Christmas at Snowflake Lodge

by CP Ward

  ‘Talking of rings … weren’t you planning to propose to Charity?’

  Grandpa stared at her for a moment then gave a cackling laugh. ‘Heavens, no. What do you think I am, a cradle robber?’

  ‘You said in your postcards to Dad that you were thinking about it.’

  Grandpa laughed. ‘I was spinning the boy a line, keeping him on his toes. But if I was, I would learn from previous mistakes and go for someone a little closer to my own age. Poor Charity’s young enough to be my granddaughter.’ With a cheeky grin, he added, ‘At a push. I enjoy the company, but I’d never want to subject a girl as lovely as her to looking after an old dinosaur like me.’

  ‘But she found a ring….’

  Grandpa lifted an eyebrow. ‘Did she now? That’s the first I’ve heard about it.’

  Jessica stood up. She had seen Charity taking a bottle of polish out of a drawer near the door, so she went over and opened it. A little ring box sat beside an unopened packet of dusters.

  ‘Here,’ she said, bringing it over. ‘She said you left it where she would find it.’

  Grandpa frowned. ‘I did nothing of the sort. Open that up, will you?’

  Jessica lifted the lid to reveal a beautifully ornate diamond ring. While she knew little about jewelry, even an untrained eye would know it was worth several thousand pounds.

  Grandpa stared at it. ‘Where on earth could that have possibly come from?’

  ‘What is it? Is it something special?’

  Then, just when Jessica had begun to believe she was beyond being shocked, a single tear rolled down Grandpa’s cheek.

  ‘Huh,’ he said, giving a little shake of his head. ‘There’s another story attached to that one, that’s for sure. The story that once … I had hoped might end all stories.’

  29

  Captured

  Jessica found the three sisters together at a table near the fire, enjoying breakfast.

  ‘Good morning,’ she said, pulling up a spare chair. ‘How’s the food today?’

  ‘Fantastic as always,’ Theodora said, as the other two mumbled their approval around mouthfuls of French toast. ‘Honestly, I think I’m going to rot my false teeth with food as rich as this.’

  ‘There’s a reason we headhunted dear Demelza,’ Trixie added. ‘She was my favorite chef when I visited London on business. She wasn’t cheap, but she was worth every penny.’

  Jessica had already eaten two of the Swiss-style waffles on this morning’s buffet and could certainly agree. Her stomach was satisfied but she was wondering if she could fit in one more. After all, it was set to be another busy day.

  ‘I spoke to Grandpa at last,’ she said.

  Theodora lifted an ancient grey eyebrow. ‘Oh? Did he remember us?’

  ‘He certainly did.’ She considered what she ought to tell them. After all, the right information might make this lodge hers.

  ‘And?’

  ‘He told me he remembers all of you with the same fondness. All three of you. And he said it would be his absolute pleasure if you would allow him to join you for breakfast.’ She gave a little smile as she looked up at Grandpa, hobbling across the room on a walking stick. ‘In order that you might grill him for yourselves.’

  ‘Oh, well, I suppose that would be nice….’

  ‘Good morning, Grandpa,’ Jessica said, as she stood up to free her seat, then helped him to sit down. ‘Is there anything you’d like me to get you from the buffet?’

  Grandpa looked at the three old ladies leaning forward in their wheelchairs and nodded. ‘They serving scotch yet? I’m going to need a bit of courage for this.’

  Jessica shook her head. ‘Unfortunately not. I can get you some tea, though. With lemon?’

  Grandpa and the three old ladies began to cackle. ‘You know me, dear,’ Grandpa said.

  ‘How about I get you a communal plate of mince pies? They have low cholesterol ones that Demelza made for the Silver Tours group.’

  Grandpa shook his head. ‘Full fat, please. If we’re going out, we might as well go out in style. Isn’t that right, ladies?’

  There were murmurs of agreement. Jessica caught Grandpa’s eye, and he gave her a little wink.

  She found Kirsten in the movie room, watching an early morning showing of A Christmas Carol with Mick.

  ‘And they changed this bit from the book,’ Kirsten was saying. ‘He actually had a sister.’

