Small Town Spooky (Cozy Mystery Anthology)

by Anisa Claire West

Erna’s eyes glistened as she spoke.

  Denise closed her eyes for a second then said, “Of course I forgive you, Erna. We’re both going through grief and it is a hard time.”

  “I miss your aunt terribly,” Erna cried. Denise reached into the car to pat Erna’s shoulder.

  “We both miss her,” Denise added. Still, there persisted a nagging doubt that there was more to Erna’s grief than she was revealing. It sounded more like guilt, or even greed. Denise wasn’t sure. She started to walk away.

  “I have to tell you something before I go crazy,” Erna grabbed Denise’s arm. Denise became alarmed at Erna’s emotional roller-coaster. “There was a hidden letter and map inside one of the loveseat pillows. Ben Field hid it there when he was dating your aunt.”

  Denise’s mouth dropped opened. There was that name again, Ben Field. It was plausible because the loveseat had been in the family. It belonged to Denise’s grandmother and then Aunt Elizabeth kept it.

  “Did Aunt Elizabeth know about the note?” Denise asked.

  “I don’t think so. She never talked about it.”

  “Well, how do you know about it?”

  “Ben told me when we were in Vietnam. He said if anything happened to him be sure to tell Elizabeth.” Erna lowered her eyes and voice as she spoke.

  “And, did you?”

  “Don’t hate me, Denise,” Erna pleaded. “I couldn’t bear it if you never spoke to me again but I would understand.”

  “I don’t hate you, Erna. I feel sorry for you.” She started to walk away again.

  “We should have that loveseat and the note!” Erna yelled.

  “We? There is no we. I won’t have any part of this.”

  “Don’t be a fool, Denise. I’ve been following that lady’s moves and I know eventually she’s going to lead me to something. She’s inside the library right now, isn’t she? I see her car parked on the street with the New Jersey plates.”

  Denise was startled by Erna’s correct assumption. “Come to think of it, she was looking at some old map books.”

  “I knew it!” Erna exclaimed. “I followed her here. That woman has a reputation. She fancies herself an amateur sleuth. You stick with me and we’ll get to the bottom of this together.”

  Wednesday Evening

  As much as she didn’t want to admit it, Kay needed Gavin’s help to decipher the map. After all, he had lived in Pearl River for years. She copied pages from the reference books and brought them home. Kay spread everything on the kitchen table after they finished eating Chinese takeout that Gavin brought home. Cody slept on the main sofa still weary of the red loveseat.

  “Gavin you never guess who I ran into at the Pearl River Library, that young woman who sold the loveseat to me.”

  “Really, and I saw her at Murty’s the other day.” Gavin immediately blanked and asked himself, how the heck did I let that slip out?

  “Murty’s! When were you at Murty’s and without me? I thought that was our place.”

  “Now Kay, Murty’s has been one of my favorite bars for years before I met you. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. It’s not like I spoke with her. I merely said I saw her.”

  “Oh, well I did speak with her. I asked her about Ben Field.”

  “That reminds me!” Gavin interrupted. “Norman came by this afternoon rather upset with you bringing-up Ben Field and this Elizabeth Woods. What have you and Peggy been doing? Are you trying to place a wedge between Norman and Gloria?”

  “Will you help me with this map, please,” Kay asked in an attempt to distract him.

  “Kay, leave it alone. Go write your mystery, Sleepless in Montvale.” Gavin could barely say the title when he was overcome with laughter. Kay gathered the papers and went straight to the sofa next to Cody. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, can’t you take a little kidding?”

  Kay began reading the details of the pages she copied from the library book. One of the copied maps seemed to suggest the current location of the Blue Hill Golf Course:

  Montgomery Maze, a NY businessman, purchased over 300 acres of land in Pearl River for a summer home. He had a stone mansion built around 1900 and modeled it after an Irish castle. Today, this building is known as Emmett’s Castle and sits on the Blue Hill Golf Course, one of the oldest courses in Rockland County.

  Kay went back and forth comparing the map in the book with the one she found with the letter. The similarities were striking. This had to be where Ben hid his Valentine’s gift for Elizabeth! Quickly she grabbed the phone to call Peggy.

