by Bobbi Holmes
“I’m really sorry,” Ian said with a laugh when he reached them. Sadie had arrived first, scattering sand over the towels in her enthusiastic greeting. Danielle and Lily did not complain. Instead they affectionately greeted Sadie while calming her down, before re-straightening the towels and shaking off excess sand.
“This dog is pretty ferocious,” Danielle teased, sitting back down.
“Yeah, I get that a lot,” Ian chuckled.
“What are you up to today?” Lily asked.
“I noticed you two heading for the beach. I don’t mean to intrude, but I was wondering if I could talk to you a minute,” Ian asked Danielle.
“Sure, what’s going on?” Danielle looked up at Ian. Lily scooted over to one side of her towel and motioned for him to join her.
“I’m sure Lily’s told you a little about the article I’m working on,” Ian said as he sat down on Lily’s towel.
“A little bit.” Danielle was curious what he had to say. She hadn’t had a chance to tell Lily about what she’d learned at the police station. When she got home the electrician and plumber showed up, and then the appliances, and after that, Lily took off with Ian. Danielle was already in bed before Lily returned to Marlow House.
“I’ve been working on a story about Eva Thorndike, the silent film star, and the mystery of the Missing Thorndike. It brought me to Frederickport and to Marlow House. Lily expressed her concern that I might be putting you in danger with the story by suggesting the necklace is hidden in Marlow House. She told me about Nichols and Jones breaking in, and ever since she told me, it’s been weighing heavy on my mind.”
“I don’t think you need to worry too much about it,” Danielle said, grabbing her purse.
“I don’t know Dani,” Lily began. “When Ian’s story comes out you don’t need more people like Adam and that other guy trying to break into Marlow House hunting hidden treasure.”
“Lily told me about your theory regarding Marlow’s death. If he really was murdered, maybe Lily’s right, and whoever killed him, killed him for the necklace. Maybe I can do my own research into his death, and find something to support Lily’s theory which will make Marlow House less a target for future break-ins.”
“I appreciate your offer,” Danielle said, pulling a velvet pouch from her purse. “While I’d love it if you wrote about Marlow’s murder, I have to tell you, the killer didn’t take the necklace.” She handed the pouch to Ian. Curious, Ian took the pouch and opened it.
“Holy shit!” Ian gasped, pulling the necklace from the pouch. “You found it.”
“Oh my god, Dani!” Lily cried, leaning over to get a closer look at the necklace in Ian’s hand. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was going to this morning. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I found it last night. It was in the attic.”
“This is worth a fortune you know.” Ian glanced around nervously to see who else was on the beach.
“Yes it would be. If the gems were real,” Danielle said with a sigh.
“What do you mean?” Ian brought the necklace closer to his face to examine what appeared to be diamonds and emeralds.
“The diamonds and emeralds were stolen years ago—before it became the Missing Thorndike.”
“How do you know that?” Ian studied the necklace, turning it to and fro.
“I can’t say, but those aren’t diamonds and emeralds. I promise you. We can take it to a jeweler to verify it.”
“Why don’t you think they’re real?” Lily asked.
“Call it a hunch. They don’t look real to me.” Danielle shrugged. I should have taken it to a jeweler first—or at least told them I had. What was I thinking? Naturally they are going to wonder why I assume it’s a fake. “Anyway, it really doesn’t matter to me if it is real or fake.”
“Why do you say that?” Lily asked.
“Either way it’s going back to its rightful owner. I’m just glad it was found, so I don’t have to worry about treasure hunters.”
“Danielle, it will matter to you if the diamonds and emeralds are real,” Ian said as he slipped the necklace back in the pouch and handed it back to her. Lily snatched it out of Danielle’s hand so she could examine the necklace.
“Why would it matter?” Danielle asked.
“You want to know one reason why this story intrigued me?” Ian asked.
“Sure.” Danielle stroked Sadie’s head. The dog shared her towel, her chin resting on Danielle’s knee.