  ‘In the 1904 edit,’ Mick said. ‘Not in the original.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I have a copy of the text on my phone. Give me a minute.’

  Jessica patted Kirsten on the shoulder. ‘Good morning,’ she said.

  ‘Oh, Ms … Jessica. How are you? Sorry again about last night.’

  ‘No problem. Hi, Mick.’

  Mick raised a chubby hand which was clutching an iPhone encased in an Arsenal cover. ‘Good morning, Jessica. This is a wonderful place, isn’t it? I hear they’re opening up the ice rink this afternoon. I’ve always wanted to try.’

  Jessica could hardly believe how normal Mick and Phil were outside of Doreen’s influence. She smiled. ‘I’m glad you’re enjoying your stay. It’s a, um, shame Doreen couldn’t make it.’

  Mick gave a smile that could have meant anything. ‘I don’t think we’ll be seeing her,’ he said. ‘It turned out she was breaking a location order after an incident last year. She wasn’t supposed to leave Gloucestershire. I picked up a text this morning which said she’s being sent back to Bristol to be held on remand.’

  If Father Christmas had suddenly jumped out of the TV and begun to dance, Jessica wouldn’t have been happier. She tried not to smile too much as she nodded. ‘Oh, that’s too bad.’

  ‘She was a bit of a nightmare, wasn’t she?’

  ‘You could say that,’ Mick said. ‘By the way, I’ll pay for any damage that was caused to your flat.’

  Jessica smiled. ‘I appreciate it. By the way, where’s Phil this morning?’

  ‘She’s gone snowboarding with Ben. He had the morning off.’

  ‘Nice. Glad things are working out. If you still need a place to stay when we get back to Bristol, you can have Doreen’s room,’ Jessica said. ‘Assuming she gets a good, long sentence and I can get a restraining order.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Mick said. Then, glancing at Kirsten, he added, ‘I think I’ve already found a place to stay. I appreciate the offer though.’

  Somewhat stunned by how quickly Kirsten’s love life was developing, Jessica decided not to bother them further. Instead, she went looking for James. She found him outside with Mr. Dawes, clearing snow from the paths heading into the forest. Nearly thirty centimetres had fallen overnight in the end, and where the wind had caught it, the snow had drifted much deeper.

  ‘Good morning,’ he greeted her with a smile.

  ‘Hi.’ She felt that little tingle across her skin again, but ignored it. ‘I was wondering how soon you needed to go back to your farm. I wondered if you could help me with something first.’

  James grimaced. ‘I need to get going soon,’ he said. ‘Can’t you come?’

  Jessica really, really wanted to go, but she shook her head. ‘I have something I have to do. I have to flush out a pesky mouse. I was hoping you’d help me.’

  ‘Later, maybe … if you still haven’t caught it.’

  ‘Sure.’

  Mr. Dawes stood his shovel up in the snow with a grunt. ‘I’ll help you, lass,’ he said. ‘If you give me half an hour of shoveling first.’

  ‘Sure.’

  It was just after nine o’clock when Jessica and Mr. Dawes began their search for the little mouse which had been stealing from the lodge’s food stores. They started at the top of the building on the south wing and made their way down, checking every empty room, closet, and store cupboard as they went. In two places—a closet in one of the unused executive suites and a broom cupboard on the second floor—they found evidence of someone hiding out, a couple of food wrappers here, a well-thumbed pap
erback there.

  By the time they had made it down to the basement levels, they were still yet to discover the mysterious thief. They checked the first den Jessica had found, but it remained abandoned. Down in the staff car park, Jessica looked around.

  ‘Are there no off-site buildings we could check?’

  Mr. Dawes shook his head. ‘I walked the sleigh run this morning. No tracks, no one in any of the stations. There’s a couple of storage cupboards up by the ski lift, but you’d freeze to death. It’s a real mystery, ain’t it?’

  Jessica looked around the parked cars. She tried the doors on a couple, but they were all locked. Then, like a cloud with a silver lining passing overhead, she had a sudden epiphany.

  In the corner, parked near to the wall, was her Tomahawk motorbike.

