by MJ Miller
“You’re a man of letters, then,” Luce smiled.
“Well, I travel quite a bit and reading helps me unwind.”
“It’s good to have a hobby that feeds the mind,” Andy chimed in. “I’m afraid I don’t read enough.” Though if trapped in this particular room, he might just read a hell of a lot more, he thought.
“Shall we head up to the ballroom?” Lionel began to usher them out.
“We’ve actually been there, but I am interested in the basement. I’ve heard it’s quite... let’s just say, interesting?” Luce was hopeful. “I’d like to make sure the atmosphere will come across to viewers, before making a decision.”
“My grandmother hasn’t managed to persuade you yet? I’m surprised,” Lionel shook his head. “She must be losing her touch. OK, this way.” He pointed towards the bookcases. “We can get there from here.”
Pushing a button along one of the shelves, Lionel pushed gently and one entire panel of shelving swung inwards, revealing a broad stone staircase.
“Wow, a secret door, I love it,” Andy commented enthusiastically, causing Luce to take notice. Maybe he’d come on board after all.
Andy took a moment to let his eyes adjust and noticed the panel of switches on the wall to the right. Lionel stepped down onto the first step, and flipped several of the switches, bathing the stairwell in the light from the LED panels lining the walls on both sides.
“Watch your step, it’s well lit, but there are some cracks in the stones here and there,” Lionel called out as they descended into the unknown.
As they reached the bottom, Andy watched as Lionel flipped another set of switches, flooding the basement with more LED lights along the old stone walls.
Luce looked about, confused. The room was cavernous, yes, but quite empty. She noticed openings in several places that appeared to be passages. Perhaps leading to other chambers in the basement? She looked at Andy, who didn’t seem at all phased at first glance. Until she saw him tapping his fingers against his thigh.
“My mother would be green with envy at this place, our basement looks like the storeroom for an antique shop!” Andy’s tone was relaxed, but Luce could see his mind cranking. Where was everything? She’d ask Annie later. They must have gone into a passage or two.
“I’m afraid this won’t quite sell the viewers, but I’m sure there’s plenty more to see,” Luce commented softly as she looked around.
“Oh quite, Ms. Porter. I guarantee it.” Lionel smiled and nodded back toward the stairwell. “Shall we go up?”
Andy and Luce followed, disappointed but curious at the same time. Annie and Chris didn’t mention it being empty or using secret passageways. But the damp stones with the bit of moss and areas of condensation would definitely give off the atmosphere they’d need. Reality TV was all about the camera, the angles, the edits. Without a script, they had to create the drama, often out of nothing. Far from reality, Luce knew the secret was illusion.
They headed up to the main level, and then to an old elevator, complete with a brass polished scissor gate, taking them up to the residential quarters, as Lionel put it.
As they stepped out, he pointed to the left. “The family suites are that way, and without permission, will be off limits. Down here to the right,” he paused and nodded, “are a half dozen guest suites. Back in the day visitors often spent weekends, even full summers here, as guests. I imagine you will stay here when you are filming as well.”
They followed him as he practically leapt down the hallway. Luce had to smile as she watched him. He couldn’t be more than 25 she thought, and full of that boyish charm too many men lose. Though, looking at Andy, certainly not all.
Lionel stopped in front of one of the suites. Luce looked closely at the brass plate adorning the door. MorningStar. She quickly glanced at Andy who gave a slight nod. Indicating he’d seen it too.
“This is the MorningStar suite.” Lionel said, opening the door.
“What an interesting name,” Luce remarked as casually as possible.
“Yes, it was a ship. All the suites are named after ships. Our family built them way back when.” Lionel quickly moved on to the décor, whether purposefully or not, Luce couldn’t tell. Pointing to the various antique pieces of furniture, he explained the connection each piece had to the family. But Luce wasn’t listening, as her eyes had fixed themselves on the view out the window. It was east facing, over the water, and directly in view was the lighthouse at Execution Rocks.
