The Ghost of Christmas Past

by Rhys Bowen

  I sat up and glanced over at Liam’s bed. He was still sleeping peacefully.

  “What on earth could a bunch of women find to talk about until after eleven?” Daniel asked, going over to the basin at the washstand to shave.

  “Plenty,” I said. “We were scheming and plotting all evening how to disrupt the workings of government in New York. We thought we might kidnap the mayor.”

  He turned back to me, a horrified look on his face. “You can’t be serious!”

  I burst out laughing. “Of course not. I’m joking. Actually we did more than talk. We ate a sumptuous buffet, we drank mulled wine, and we sang Christmas carols around the piano. It was most agreeable. And you’ll never guess who was there.”

  When he shook his head I exclaimed, “Sid and Gus! What a lovely surprise, wasn’t it? They are staying at the Briarcliff Lodge, which is that building we can see from the side window.”

  “Really?” He stared at me for a moment and I could read his thoughts, wondering if we had planned this between us.

  “They were as astonished to see me as I was them,” I replied. “I knew they were meeting a group of Vassar classmates, but they didn’t say where.”

  “I don’t think it would be wise to let them call upon you here,” Daniel said hastily. “Given the fragile state of our hostess.”

  “Of course not,” I said.

  “I wonder if she will make an appearance today? It will really be most embarrassing to be stuck here with the hostess up in her room. Cedric told me last night that sometimes she retires to her bed for days. Sinks into awful depressions. But she refuses to seek any medical help. He’s clearly quite concerned about her.”

  “I take it Cedric did not expand on why she sinks into depression?”

  “He did not.”

  “Daniel, I learned the reason last night. When I mentioned Greenbriars the other women at the party remembered what had happened here. The Van Aikens’ little girl wandered out into the snow and disappeared, ten years ago at Christmas. She was never found. No wonder her poor mother is so distraught and melancholy.”

  Daniel frowned, thinking. “So that’s why Greenbriars sounded familiar. Yes, of course. The Van Aiken child. I remember now. I was a fairly new officer at the time and we were given pamphlets with her likeness and asked to keep an eye out for her in the city. An almost impossible task given the holiday crowds swarming in the streets. But then on Christmas Eve there was a daring robbery at one of the department stores, the thieves shooting the manager dead as they made off with the Christmas takings, and we had more pressing things to think about. So the child was never found?”

  I shook my head. “I tried to pump Miss Lind as to whether there were any suspects, whether anyone might have wanted to get even with Cedric Van Aiken, but she lived far away at the time and knew no more than the papers told her. And Winnie has never wanted to talk about it. I wonder if…” I paused.

  “Molly,” Daniel said sternly. “I know you too well. You are already thinking that maybe you could look into this. You could find out what happened to the child after ten years. Stop it right now. You will only open up old wounds and bring them more grief.”

  “But they are out here in the country,” I said. “Supposing an adequate investigation was never done? Supposing a vital clue was missed?”

  Daniel was still frowning. “Molly, it has been ten years,” he said. “The likelihood of her still being alive is very slim. And if she is still alive, what kind of unspeakable abuse may she have suffered? It would be better for her parents to never know.”

  “You’re wrong.” I drew myself up and stared him in the eye. “If she could be rescued now, and there is a chance for her redemption, wouldn’t that be a good thing? And it is always better to know the truth, however bad it is.”

  “And what do you think you could do after ten years?” he asked. “The trail has gone rather cold, I’m afraid.”

  “Someone must have seen something,” I said. “Unless she was murdered here in the vicinity and her body buried, she must have passed some kind of human habitation. And we know that the grounds and area were extensively searched. And we know that the ground was frozen. A killer could not have buried her body, only hidden it in the snow. So it would have come to light when the snow melted.”

  Daniel put a calming hand on my shoulder. I suppose I was becoming quite animated. “Molly, we are guests here at Greenbriars. We can’t go out scouring the countryside for clues.”

  “You could pay a courtesy call on the local chief of police,” I said. “Ask a few questions.”

