by Annie Irvin
“I realize it wasn’t Grace’s fault she got herself murdered,” Alice continued, “and I know none of you here believe in ghosts. But can any of you say with certainty that spirits don’t exist?”
Violet snorted and stabbed a carrot with enough force to split it in half. “I’m sorry, girly, but I really don’t understand how you can believe in ghosts at your age.”
Harper poked Violet’s leg under the table with the toe of her foot and Lonnie scowled at her.
“There’s coconut cream cake for dessert,” Ezra piped up
“And peach pie,” Paul added hastily.
Mead cut in smoothly. “Seems such a shame, though, doesn’t it, Alice. Here we were, all happy and excited about finding the Bittersweet Inn. You would make such a good hostess with your flair for providing all kinds of cozy and inviting amenities to our guests. And we were looking forward to running our very own business.”
Alice sighed. “I’m just asking you to understand how Grace Potter might ruin our business. She could do so quite easily, you know. Not many people care to sleep in a haunted house.”
“We understand why you don’t want to buy a place where you feel Grace’s presence might drive off paying guests and make you uncomfortable to boot, but if she goes away then you’d have no problem with the purchase, right?” Harper asked.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Harper beamed at Alice. “Well then, I promise you we’ll put a speedy end to Grace Potter’s unwelcome spirit hanging around here.”
“How’s that going to happen?” James asked, sounding a little incredulous.
“Yes,” Aaron chimed in, “I heard the police aren’t any closer to an arrest than they were a week ago.”
“I’ve been doing some digging, talking to people,” Harper said. “In the process, I’ve found out some very interesting things.”
“Excuse me, I don’t want to be rude,” Aaron declared, “but if you think there is another avenue the authorities should explore, shouldn’t you let them in on it?”
“I don’t think they’d go along with me now. They’re pretty much focused on Jersey Simon.”
Mead had been listening attentively. Between bites of beef, he asked Harper, “You have someone specific in mind?”
“No. Yes. Maybe,” Harper answered.
“Harper, dear,” Olivia cut in. “Don’t you think it’s dangerous for you to ask questions, dig around as you say? I wish you wouldn’t do that.”
The concerned look on Olivia’s face made Harper wish she hadn’t said so much in front of her mother. “Mom, you don’t need to worry. I’m following a few leads, that’s all. I think something will break loose soon and I’ll go to the police then. Honest,” Harper promised.
“My, my,” Olivia clucked, her mouth forming into a tiny pucker.
“Cream cake or pie?” Lonnie spoke up quickly, shooting a pointed look at Harper that said, ‘way to go, dummy.’
“Of course, dessert,” Olivia muttered, nodding at Violet. The sisters began to clear plates and Alice insisted on helping. In short order, the dirty dishes were carried into the kitchen and dessert was on the serving cart ready to wheel into the dining room.
Alice glanced out of the window and stared toward the garden shed.
“I know I’m standing in the way of your move into town, Olivia. Everyone is making concessions for me and treating me so kindly when deep down you all are probably furious with me.”
“We’re not furious with you, Alice. Not at all.” Olivia put her hand on the young woman’s shoulder.
“It will all work out,” Harper assured her. “Our family really wants you and Mead to have this place. It seems perfect for you. You seem to fit so well here.”
“I truly believe Mead and I belong here in this lovely old house, too. But Mrs. Potter’s spirit made it perfectly clear to me she has no intention of vacating the premises until the authorities nab the person responsible for her death. I’ve come into contact with spiteful, unforgiving spirits before and have never known one of them to back down on its resolve.” She sighed. “I know how badly Mead wants this place so I hope you’re right, Harper, and you figure out who murdered Mrs. Potter soon. I’m just not sure I can sign those papers until I’m certain she’s gone from here.”
Harper studied Alice’s face. She felt empathy for the girl and could tell she wasn’t trying to fool anyone. Quite simply, Alice believed Grace intended to remain right where she was until whoever had murdered her was taken into custody.
“Let’s get this in to the men,” Violet said, rolling the dessert cart, “before Ezra becomes apoplectic. He loves his cream cake.”
Halfway across the dining room, Alice abruptly stopped and turned as pale as one of her ghostly apparitions. Perspiration glistened on her face and her eyes grew large and blank.
“Oh, good Lord,” Violet yelped, reaching out for Alice as the young woman crumpled onto the floor in a faint.
Lonnie caught her breath. “My God, do you think she saw a ghost?”
Harper knelt down and patted Alice on the cheek, saying, “Alice, Alice, can you hear me?”
The men jumped up from the table but Mead beat them all as he raced to his wife. Olivia calmly instructed him to carry Alice to the family room and lay her on the sofa.
“Should we call an ambulance?” James asked.
“Let’s see what’s going on first,” Ezra replied.
In a few minutes, Alice came around. She bolted upright on the sofa and leaned her head on Mead’s shoulder.
“I feel like such a fool,” she said to the women hovering over her. Lonnie quietly slipped out of the room to let the men know Alice appeared to be okay.
