She was sure her sister knew how good her life was. That didn’t mean she couldn’t mourn how things should have been. How it would have felt to know your mother loved and cherished you no matter what. Not to have her dump you off, never come back, and then blame you for whatever destruction she imagined you performed on her body.
Sydney took a deep breath, wiping the tears away. “What would you think of going to meet your father? Maybe it would help?”
Daisy lifted her head. “How? To have one more person wanting something from me when they couldn’t be bothered with me my whole life?”
“What if he doesn’t know about you? What if Nadine never told him?” Sydney wasn’t sure if her idea was a good one.
“Mom said he rejected Nadine when she told him. What if he’s like her?”
“What if he’s not? His business is successful. We saw that for ourselves. He was married for a long time according to Kay.” They’d driven by, on purpose, Sydney was sure of it, on their way back from Kay’s yesterday.
“I don’t know. What help can it be?”
“At this point, what could it hurt?” Sydney wanted her sister to have some peace. Maybe her birth father would turn out to be the one to give that to her.
“Let me think about it. Okay?” Daisy rested her head on Sydney’s shoulder with a sigh.
“Okay. Everything is up to you.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Sydney decided it was time to switch gears and get Daisy’s mind off of her parents.
“So we passed inspection.” Sydney jiggled her shoulder. “We’ve got the contracted work already paid for. The office is in good shape. What’s next?”
Daisy took a deep, shaky breath. “We have to pay for the rest of the stone. Maybe hire someone to spread it? What about the pool? One more good inspection and we should be able to have it fixed. Or we could get the activity building ready?” Daisy sniffed, but the excitement in her voice gave Sydney hope.
“How many more inspections do we have? Four? Six? We may not pass all of them. We have the money we set aside for our first two months in business and for taxes and enough to do half the pool. Violet comes in two weeks. What’s most important?” Sydney spouted off whatever thought came to mind, a normal brainstorming routine for them.
“With the money from today, we have enough to finish the pool. I think the pool is an important part of the campground. The estimate included some of the things we’ve already taken care of, like the electric and restoring the changing room. We might be able to knock a couple grand off the total. What if we wait until after the next inspection to start the work, then we’ll have enough cash available?”
“What will we have to show them before next week? Yeah, the stones will be done and the campsites are nearly ready. The electric will be finished and the bathhouses underway. We need something big though, or we could fail.” Sydney bounced her leg until Daisy dropped her hand onto her thigh and glared.
“Let’s do the activity building and the playground first. I wanted to show you my ideas about adding a room so I could maybe give photography classes.” Daisy grinned.
Sydney bounced with excitement. “That’s a great idea. What about a place inside the activity building for kids to play when it rains? What do you think of offering a few hours of childcare per day? We’d have to find out the legalities and hire someone appropriate, but it may mean the difference of a few bookings. Maybe by next summer?”
“And a mini-golf course. I wonder how much that would cost.”
“I have to meet with the plumber in ten minutes. Let’s go over this at lunch. Kay’s grandson is delivering. We need to interview him, too.” Sydney stood and stretched before hugging Daisy.
“Okay. Thanks, Syd. I do feel better,” Daisy said. At least Sydney succeeded in making her smile. That had to count for something.
After meeting with the plumber, Sydney found herself alone in the office. Alone with the weird box Marshal found in the hidden area. She’d searched the space and found nothing else. Why did the thought of opening the box make her want to do anything but?
Daisy would be here soon. She’d asked about the box twice this morning. Sydney had hated to admit she hadn’t opened it yet. Sure, she was dying to know what was inside, but fearful at the same time. And why had the box only been addressed to her?
Time to find out. She picked at the edge of tape and finally yanked. The inside of the box smelled like Gramps, taking her by surprise and filling her with nostalgia. She let the tears fall as she peeled back the rest of the tape.
There was a newspaper on top dated five years earlier, which was shortly before Gramps died. The headlines revealed nothing spectacular. She’d read it once she finished with the inside of the box. An envelope was next. She opened it with shaky fingers and read:
My darling Sydney,
I know you are wondering why this box is addressed to only you and not Daisy as well. I have always felt her mother would come back to find her should she know of the inheritance I’m destined to leave you both. I know I can trust you to handle this with fairness and care. Ultimately, this will help you to overcome any obstacles in your path and reopen the campground.
My reasons for hiding this money are probably obvious by now. I cannot explain my actions to you. Suffice it to say I thought I was doing to right thing. Sometimes our path seems right and then we realize we’ve taken on more than we can handle. And sometimes we sacrifice much for the people we love. Right or wrong.
Leaving you this provides me much comfort. I can see your joy at realizing most of your financial problems are a thing of the past. If I could be there with you, I would. Maybe I am, but I don’t know how the afterlife works yet.
Brookside is full of secrets and mysteries. I know you and Daisy love this place as I do and I trust the two of you will do whatever necessary to reopen.
I am so very proud of both of you and am blessed to have been your grandfather.