  “For one thing we don’t have a vehicle,” Daniel pointed out. “I can hardly ask Van Aiken if I can borrow his carriage or sleigh to go poking around into the disappearance of his child.”

  “Perhaps he might want you to,” I said. “Want us to. He might be suffering as much as his wife but putting on a brave face.”

  “Leave it, Molly,” he said. We turned as Liam made a little moaning noise, then sat up and looked around him in surprise.

  “It’s all right.” I swung myself down from the great bed and went over to him. “Mommy and Daddy are here.”

  He held out his arms. “Up,” he said.

  When we went down to breakfast a little later Winnie Van Aiken was sitting at the table, calmly buttering a slice of toast.

  “Oh, there you are.” She beamed at us. “Aunt Florence told me you had a splendid evening at Mrs. Catt’s house. I’m so glad. And I must apologize. I get these bad headaches and the only remedy is to lie in a darkened room until they pass.”

  “I’m so sorry,” I said. “And please don’t apologize. We are happy to see you are feeling better.”

  “Yes.” She nodded emphatically. “I’m feeling better today. I’m determined to enjoy Christmas this year.” She gestured toward the sideboard. “Do help yourselves. Cook makes the most marvelous pancakes and there is ham and bacon.”

  “Your husband is already out and about?” Daniel asked as he returned to the table with a plate piled high.

  “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him this morning,” Winnie said. “Probably not. He likes to sleep late. Lucky man. I can rarely sleep more than a few hours a night unless I take one of the sleeping powders my doctor prescribes. And then I feel in such a fog when I awake that I try to avoid them.”

  I handed a plate to Bridie, who was too shy to help herself, or in too great a fear of spilling something. She grinned gratefully and went to sit down, well away from Winnie. I sat with Liam on my lap and fed him from my plate. His mouth opened like a little sparrow.

  “And my mother is not up yet?” Daniel looked around. “That is unusual for her. She’s normally up with the sun.”

  “She took breakfast in her room this morning,” Winnie said. “I saw her little servant girl carrying up a tray. She’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she?”

  I hadn’t thought of Ivy as pretty. Maybe it was because she was at that gawky stage between child and woman, like Bridie. But I did have to concede she had interesting dark eyes.

  “And you have a companion to play with, Bridie,” Winnie addressed her, making her turn bright red. “Or are you now too old for play?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m almost thirteen,” Bridie said. “These days I like to read and knit.”

  “What do you like to read?”

  Bridie’s face was scarlet now. “Poetry. Novels. I love the books of Charles Dickens and Louisa May Alcott and Harriet Beecher Stowe … all kinds of books.”

  “Bridie has been staying with my neighbors who have a fine library,” I said, smiling at her. “And her teacher at school has also been most inspiring.”

  “We have a good library here,” Winnie said. “Do feel free to visit it and take out any book you choose. I want you to feel at ease here. Take Ivy with you. I don’t suppose she has had much access to books at the orphanage.”

  “Thank you, ma’am,” Bridie replied. “I’ll tell Ivy.”

  Winnie turned back
to us. “I thought I might take the carriage and go into Briarcliff Manor today,” she said. “There is a big farm—Briarcliff Farms, it’s called—that has dairy cattle and poultry and wonderful greenhouses. We have ordered a goose and some chickens from them and I want to pick out the goose myself. Cedric is always so particular. Also I like to visit the greenhouses and see what flowers they may be growing at this time of year. Flowers for the table would be a good idea, don’t you think?”

  “A lovely idea,” I agreed. “Would you like company? Daniel and I would be happy to come with you.”

  “Would you really? That would be splendid.” She looked pleased.

  “We don’t often get the chance to ride in a carriage,” I admitted. “Especially not such a fine one as yours.” I caught Daniel’s eye. He gave me a warning look, trying to work out where my scheming thoughts were going. “I’m sure you don’t mind looking after Liam, do you, Bridie?” I said.

  “Of course not. We’ll find Ivy and go exploring.”

  “You must ask Mrs. Van Aiken’s permission before you do any exploring,” I said.