  With Mr. Dawes trailing behind her, she walked up to it, reached down and gave the awning covering the sidecar a tap.

  ‘The game’s up,’ she said. ‘Come on out. Don’t worry, it’s Christmas. We’ll be lenient.’

  At first she thought she was mistaken. Then, through the awning something shifted. A zip slid up, and the awning lifted back.

  He was sitting in the sidecar with a thick blanket wrapped around him, a paperback held in his gloved hands, and a paper cup of hot chocolate in a cup holder. A Christmas hat was perched on his head. As Jessica had thought, disguised as a member of staff, he had probably moved around the hotel from time to time without drawing attention.

  ‘The mystery solved,’ Jessica said. ‘Come on, get out of there and let’s get you upstairs before you freeze to death.’

  With a grimace, the man stood up. ‘Busted,’ Dick Burd said.

  30

  Justice and Revelations

  ‘The man is a criminal!’ Barry shouted, stomping back and forth in front of Jessica and Dick Burd, who stood with his head lowered like a defendant at a court hearing. ‘He should be behind bars!’

  ‘Come on, show a little Christmas spirit,’ Jessica said. ‘I mean, hasn’t he suffered enough? He’s been hiding out in the basements, surviving off scraps of food and chocolate bars—which he has promised to pay for. I know it’s not right, but he’s sorry.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Dick muttered.

  ‘We are not a charity organisation,’ Barry said. ‘We are a hotel, and this man not only broke in, but he has been stealing goods from our stocks.’

  ‘I walked in through the front door,’ Dick said. ‘And those chocolate bars were actually out of date. Everything else I took came from the kitchen bin.’

  Barry turned on his heels, glared at Dick—who had wisely lowered his head again—and stamped his foot. ‘I—don’t—care. You are a thief and a trespasser, and you should be in prison with the rest of the criminals.’

  ‘I’m a private detective,’ Dick said.

  ‘Don’t talk back to me! As soon as the police arrive, you’ll be in cuffs.’

  ‘We’re snowed in,’ Jessica said. ‘The police won’t be able to get here for a couple of days. Come on, it’s Christmas!’

  ‘I don’t—’

  The door opened. James came in then stood aside, holding the door open for a wheelchair to pass through.

  ‘What is the meaning of this interruption?’ Barry snapped, stamping his foot again. ‘We’re in the middle of a private staff meeting—’

  ‘Hush, little one,’ Theodora said, as Mildred wheeled her through the door. The receptionist handed the chair to James, gave him a quick smirk, then hurried out, closing the door with a smart thump. James wheeled Theodora up alongside Jessica and Dick. He gave Jessica’s hand a surreptitious squeeze, then followed Mildred out.

  Barry was staring at Theodora. ‘What … did you just say?’

  ‘Remember me, now, do you? Hush, little Barry, close your eyes, listen to my lullaby. Time for quiet, time for sleep, time to watch the reindeer leap….’

  ‘You,’ he said.

  ‘I used to visit you in the orphanage,’ she said. ‘I used to sing you to sleep all the time. I don’t have the voice for it now, but I was quite the singer back in my day. And you were a lovely little boy, even with all the bluster. After the start you had, I’m so glad you grew up into a responsible human being.’

  ‘I—I—I—’

  Jessica didn’t think she’d ever seen Barry speechless, but it was quite a sight. His hair jumped with every attempt to articulate, like an old car trying to start.

  ‘I’ve looked after you all these years,’ Theodora said. ‘And you looked after me. Well, my property.’

  ‘Your…?’

  ‘This lodge belongs to me and my sisters. What you like to call the conglomerate. We never felt the need to reveal ourselves until now, preferring to stay in the background while you ran things expertly. However, I can’t let you punish this young man unjustly. Yes, he has trespassed and stolen, but no doubt he had his reasons. There will be time to hear them, but first I’d like to extend a welcome to him here at our lodge. After all, you say we aren’t a charity and you are correct, but we are charitable, and there is no better time to be charitable than at Christmas.’

  ‘He can’t be allowed to get off scot free!’

  ‘And he won’t. Jessica dear, please explain.’