  “Peg, I figured it out!” She gasped with excitement causing Cody to stir from his sleep.

  “What did you figure out?” Peggy asked. “George, lower the television, please.”

  “The map! It’s the Blue Hill Golf Course and Emmett’s Castle!”

  Gavin overheard Kay’s conversation. He knew about Emmett’s Castle for years, a café that had been transformed into a fine-dining on one side while it remained a golf club cafe on the other.

  “A castle! My goodness.” Peggy gushed. ‘When shall we hunt for this treasure?”

  They giggled like a couple of kids.

  “Well, tomorrow I made hairdresser appointment in the afternoon. We can go right after that or later in the evening.”

  Gavin casually sat between Kay and Cody. He couldn’t hear what Peggy was saying but tried to piece together what they were planning. Cody put his head on Gavin’s lap to fall back to sleep. Kay hung up the phone. “So, can I help you with the map now?” Gavin asked.

  “Too late, I already know where I’m going,” Kay said confidently.

  And so do I missy, Gavin thought.

  Thursday Afternoon at the Salon

  Peggy was eager to see Kay the next day. She was so excited she went to Michelle’s Salon just to have her nails done to talk with Kay about Emmett’s Castle. All three friends, Kay, Peggy and Gloria had the same idea to spruce up before Friday’s Valentine’s Day dinner. Kay was already having her hair blown when Peggy arrived, and Gloria was upstairs having a facial. Kay saw Peggy from behind in the mirror and gave a thumbs-up.

  “I hope that means you like the cut I did,” the stylist commented.

  “Of course,” Kay assured her. As soon as the stylist finished, Kay sat next to Peggy by the nail station. “Are you ready for our adventure tonight?” She asked Peggy.

  “Ready! I can’t wait. I wish we were there right now.”

  “There’s one thing that still nags at me, Peggy,” Kay shared. “Why didn’t Norman find the hidden gift or take Elizabeth to find it? I mean he probably knew where it was, it said it in the note we decoded.”

  “May be he forgot?” Peggy suggested. “Or he didn’t want to give it to Elizabeth. You know, he must have been sweet on her,” Peggy went on.

  “Do you think we need his help to find it tonight?” Kay asked.

  “Absolutely not,” Peggy said emphatically. “We women can find it by ourselves. Oh by the way, I hope you don’t mind but I asked Gloria to join us.”

  Kay rolled her eyes. Of course she did mind, but she knew that Gloria had to be included since she was involved indirectly.

  “Are you still feeling doubtful about Gavin?” Peggy asked.

  “More than ever. We’ve been fighting all week,. Tomorrow he’s probably going to plop a box of candy in my lap and think that will make me happy. What about you and George?”

  “Honestly, we’re happy how things are between us. Neither of us is going anywhere, there’s no rush to the altar,” Peggy confided. Her words and manner impressed Kay.

  First, Peggy’s forthrightness was a departure from her usual fibs; and second, she was comfortable with an engagement where the wedding date remained open-ended.

  But Peggy wasn’t being totally honest which wasn’t unusual. Sometimes Peggy felt she rushed into a relationship with George because she was jealous of the romance that Kay and Gavin had. This was probably more the reason why Peggy was content with the status quo and not in any rush.
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  “Men, they can be such a trial,” Kay sighed just as Gloria came down from her upstairs facial.

  “Don’t get me started,” Gloria commiserated.

  Kay held her tongue and prayed that the information Denise shared with her yesterday at the library would never become privy to Gloria. What a dilemma all this deception had become for Kay. Withholding secrets made her nervous. Besides what good would it serve to tell Gloria that Norman had a fling with Elizabeth Woods? Gloria knew that Norman had been a bachelor all his adult life and he no doubt had a number of women.

  “Listen ladies, I’ve got to run.” Kay’s cell phone began ringing. It was Gavin. “See you both tonight!”

  “Still at the hairdresser?” Gavin asked. “I hope you’re not snooping somewhere.”

  “I just had my hair done. I’m not snooping.”