All my love,
G.
Sydney sniffed as she refolded the letter. Standing up, she peered into the box and found the money Gramps referred to in the letter. Lots of money. Enough to take care of the pool and any other job they could think of. She covered her mouth to keep the scream of joy inside as she did a little dance around the office. She couldn’t wait to tell Daisy. They’d have no problems re-opening the campground now.
If they could just keep Violet and Nadine off their backs.
She didn’t want to move the stacks, but had a feeling there was more to this box than the cryptic letter and a wad of money. She reached to the bottom, her hand closing around what felt like a book. Gramps' journal? Oh man. Sydney had expected to find this inside the house.
She rubbed her fingers over the embossed initials of her grandfather. A folded paper stuck out of the top and she sat down as she opened the note, her hands shaking.
We’ve never spoken of it, but I see the gift in you. Open your mind and heart and truly great things can happen.
Gramps had been big on the cryptic stuff. Sydney sighed, wishing she could ask him exactly what he meant. Seemed like everything was a huge puzzle and most of the pieces were lost or broken.
Opening the journal, she read the first entry dated fifty years earlier. Gramps’ handwriting was strong and bold. He wrote of his experiences as the new owner of Brookside and his excitement shone through the aged words.
Wishing she had time to read the journal cover to cover, instead she paged to the middle and found a passage than made her sit up straighter.
The woman in the bathhouse hears me. I know she does. She just won’t listen. I keep trying to help her find her way to where she needs to be, but part of me wonders if this is who she was in life. Someone who loved drama and pity. According to the records left to me by my father, she died in there shortly after Bro
okside opened. I wonder why she refuses to move on.
Creepy. And exactly what Sydney thought.
She flipped to the back of the book, noticing the weakness of the formerly bold handwriting mirrored the decline in Gramps’ health. Choking back the tears, she read his last entry.
I want to say I’m sorry, but I am not. I can’t be. I have loved two women in my life. Each has enriched my life in ways I cannot describe. I have been truly blessed. May I be further blessed with a quick death and not this illness that ticks years off my body with each breath I take.
Footsteps sounded on the porch and she wiped away the tears, then quickly scanned to make sure she hadn’t left any of the money out. Tucking the journal into her briefcase, she stood and leaned over the top of the box, impatient to show Daisy their treasure.
Only it wasn’t Daisy, but a harried-looking Tucker.
“Is Daisy in here?” Tucker’s clipped tone unsettled her.
“No. She’s supposed to meet me here. What’s wrong?” Sydney straightened.
“We were supposed to meet. She didn’t show. I thought she got tied up with the plumber, so I waited but she never came. She doesn’t answer her phone and I can’t find her.” Tucker left the door open and glanced outside every few seconds.
“Daisy wasn’t meeting the plumber, I was. She was getting her sketches together for the activity building and meeting me here for lunch.”
“That’s another thing. Lunch never came. The guys were waiting, but the order never came. Daisy called me and said she’d be late because the plumber had a few more questions.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. I watched him drive away and he didn’t come back. Besides, he knew where to find me and I have the paperwork. He was told he was to only deal with me. That’s how we split up the chores.” Worry settled in her gut. “Call Kay and I’ll find Marshal. Maybe she’s with him going over footage or something.” She tried not to worry.
Daisy’s car was still parked beside Sydney’s. Nothing to worry about. Except it was too quiet. Even the birds had stopped singing. Something wasn’t right. Locking the box in her trunk for safety, Sydney rapped on Marshal’s door. He opened it bare-chested and sleepy-eyed.
“Is Daisy here?” she fired off before he could even process who disturbed his sleep.
“No. I’m sleeping.” Marshal stretched.
“We can’t find her.” She told him what Tucker said about the plumber.
“Some guy knocked on our door about an hour ago. Said he was the plumber and was late for a meeting with Daisy.”
Sydney’s stomach dropped. “What did he look like?”
Marshal’s description didn’t sound like the plumber or anyone she’d ever met. What the hell?
The entire cabin was up and searching the woods within a matter of minutes. Sydney found Tucker taking to Kay on his cell phone in the parking area. She watched him, wanting so badly to interrupt and ask every question roaming through her mind.
Finally, he hung up and turned to her. “Kay sent the lunch delivery with her grandson. He left an hour ago.”
“Daisy doesn’t answer her phone.” She paced, trying to keep the fear away as she called Daisy’s name out toward the pond.
The sheriff and his crew arrived. Several trucks and cars followed, the parking lot filling in a matter of minutes.
“We usually don’t do this unless it’s been over twenty-four hours, but with all the weird shit you two have dealt with here, I’m not taking any chances. Frank filled me in on everything. He’s in Florida, but he checks in frequently. He’s worried about you two.” The sheriff had four search parties organized and sent them out with specific instructions leaving Sydney with the impression they’d done this type of work before.
“Can we make the office our command post?” The sheriff seemed more nervous than usual. “Tell me everything that happened today.”
