by Bobbi Holmes
“What about the reporter?” Danielle quipped as the pair approached them. A curious crowd was gathering, prompting the bank manager to usher Danielle, Lily, Ian and the police chief into his office. The reporter was left standing in the bank talking with Sam Hayman, who had just showed up.
“Danielle Boatman is the rightful owner of the necklace,” Ian explained to the police chief. “The Thorndikes left it to Walt Marlow or his heirs, which was the mother of Ms. Boatman’s great aunt who left her Marlow House.”
“If it is the Missing Thorndike, it’s stolen merchandise, and until this thing is straightened out I need to take it into custody,” the police chief insisted.
“Really, Chief?” Ian asked. “You honestly think a necklace worth more than a million dollars will be safer locked up in your evidence room than in a safety deposit box at the bank?”
“I just don’t want Ms. Boatman to return tomorrow and remove the necklace, only to discover she isn’t its rightful owner.”
“I understand,” Danielle spoke up. “Until we get this thing sorted out, I would feel more comfortable having the necklace safely locked up at the bank—not at the police station—but I am willing to sign whatever is necessary saying I won’t remove the necklace until this is resolved.”
“I think that’s reasonable,” the chief said, secretly relieved.
The bank manager’s desk phone began to ring.
“I’m tied up right now,” the bank manager said when he answered the phone. He paused a moment then said into the phone, “Hold on, I’ll see.” Looking up at Danielle and the police chief he asked, “The reporter from the Frederickport Press wanted to know if we could get a picture with Ms. Boatman and the necklace before you lock it up.”
“Fine with me,” Danielle said. It will be a good way to let Nichols and Jones know the necklace has been found.
Chapter Forty-One
Unlatching the parlor window, Danielle tried opening it, but it stubbornly refused to budge. Recalling one of her first encounters with Walt and how he had been unable to open the window, she smiled sadly. Giving the window a firm tug it finally opened. The cool evening breeze swept inside, sending the curtains fluttering. She stood there a moment looking out at the darkness, breathing in the night air.
“I’m going to bed now,” Lily called from the doorway. Danielle turned from the window to face Lily.
“Goodnight,” Danielle said with a faint smile.
“It was a crazy day.”
“It was that,” Danielle agreed. After returning from the bank the moving van had arrived with the rest of Danielle’s belongings. She had instructed the movers to take most of the boxes up to the attic and hadn’t had time to sort through any of her things.
“I guess tomorrow we can finally get those groceries and fill up that new refrigerator of yours.”
“Not a bad idea. I’m getting a little sick of peanut butter and cereal.”
“So you’re really going to sell it?” Lily sounded disappointed.
“What am I going to do with a million dollar necklace? Anyway, the inheritance tax and insurance would likely kill me.”
“It’s still exciting. Well, night Dani.”
“Night Lily.” Danielle watched as Lily turned and headed upstairs to her room.
Danielle had just turned back to the window when she heard, “You could always wear it.” Quickly turning around, her heart lurched as she came face to face with Walt.
The first thing she noticed—he was wearing a new suit. This one blue with pen stripes—more casual than the other suit he’d been wearing.
“I thought you were gone?” Danielle said excitedly, wishing briefly that it was possible to hug a spirit. “You have a different suit…I like it.”
“I was getting a little weary of the other one.” Walt glanced down briefly at his clothes and then looked back to Danielle.
“I don’t understand?” Danielle said.
“I finally figured out how to—well, change my clothes so to speak. Not that I put them on like I used to.” He grinned.
“No, I wasn’t talking about your clothes. I was talking about you—you’re here. I thought you had gone. What happened, didn’t it work?”
“Oh, it worked I guess.”
“You guess?” Danielle frowned.
“If I want to go, I can. I’m just not ready yet.”
“What do you mean ready?”
“Wherever I’m supposed to go next will be there when I’m ready. But first, what is this about the diamonds and emeralds being real?”
“They’re real. We haven’t had it appraised yet, but the jeweler Ian took it to says it’s easily worth over a million dollars.”
“Over a million dollars? Prices have gone up a bit, I see,” Walt murmured and then added, “I think you should keep it and wear it.”
“Where am I going to wear something like that?”
“You could wear it to your open house.”
“That would be a great publicity stunt.” Danielle turned to the window and looked outside. She could feel her heart race—why am I so happy he’s back?
“Yes, it—on you—would make quite an impression on your guests,” Walt said as he stepped to the window and stood beside Danielle.
“How long are you staying?” Danielle asked.
“I don’t know. I would like to find out how it is those diamonds and emeralds are real. Do you mind if I stay?”
“Not at all…” Danielle murmured. “I just want you to be where you’re meant to be.”
“I am Danielle…I am…” They stood silently side by side gazing out the window when Walt took a deep breath and said, “I can smell it, Danielle…I can finally smell it…”
Danielle turned her head and looked up at Walt, who stood beside her, his eyes closed and a peaceful smile on his face as he listened to the not so distant sound of the waves breaking on the nearby beach.
“What Walt? What do you smell?”
“The ocean…”
The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds
Revisit Marlow house in
The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds
Haunting Danielle, Book 2
Everything is right on track for Danielle as she prepares for the grand opening of her bed and breakfast. All that changes when her cousin, Cheryl, shows up to claim her share of the inheritance—housemate Lily figures out there is a ghost in the house—and the million dollar necklace goes missing.
There is blood on someone’s hands and if Danielle isn’t careful she’ll be moving from Marlow House to the Big House.
Books Written Under Anna J. McIntyre
UNLOCKED HEARTS SERIES
Sundered Hearts – FREE DOWNLOAD!
After Sundown
While Snowbound
Sugar Rush
THE COULSON SERIES
Coulson’s Wife – FREE DOWNLOAD!
Coulson’s Crucible
Coulson’s Lessons
Coulson’s Secret
Coulson’s Reckoning
Other Books by Bobbi Holmes
Havasu Palms, A Hostile Takeover
Motherhood
Anna J. McIntyre’s Website
Bobbi Holmes’ Website
Haunting Danielle
The Ghost of Marlow House, Book 1
The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds, Book 2
The Ghost Who Wasn’t, Book 3