  “OK, just checking dear. Love you.”

  Gavin peered out the window. It was approaching 5 in the afternoon; there was still plenty of daylight. If Kay and Peggy hadn’t gone to Emmett’s Castle yet surely they were planning to go after dark. There was only one thing to do. He called George to let him know.

  Emmett’s Castle

  “Just our luck with these snow flurries,” Kay lamented as she drove with Peggy to pick-up Gloria. She passed the driving directions to Peggy.

  “We’re troopers, Kay! Besides, maybe it will be quieter at the castle.”

  Kay had a knot in her stomach with so much on her mind. Should they have been honest with Denise from the beginning? That would have been the ethical thing to do. What happened to Kay’s moral compass? Something about Kay had changed over the past year. Her personality had become more boisterous and take charge. Peggy didn’t seem to notice or mind. But it bothered Kay who just couldn’t place her finger on what was happening.

  “Did you tell Gavin where you were going tonight?” Peggy asked.

  “I had to lie and say we were going to play bingo at St. Margaret’s.”

  “Kay, he knows you don’t like bingo. You insulted his intelligence.”

  “What about you, does George know where we’re going?”

  “Yes—we’re going to play bingo,” Peggy quipped. They laughed.

  Kay was already leaning on the horn as she approached Gloria’s house. Peggy and Kay were surprised when Gloria came out wearing her bathrobe. “I’m not going. Norman doesn’t want me to be part of this. I’m sorry.”

  “You told him?” Peggy asked angrily.

  “I had to, he would never believe me that I was going anywhere on a night like this.” Gloria withheld that Norman would join George and Gavin to follow them.

  “OK, we’ll let you know what happens,” Kay commented in a breezy fashion.

  Like a scene from It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, not far behind from Kay were George, Norman and Gavin in Norman’s car. And not far behind from them was Denise’s car with Erna as the passenger. Visibility was getting worse. Kay was especially feeling it with her night vision not as keen as it once was.

  “Peg, are we being followed?”

  Peggy glanced behind and did see headlights in a distance. “Oh you’re just paranoid. You think the whole world is after this thing at Emmett’s Castle.”

  “Do not!” Kay defended herself. “That car, no make that two cars, have been behind us since we crossed into Pearl River.”

  Peggy shook her head negatively at Kay.

  “It sure is dark around here,” Kay commented. She set the wipers on the fastest speed. They approached the entrance to the golf course, a long steep curved road that led to the castle. Once at the summit of the hill, the castle was in plain view on the right.

  Meanwhile the three men were debating whether they should call the police. It hadn’t escaped their notice that they were being followed. Gavin told the others he was sure it had to be Erna and her young friend. “Who knows if they’re armed,” he cautioned. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to Kay or Peggy.”

  Norman laughed. “Oh that’s just the writer in you. Your imagination is running away with itself.” George agreed and they all had a nervous laugh together.

  The castle was open for business at it is open every day of the week. The snow had stopped, at least for now. Kay parked as close to the entrance of the castle as possible. Sure enough, the cars that she suspected were following her rolled along either side of hers.. She was shocked to see Gavin, then Norman, then George. Gavin gave her a little wave and smiled as if to say, I see you.

  “What the hey!” Peggy blurted. “How did George know about this?”

  “I guess a little birdie named Gloria told Norman and he told the other guys?” Kay reasoned.

  Just then Erna knocked on Kay’s car window. Kay gasped. Erna’s expression was a knotted snarl that scared the stuffing out of Kay.“Get away from the car,” Kay yelled.

  Erna joined the rest of group circling around one another in the snow. The sky was beginning to clear which helped all concerned with some moonlight. Norman took one look at Denise and thought he was seeing Elizabeth’s ghost. Then he winced when he recognized Erna from all these year later. Still the same ugly Erna, he thought. Fortunately, Norman now bald had aged sufficiently that Erna didn’t notice him.

  “OK, I guess we all know why we’re here,” Gavin took the lead.

  “Not exactly,” Kay said. “None of us knows what we’re looking for and we’re not sure where to even begin to look. But I do have the decoded note and the map which can help us.”