“I guess I’m not much better than Nichols and Jones, I confess, I was also looking for the necklace. I hoped I might find it when I helped Lily with the inventory. But the difference between me and them is that I didn’t want it for myself. I wanted to return it to its rightful owner. Imagine the dramatic punch for my story—unraveling the mystery of a necklace that was stolen a hundred years ago, and then returning it to its unsuspecting rightful owner.”
“Do you know who they are?” Danielle asked. “It will make my job a lot easier.”
“Yes, I do.” Ian snatched the necklace out of Lily’s hand and handed it to Danielle. “You.”
“Me? What are you talking about?” Danielle looked down at the necklace now in her hand.
“I hope you’re wrong, Danielle. I hope they are real. Because you are the rightful owner.”
“Me? What are you talking about?” Danielle frowned.
“By the time Eva Thorndike died, her marriage had been annulled,” Ian explained. “After she died, everything she owned went to her parents. According to what I’ve uncovered, it was never clear when the necklace was actually stolen—before or after her death. Her mother said Eva had it when she returned home, yet they didn’t notice it missing until after she died. The Thorndikes naturally changed their will after Eva’s death. Before that time, everything went to their daughter. Interestingly, in their new will they left the necklace to Walt Marlow, should it ever be recovered. I doubt he ever knew, because he died before Eva’s parents, and apparently they never bothered to change the will to leave it to someone else.”
“But wouldn’t it go to someone else if Walt was already dead? Another one of their heirs?” Danielle asked.
“No, not the way the will was written. It was to go to Walt, and if he was deceased, to his heirs. Therefore, the necklace was passed to Kathrine. Since Kathrine left her estate to Brianna, and Brianna left Marlow House to you—where the necklace was kept—I believe you’re the rightful owner. Of course, this would have been much more exciting if it was real—which I’m not convinced it isn’t.”
“Would any of Brianna’s other heirs have claim to the necklace?” Lily asked.
“I obtained a copy of Brianna’s will, and the way it’s written, she specifically leaves Danielle Marlow House and all its contents. Danielle is the only heir mentioned in the will who is related to Brianna—even if by marriage—the others are charities. So no, I don’t believe they’d have a claim.”
“You are right, it would be more fun if the stones were real.” Danielle laughed. “But I think it’s a beautiful necklace, and if Mr. Renton agrees with your finding, I wouldn’t mind keeping it.” I should probably ask Walt if he wants me to do something else with it…but it is so pretty!
“Would you mind if I had the necklace checked out by a jeweler?” Ian asked.
“No, that’s fine. But I have a favor to ask you.”
“Sure.”
“In the story you’re writing, do you have room to elaborate a little on how Walt Marlow died? Since he’s the one who inherited the stolen necklace?”
“And the one who stole it,” Ian reminded.
“I guess finding it in Marlow House rather confirms that fact.”
“Perhaps. But if the stones aren’t real like you suspect, what happened to them?” Ian asked.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Danielle reminded.
“Lily told me about Emma Jackson and what she saw, but I’m not sure that really proves Marlow was murdered. Just th
at his brother-in-law may have lied about where he was when Marlow was killed.”
“True, but the autopsy report tells an interesting story. And according to Sargent Morelli, who reviewed it with me, he told me that if it was more recent, he’d reopen the case.” Danielle then elaborated, telling Lily and Ian about yesterday’s visit to the Frederickport Police Department and what she found in the old case file on Walt Marlow’s death.
“Would you mind if I have a look at the report?” Ian asked when Danielle was finished.
“I’d love for you to.” Danielle grinned.
“Sometimes the stories we start writing aren’t what we end up with,” Ian said.
“If you’re really a sweetheart, when you write your article you can mention Marlow House is now a quaint B and B,” Danielle said with a laugh.
“Don’t worry, the B and B will definitely get a plug. By the way, when do you plan to open? Lily said you were shooting for the fourth?”
