Murder in Evergreen

by Jane T O'Brien

“Would you mind if I go with you, I have met the old gentleman and would like to visit him again.”

  “I’d like you to go, Tony. Please don’t tell the man I thought it was a piece of costume jewelry.”

  Chapter Two

  Molly returned to Buds and Blooms in time for her meeting with Susan Benton. Susan had been a stay-at-home mom since the birth of her first child some twenty years before. With her children grown and needing less of her time, she went back to work.

  Molly liked the friendly woman and offered her a job to help with the extra business and relieve Stephanie and Elizabeth’s workloads.

  *****

  She and Tony met at three o’clock and rode together to Gustave Bossart Jewelers. The store was in an older section of town. Bars with padlocks covered the windows. Molly was glad Tony was with her; she didn’t feel safe in the neighborhood. Old movies she’d watched as a child with her grandmother came to mind when they entered the store. The dark mahogany wooden and glass display cases sparkled in the dimmed lights, although the jewels on view were sparse.

  A young man in his early twenties greeted them with a smile. “As you can see,” he said, “our inventory has dwindled, however, I can offer you a good price on anything you see.”

  “Is the shop closing?” asked Tony.

  “I’m afraid so, the time has come for Mr. Bossart to move into his granddaughter’s home. He is selling the shop and the upstairs apartment. I’m his great-grandson, Miles. You wouldn’t be interested in buying a jewelry store, would you, sir?”

  “No, young man, I opened a store in Evergreen.”

  “That’s a beautiful area, unlike this neighborhood. Great-grandfather is the original owner of the building. Through the years, it has deteriorated to where no one wants to open a shop of any kind here, especially one that sells expensive jewelry.”

  “Miles,” said Molly as she introduced herself. “I wonder if your great-grandfather would meet with us. I have of a ring I believe he designed.” Molly held the ring in her hand while Miles looked at it.

  “That is one of great-grandfather’s designs. I’d recognize it anywhere. It’s not yours, Molly, it belongs to someone whose name begins with the letter ‘L’.”

  “No, Miles, it’s not my ring. I found it in the sand by the lake last year. I turned it into the police but no one claimed it and they gave it back. I thought your great-grandfather might tell me who purchased it.”

  “He probably will remember. His body is wearing out but his mind is still sharp. Follow me and I’ll take you upstairs to his apartment.”

  “We don’t want to disturb him,” said Tony.

  “Great-grandfather loves company almost as much as he loves talking about jewels and settings. My mother is keeping him company this afternoon. She’ll be glad for the break. She loves the old stories but he tells the same ones she’s heard many times.” *****

  The stairs were rickety; Molly wondered how they would move the old man’s furniture down them without falling through.

  As though Miles read her mind, he said: “I should take you up the back way, that staircase is sturdier than this old relic.”

  *****

  “Great-grandfather, I have visitors who would like to ask you about a ring you designed. Say hello to Molly Ryan and Tony Blake. Wait until you see what Molly is holding.”

  Molly and Tony introduced themselves to the old man’s granddaughter and Molly put the ring in Mr. Bossart’s frail hand.

  “Ah, yes, my signature ring. I designed this for a chap who planned to give it to his girl on Valentine’s Day. I hadn’t made this pattern in several years and I wasn’t sure my arthritic hands were up to the delicate task. Why are you in possession of the ring? I hope misfortune hasn’t befallen the young couple.”

  “Mr. Bossart,” said Molly, “I found the ring on the beach close to a year ago. I turned it over to the police and no one has claimed it in that time. I asked Mr. Blake to appraise it for me and he recognized your design. I would like to return it to its owner if possible. Do you recall the name of the man who purchased the ring from you?”

  “Alec was his first name, I remember that. Miles, fetch the log books from the office if you will. My dear wife, Myrtle, acted as my bookkeeper and never missed recording a transaction until she died eight years ago.”

  Miles returned from the back room: “Great-grandfather, there must be fifty years of books back there. I have the last ten, there aren’t any books from the years after great-grandmother died.”