  “Can we go inside, I’m freezing,” Denise said.

  Gavin ever the gentleman at heart wanted nothing more than to put his arm about the pretty Denise, but his better judgment controlled the impulse.

  The eight of them tromped through the snow into the castle. They were greeted by a middle-aged hostess.

  “Are you all together?” She asked

  “Yes, I mean no,” Kay said. “Well, sort of. “

  “Well, then I can give you a round table where you all sit and chat.” She led them near a table that was close to the fireplace. Above the fireplace they could see the second floor. A sweeping staircase led to colorful stained glass windows that adorned the balcony landing and overlooked the restaurant. The walls of the dining room were a rich mahogany from ceiling to floor. The balcony walls had bricks like an old castle.

  Kay leaned toward Gavin and said, “We have to come here some time to eat.” Gavin’s facial express was priceless at her suggestion at such a time.

  “Miss,” Gavin called the hostess over. “I’ll have a scotch, neat.”

  Erna showed her growing impatience by repeatedly clearing her throat. “Let’s get down to business right now,” she snapped at Kay. “You have the information.”

  “Well not all of it. There’s one part of the letter I don’t understand. It’s two numbers, 2/11.”

  “That was Aunt Elizabeth’s birthdate, February eleventh,” Denise interrupted.

  “But it may have another significance,” Norman offered.

  “Oh, and who are you?” Denise challenged him.

  “My name is Norman and I knew your Aunt Elizabeth.”

  Denise was shocked to meet someone from her aunt’s past, and the very man her aunt poked fun at for years. Erna instantly rose from her chair pointing her finger at Norman. “You…you opportunist!” She yelled.

  “Me? Look at you, what are you doing here?”

  “You know damn well what I’m talking about. Fooling around with your best friend’s girl while he was at war. Elizabeth told me.”

  Norman blushed and was relieved to know that Gloria had remained at home and didn’t join this circus. Gavin started to argue with Kay how she lied about playing bingo. Peggy was annoyed that George was involved in following them. Denise placed her fingers in her ears as the voices carried louder and louder throughout the castle. And Erna was stamping her foot trying to quiet everyone. The owner-manager, a man in his sixties, approached the group.

  “Ladies and gentlem
en, you’re in a public place. I’m going to have to ask you to leave if you can’t lower your voices.”

  The group freeze-froze immediately like a snapshot. Only the sound of the staff in the kitchen could be heard now. Everyone was quiet. That is except for Kay who decided it may be worth a chance to question the owner about the mysterious hidden gift.

  “Sir, we’re very sorry. We’re just trying to find something that was left here years ago.”

  “Well, I’m lot the original owner, but let me hear what you have to say.”

  “Does the name Ben Field sound familiar?” Kay asked.

  The owner swallowed so hard that it was audible. The question stunned him.

  “Sir, did you know him?” Kay asked.

  “Sure…I remember Ben,” he began slowly. “He worked here as a caddy…nice young man. He was killed in Vietnam. I have a picture of him in uniform by the bar. I’ll show it to you.” He motioned for them to follow him. Like a funeral procession they marched behind the owner to the bar. He took the framed photo down, brushed the dust with his sleeve and gave it to Kay. She was overcome with emotion.

  There, in a uniform, was a black and white image of a handsome young soldier, who put his life on the line for his country and had promised his heart to a young woman, Elizabeth Woods. Kay passed it to Denise who stared at it wondering how different her aunt’s life may have been with Ben. Perhaps, he would have been her adopted father. Erna wedged herself between Kay and Denise, and ran her fingers across the glass as if to touch his face. Norman couldn’t bear to look; he was overcome with guilt that he had tried for years to forget.

  “This wasn’t the gift though, was it?” Kay asked.

  “Oh no,” the owner assured her as he placed Ben’s photo back on the wall. “Ben was a crazy romantic kind of kid. He had this little game that he was going to hide a gift for his sweetheart in the castle and they would either find it together or she would find it on her own. I never knew where it was or what it was, until one day one of the staff found it behind a fallen brick.”

  “Do you have it?” Denise asked.