  She flushed. “Oh, only going up and down the staircases and things. Not prying.”

  Winnie smiled at her. “You are welcome to look around. A big house like this must be fascinating to you and even more to Ivy.”

  “Oh, yes, ma’am. Ivy is completely overcome with the size of it. She says it’s like being a princess in a castle.”

  “Sometimes it feels like that,” Winnie agreed.

  “Well, you two go and find Ivy then,” I said. “When do you want to leave, Winnie?”

  “As soon as we’re finished with breakfast,” Winnie said. “I’ll send for the carriage.” She got up and went over to the window. “I think the snow is starting to melt. Easier to get into town, but it would be a shame if we don’t have a white Christmas, wouldn’t it?”

  I looked out of the window where she was standing. Indeed the sun was shining and I could see small patches of green on the lawn. There was a big expanse of grass before the trees around the edge of the estate, and yet a small child had walked across it, alone and in the dark. What child would do that willingly? I wondered. And it occurred to me that she would only do it if she were running toward someone she knew and wanted to see.

  Twelve

  After a most satisfying breakfast Daniel and I put on our coats and hats while Bridie took Liam off to find Ivy and explore upstairs. He went with her without a backward glance, holding her hand and looking up at her. I pictured the Van Aikens’ daughter holding someone’s hand as she crossed that lawn, secure in the knowledge that she was with a grown-up she trusted. Only there were no footprints beside her tiny ones. Would Liam walk alone in complete darkness across a snowy lawn? I thought not. It made no sense. I wondered if I’d have a chance to ask any questions today.

  I went over to Daniel, who was tucking in a scarf around his throat. “It wouldn’t hurt to pay your respects to the local police and find out what you can about the Van Aiken girl,” I said.

  He shook his head. “Molly, I think we have to let this lie. I know it has upset you and I know how you always want to make everything right, but it was ten years ago. If they found any vital clues, do you think they wouldn’t have acted on them then?”

  “They might not have realized they had vital clues in their possession,” I said.

  “Anyway, we are going into Briarcliff Manor, not Scarborough,” Daniel pointed out. “I doubt there is even a police station in such a small community.”

  We found Winnie waiting for us in the front hall. She was dressed in a red cape and hood trimmed with white fur, looking most jolly and festive. She gave us a pleased and excited smile. “All set then? I asked Aunt Florence if she wanted to join us, but she said she’d stay home with Captain Sullivan’s mother, since you two were keeping me company.”

  We were assisted into the carriage and off we went. The sun shone down and the snow was indeed melting on the road so that the horses’ hooves splashed up mud. Luckily we were safely inside the carriage, but it occurred to me that it would need a good cleaning when we came home. Winnie seemed quite cheerful today.

  “You’ll be amazed by Briarcliff Farms,” she said. “This Mr. Walter Law has bought up thousands of acres of land and has a huge dairy herd, chickens, and pigs, as well as vegetables and flowers. He has built houses for his workers and now quite a little township has sprung up. They are even building a community hall and a library.”

  “It’s amazing what one person can do if he has vision,” Daniel said.

  “And money,” I added.

  Winnie smiled. “Yes, the money does help. I’ve been fortunate. My father made a fortune. I’ve never had to think of money all my life.”

  “That is indeed fortunate,” I said. I opened my mouth to say more, that money doesn’t buy happiness, but shut it again before I could blurt out the words. Was Winnie happy? I didn’t think so. Cedric did not appear to be a doting husband and there were no more children. How could someone be happy cut off from the world on a remote estate with no purpose in life? But perhaps I had misjudged them. I have been known to jump to conclusions.

  “Do you also have a house in the city?” I asked. “Or do you spend the whole year out here?”

  She shook her head. “Cedric is so attached to his family home that he will live nowhere else,” she said. “We have plenty of acquaintances in the neighborhood and I have to confess I find the city rather frightening and overwhelming.” She paused. “Now that Aunt Florence has come to live with us, I shall have someone to accompany me, so perhaps it will be different. If she decides to stay, that is.…”

  “You think she might choose to go away again?” I asked.