“I’m having an open house over the fourth. I was planning to have some brochures printed up for the opening, including a brief history on Marlow House and Walt Marlow’s death. I hope that won’t mess up your story.”
“Let’s work together,” Ian suggested. “Let me write the history for the brochure. I’ll use your opening as a full-circle sort of ending for my article. Good for your new business and a human touch for my piece.”
“Are you working on an article or a book?” Lily asked.
“Both. Now that the necklace has been found, I’ll call my publisher and step up the release date on the article. It’s more a prequel to the in-depth biography I’m writing on Eva Thorndike. My book will be published later this year. I’m hoping the mystery of the necklace and its recent discovery will whet my reader’s curiosity.”
Chapter Forty
Danielle stood with Sadie at the gate of Marlow House and watched Lily and Ian drive away. They’d taken the Missing Thorndike with them, although Danielle thought the name no longer applied.
“I suppose we could still call it the Missing Thorndike,” Danielle told Sadie as she scratched the dog’s right ear, “in honor of the missing diamonds and emeralds.”
Danielle turned toward the house and opened the gate. “Come on girl, let’s go inside and see if we can find Walt.” Sadie followed Danielle up the front walk and into the house.
“Walt, where are you?” Danielle called out when she closed the door behind her and Sadie.
“Dog sitting?” Walt asked when he appeared a moment later. Wagging her tail, Sadie trotted to where Walt stood and walked in several circles, moving through his legs, before she sat down.
“That kind of creeps me out when she does that.” Danielle shuddered.
“What do you mean?” Walt looked down at his feet under Sadie.
“The way she just goes through you all the time. Plopping down in the middle of your body, or in this case your feet.” Danielle looked at Sadie and shook her head before adding, “As for the dog sitting, I told Ian I’d keep and eye on her while he and Lily take the necklace to the jeweler.”
“So you told both of them?” Walt raised a brow.
“Yep.” Danielle tossed her purse and beach towel on the entry hall table. At Walt’s sudden scowl she let out a sigh and picked up the purse, placing it on the towel instead of directly on the cherry wood tabletop.
“Did you tell them the stones are fake or are you going to let the jeweler tell them?”
“I probably should have let the jeweler do it. Because, I couldn’t really come up with a logical reason why I thought they were fake.”
“It’s too bad you have to go public with the necklace. I understand why you want to, but I wonder if the heirs, when you contact them, will accuse you of removing the real diamonds and emeralds.”
“Umm…I don’t think that’s going to be an issue,” Danielle chuckled. “I haven’t told you what Ian discovered in his research. Guess who’s the rightful owner of the necklace.”
“I imagine some distant relative of Eva’s.”
“You.” Danielle grinned. “Well, technically, it’s now me. For whatever reason, Eva’s parents left the necklace to you in their will, should it ever be recovered.”
“I don’t understand. Why would they do that?”
“I have no idea. But according to their will, if you were deceased at the time of their death, then it was to go to your heir, which was Kathrine. And when Kathrine died, everything went to Brianna, and when Brianna left me her house, she included all the contents—which included the necklace.”
Walt walked to a chair in the entry and sat down, his expression thoughtful. “I think I know why they left me the necklace.”
“I’d like to hear this.”
“I saw her every day that last month. I’d come over and sit with her to give her mother a little break. Mrs. Thorndike told me I was the one Eva should have married. Eva never loved me that way. But her mother knew how much I loved her.”
“I don’t really get it…leave you something they don’t have any more? It’s sort of like your parents saying I have good news and bad news. The good news we got you a pony, the bad news it ran away.”
“Not exactly. If you actually get the pony you can ride him. I wasn’t about to wear a woman’s necklace. It was a sentimental gesture.”
“I suppose…”
“Now what?” Walt stood up.
Wagging her tail, Sadie got to her feet and watched him.
“Ian is using the information I found about your murder in his article. People will finally know you didn’t take your own life. This is what you wanted.”