Violet plunked down on the sofa and put her arm around the still pale girl. She patted her arm. “You gave us quite a scare, missy. Must have taken ten years off me, I swear.”
“I’m so sorry,” Alice whispered.
“Have you ever fainted before?” Harper asked.
“No, never. Although this past week I’ve felt like I might a few times. Just now I felt so hot and then I got lightheaded all of a sudden. Everything seemed to drift far away. Do you think it was the dead woman trying to tell me something?” Alice turned her huge brown eyes toward her husband.
“I don’t know,” Mead squeezed her hand. “You hardly touched your food. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. In fact, I feel so hungry right now I could eat a horse.” Alice smiled sheepishly at Violet and asked, “Do you think I could have some leftovers before I have cake and pie?”
Violet blinked. “Absolutely. You go sit down in the dining room and I’ll fix up a plate for you.” Rolling her eyes at Olivia, she took Alice by the arm and led her out of the room.
Mead looked worried. “Well, I wonder what that was all about.”
Harper had a pretty good idea and one look at her mother told her Olivia had the same idea. They would let Mead and Alice figure it out on their own.
“I think your wife will be just fine,” Olivia said kindly. “I wouldn’t worry if I were you. Why don’t we go finish our dessert?”
“Yes, of course,” Mead said.
By the time they returned to the dining room, Alice was chatting quite happily with Paul, Ezra, Aaron and James.
Mead stood in the doorway and watched his wife. He spoke quietly to Harper. “Whatever might have caused my wife to faint certainly hasn’t affected her appetite.”
I bet Alice wouldn’t notice Grace Potter right now if the old girl pulled up a chair and sat down beside her, Harper said to herself as Alice earnestly dug in to a plate piled high with roast beef and mashed potatoes. A pair of dessert plates sat close by, one holding a double slice of coconut cream cake and the other a gigantic slab of peach pie.
Harper said quietly, “Maybe soon Grace will get tired of staying in a house where she isn’t welcome.”
Mead smiled grimly, then said, “And maybe she won’t.”
Chapter Nineteen
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Alice finished her meal without incident while Mead watched his wife fork every bite into her mouth. Harper saw him actually wince when Alice shoveled in the last of the roast beef and started on the desserts. After coffee, Aaron and James rose to stretch their legs and asked Mead to join them in the family room where they planned to look over the paperwork on the Inn one more time, sans Grace.
Alice didn’t go with them, going upstairs to lie down instead. However, she made it clear she would hold off signing anything until she was certain the house was “welcoming once again” as she put it. Harper felt thankful Violet had disappeared to see about the cleanup in the kitchen and didn’t hear Alice’s remark.
Aaron and James took their leave shortly thereafter, but not before profusely thanking Violet and Olivia for the excellent meal. Harper and Lonnie joined them in the foyer.
“Not often I get a meal like I devoured today,” Aaron raved. “Dessert was out of this world. Out of this world.”
“Thanks so much, ladies,” James said. “I doubt if I’ll ever feel hungry again after such a feast.”
Aaron nodded his head in agreement. “Good heavens, I’m with you, James. I feel absolutely stuffed. Absolutely stuffed.”
As the two men trotted down the front steps, Harper heard one of them belch loudly.
“That’s the last of the dishes,” Harper said, shaking out the damp dish towel she’d used to wipe them dry. Lonnie pulled the plug on the dishwater while Violet finished sweeping the kitchen floor. Ezra bundled up the last of the trash while Paul and Mead came into the kitchen, their hands full of soiled napkins and the tablecloth.
Ezra announced his plans for the afternoon included fall yard work and he offered to show Mead which flowering bulbs needed to be dug before winter. As the weatherman had predicted, the afternoon was sunny and surprisingly warm, beckoning Harper and Lonnie to find something to do outside as well. Paul offered to stay inside and help Violet pack up some of the heavier household items stored in a back closet. He mentioned he also wanted to stay close to the bicarbonate of soda in the kitchen cupboard.
“Why don’t you have a little rest,” Harper told Olivia, convincing her mother to lie down awhile.
“I shouldn’t be tired,” Olivia insisted. “No one let me do a darn thing to clean up after we ate.”
“That’s exactly how we planned it,” Harper said, kissing Olivia on the cheek. “Now go rest a bit and then we’ll find something for you to do.”
Lonnie put her arm around her sister. “You and I should take a walk about the property. It might be one of the last times we’ll get to.”
Harper held open the kitchen door for Lonnie. She followed her across the back porch and down the steps. “We’ll come out now and again and visit Alice,” she said.
Lonnie kicked at a clump of grass. “It won’t be the same.”
Harper laughed at her sister’s disgruntlement. “I’m sure Alice would love our company. She’s friendly and sociable.”
“She seems to be in a good mood today. Maybe Grace got tired of waiting around here and went to give the Devil a piece of her mind.”