“Ah, I see you’ve spotted our gem,” Lionel said, jolting Luce back to the present. “No coastal home is complete without its legendary lighthouse.”
“I agree,” Andy spoke up, noticing Luce’s nerves were on edge. “I had a view of this from my attic window as a boy.”
“Well, if you like that, you’ll love what I have to show you next.” Lionel waved them both out of the suite and back to the elevator. Stepping in behind them, Lionel pulled the gate closed and latched it. “Who’s up for the Bowers Tower?” he said with as sinister an accent as he could muster, accompanied by a grin. “Ready or not, here we go,” he said, and pushed a button labeled WW.
Chapter Twenty
No one was more surprised than Luce when the elevator opened and they were practically on the roof. Well, technically, it was the roof. A widow’s walk. She’d never been on one before and was just a bit nervous about stepping out onto it. She’d seen them in photographs of course, but never one with elevator access.
“Shall we?” Lionel was awfully cheerful, and Luce had a sudden premonition of being pushed right off the roof into the sea below. Shaking it off, she gave Andy a nervous look, but he simply nodded softly, and ushered her out on the strange platform. If they’d been anywhere else, she would have simply figured it was a rooftop deck, albeit oddly shaped. It was more of a raised platform with a railing, that extended out over the rear of the home. It appeared sturdy enough, but who knew?
“You go first. You know, just in case?” Luce nudged Andy. “If it holds you, I’ll follow.”
“Nothing to worry about,” Lionel assured them. “I’ve been coming up here for years. It’s my favorite meditation spot.” Somehow Luce couldn’t picture the animated young man meditating, and the thought made her smile.
“Then it’s a widow’s walk, where the wives would wait for their seafaring husbands to return?” Andy turned to Lionel; brows raised in question.
“Exactly. It was also a lookout, so they say, during wartime, and even during prohibition.”
“Prohibition? You mean they were transporting illegal booze here?”
“Well, there are rumors you know,” Lionel laughed. “My favorite legend? Some say that there was a British war ship chasing Washington and his troops that crashed right on those rocks. Penance for chaining our patriots there to die. And that the only one to witness it was my ancestor, Lionel Bowers. I figure if there is a ghost ship, that’s it.”
Luce had begun to regret not bringing a pad and pen, or at least hitting record on her phone. Hopefully Andy was making mental notes as well. She looked out over the water and found herself staring straight at the lighthouse. She imagined the view from there would give anyone a clear sighting of any ship, moving in any direction. She knew then her mind was made up. This project was definitely happening.
“I’ve got one more surprise, if you’re up for it,” Lionel’s voice held a teasing note.
“Always, my friend,” Andy responded with more enthusiasm than usual. Maybe his irritation at her meeting with Mrs. Bowers was just a bit of envy and nothing more.
But when he glanced her way, she saw it was an act. The same concern was in his eyes as earlier.
They headed back down in the elevator to the first floor, and then around the corner and down the hall to a side door. Exiting out, they ended up in the gardens, which Luce knew Andy had seen already.
“Wow this is certainly lovely,” Luce mused, looking around. There was a pathway, which it seemed had been carved out of th
e flower beds, rather than the flowers planted around it. As they meandered around, Luce noticed various little gnomes scattered about, dressed as sailors and captains and even an admiral or two. It really was enchanting. The delicate and assorted pastel blooms of pink and white impatiens lying close to the ground, set against a backdrop of the tall, soft pink and purple hydrangeas was really quite stunning.
“Wait until you see this!” Lionel grinned as he led to the far end of the gated garden area, straight to the pond that Andy and Chris had discovered. Luce snuck a peek up at Andy’s face, to see how well he masked his lack of surprise.
Very well it seemed, as he stopped short just as they approached it. “Wow, you have got to be kidding. There’s an entire flotilla here.” Andy leaned forward and crouched a bit to get a better look. “Are they models of real ships, or just hobby models?”