  “I hope not,” she said, “but my father has always been against her. He sent Aunt Florence away when we were growing up, claiming her influence was bad for us. Now he can’t banish her as it is my home, not his, but he can still be unpleasant to her.”

  “Your aunt seems a strong person to me,” I said. “I would think that criticism and harsh words would slide off her like water off a duck’s back.”

  This made her laugh. “I hope so,” she said. “I do love having her here again. I don’t remember my own mother. I was only three when she died. So Aunt Florence was the only mother I ever had. I was so happy when she wrote to me and asked to come and live with us for a while. She hadn’t been well, I gather, and between ourselves, I think that she might be running low on funds. She has a small private income, but things are so expensive these days.”

  “Perhaps she just wanted the company of her family as she got older,” I said.

  “That may be true. I’m the only family she has left, now that…” She broke off, leaving the rest of the sentence unsaid. But she had meant now that she had no sister.

  Melting snow dripped from the overhanging trees onto the roof of the carriage as the narrow road went up the hill. Then we came to a small village. It was little more than a couple of shops and a few newly built homes.

  “So this is Briarcliff Manor,” I said, peeking out of the window. “I don’t suppose they have a police station here, do they? Daniel always feels it’s his duty to pay his respects to the local police chief.”

  Winnie chuckled. “Police chief? You won’t find one of those closer than White Plains. And I don’t think they even have a constable in Briarcliff. There’s a small police station in Scarborough and a bigger one in Tarrytown. But why the need to pay respects to the police?”

  “Did you not know that Daniel is a detective captain with the New York police?” I asked. “Did his mother not tell you?”

  “She did not! I had no idea. When I heard you addressed as Captain Sullivan I naturally thought former army or navy captain.” She gave a nervous little laugh. “Do forgive me.”

  “Nothing to forgive,” Daniel said. “And as it is up in the air whether I shall resume my duties with the police department or take another position, I don’t think it’s import
ant at the moment.”

  “Oh, dear. You are considering changing your place of employment? Are you not happy?”

  “The police department has gone through a difficult time of upheaval,” I said for him. “The last commissioner did not make things easy, especially for officers like Daniel who were not under the thumb of Tammany Hall.”

  “Goodness,” Winnie said. “One hears about such things, but has never experienced them personally. Poor Captain Sullivan. So what will you do next, do you think?”

  “We’ll have to see if the wind changes with the new commissioner,” Daniel said. “Otherwise I have other options, including applying for that position of chief of police in White Plains that my mother is so keen on for me. I thought it might be a good idea to get a feel for local law enforcement from the officers around here.”

  I shot him a quick glance. He was going to help me after all. Amazing!

  As we were finishing this conversation the carriage turned between wrought-iron gates with the words Briarcliff Farms fashioned into them. On either side fields stretched away, divided by neat picket fences and each stocked with cream-colored Jersey cows. There was a barn or shelter in each field, all of them looking spanking new. In front of us was the main farm building and around it henhouses, and behind it long greenhouses stretched away. A laborer came running out at the sound of the carriage, wiping his hands on his trousers before assisting us down from the carriage. He then invited us to follow him into the farm building.

  “Ah, Mrs. Van Aiken. Such an honor.” A wiry little man wearing a leather apron over his suit came toward her. “Come to select your poultry, so I understand.”

  “That’s right, Mr. Dexter. My husband wants to make sure we choose a nice plump goose this year. Last year’s was something of a disappointment. And I’d like to see what you have in the hothouses in the way of blooms for the dining table.”

  “Have we blooms at the moment? Madam, let me escort you to our greenhouse. Your eyes will be dazzled.”

  We followed him across a muddy forecourt and he opened a greenhouse door for us. The heat that greeted us was palpable. We stepped inside and he closed the door rapidly. Along the whole length of the building oil heaters were spaced at intervals, giving off a pleasant warmth, which, mingled with the rich dampness of soil and growing things, made one think one was in a much more southerly clime. The beds on either side were filled with color. White narcissi, blue hyacinths, multicolored freesias.