by Bobbi Holmes
“Yes, Adam claimed they were good friends.” Samuel looked over the crowd and spied Cheryl with Adam. The two stood by the wine table. Before grabbing the beer, Samuel had considered pouring himself a glass of wine at the table. The bottles had already been opened, but each was loosely re-corked, waiting to be poured. He watched as Cheryl picked one up and pushed the cork into the bottle.
“That cousin is sure a good looking woman,” Samuel nodded toward Cheryl.
“Yes, she is.” Clarence looked over at Cheryl and sipped his beer.
“Is it true she owns half this place and the necklace?”
“I really can’t discuss that,” Clarence said.
“Well, I guess Danielle Boatman isn’t thrilled her cousin showed up. I heard she hit her.”
“Good lord, Samuel, please don’t be spreading rumors like that,” Clarence said impatiently.
“It’s not a rumor. Joanne told me she saw the bruise.” Samuel continued to watch Cheryl, who tucked the bottle under one arm and ran toward the back gate. “What is she doing?”
“Looks like she’s taking off with a bottle of wine,” Clarence chuckled. The two men watched as Cheryl tucked the bottle into the bushes by the gate, looked around to see if anyone was watching, and then ran back to Adam.
“That’s odd.” Samuel frowned.
“Not really. I remember doing that. Of course I was sixteen at the time, not an adult.”
“What do you mean?”
“Come on Samuel, when you were a teenager you never stole some of your parent’s booze and stashed it in the bushes, so you could get it when you went out later?”
“I never drank when I was a teenager,” Samuel said seriously.
“Of course not. What was I thinking?” Clarence muttered.
• • • •
“You want to play when they’re done? It actually looks like fun,” Cheryl asked Adam as she stood with him by the wine table, her arm looped around his. They watched the small group play croquet.
“It sure looks like the set from the attic,” Adam mumbled.
“You mean the attic here?” Cheryl glanced up to the attic window.
“Yeah. There was an old set up there. Looks just like this one…but it can’t be the same one.”
“I saw Lily bring it down from the attic. Why do you say it can’t be the same one?”
“Because the other one...nevermind.” Adam shook his head. While Cheryl might claim to have issues with her cousin, he didn’t want her to say anything that might get back to Danielle. For example, he didn’t want to confirm the fact he knew about the special croquet set in the attic, the one that had been fitted with some sort of remote control device. That was the only explanation he could find for how the balls and mallets hurled across the attic when he and Bill broke in. He knew they didn’t fly across the room on their own. He couldn’t believe Danielle would use that set for her open house.
“Nice to see you again,” Samuel Hayman greeted Cheryl as he walked up to the pair, carrying his now empty can of beer. “Adam, how you doing?”
“Sam.” Adam gave him a nod. “So you two already met?”
“Yes, we met yesterday when I stopped in his store,” Cheryl explained.
“I expected Bill to be here. I understood he fixed the window after the break in.” Samuel tossed his empty can in the nearby trash bin.
“Who told you that?” Adam frowned.
“What break in?” Cheryl asked.
“Your grandmother mentioned it.” Samuel looked from Adam to Cheryl. “Marlow House was broken into about a week after your cousin arrived. Someone broke the library window. But apparently they didn’t take anything.”
“Was that before the necklace was found?” Cheryl asked.
“Yes,” Samuel said.
“They must have been looking for the necklace! Who is this Bill?”
“He does some handyman work for me,” Adam explained. “He had some other plans for today, and he’s already seen the house, no reason to stop by again.”
“I guess.” Samuel shrugged. “Never considered whoever broke in was looking for the necklace.”
“I doubt they were,” Adam said. “Just some kids screwing around.”
“Are you staying long?” Samuel asked Cheryl.
“I’m not sure. I need to get this inheritance thing straightened out with my cousin. I’m afraid this open house was a little too much for her. She’s never been quite right since her husband was killed.”
“I thought you told me you hadn’t seen her for years?” Adam asked.