“They’re real alright. See that larger schooner over there? That’s the MorningStar. Behind it, to your left? That’s her sister ship, the Nightwind. And this one right here,” Lionel pointed to a small sloop in front of him, “they say that it was a scouting ship. During the The Battle of Long Island.”
“Who built these? They are superbly done,” Andy remarked.
“My father. He was quite the model ship builder. He probably would have loved the family business, building real ones, but that died out with my great grandfather, sorry to say.” Lionel looked disappointed for a moment, then his face brightened again. “But probably a good thing, I’m not much for business I’m afraid.”
Luce was about to ask exactly what Lionel did, if anything, for a living, when Peabody snuck up on them.
“Will you join us for lunch?”
“Thank you Mr. Peabody, but my parents are expecting us. We’d probably better get moving, so we’ll just come in and say our goodbyes.”
“Very well, follow me please,” he responded in his usual haughty tone.
As they did, they dropped back a few steps, and Luce looked at him curiously. “Lunch with your parents?” She whispered. “You neglected to mention that to me.” She chewed on her lip for a moment. From the look on his face, she’d been set up. She knew it.
“Relax Luce, you’ll love them. I do.” He grinned, took her elbow and steered her forward to catch up with the others as they went back through the side door.
“Well, Ms. Porter, do we have an agreement?” Luce was startled, not expecting Mrs. Bowers to meet them at the door.
“I’m not positive, but it does seem like an excellent idea and a good opportunity, but as I mentioned earlier, I do have to clear it with the powers-that-be.”
“Very well, I’m disappointed you can’t commit, but I suppose that’s the way of things now. I’ll expect to hear from you this week. Good day.” With a nod to Luce, then to Andy, Adeline Bowers turned and simply walked away.
As they settled in the car, Luce fastened her seatbelt, and turned to face Andy.
“Do your parents expect us?” she blurted out.
“Of course!” Andy chuckled.
“And how long have they been expecting us?” Luce asked, watching his expression. Busted.
“Hmm, well, I might have mentioned that we would probably stay out at your sister’s this weekend after the dinner. And then she figured of course I’d stop by for lunch on the way back to the city.”
“I see. Basically the whole time.” She frowned. “You’ve known the whole time and not mentioned it?”
“Come on Luce, it’s just lunch.”
“With your parents.”
“Yeah but still, just lunch.”
“Andy Holman, you better not have any more tricks up your sleeve,” Luce could barely suppress her smile. She really needed to put a stop to his shenanigans, but at the same time, she simply couldn’t. No need to be nervous. Meeting his parents? When they were just acquaintances? Well maybe a little more, maybe friends who flirt? Still, it was just lunch. Maybe his mother could provide some intel on Adeline Bowers. She focused on that and found herself relaxing enough to think of questions to ask.
Until they pulled into a long tree-lined driveway and pulled up to Andy’s childhood home. Then all bets were off.
Chapter Twenty-One
“You have got to be kidding me.” Luce simply stared at the massive structure. “This isn’t a house, Andy, it’s a mansion. A massive Tudor mansion. This house makes old lady Bower’s place look like the slums of the neighborhood.”
Andy laughed out loud. “Disappointed?”
Luce couldn’t help but smile. His laugh was contagious. “Please tell me Peabody’s cousin isn’t going to answer the door?”
“Nope, that’ll be Ms Trunchbull.”
Luce’s eyes widened. “You’re joking,” she humphed out, crossing her arms over her chest. Looking down, she was glad she was at least dressed appropriately. Simple summer skirt and blouse rather than her skinny jeans and a t-shirt.
“I am. Her name is Molly.”
Luce slumped back in the seat. “What have you gotten me into here, detective? Is this really your home?”
“Nope!”
“No?”
“It’s my parents’ home. Mine is a 2 bedroom walk-up about 3 blocks from yours.” Andy grinned, and patted her knee. Sending electrical currents straight to her core. “Come on, it’ll be fun,” he said, winking as he opened his door and stepped out, coming around to the passenger side and getting the door for her. She glanced up as he grabbed her hand while she stepped out.