  Gustave looked through each transaction carefully until he came to one dated ten years before. “That’s it, Alec Danforth, he lived in Belmont. I remember Myrtle commenting that the Danforth’s lived in a mansion where her friend, Agnes’s cousin worked as a housekeeper. Myrtle knew everyone in town, I miss that old woman.”

  Molly saw the look of sadness come over Mr. Bossart’s face.

  Molly and Tony thanked the old gentleman for his help and left.

  “Molly,” Tony said on the drive back to Evergreen, “I know you would like to return the ring to its owner but I have heard rumors about Alec Danforth. I’m not sure it’s safe to contact him. From what I hear, he is a strange one who hasn’t left the Belmont Estate in years.”

  “I’m not sure what I will do, Tony. You are right, I should give the ring to charity and forget about it. I’m wondering about the blood-stained scarf I found that day. I gave that to the police last year but it wasn’t returned with the ring.”

  “Molly, you have a look on your face that makes me uncomfortable. You know what they say curiosity did to the cat.”

  “Tony, you forget, a cat has nine lives,” Molly laughed.

  *****

  When Molly returned to the shop, Joanna was getting ready to leave with Detective Roth. The two had been seeing each other every day since the young detective walked into Buds and Blooms two weeks before.

  “Hi, you two, I’m glad I caught you, Dylan. What do you know about a scarf I turned over to the police department along with the ring you gave me?”

  “I know nothing about a scarf, Molly. Did you want it?”

  “No, I found it near the ring and it appeared to have bloodstains on it. I wondered what happened to it.”

  “If it had blood on it, it would have been incinerated. We keep nothing that could be dangerous to the staff. It was likely kept for the required time and then destroyed.”

  “That makes sense. I think we’ve found the original owner of the ring. Dylan, have you heard of Alec Danforth?”

  “Everyone has heard of Alec Danforth. The Danforth family has lived in this area forever. They have a mansion in Belmont. I’ve never seen it but I hear it’s haunted. The Danforth’s are wealthy, not on the scale of Travis Kincaid but they aren’t hurting, that’s for sure.”

  “When you have time, I’d like to talk to you about Alec Danforth, Dylan. I’ll let you two get on with your date.”

  “No, Molly,” said Joanna, “We are going out for pizza, it can wait, can’t it Dylan? I know something about Mr. Danforth and Ms. Abbott, my fifth-grade teacher.”

  “Ms. Abbott; her first name doesn’t begin with the letter ‘L’, does it?”

  “Yes, her first name is Laura. Do you think that could be her ring?”

  “Let’s not jump to any conclusions, Joanna,” said Dylan. “Why don’t you tell us what you know about Alec Danforth and Ms. Abbott?”

  “It might have been nothing; our class was studying art as a special project after school. Ms. Abbott arranged for us to visit the Danforth Gallery of Art. My friends and I were admiring the impressionist work of the artist, Alec Danforth when he walked from the back room of the gallery. He was handsome in a weird way. I can remember his eyes seemed to penetrate my soul. If you haven’t guessed, I was going through my dramatic phase back then. Anyway, Ms. Abbott must have had the same impression. She acted frightened, and she wasn’t the type to frighten easily. One boy asked Mr. Danforth a question, and he answered it in a friendly
way. He joked with us and Ms. Abbott relaxed after that. After we got on the bus to go back to school, Mr. Danforth shook Ms. Abbott’s hand and held on for a long time. We all giggled watching them say goodbye. Ms. Abbott’s face was flushed when she got back on the bus and we giggled even harder.

  “The following year, Ms. Abbott didn’t come back to teach. My friends and I were certain Mr. Danforth had her hidden in his mansion in Belmont.”

  “That was about ten years ago, wasn’t it, Joanna?”

  “Exactly ten years ago; maybe we weren’t being melodramatic.”

  “Okay, ladies, let’s not get carried away,” said Dylan. Unless Ms. Abbott was alone in the world, someone would have missed her while she was held captive in the big mansion in the Belmont woods.”