Snickering at the thought of Grace putting the Devil through Hell, Harper and Lonnie strolled leisurely across the lawn, occasionally kicking at the fallen leaves.
“I had company last night,” Harper told her sister.
“No way! Are you seeing someone and didn’t tell me?” Lonnie demanded.
“Nothing like that, I can assure you. At least not with this creep.” Harper filled Lonnie in on Mickey’s visit and his revelation of talking with Pastor Hart during the bonfire in order to line up some marriage counseling sessions.
Lonnie sniffed. “I don’t care how much counseling that weasel gets, he’ll still be a slime ball.”
“And a crafty one at that. He takes the lead on this and gets the upper hand not only with Lucy but also with Summer.”
“Do you think he’s going to quit seeing her?” Lonnie wondered.
“He says it’s over. I think before Grace was killed he planned to make a full disclosure to Lucy and say ‘I’m sorry but, hey, I made appointments so we can get marital counseling so forgive me’. Of course, now with Grace dead he might just keep his mouth shut and not go ahead with seeing Pastor Hart.”
“I wonder if Lucy would have. Forgiven him I mean.” Lonnie shook her head. “If Paul pulled such a thing on me, any forgiveness would have to come from the jury who tried me for his murder.”
“This only bolsters Summer’s motive to kill Grace,” Harper said.
“How so?”
“Well, Grace cost Summer the guy she thinks she’s in love with. Mickey tells her it’s over and he’s going to confess to Lucy. So Summer doesn’t need to keep the affair quiet anymore. She blames Grace for making Mickey end their affair. That would be harder for Summer to take, in my mind anyway. Being threatened with exposure wouldn’t be quite as bad as actually losing her lover.”
“So you’re really suspicious of Summer now?”
“Yeah, but I’m also really suspicious of the Turnbuckles, too.” Harper felt relieved she could share her thoughts with Lonnie. It was difficult keeping all these suspicions straight and Lonnie made a good sounding board. She could brainstorm ideas with her about who committed the murder.
Harper and Lonnie strolled toward the pumpkin patch. Ezra had carted off the corn shock bundles and raked away the remains of the bonfire days ago. The pumpkins were all picked, too, and the pumpkin patch looked bare and somewhat forlorn. Harper did some calculations in her head. She pictured herself standing in an oversized baseball diamond. Where she currently stood would be home plate, the Bittersweet Inn at her back. The bonfire took place down at third base, on the edge of the pumpkin field. The garden shed stood between the pitcher’s mound and second base, approximately three hundred feet away from the bonfire. The dense clump of maple and hackberry trees at the side of the shed extended out into right field. Center field stretched toward a stand of timber with the Big Bittersweet just beyond. Maggie and Fred had snuggled on the hay wagon parked close to first base.
“If Grace stood at third base waiting for Ezra to start the bonfire, and we can assume she did since Carly saw her walk in that direction, and if she noticed someone heading toward the shed it must not have been quite dark yet. She wouldn’t have been able to see far after dark,” Harper said mostly to herself.
“What the heck are you talking about, third base?”
Harper shared her idea of the baseball diamond with Lonnie.
“Maybe the bonfire had already taken off,” Lonnie remarked, trying to be helpful.
“I doubt it. Ezra waited until it was completely dark to light it. It must have been eight o’clock by then. The cops put the time of death at eight or a little after. Daphne said it was getting on to dusk when she and Lawrence ran into Grace, and Carly corroborated that. It must have been between seven thirty and eight then.”
“Maybe Grace saw Mickey or Summer roaming about and decided to follow them.”
“Maybe. Maggie and Fred spotted Roy and Glennis heading in the direction of the shed right before dark,” Harper said, chewing on her upper lip. “That leaves Lawrence. Even though he and Mickey alibi each other, Daphne affirmed her husband was off doing something unknown around then, too.”
Lonnie grinned. “I have the answer. All five did it.”
“Well, they all would have wanted to do it,” Harper agreed.
Lonnie surveyed the grounds.
“Where do you think the murderer went after he killed her?”
“He could have left the shed and disappeared among those hackberry trees real easy, then high-tailed it across right field, circled around first base, and ended up at home plate. There were plenty of hay bales, corn shocks, and shade trees in the yard to hide behind.”
After considering the layout, Lonnie offered an opinion. “Everyone stood around the edge of the pumpkin patch and watched the bonfire except for Maggie and Fred who seem to hav
e had other things on their mind. Riley thought Summer slipped off to potty or something but instead Summer could have lured Grace out to the shed, cornered her, and––whack! Then Summer ran back to the house unnoticed, resumed her place on the porch, and no one was the wiser. Besides, no one would think twice about seeing one of the worker bees out here buzzing around.”
“According to Riley, Summer never made it back to the porch,” Harper pointed out. “Riley didn’t see her again until later when everyone had gathered in the dining room with Deputy Kennedy. And Summer did say she thought Grace deserved to die.”
Suddenly Ezra’s voice boomed out across the yard.
