“I hadn’t thought that far ahead, but there’s time to plan a suitable parting of the ways,” Temperance reasoned. “Who here thinks it is time, Preston had a beard?”
“You know it couldn’t hurt,” Henry surprisingly offered as he nervously tugged on his collar. “Preston would only need to carry your picture around. Maybe talk about the girl back home. Ella, has her man in uniform as a way to rebuke any unwanted suitor.”
Ella and Preston looked at one another for a brief moment before agreeing with Henry. “Why is it, that when Henry explains it, he’s a genius? When I do it, I’m just that crazy lady.”
“He’s a minster,” Daniel offered.
“And you’re a crazy lady,” Nora added. “Gentleman, how long are you going to be in town for?” She addressed Preston and Henry.
“Five more days,” Preston quietly offered.
“Then we need a trip,” Temperance announced. “Ella, will clear my calendar. I’ll call the airfield and have them gas up the Black Swan. Mrs. Culvert?” She called out taken aback by a very unhappy looking woman. “Mrs. Culvert, I can’t thank you enough for today. I doubt that anyone else would have been able to pull things together like you did.”
“Well, thank you.” Mrs. Culvert preened.
“You’ll be happy to know that Ella and I will not be here for the next three days.”
“Where are we going?” Ella helplessly questioned.
“The island of course!” She pronounced to the delight of the others. “I’m afraid that the cupboards will be bare when we arrive this evening. But the bar is always stocked and I’m afraid that first thing in the morning you’ll need to make a stack of calls so you can clear our schedule. After that we are on vacation.”
“Have a good time,” Mrs. Culvert nodded before pulling Ella aside. “You are a miracle worker. I can’t remember the last time Miss Temperance took any time off.”
“She just wants to spend time with her brother,” Ella reasoned.
“I gather she’s not the only one,” she nudged Ella.
In the short amount of time she had worked for Temperance, Ella had never seen her so excited. They grabbed clothing, woke up Wallace made a few stops and before Ella could catch her breath they were at the airport climbing into her employer’s airplane. Temperance, proved to be a competent pilot. The only moment that made her and the other passengers nervous was the landing.
“Maybe, we should have called to let the Davis brothers know we were flying in,” Preston meekly suggested.
“No need to, I’ll radio the marina after we get settled in,” Temperance nonchalantly offered.
“Tempe,” Daniel squeaked. “I don’t wish to be a wet blanket but can you land this bird in the dark?”
“I know the island like the back of my hand.”
“Yes, but how often do you inspect your hand in complete darkness?”
The landing was less than graceful. Somehow, the Black Swan and her passengers survived unscathed.
“Welcome, to Muraille Island,” Temperance announced as she helped Ella out of the airplane.
It was a bit of a hike through the dark woods from the landing strip to the main house. The house was more of a mini mansion. Temperance managed to get the power on before escorting everyone inside. Everyone was excited as they made their way upstairs.
“Preston, why don’t you and Henry take the master bedroom,” Temperance suggested nodding towards the door at the end of the hallway. “One room or two?” She questioned Daniel and Nora.
“Two.” Nora insisted before Daniel could say otherwise. “The blue room, Ella can take the lavender. They connect,” she merrily informed her. “We can stay up late and gossip.”
“But-“Daniel stammered.
“Cousin,” Temperance cut him off. “The rooms on the other side of the corridor are just as lovely.” She bluntly informed him before nudging him in the room away from Nora.
“Best, to keep temptation at bay,” Nora sly offered.
“We’re not-“Ella tried to argue.
“Uh huh.”
Later everyone headed out the front gate and down to the small stretch of beach. Ella sat in the sand, completely mesmerized by the vision of beauty bathed in the light of a full moon. Temperance, had abandoned her shoes, rolled up her trousers and donned a long sleeve men’s dress shirt.
Daniel and Nora were chasing one another around, while Preston and Henry splashed in the surf. Ella stifled a gasp when Temperance’s head fell back exposing her neck. She bit her lip, unable to look away.
“It’s beautiful,” she finally squeaked out.
“I love it here,” Temperance confessed as she turned to her. Again, Ella was taken aback lost in the intense look in her dark brown eyes. “I’ve been all over the world and this is the one place I feel at home.”
Ella ran her fingers through the wet sand in an effort to keep her hands to herself. “I can see why you bought out the family.” She stammered feeling slightly light headed.
“Too many of them wanted to dig it up,” Temperance sneered. “Cut down the trees, build a swimming pool. Why would you need a swimming pool?” She made a broad gesture towards the ocean. “The entire Atlantic ocean is right here.” She sounded giddy as she looked out upon the dark water.
Temperance turned back her lips parted. Ella’s heart pounded as she thought, this is a woman who needs to be kissed. “Look?” Temperance softly uttered handing Ella something.
She turned it over and smiled at the light pink shell. “Something to remember your first trip to the island,” she shyly offered.
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget,” Ella whispered finding herself once again captured by Temperance’s haunting gaze. She leaned forward almost falling over when Temperance suddenly stood up.
“I need to go to the boathouse.”