“You live 3 blocks from me?” Luce wondered how she didn’t know that though it explained how he was always popping up in her life.
“I do. Convenient, no?”
“No. Now, lead the way, detective. And by the way, you so owe me for this.” Luce’s nerves were in full force. She could handle it, she silently chided herself. Maybe they were nice? Maybe he wasn’t really a spoiled filthy rich kid at one time. Maybe this was a terrible idea…
In those brief moments walking up to the door, she let her imagination run wild. Envisioning a stiff, formal pinch-faced woman with a penetrating glare. Someone who would believe Luce to be completely undeserving of dining in her home. His father would be imposing and gruff. She would sit ramrod straight for a painful amount of time just wishing it would be over.
She was rendered speechless when the door opened and there stood a petite blonde with brilliant blue eyes, a smattering of freckles and a huge grin. One just like Andy’s. Dressed in denim capris and a loose fitting button down shirt, she was as far from formal as it gets.
“Come in come in,” the whirlwind gushed as she opened the door. “I can’t believe he’s finally brought you here!”
Finally?
“It’s certainly great to meet you as well.” Luce smiled.
Yeah cause I’ve heard nothing about you… OMG I’m going to kill him, Luce’s mind raced.
“Luce, this is my mom, Molly.” He grinned and winked.
Molly? OMG I’m going to kill him twice, she corrected herself.
“Gil’s just finishing up out back, so why don’t we head out there as well, enjoy the sunshine.”
Luce assumed Gil was Andy’s father, since she was completely clueless thanks to the smart-ass leading her along with his hand on her back. They followed his mother through the main hall, through a door leading to a fabulous sunroom, where the sliding doors led to a beautiful redwood deck. Overlooking the water, naturally. Luce looked around in astonishment. It was gorgeous. From the deck, the rolling green lawn seemed to seamlessly flow down into the pebbly beach. The deck itself had a full outdoor kitchen, which is where she instantly spotted Mr. Holman himself. There was no mistaking him. He was tall, and broad shouldered like his son, his hair much darker, though, and speckled with gray. Handsome would be an understatement. He was quite stunning. And if Andy were going to age that well, oh boy. Luce was in trouble.
They all sat outside and enjoyed a luncheon smorgasbord of grilled shrimp and veggies, prepared by Gil, who as it turned ou
t was a remarkable chef. Molly regaled Luce with tales of Andy’s childhood while Gil filled in some of the mischievous blanks that mothers seem to be unaware of. Luce knew that part was all a ruse. She could tell by the glint in Molly’s eyes, she knew. As time went on, the drinks flowed freely, and the stories even more so. Andy quit at a beer or two, but Luce was finding it difficult to refuse the daiquiris Molly kept pouring.
“You know Andy, you really must show her the clubhouse that you built.” Molly grinned at Luce. “It’s quite the thing.”
“Hmm, a clubhouse? Let me guess. So you and your buddies could hide from your sister?” Luce looked over at Andy, noticing the blush creeping over his face.
“Not exactly.” He murmured.
“Well, we didn’t have any boys in the house,” Luce remarked, dryly, “but our neighbors had three of them. And they had a clubhouse with a big sign that read ‘no girls allowed.’”
“Oh, my no, Luce, Andy certainly did not have a sign like that. He built it for the girls.” With that Molly burst into laughter. “He didn’t feel like the house had enough privacy.” Molly was gasping and practically doubled over. Andy was shaking his head trying not to laugh, and Gil was just leaning back, smirking and twirling an unlit cigar in his hand.
Luce was suddenly reminded of those times before the accident. Times with her parents, the laughter. The memories. The time spent she couldn’t get back. Though for the first time she wasn’t overcome with sadness. She felt her eyes tear up, but it wasn’t overwhelming. She wiped them gently and tucked her head for a moment. A gentle tug of her hand from Andy had her looking back up at him curiously.
“Wanna see it?” Andy grinned. “I promise you’ll love it.”