  “Do you know the Danforth place, Dylan?”

  “Sure, they said it was haunted when I was a kid too. Paul and I rode our bikes there one summer day. The butler shooed us off the property before we could get a look in the windows. It’s a gloomy place, but not haunted.”

  “Could you find it again, Dylan?” asked Molly.

  “I’m not taking you there if that’s what you’re thinking. I agree with Tony Blake, forget about finding the owner of that dumb ring.”

  “You’re right,” Molly said although she had no intention of forgetting about the mysterious ring and finding its owner.

  Chapter Three

  Molly smiled as she watched Joanna and Dylan walk hand in hand out the door of the shop. They were a cute couple; Joanna was like a little sister to her and she wanted only the best for her. Molly had the feeling, Dylan was one of the good guys.

  Speaking of good guys, she thought to herself, it’s time I get home to my good guy.

  *****

  Molly wasn’t surprised when she saw Luke pushing Lucy Kincaid on the swing in her backyard. Lucy and Luke had a special bond. Because he worked out of their home, he saw her often during the day.

  Lucy is the daughter of Travis and Brooke Kincaid. Brooke Adopted the little girl and soon after she discovered she was expecting another baby. Molly was honored when Ryan was born three months ago, and Brooke and Travis named him Ryan in Molly’s honor.

  Brooke’s life changed from the time she welcomed Molly to Hillsboro with a bottle of perfectly chilled chardonnay and two glasses. They clicked instantly and have been best friends ever since that first meeting.

  Brooke met and married Billionaire, Travis Montgomery after a tumultuous time in both their lives. Molly had a bad vibe about Travis and tried to discourage her friend from seeing the man. However, she changed her mind when she realized his reputation as a womanizer was overrated.

  Travis is the son of the late Francis Kincaid. The senior Mr. Kincaid made his money by swindling others out of theirs. He was a shrewd, if not honest, businessman who vowed never to return to the life of poverty he endured as a youngster.

  Travis is the only child born to Francis and Pamela Kincaid. His mother is a cold, selfish woman whose main interest in Travis is the loosening of the purse strings he controls. His young life was filled with high-priced schools and servants who responded to his every need.

  Francis Kincaid dreamed of seeing the Kincaid name on luxury hotels throughout the world. Travis lived in the penthouse apartment of Kincaid Towers in the city of Hillsboro. He was photographed with beautiful women on his arm but he wasn’t a happy man. Everything changed in Travis’s life the day he met the gregarious and beautiful Brooke Hartley.

  He sold Kincaid hotels at below their worth to the staffs of each building with the stipulation that the Kincaid name be removed.

  He put a good share of his money into the design and construction of the village of Evergreen. A planned community with the river running through the main street with parks and play areas on every corner. Most of the residential housing was large but affordable and surrounded Lake Hillsboro.

  After his marriage to Brooke, his long-time personal assistant, Carter Moss, wasn’t needed to do the things Travis could do for himself.

  When Carter’s unique services were no longer required, Travis asked him what he would like to do if money were no object.

  “Sir, I have always wanted to own a men’s shop with only the finest of fashions for the crème de la crème of Hillsboro,” Carter said in all seriousness.

  “Carter, I’m not sure who you consider the crème de la crème in Hillsboro, however, if anyone can pull it off, I don’t doubt it would be you.”

  A business plan was put in motion and when the first phase of the riverside project in Evergreen was completed, C. Moss Men’s Fashions was born. Carter and his partner William ran the shop and lived in a loft apartment above the store. Although the business had only been open a relatively brief time, it’s reputation and clientele were growing.

  Carter was one of several people Travis helped set up in a business of their own or secure another job elsewhere in Hillsboro. Because of his charitable work and contributions to his former employees and workers, Travis was no longer a billionaire; however, he was a happy man.

  *****

  Lucy giggled in delight when she saw Molly walking across the lawn. She held her arms out warming Molly’s heart as the little girl always did.

  “How’s my big girl,” Molly said hugging the child.

  Lucy responded with a squeal of delight and a sloppy kiss.