“What?” Ella sputtered certain that she was about to be kissed by this remarkable woman.
“The boathouse,” Temperance was on the verge of babbling as she pointed to the house at the edge of the pier. “I need to radio the marina and let the Davis brothers know that we are here. I wouldn’t want Mike rowing out here with his shotgun.”
Before Ella could volunteer to join her, Temperance was running across the beach. “Something, I said.” Ella mumbled as Nora plopped down beside her.
“Where’s the fire?” Nora teased.
“She’s infuriating.”
“And you adore her,” she whispered in response. “It is okay, your secret is safe with me.”
Chapter 15
Central Park West, NYC
May 30, 1938
“I don’t understand the family, dynamic,” Ella confided in Daniel one day. “You, seem to work hard and Reggie squanders. With the family fortune how is it that he always seems to be in need.”
“Ah, that is simple,” Daniel seemed amused. “The first American Muraille drafted a carefully worded will setting up the family trust. His intentions had been to ensure that the Murailles would be hard working and self-sufficient. At the moment, an heir is born. Or rather a legitimate heir born into the family, we share in the profits of the family business. Four times a year, we receive an equal share of the profits.
Beginning on ones’ twenty first birthday. Prior to that day, the money is set aside. You can imagine how eager we are to reach that birthday. Temperance being older than I warned me, not to squander my first check. I of course went out and bought a yacht among other shiny things. Before my first quarterly check arrived, I was living on the boat. I had nowhere else to go.
Thankfully, Temperance allowed me to move into an apartment in this building. It was a lesson well learned. Now, the trust as I said pays out to legitimate heirs only. The theory being that would act a moral compass. Ironic, since Jean-Michele was in fact the bastard son of a Parisian whore. He came here to fight for the colonies and made quite a name for himself. He married into a fine Southern family. Only his wife seemed to approve of him. He and his wife settled
in Boston since they were not welcome down on the plantation. Which in itself was a fortuitous turn. His wife’s family all died of yellow fever. He inherited her family’s fortune.”
“He inherited her family’s fortune?”
“She was a woman.”
“Of course,” Ella grumbled. “So, this trust was designed to inspire the men to go out and make a name for themselves?”
“Yes. Spouses don’t get a dime after the Muraille passes on.”
“And the Muraille women?”
“We are expected to be elegant, well educated, perform notable work for charity and to marry well.” Temperance interjected as she entered the sitting room. “Giving my new assistant a bit of family history?”
“Yes,” Daniel boasted. “Preston is the most eligible Muraille bachelor.”
“Not you?”
“I run a close second,” he snickered. “However, since Preston has allowed the military to cloth, feed and house him for his entire adult life, his estate has simply grown. Under Tempe’s careful guidance of course. Helena and Iris have been scheming for years to unite the two. Marrying her fortune with his nest egg would move them to the top of social register.”
“Thankfully, my little brother will have none of it.” Temperance jested.
“Isn’t Helena close to you,” Ella chose her words carefully.
“Not as close as she would like,” Temperance curtly informed her. “Daniel, we need to discuss a few matters before the next board meeting. Ella would you mind taking notes?”
Chapter 16
Muraille Island
September 17, 2017
The ferry chugged along. Faith stood on the deck looking across the bay. She couldn’t help appreciating the beauty that surrounded her. How could she not love the view? Maine in autumn was nothing short of breath taking. The only thing that could improve on the view was if Shawn was by her side. Hopefully, the quick jaunt would turn into a job. Then Shawn would be enjoying the vibrant colors of turning leaves that decorated the shoreline.
The ferry neared the shore. It was time for Faith to focus on business. She felt a chill pass through her as Muraille Island came into view. Quickly she mentally reviewed what she knew about the private island. The only access was by ferry. There were no roads or cars on the island. Those who visited got around by use of bicycles or good old fashion shoe leather.
Muraille Island was named after robber baron Horton Armstrong Muraille. The industrial pioneer purchased the island from the descendants of Colonel Jonathan Fowler. The revolutionary war hero basically stole the quaint island from the Native Americans that had been residing on the island since the dawn of time. Muraille acquired the island late in the nineteenth century. Changing the name to his own and turning it into a summer retreat for his family. The island and palatial estate remained in the Muraille family until near the end of World War II. Then for some reason Temperance Muraille left the property to Ella Westbrook. From there the details become sketchy.
For only having a short time to research the history, Faith felt she hadn’t done too badly. Admittedly she did have a head start after her curiosity had been peeked a few weeks earlier. She wondered if Delia knew about the dark past the island possessed.
All in all, she was more than pleased to be able to utilize her skills as an investigative reporter. The only question was what was going on the island? As the ferry docked she knew the answer would be waiting for her.
The island was indeed beautiful with its rocky coast, high cliffs and the pounding surf.
“A beautiful island off the coast of Maine,” she absently noted as she stepped off the ferry. “So, why do you need a couple of ghost hunters? Miss St. James always a pleasure.”
“Miss Charles.”
“Shawn will join us as soon as she can,” Faith smirked noting the confused look on Delia’s face. “She’s on a case right now. Why don’t you fill me in on why you called?”
