“He’s getting ready for your future together,” Brenda teased.
Phyllis waved her words away and blushed. She was pleased as punch, Brenda could tell, as they hurried off to complete their preparations for that evening.
Chapter Seven
The Confession
Detective Mac Rivers sat down with his protégé Detective Bryce Jones. Now that the young man dated his daughter, Mac tried to be more amiable toward him than when they had sparred jealously over Brenda’s attentions.
“We have to work on this case together, Bryce. We each have our own expertise in matters like this and you have been supervising the manhunt. Is there any word on the suspect?”
“So far, we know of several people along the beach who saw him. They all said he didn’t seem interested in enjoying the sand or the water. He walked fast and was heading toward the large parking lot near the concession stands. We haven’t found any witnesses after that, but rest assured, we’ll find him.”
Mac’s thoughts matched the younger detective’s. He had no doubt they would get to Thornton Chambers soon. He was on foot so had no way of escaping very fast, unless he had an accomplice, in which case this would be a much bigger case. But his gut told him the man was working alone. Bryce set off to check in with the manhunt team and they arranged to check in again that evening.
In the meantime, Mac had other thoughts privately occupying him. He knew he shouldn’t keep Brenda in the dark much longer. He was ready to set the wedding date, and aware she was, too, so he had decided to ask her opinion on the matter that very night. Word reached him fast via his daughter that Brenda was out looking at wedding gowns. Jenny called him right away when she found out. Only later did David Williams mention that Hope had felt Brenda needed a day away from the horrible events at her inn. It was Hope’s idea to go shopping for wedding dresses, and Jenny had passed by the bridal shop and seen Brenda there. Mac chuckled, wondering if he should be grateful for the grapevine of gossip that was so alive in their small town.
Word had spread around town that the Sheffield Bed and Breakfast intended to carry on with the second night of the candlelight tours. Molly Lindsey was kept busy in Morning Sun Coffee as locals and tourists came and went. Most voiced hope they would witness something paranormal that night. It seemed that interest had only spiked after the gruesome discovery on the first night. A friend of Molly’s asked if her mother had mentioned any other dead bodies around the place. Phyllis’ daughter said that was ridiculous and that no, her mother had not mentioned anything of the sort. Molly’s main concern was that her business increased considerably since it was the hot spot for gossip around town. So she tried not to feed the gossip, but she didn’t exactly squash it, either.
Since Allie did not mention suspects or the identity of the mummy-like figure found on the bed, Brenda knew nothing had leaked from the police department’s investigation on the matter. She breathed a sigh of relief to know that for all the gossip around town, it was only overexcited Halloween gossip, and nothing of substance.
When Brenda went upstairs to her apartment to pull out the witch costume, the dark, forbidding colors of the dress gave her pause. She decided to return it to the costume room and choose another one. This time she chose a Queen Victoria gown, its velvet skirts and ruffles draping to the ground and a royal satin sash and crown to complete the effect. She held up the dress against herself to look at it in the mirror, turning to inspect the brocade and ribbon details. She would ask Allie to apply appropriate makeup later.
She gazed at the costume racks and saw a matching Prince Albert costume. She wished she could convince Mac to wear it. It was not lavish, and did not look like the usual Halloween wear. It was simply a dark, old-fashioned tuxedo of that era and a false mustache would be perfect with it. Victoria and Albert could make quite an entrance together. Her phone rang interrupting her vision of the two of them.
“We got him, Brenda,” said Mac. “He was in the process of hot-wiring a car in the beach parking lot, not even three miles away. If the officers had arrived five minutes later, he would have been gone. If you have a few minutes, you may want to come down for the interrogation. We’ll be ready in about a half hour.”