  Brooke walked out the back door carrying a bottle of Chardonnay and two frosted glasses. “You look like you can use one,” she called to her friend.

  Travis walked behind her with beers for Luke and him.

  “Brooke’s right, Molly,” said Luke with concern in his voice, “you look tired, did you have another grueling day?”

  “No, it wasn’t bad. I hired someone to help in the shop. I never thought I’d be worried about having too many customers. Her name is Susan Benton, she’s been home with her children for several years but they are older now and she wants to get back into the workforce. She will work out well and relieve the others.

  “It’s not work I’m thinking about, it’s that darn ring I found last year. I can’t shake the feeling that there is something sinister about its history.”

  “Molly,” Brooke laughed, “you must be restless if you’re looking for another mystery to solve.”

  “Her instincts panned out well for us,” said Travis patting Lucy on the top of her head as Molly held the little girl in her lap.

  Molly told them about visiting Gustave Bossart and his ancient jewelry store with Tony Blake.

  “Mr. Bossart is in his nineties but his mind is sharp. He took one look at the ring and recognized it as one he’d made for Alec Danforth to give to someone whose name begins with the letter ‘L’. Joanna remembered a field trip to the Danforth Art Gallery when she was in fifth grade. She said Mr. Danforth and her teacher, Ms. Laura Abbott, took one look at each other and fell madly in love.” Molly and her friends all laughed at Joanna’s description of the meeting.

  “I remember Alec Danforth,” said Travis. “He was always quiet guy but in recent years he has been a recluse. He and his sister live in the Danforth Estate in Belmont. I remember being there with Mother when I was a kid. The place gave me the creeps. Alec is older than me and has a sister who is several years older than he is. I remember my mother spouting off about Mrs. Danforth getting herself in the family way at her age. I didn’t understand what she was talking about but then, I never knew what my mother was talking about.

  “Alec had an art gallery in town. He is a talented artist, I bought his paintings for my office before the gallery closed its doors. I’ll ask Carter what he knows about Alec.”

  “Carter is the one to ask, he knows everybody’s secrets,” said Brooke. “I miss having him around, he always kept me entertained.”

  “Do you know if Alec and his sister live alone in that house?” Molly asked.

  “No, I know little about them. The Danforth family has been around this area for years. They were part of t
he ‘old money’ circle my father always envied. Mother fit in with that crowd but Father never did.”

  Sadness came over Travis’s face. He always felt nostalgic when he thought of his father. He loved the man despite his ruthlessness and greed. Travis was sorry Francis Kincaid never knew the peace of living with a wife he could love. Francis married Pamela Bassett only because of her family’s standing in the community. Unknown to Pamela, her father, Maurice, encouraged the marriage between his daughter and the young millionaire because the Bassett resources were running low.

  “Molly,” said Luke, “You are planning a trip to the Danforth place, aren’t you?”

  “Mr. Danforth has a right to this ring. I’ll feel better if I can give it back to him. It makes me uncomfortable having it in my possession.”

  “If you won’t wait until I get back from my book tour in a week, will you, at least, take someone with you?”

  “Yes, Luke, I won’t go there alone.”

  “I’ll hold you to that promise, Molly,” Luke knew his curious wife would not be happy until she investigated that stupid ring’s ownership and knew she would keep her word and not go to the Danforth Estate alone.

  Brooke filled Molly’s wine glass and gave her a knowing smile. She would call Carter tomorrow and dish the dirt with him about Alec Danforth and the girl who broke his heart.

  Chapter Four

  Molly watched at the front door of the home she and Luke shared while the shuttle drove off headed to the airport. She knew these trips were an important part of being a successful author but she missed him when he was away.

  The shop didn’t open for another two hours but Molly was restless and thought she’d go in early. There was always paperwork to do. Susan Benton would start her new job today and Molly wanted to be there for her first day.

  *****

  She was deep in her bookkeeping chores when she heard the key unlocking the front door.

  “Joanna, what are you doing here so early, don’t you have a class this morning?”