  ‘I need someone to cut and sand wood,’ she said. ‘A lot of it. It’s a tough job, and it’ll take a couple of days. For all Mr. Dawes’s enthusiasm, I can’t put the job on an old man like him, not to mention his other duties.’ She gave Dick a nudge in the ribs. ‘A strong chap like this will be just the ticket.’

  Barry’s face had gone blank. His eyes moved from Theodora to Jessica to Dick, then back again. Finally his mouth opened.

  ‘And the car park needs shoveling,’ he said in a hollow, defeated voice. ‘Every morning.’

  ‘Then the sentence is served,’ Theodora said. ‘Jessica dear, you may escort this young man to his place of work.’

  ‘Come on,’ Jessica said to Dick. ‘Let’s go.’

  As she led Dick to the door, she heard Theodora’s voice behind her: ‘Were you really selling out-of-date chocolate bars? We could get sued if someone gets sick, you know.’

  ‘They weren’t for sale. That’s why they were in the stock room.’

  ‘Then why didn’t you just throw them away…?’

  Dick Burd, chastened, proved to be a good worker. With Mr. Dawes helping to supervise, they quickly got through Jessica’s wood cutting and sanding tasks. By the end of the second day, they were ready to test the wooden skates they had made.

  Grandpa volunteered to be the test dummy. Somewhat disappointed that the felling of the Yule Tree had been put off for a few days because of the excessive snowfall, he needed a new challenge. Having painstakingly cleared the snow off the frozen lake, Jessica helped the old man down to the lakeside while Dick Burd carried a wheelchair with a pair of makeshift skates fitted to its wheels.

  Mr. Dawes, who had worked so hard to prepare the lake, took the honour of pushing Grandpa around. Jessica and Dick watched from the bench outside the changing rooms as they made a couple of ungainly circuits of the central tree.

  ‘So, when are you going to ask him?’ Jessica asked at last. Dick had said little while in her company, performing his penal tasks without complaint, only speaking when he needed to ask for direction.

  ‘Ask him what?’

  ‘About whether he murdered Mavis.’

  ‘Oh, that.’

  ‘That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?’

  Dick said nothing. He stared out at the lake for a long time, watching Grandpa whooping and yelling as Mr. Dawes spun the wheelchair around.

  ‘Dick?’

  He didn’t look at her. Jessica watched his expression carefully. The boldness she had seen when he confronted her at her parents’ house had vanished, and she wondered if it had ever been anything more than an act. She remembered how they had seen him helping people on the way here. Perhaps she had him all wrong.

  ‘You’re not here for that, are you?�
�

  Very slowly, Dick shook his head. ‘That was just a cover,’ he said. ‘I read about her death in the newspaper and I volunteered my services. However, it didn’t take long to realise there was no real evidence against Ernest Lemond whatsoever.’

  ‘Then what? Wait a minute. That ring … you didn’t have something to do with that, did you?’

  Dick sighed, then lifted a hand and unzipped his jacket. He reached inside and pulled out a little leather case. Opening it, he handed it to Jessica. Inside was a black and white picture of a pretty woman posing with a young girl in front of a set of swings.

  ‘My mother and grandmother,’ he said. ‘Ernest Lemond is my grandfather, but I don’t think he knows it.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘My grandmother’s name was Audrey Lane,’ Dick said, so quietly Jessica had to lean closer to hear. ‘She worked on a US state network television channel as a boom operator. He gave her that ring and proposed to her.’

  ‘They were married?’

  Dick shook his head. ‘My grandmother died when my mother was a teenager. I never met her. The way my mother told it was that shortly after Ernest proposed, he had to go back to England on urgent business. My grandmother never saw or heard from him again. He never knew she was pregnant. She wrote him letters, but all she had was the address of a TV network. She never received a reply.’

  ‘Then, that ring—’

  ‘I wanted him to find it. I wanted him to remember her. I planned to give it to him myself, but I chickened out.’

  Jessica remembered Grandpa’s reaction to the ring when she had opened the box. She explained to Dick. ‘If what you’re saying is true, then that would make us … cousins?’

  For the first time she could remember, Dick smiled. ‘Something like that,’ he said. ‘I’m very pleased to meet you.’