“Well no, but I do try to keep an eye on her. After all, I am the only one she has left.” Cheryl smiled sweetly.
“Have you tried the necklace on yet?” Samuel asked.
“No. I’m afraid Dani has been very selfish with it.” Cheryl leaned toward Sam, pointed to her bruised cheek and whispered, “She even hit me over it!”
“I’m sure it was an accident,” Adam said.
“You weren’t here!” Cheryl flashed Adam an angry scowl and released hold of his arm.
“So she really did hit you,” Samuel said.
“Yes. I just wanted to take a closer look, and she knocked me to the floor! Just like that!”
“Oh Cheryl, I don’t think…”
“You keep saying that, Adam! I’m beginning to think you do have feelings for my cousin. You weren’t there! But they all saw it—Ian, that housekeeper, and the cop guy who is supposedly here to guard the necklace.”
“Joe saw her hit you? What did he do?” Samuel asked.
“He didn’t do anything. Claimed he didn’t see exactly what happened. But he saw me on the floor. Saw my bruised face.”
“I’m really sorry.” Samuel shook his head. “She seemed so nice.”
“You want to see where she found the necklace?” Cheryl asked.
“I heard it was in the attic, but I haven’t been up there yet,” Samuel said.
“Come, I’ll show you.” Cheryl started to walk toward the house with Samuel, but paused when she realized Adam hadn’t moved. She looked back at him. “You coming?” she asked impatiently.
Adam let out a sigh and reluctantly followed the pair. They entered the house through the kitchen door and found Lily and Danielle inside talking to Joanne. The moment Cheryl spied Danielle, she immediately latched onto Adam’s arm again, holding it possessively.
Polite hellos were exchanged as Cheryl and the two men made their way to the door leading to the hallway. Just as they reached the door, Cheryl glanced back toward Danielle, who was watching her and Adam. Impulsively, Cheryl leaned toward Adam and kissed his cheek.
“What was that for?” Adam asked when they stepped into the hall.
“I just wanted you to know how much I’m looking forward to tonight—just you and me—alone,” Cheryl whispered.
When they reached the second floor, Samuel paused and said, “I haven’t been up here yet.”
“Not much to see, just a bunch of bedrooms,” Cheryl shrugged. When she noticed the door to her room open she frowned. “What the heck?” She marched to the doorway and looked inside.
“What’s wrong?” Adam asked as he and Samuel walked to the doorway of the Red Room and looked inside.
“This is my room. I had the door closed with a note, expressly stating for no one to go inside. How dare they! Is a little privacy too much to ask?” Cheryl looked at the back of the door and saw the note had been removed.
“This is a nice room.” Samuel said, looking inside. “I understood all the rooms were going to be open for viewing.”
“I wonder what she did with my stuff? Darn Dani. She makes me so mad!” Cheryl stomped her foot and then took a deep breath and calmed down. “Go ahead and look at the other rooms on this floor. I’m going to the bathroom, then we can go to the attic and I’ll show you where she found the necklace.” Cheryl headed to the nearby bathroom.
“She and her cousin certainly don’t seem to get along,” Samuel commented a
fter Cheryl shut the bathroom door.
“That’s an understatement,” Adam chuckled.
“So what’s the deal Adam, you dating her?”
“We just met yesterday, but yeah I suppose we’re dating.”
Hasty footsteps were heard coming up the wood stairs. Both men looked toward the landing. It was Clarence Renton coming up from the first floor.
“Samuel, Adam,” Clarence greeted. Then he chuckled and said, “Damn, you two together make a beer.”
Both men laughed and then Adam said, “I would have thought you’d already been through the house.”
“Yes. I was coming up here to use one of the bathrooms. The one downstairs is occupied. You two touring the house?” Clarence asked.
“We’re waiting for Cheryl,” Samuel explained, nodding toward the closed door of the nearby bathroom. “She’s going to show us where Danielle found the necklace in the attic.”