Brenda wanted to take a nap instead, but couldn’t resist the pull of the interrogation. She was desperately curious to find out what the man had to say for himself. She also wanted to see him as something other than a dark silhouette, though she knew she had to keep in mind he was merely a suspect and possibly not the form seen lurking over her bed. She told Phyllis she would be back in time for the early dinner scheduled that night before the first tours and headed out the door. Sheffield Bed and Breakfast was buzzing with activity once again and even Brenda looked forward to the spooky night. But hopefully with no surprises this time.
At the police station, she was pointed in the direction of the room with the one-way mirror. She stood on the outside and stared at the man sitting across from Mac and Bryce. Chief Ingram stood next to her.
“He’s huge,” Brenda said. She gawked at the tall, stoop-shouldered man sitting at the table.
Bob Ingram sensed her shiver of fear and put his arm around her shoulder. “He is quite a large man. Your sketch did him justice. I can’t believe you had that much presence of mind.”
“I really wasn’t all that calm. I almost toppled the lamp trying to turn it on, but I do have a knack for details no matter the situation.” She looked intently at the man behind the glass. “So, you think that’s who I saw?”
“Until we hear what he has to say, we won’t know for sure.”
She couldn’t take her eyes off the man. His hands bordered between rough and smooth with a few scars. The tip of his right index finger was missing. His eyebrows and hair were pitch-black and she surmised his eyes matched. He moved uncomfortably in the too-narrow metal chair. He was read his rights a second time for good measure. Brenda waited to hear the tone of his voice. The words seemed to erupt from an echoing cavern when he waived his rights to a lawyer. The hoarse timbre was low but distinct and she had no trouble understanding his words as the interrogation began.
“I’m very surprised he didn’t ask for a lawyer,” said Bob.
“He says he’s ready to confess and be done with it. He knows he’s caught.”
The chief nodded. Brenda found it hard to equate the massive figure sitting there with the person who had terrorized her in the middle of the night. But there was no doubt in her gut it was the same man. The strange stoop-shouldered posture was unmistakable.
Mac started out with the easy questions. He casually asked about his position in the Pendleton household. The man leaned forward.
“I was hired as a chauffeur to William Pendleton. I worked for him in that capacity for many years. Just like my father before me, and his father before him, and his father before him,” he said, his eyes closing with bitterness. Brenda flashed back to the dark history of murder at the bed and breakfast, and wondered how many in this family of chauffeurs had been entwined in sick and twisted stories of their own. “It’s the family trade. We’ve been driving rich people all over this area for generations.”
“And yet you ended up cooking for Mr. Pendleton, too.” Bryce drilled him with his eyes. Thornton didn’t waver.
“That’s right. I asked Mr. Pendleton for the opportunity to prove myself in the kitchen. I knew how to cook and I knew I was good at it. It took some convincing but I proved I knew what I was doing.”
When asked if he preferred cooking to driving someone around, he adamantly agreed.
“How well did you know Luke Michaels?” Mac waited.
He hesitated slightly. “I knew him well enough.”
“You were friends with Luke?” Bryce asked, his eyebrows raised innocently.
Thornton’s face clouded. “I wouldn’t say that. He thought he had it made, and he got sloppy. I saw where he should have known better when it came to seasoning and presentation. I believe he was Mrs. Pendleton’s choice when
she was still alive. I don’t think Mr. Pendleton bothered with such things at the time. He was more interested in getting out of that depressing house and out with other people. That’s where I came in as the chauffeur and I served him well. We got to know one another like friends.”
“So what was the problem?” Bryce asked.
Thornton gave a crooked smile. “Mr. Pendleton liked me so I knew he would give me a chance. If you are asking if I took advantage of that situation for my own gain, the answer is yes. Luke Michaels became more irritating to me by the day. He was all talk, claimed he was going to get a fancy chef gig in New York City one day, but I knew better. He didn’t belong in the kitchen.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I saw an opportunity and I took care of the situation.” His eyes glinted a little, but his face was impassive.
“When you state you ‘took care’ of Mr. Michaels, explain to me in detail,” Mac pressed him.