“Let me show you around,” Delia led Faith away from the dock. “Beautiful isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Faith murmured unable to shake a sudden feeling of uneasiness. “What was over there?” She jerked her head towards a burnt pile of wood.
“At one time that was the main house,” Delia informed her.
“Is that what your crew burned down?”
“No,” Delia dryly responded. “That burned to the ground decades ago. My crew did that.” She explained pointing just behind the older structure to a pile of charred lumber. “It was bad enough the work was taking forever but then the crew torched what little work that had been completed. The owner of the island is giving it over to the university to use as an oceanographic institution. What she wants to set up is extremely generous. She’s creating scholarships and working with the local fisherman to turn this into something important. I was over the moon when I got hired to be the architect. I then hired Doug and his crew and we took on a lot of locals to help boost the economy.”
“All in all it sounds very noble.”
“It is or it would be if we could get anything built,” Delia tried to explain. “Things started right from the get go. I’ve known most of these guys for over a decade. Pretty decent group. Never had a problem with working for or with women before. By the end of the first day, all the women on the job quit. They couldn’t take the taunting from the rest of the crew. By the second day there were fistfights. Every time I tried to check on things I got attitude. Then the fire. The thing is whenever I got Doug to walk down to the dock he was like his old self. It’s this place. There is something here. I’m sure of it.”
“Anything like your ancestral home?”
“You mean like an axe wielding spirit?”
“Yeah,” Faith snickered. “Anything like the bitch slapping homophobic jackass that scared the bejesus out of me. No offense to your great grandfather.”
“Nothing like grandpa,” Delia conceded. “It’s just a feeling. Which is why I called Dr. Williams.”
“There certainly is an interesting feeling to this place.”
“Where is Shawn?”
“She just wrapped up in New Orleans and is on her way to Fall River,” Faith groaned. “She finds hotspots like that taxing.” Faith sighed wearily rolling her shoulders in an effort to alleviate the sudden onslaught of stress. “What do you know about this lovely little island?”
“Not much,” Delia confessed. “Miss Westbrook contacted me about turning it into a place to study the ocean and wildlife. It is a good cause and that’s what I do. I did notice that the locals seemed skittish about the place. Mostly older folks. The college kids didn’t seem concerned. Still, none of them seemed eager to join the crew either.”
“So, we’re dealing with a local legend,” Faith concluded. “Tell me about Miss Westbrook.”
“Nice older lady,” Delia began as they walked around the grounds. “Lives in New York and other than seeing this project completed she doesn’t seem to want anything to do with the island.”
“New York? Of course the arts foundation is located there.” Faith groaned while rolling her eyes. “Damn, I could have chatted with her before I flew up here.”
“Sorry,” Delia offered. “I thought you were from Boston?”
“I moved to New York to be with Shawn,” Faith blushed.
“Nice to see the two of you finally worked things out.”
“It is nice,” Faith beamed. “Strange life we lead. Chasing ghosts. There are times I miss my days as a reporter. Then I turn the television and see the crap floating around out there and I know I made the right choice.”
They walked back down to the dock. The moment she passed through the gate, Faith felt instantly better. She jerked her shoulder when she felt something touch her.
“Whoa,” Delia jumped back. “I was just asking if you got a room in town or not?”
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you. Yes, I booked a room at the Cape Point Inn.”
Delia decided to join her on the trip back. Faith leaned back
in the boat watching as the island faded into the horizon.
“Kirby?” Faith addressed the ever friendly boat captain.
“Yup,” the older man responded while steering the small boat back across the bay.
“I couldn’t help noticing that your family’s name is on the boathouse back on the island.”
“Yup.”
“Care to share?” Faith encouraged. Faith wasn’t taken aback by his monosyllable answers. Being a native New Englander she was well acquainted with the tight lipped attitude most folks had around strangers. The trick was to get people to warm up to you. Then most of the locals would chat your ear off.
“Ah, well we own the dock and the one back on the mainland. Been the family business since before I was born.”
“Did you know Mr. Conklin?”
“Who is that?” Delia innocently questioned.
“I was a kid when all that happened,” he offered casually stoking the stubble on his chin. “Folks didn’t take it too well. He’s still alive, I hear. Locked up at BMHI.”
“Do I want to know what you’re talking about?” Delia pressed.
“I’ll explain over coffee.” Faith shivered as they approached the shore. “Kirby?”
“Yup.”
“Have you ever met, Miss Westbrook?”
“Fine lady. Comes around every now and then.”
“Does she stay on the island?”
“Nope. No one goes over there. Except you folks that photographer and the occasional looky loo.”
Kirby safely docked the boat and helped the ladies. Not offering his hand would never occur to him. Once they were on dry land, he guided them to the same coffee shop he had directed Ro to just two weeks before.
“Time is not on my side. I got an early start on this project and ended up behind in the first week. I don’t understand it. On the surface the island is a beautiful location.” Delia tried to explain. “The thing is, most of what I need to do is simple. I need to get the foundations in place before the weather turns then we’ll finish in the spring. I just do not understand what could possibly be happening in such a serene location.”
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