“I noticed you two seemed pretty chummy already,” Clarence told Adam.
“What can I say, I’m irresistible,” Adam laughed.
“So are you two going down to the fireworks later?” Samuel asked.
“Nah. I’m thinking something a little more private.” Adam grinned. “Wine, nice little bungalow overlooking the ocean.”
“Your house is a couple blocks from the beach,” Samuel said.
“Who says I’m taking her to my house?” Adam chuckled.
“If you get down by the beach, you’ll see the fireworks anyway,” Clarence reminded.
“Can’t see much from the south side,” Adam said.
“I was thinking about going when I leave here. What about you Samuel?” Clarence asked.
“I don’t think so. I’m not really one for fireworks,” Samuel said.
Chapter Nineteen
Guests continued to come and go, and according to the clock in the library it was a few minutes past 5 p.m. Danielle suspected that by nightfall she could safely say a majority of Frederickport residents had toured Marlow House. At least, it seemed that way.
According to the invitations she’d sent out, the open house ended at dusk. She suspected that by that time most people would be gone anyway, off to watch the firework show or to get together with their own families for a Fourth of July barbecue.
Many of the guests only stopped by for a short time, to get a look at the Missing Thorndike, have a quick tour of the house and grab something to eat. But a few lingered, reluctant to leave.
In the library, Marie Nichols and Emma Jackson sat across from each other in the leather chairs, reminiscing about the early days of Frederickport as other guests leisurely moved in and out of the room while touring the house. Ian and Joe stood together at the library doorway chatting, while Ian watched the front door for new arrivals and Joe kept an eye on Danielle, who stood on the far side of the library with Lily.
“So that is little Marie,” Walt said as he appeared, standing next to Danielle.
“Where have you been for the last hour?” Danielle asked.
Lily frowned and sniffed the air, then announced in a whisper, “Walt’s here. Hello Walt.”
“I’ve been around. I can’t tell if she looks like her mother or father.” Walt eyed Marie. “The last time I saw them they were both much younger than she is now.”
Samuel Hayman entered the library and after exchanging a few words with Ian and Joe, walked directly over to Marie. He placed a hand on her shoulder and then leaned down and whispered something into her ear. Marie laughed gaily. She reached up and patted his hand and then said something to Emma. From where Danielle, Lily and Walt stood, they couldn’t hear what the three were discussing, but it looked as if Marie had just introduced Samuel to Emma.
“I thought Samuel had left,” Lily murmured.
“Why did you think that?” Danielle asked.
“When I took some trash out a while ago, I saw him drive off in his car. Guess he decided to come back.”
“That has to be Jacob Hayman’s grandson. Looks just like him,” Walt said.
“If that’s the person who started the local jewelry store, yes.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Lily asked in a whisper.
“The man who owns the jewelry store.” Danielle nodded toward Samuel. “The one who appraised the necklace for us.”
“Wait a minute,” Walt said, looking curiously from Danielle to Samuel. “Are you telling me the jeweler who appraised the necklace for you is Jacob Hayman’s grandson?”
“I don’t know about that,” Danielle shrugged. “You just said that has to be Jacob Hayman’s grandson. I know that Samuel’s grandfather founded the jewelry store he owns. So if your Jacob Hayman was the one who started the jewelry store, then yeah, that’s his grandson.”
“I hate this,” Lily grumbled, annoyed that she could only hear Danielle’s side of the conversation.
“I remember when Jacob opened the store. It was a couple of years before…well, before my untimely death. I always thought it was a strange coincidence he decided to open a store here.”
“What do you mean?” Danielle asked.
“Jacob owned a jewelry store in Portland before opening one in Frederickport. From what I recall, he closed it down a few years before he opened one here. As for the coincidence I’m referring to: his Portland shop is where Eva had the necklace appraised. He’s the one who told her the diamonds and emeralds were fake.”
“Seriously?” Danielle looked over to Samuel who chatted with Marie, unaware he was the subject of their conversation. “Was Jacob the one who gave the appraisal?”