Brenda held her breath as the man told his story casually, as if telling friends an anecdote around a bonfire. He explained how he waited until a Thursday night arrived. That was the one day of the week Luke Michaels stayed late in the kitchen. He prepped trays of food and casseroles for the weekend that could be easily served to guests. Weekends were when Mr. Pendleton often entertained visitors who came to Sweetfern Harbor.
“I watched until all staff had left. I had a thin towel ready. It was a sturdy one. I knew what I was doing and prepared myself as usual. I crept in. He didn’t even hear me. His back was to me and it was nothing to sneak up behind him. I waited for him to straighten up from whatever disgusting dish he was making and strangled him. His neck snapped in the process and I knew I had succeeded.” There was a silence in the interrogation room. Brenda could see a small muscle tightening in Mac’s jaw as he tried to keep his calm.
“What happened next?” Bryce tried not to drum his fingers on the table.
“I picked him up like a sack of potatoes, carried him to the freezers. I had been in there earlier, made sure there was an empty one. First, I had to wrap him tightly. Like a mummy. I got that idea from Mr. Pendleton’s creepy stories.” He chuckled. “Then I wrapped him up in butcher paper like a large uncut side of meat. He fit snugly in the freezer. I closed the lid and secured it with a padlock. I’m the only one with the keys that open it.”
For a few seconds no one spoke. Brenda attempted to digest what he related. “I think he’s actually bragging,” Brenda whispered to the chief, disgusted. The silence from the interrogation room lent itself to her quiet even if they couldn’t hear her inside the soundproof room. The chief raised his eyebrows at her and nodded, continuing to watch.
The hoarse voice resumed. “Did you know that Mr. Pendleton planned to completely renovate the kitchen and pantry areas? I heard he was going to knock out walls and probably redo the freezer room, too. I knew I would have a real problem by then.” He chuckled again. “I had to find a way to get rid of the body, but keep the evidence of the freezer. It was my trump card. I could use it later to make the cops think Mr. Pendleton had something to do with the crime.” A slow, vicious smile curled his lips. “That way I could secure my job as a chef. Let him know I can make things very uncomfortable for him if he didn’t give me what I asked for.”
The smirk vanished from his face. “I was ready for the last part of my plan when that woman from the bed and breakfast arrived just before lunch. Then I knew it was too late to move the freezer. Too late to live the cushy chef’s life I deserved,” he sneered. “My only option was to try to kill them both. They were the only two capable of identifying me. I had an untraceable poison ready in the kitchen.”
Detective Rivers forced down his rising bile. “So why did you run?” Mac asked.
“I heard them talking about Luke Michaels and that they had a police sketch. I realized it was only a matter of time before someone else linked me to the Captain’s Room that night.” He shook his head. “She may have put a wrench in my plans, but it wasn’t supposed to go that way. When I dropped Mr. Pendleton off that night I heard the young woman at the desk say that the room would be empty. My boss told me he was spending the night, so not to wait for him. The empty room was the perfect opportunity. Besides, it was perfect with the Halloween stuff they had going on in that place. I knew tours were going on all weekend. A dead body wrapped like a mummy fit right in, just as I planned it. And with my luck, they wouldn’t notice until I had covered my tracks.”
Brenda shivered again. She and William had both come close to death. If Thornton Chambers had wanted to kill her and then place the body of Luke Michaels in that same bed as planned, he would have. She wondered if her presence had been too much of a complication for the schemer after all. She also silently thanked William for inviting her for lunch that day. He saved his own life when he did.
Mac finished taking a few notes on the statement sheet and stood up. He motioned for Bryce to follow him. Once the door was secured they joined the chief and Brenda. Brenda listened to their words but kept her eyes on the stoop-shouldered man still sitting there. They discussed how there were more details still to be uncovered, such as how the man had entered the bed and breakfast, and how he had placed the body. As Brenda watched, Thornton brushed something invisible from his jacket sleeve and rested his chin on his open palm.