Sydney went through every detail. When she got to the part about the plumber the sheriff stopped writing.
“What’s happened? What aren’t you telling me?” Sydney stood in front of him, her hands on her hips.
“I received two calls today. One from some irate woman named Nadine accusing you of holding her daughter here against her will. I know enough of the family history to know who Nadine is.” The sheriff rolled his eyes.
“I knew she’d try something.” Sydney’s fear grew. Was Nadine now holding Daisy for ransom? Was the woman really that crazy? “Who was the other call?”
“The other said he was a reporter. Started asking a bunch of questions about Brookside, Del and you two. They sounded weird, like they were reading the questions instead of asking. You know?”
“Maybe it was a new reporter?” This didn’t sound good.
“I’ve dealt with lots of reporters, Sydney. My gut is telling me this person was not who he said.”
“What did you tell him?”
“Nothing. They knew basic information. I refused to elaborate. The questions were really strange, too. He wanted to know about your pasts, where you lived before and if you were married. I guess that does make good human interest type stories. I’m not buying that. That kind of information is best asked of the person you want to know about.”
“So now you believe us?” Sydney hated that the question came out so sarcastic. She hadn’t meant it to.
“I’m sorry. It’s not that I didn’t believe you. I did, but I thought the trouble was caused by someone who really wanted the casino. Some of the debates in town about the casino are getting downright ugly. I broke up a fight at Kay’s the other day. The young kids all think the change is exciting and see themselves making it big and leaving. The young families are appalled and the older folks are conflicted, because, maybe they want some excitement around here, too.”
“Would those people go so far as to kidnap Daisy and sabotage everything we’ve worked for?”
“I don’t know. Money’s a powerful thing. The guy that hired the kid to scare you thought he was participating in a practical joke, too. We haven’t been able to locate the person he says hired him.”
“Do you really think Nadine would do this?” She told him her impression of her needing a fix.
“Possibly if she were desperate. Nadine’s our biggest suspect. You know there’s a chance Daisy went to clear her head and ended up in a hole or something.” The sheriff didn’t seem to believe that.
“Sure. That’s why some guy saying he was the plumber asked where he could find Daisy.”
Another shout sounded from the woods to their left and Sydney’s hope grew as she ran toward the search party.
Sydney stood over the bones and shook her head. The skeleton was canine. She wondered if this could be the physical remnants of their ghostly visitor and decided once Daisy was safe, they’d properly bury what was left of the dog’s body.
The sun was setting. Each minute Daisy stayed missing might bring her closer to death. No ransom note had appeared yet and her phone stayed mute.
Where was she? Sydney went back to the office, her steps as heavy as her heart. A vehicle stopped near the office. Sydney didn’t bother to turn around. The next thing she knew, a hand grabbed her arm and spun her around.
Nadine.
“Where’s my baby?” Her eyes were wild. Her hair stuck out in all directions and Sydney could swear there was a cigarette butt stuck in the crazy mess.
“For your information, she was a baby thirty years ago. She’s a grown woman now and she does not belong to you. You’re not welcome here.” Sydney turned away.
“How dare you? You’ve poisoned her against me.” Nadine’s screech echoed through the trees.
“Where is she, Nadine?” Sydney spun and closed in, her fists clenched and the question quiet and menacing.
The shock on her
face appeared genuine, but Sydney wasn’t convinced. “You little bitch. Why would I kidnap my own flesh and blood?”
“Why would you show up and accuse her of wrecking your life? Why would you decide to come back now, after she’s received half of an inheritance that holds enough potential to see us both into a comfortable old age? You leave your daughter to follow some band and you have the nerve to call me a bitch?” Sydney’s volume increased. The next thing she knew the sheriff stood at her elbow.
“I’ll take it from here, Miss Brooks. Ma’am, I’ll need to ask you some questions.” The sheriff had Nadine by the arm and steered her toward one of the benches.
“How did she know Daisy’s missing?” Sydney let the door slam behind her. She felt like banging it again, or kicking the chair and screaming at the top of her lungs. She ended up doing all three.
Where was her sister?
CHAPTER 15
Daisy shivered against the metal floor. Her arms ached and her throat was raw. Where was she? The last thing she remembered was talking to the plumber.
Only now, she didn’t think he really had been the plumber.
Why did the thought make her laugh? She was becoming delirious, no doubt. It was either sweltering or freezing. She’d had a sense of night, but couldn’t see the sky.
Sydney would be insane by now. She’d have the National Guard searching for her and probably knock on every door. Why didn’t that comfort her?
Probably because she was starving, freezing and had to go to the bathroom so bad she could barely move. Oh, whoever did this was going to get their ass kicked once she found a way out of here.
Just when she was considering using a corner of the metal box to relieve herself the door slid open and for a moment, the sun blinded her.
“Come on now. Let’s go,” a gruff voice commanded.
“Go to hell.” She stepped back, wondering if baiting the person offering her freedom was really a good idea.
Prelude of Lies Page 16