“His signature was on the document,” Walt said.
“What? Come on, you have to tell me what he said!” Lily whined.
“The jeweler who told Eva Thorndike the diamonds and emeralds were fake was Samuel’s grandfather,” Danielle whispered to Lily. “Samuel’s grandfather used to own a store in Portland. That’s where Eva took the necklace when she suspected the stones had been switched.”
“But why, why did he lie?” Lily asked.
“Tell Lily I wonder about that too. It really makes no sense. What did he have to gain telling her they were fake?”
“Maybe he hoped she’d leave the necklace with him, and then he could take out the real diamonds and emeralds and put fake ones in,” Danielle suggested.
“I always knew Jacob to be an honest man. I can’t see him doing something like that. Eva never mentioned anything about him wanting her to leave the necklace with him.”
“He wonders about that too. Says he thought Jacob was an honest man,” Danielle said.
“Didn’t Samuel mention that his grandfather opened up his shop in Frederickport after the Thorndike went missing?” Lily asked.
“Tell Lily he did. From what I remember, it was at least five years after Eva’s death. I had no idea his store was still open—or that his grandson owned it now.”
“Walt said he didn’t open the store here until after Eva’s death,” Danielle said.
“How funny is that? The grandfather says the stones are fake—and the grandson insists they’re real. Damn, what happens if the grandfather was right and the grandson is wrong?”
“It might get Cheryl out of my hair,” Danielle chuckled. “Although, I wouldn’t hold my breath. If you’ll recall, the insurance company insisted on having their own appraiser look at the necklace before they would insure it. These damn stones are real.”
“Where is your cousin, by the way? I’ve barely seen her?” Lily asked.
“I haven’t seen her or Adam for a couple hours. I’m actually surprised she hasn’t started bugging me again about trying on the necklace.”
“Are you going to let her?” Lily asked.
“Yes. I really don’t care if she tries it on. But knowing her, I was afraid she’d refuse to take it off and I didn’t want to wrestle her to the ground in front of my guests to get it back.”
“If you ladies will excuse me,” Walt said as he moved toward Marie, Emma and
Samuel.
“Walt just left us,” Danielle explained. “I think he’s eavesdropping on Marie’s little group. I guess I better get back to mingling.”
“Me too. I’ll go check on Joanne,” Lily said.
• • • •
Danielle found Mr. Renton chatting with a small group in the parlor. She hadn’t had an opportunity to have a real discussion with the attorney beyond the initial greeting when he had first arrived for the open house.
Stepping away from the small group, Mr. Renton walked to Danielle. “I’d say your party is a success.”
“I’m delighted with the turn out.” Danielle stood alone with Clarence in one corner of the room, while the other people continued their discussion.
“And that necklace looks beautiful on you, everyone is talking about it.”
By reflex, Danielle’s right hand lifted to her throat and lightly touched the necklace.
“I keep checking to make sure it hasn’t fallen off.”
“I met your cousin. Actually, she was playing tour guide. Showed several of us where you found the Missing Thorndike.”
“She’s convinced there are more hidden treasures in the house. What did you tell her about the estate?”
“Just that now was not the time to discuss it. She’s going to stop in my office on Monday, after the holiday weekend.”
“Have you found out anything? I mean, does she have a legitimate claim?”
“Like I told your cousin, we should discuss this later. But I still think you should contact your buyer and delay the sale of the necklace. At least until this is resolved.”
“I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to do that.” Danielle groaned.
“I think it would be for the best. Your cousin also said something that I found disturbing.”
“What was that?”
“She claims you hit her. Even showed me a bruise.”
“I did not hit her.”
“I couldn’t imagine you would. Exactly how did she get that bruise?”
“She grabbed for the necklace and tripped. I did not touch her. But she fell backwards and swears I hit her.”
“I don’t understand. If she fell backwards, how did she get a bruise on her face?”
“I…I suppose she hit herself when she fell.”
