielle fixed herself a bowl of cereal.
“I hope you’re wrong.” Danielle sat at the kitchen table. “There are too many unanswered questions.”
“When do Lily’s parents arrive?” Walt asked.
“They’re supposed to get here this morning, but they’re planning to go directly to the hospital. I don’t expect them to show up here until this evening. I’ll probably see them at the hospital first. Which reminds me, I won’t be able to take Sadie with me.”
“I didn’t think you would.”
“I’m a little nervous about leaving her here at the house, knowing the Stewarts are still around.”
“I promise, I won’t let anything happen to Sadie,” Walt vowed.
“I’ll just feel better when they’re gone.”
“I promise, Danielle. I’ll keep her safe.”
After Danielle finished breakfast, she ran back upstairs to get ready for the day. By the time she headed out of the house it was almost 8:00 a.m.