“I don’t get it,” Brenda said. “How could he be so laid back after what he did?”
Mac stood next to her. “He doesn’t seem ruffled at all. He freely admitted to all of it.” He nudged closer to Brenda and leaned in closer to her, protectively. “Thank God you joined William for lunch that day or you could both be dead.” They talked of her near-miss in the Captain’s Room as well. Mac pulled her close to his side, then spoke to the others. “Let’s wrap this up, Bryce. Get two officers and book him for murder, felony breaking and entering with intent to kill, and whatever else we have room for on the form. Throw the book at him.”
“I think I’ll call William and have him come down here,” said Chief Ingram. “Other than him, we won’t let word out just yet. I don’t doubt Thornton will wise up and get a lawyer very soon.”
Brenda called Phyllis after confirming with the chief it was all right for her to share the findings with William’s fiancée. Phyllis was so worried that she agreed to come as well, and she and William arrived at the same time. The chief and Mac decided it was best if Brenda met them outside and informed them of Thornton Chambers’ confession. When she went through the glass doors, she saw Phyllis embrace William. She did so a second time after Brenda told them the terrible details of Thornton Chambers’ confession.
Mac came outside. “It looks like we have one too many cars out here. Phyllis, why don’t you ride back to the Sheffield Bed and Breakfast with William? I’ll drive your car back for you and follow Brenda.”
William allowed Phyllis to go ahead and then he pulled Brenda aside to speak to her quietly. His face was calm and composed. As Phyllis climbed into William’s car, she saw him and supposed he was thanking her for saving his life. Brenda smiled and answered back. Phyllis waited for William to join her in the car and he smiled at her, glad to put the strange day’s events behind them.
After they drove away, Mac saw a question lingering in Brenda’s eyes. “What’s up?” he asked her.
“I’m wondering why you suddenly decided to come to my haunted house. You know there are ghosts hovering around there.”
Mac laughed. “I’ll have to see for myself. I’m more interested in joining you for dinner beforehand. It’s been too long and this case has been stressful. However, I may need something to wear to get into the spirit of things. Are there any unclaimed costumes in that big closet rack of yours?”
Brenda gave him a second look. “My uncle Randolph was in the theatre, of course we have more than enough costumes to go around. But wait, don’t tell me you are succumbing to the Halloween spirit, Mac,” she teased with a smile.
When he replied that he was thinking about wearing one for the last tour Halloween n
ight, Brenda suddenly had an idea. Forget Albert and Victoria. She had something much more interesting in mind, and there was no time to lose.
“Let’s go before you change your mind. I think this will be a great way to end our Halloween weekend and I know exactly what you should wear.”
“I’m sure you do,” he said with amusement. “I’ll stake plenty of plainclothes cops in and out of the place during your tours.”
Brenda smiled. She was grateful for his caring, protective nature and the added security, but now she just wanted dinner to end so she could work out her plan. There was no way any ghost would win at the Sheffield Bed and Breakfast, Brenda thought with glee.
Chapter Eight
More Tours
By nightfall, excitement ran high and everyone was prepared for the second tour. Brenda had not gathered enough courage to act as tour guide again, and no one questioned her. Even if the real ‘ghost’ had been revealed, she reminded herself, she would be a better hostess mingling downstairs rather than chasing her own anxious memories on the second floor. During this second candlelight tour, she also planned to complete her plans for the big party she planned to throw Halloween night. She was filled with creative ideas and just needed some time to work them out.
Brenda walked through the front lobby, searching for Bryce Jones. She expected him to return but he was nowhere to be seen. Jenny came in just then with Hope Williams and Molly Lindsey.
“Is Bryce coming again?” Brenda asked Jenny.
“My dad’s got him on duty at the police station tonight. It’s just us three girls.” Jenny grabbed Molly’s arm. “Let’s try to get in on the first group.” She looked at Brenda. “Who’s guiding the first tour?”
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