“Does this mean I’m free to go?”
“I don’t know. I guess we’ll have to see.”
Silently they stood in the entry hall looking into each other’s eyes. Is this goodbye? Danielle wondered. She had only met Walt a little over a week ago, yet she felt as if it had been much longer.
“Thank you, Danielle.” Walt reached out to her. She raised her hand to his, their fingertips touched—or so it seemed. Danielle looked down at where their hands tried to meet; she smiled sadly.
“I’ve enjoyed our time together,” Danielle said. Until Walt, her encounters with spirits had been brief.
“I will say I’ve never met a woman quite like you. I’ve almost gotten used to those mannish slacks you often wear,” he said with a chuckle.
“This house is not going to be the same when you go.” Danielle lowered her hand to her side.
She watched as Walt silently blew her a kiss and faded away, leaving Sadie barking at the spot where he no longer stood.
“He doesn’t belong here anymore,” Danielle told Sadie as she reached down to calm the dog. When Sadie finally stopped barking Danielle took her into the kitchen. After filling a bowl with water and setting it on the floor for the dog, Danielle sat wearily at the kitchen table.
What’s wrong with me? I should be happy. Everything is working out like I wanted. I’ve set the record straight regarding Walt’s death, or at least it will be set straight when Ian publishes his article. The necklace was recovered so future treasure hunters won’t be a nuisance, and I no longer live in a haunted house.
Before Danielle could come up with answers to her question her cellphone began to ring. By the time she made it to the entry hall to retrieve the phone from her purse she missed the call. Looking at the phone, she could see the caller was Lily.
“Dani, you have to get down here, fast!” Lily squealed on the other side of the line when Danielle called her back.
“What’s wrong? Get down where?”
“Ian and I are at the jewelry store. You were wrong, those aren’t fake stones! They are real! And according to the guy your necklace is probably worth over a million bucks! Holy crap Dani, Ian and I don’t want to be walking around town with something that valuable!”
When Dani got off the phone she called out, “Walt, are you still here? Please tell me you didn’t go for good!” There was no answe
r.
Leaving Sadie alone at Marlow House, Danielle drove immediately to the jewelry store. She found Ian and Lily inside, standing at the counter talking to an excited jeweler.
“My dad and I used to joke about someone finding the Missing Thorndike and bringing it in to us to have it appraised. I can’t believe I actually got to hold it!” the excited jeweler told Danielle when Ian introduced her to the man. As it turned out, the jeweler, Samuel Hayman, owned the jewelry store, which was founded by his grandfather in the 1920s. He had grown up hearing the story of the missing necklace.
“Are you sure the diamonds and emeralds are real?” Danielle asked.
“Without a doubt. What I told your friend about the necklace’s value is only a rough estimate, but we do appraisals here, and I would imagine you’ll want to get one done for insurance purposes.”
“Insurance purposes?” Danielle’s head began to spin. Things were much simpler when the necklace she had inherited—if in fact it was rightfully hers—was made with pretty glass. It would be fun to wear such a beautiful piece on special occasions, but would she actually wear a necklace worth over million bucks? Not bloody likely. She needed to contact an insurance agent—her lawyer—would this mean she’d have to pay more inheritance tax?
Rubbing her temple, Danielle felt a headache coming on. “I think we better go over to the bank and put this thing in a safety deposit box until I figure things out.”
“Why in the world did you think the stones were fake?” the jeweler asked.
“Wishful thinking?” Danielle smiled weakly.
• • • •
Danielle was at the bank with Ian and Lily, filling out the paperwork for the safety deposit box when a newspaper reporter showed up, along with the police chief. It seemed Hayman wasted no time spreading the word about her discovery.
“I thought jewelers were under some sort of confidentiality oath,” Danielle muttered under her breath to Ian.
“You have to remember, it’s considered stolen property. I imagine he really had no choice but to call the police,” Ian said.
