by J A Whiting
“Real estate?”
“Some.”
“Your father’s business skills must have been quite impressive,” Lin noted. “Is there a book written about him?”
“No. My father was a private man. He wouldn’t cooperate with anyone who wanted to write a book about him and without his cooperation, there wouldn’t be much of a book.”
“I see.” Lin suppressed a sigh, feeling stymied that she wasn’t getting much information. “Too bad. I’m sure he would make an inspirational subject.” Lin made eye contact with the older woman. “I understand that your father lived in this house until he died. This was your family home? You grew up here?”
“I did, but for middle and high school, I attended private school off-island.” Mrs. Perkins brushed at her bangs.
“What a gorgeous house to grow up in.” Lin turned her attention to the brick home. “What made you decide to move back here and leave your other house?”
Mrs. Perkins adjusted the gold bangles on her wrist. “I wanted closer proximity to town. I’ve lived out in ‘Sconset for years. It’s beautiful there, but I needed a change.” The woman started away. “I have a meeting with my financial advisor. I’ll see you later.”
Lin watched Mrs. Perkins walk down the tree-lined sidewalk and then she returned to the work of planting a row of hydrangeas along the front of the house. Her mind was working overtime trying to determine the reason why she always felt so uneasy and uncomfortable in Mrs. Perkins’s presence.
“Hi, hon.” Jeff came around the corner with a beaming smile on his face. “The front looks great. Mrs. Perkins will be very pleased.”
Lin wiped some soil from her fingers onto her jeans shorts and gave her boyfriend a hug. “Mrs. Perkins was just here. She certainly didn’t gush over my work. Mostly she was glad I’d be finished with the landscaping by the time of her event.” Lin shrugged. “I guess I should be glad that she didn’t complain about anything.”
Jeff chuckled. “If Mrs. Perkins doesn’t say anything negative, then you should take it as a compliment.”
Kurt, the project manager, walked up to the house and stopped to chat with Lin and Jeff about the progress on the Perkins mansion. “I’ll be glad when this job is done. That woman has been on my case from day one.” He slowly shook his head from side to side. “If I knew what a headache this would be, I would have declined the job.”
“You work with clients like this all the time,” Lin said. “This job has been more stressful than usual?”
“I’m ready to make a career change after this.” Kurt was only half-joking. “I’m definitely taking a week off to recuperate. I should have known this was going to be trouble the first day I came to talk to her.”
Jeff raised an eyebrow. “What happened the first day?”
Kurt ran his hand over his short black hair. “It’s the woman’s peculiarities. Mrs. Perkins is demanding and she’s a perfectionist. I work with these types of people all the time so I’m used to that. It was this woman’s oddball refusals and orders that made the job so miserable.”
“How do you mean?” Lin asked. “What happened on the first day?”
“We were going over what she wanted done.” Kurt let out an exasperated sigh. “The kitchen renovation, the lower level updates. The electrical and the plumbing had to be updated. I told her what should be done and where it should be done. She agreed that it needed updating, but she insisted that the work be completed without damaging certain existing walls. It was nonsense. It cost far more than it needed to because we had to run pipes and wires around the place like a maze. I should have taken her refusal to allow things to be done the direct way as a sign she would be illogical and unreasonable throughout the project.”
“Why couldn’t you work through some of walls?” Lin knew that Kurt owned the best construction and renovation company on the island and that he had tons of experience. “Your workers would have made the walls better than they ever were.”
“Mrs. Perkins told me that her father had an office down in the lower level and that she kept his papers and his things just the way he’d left them. She didn’t want that space disturbed. I told her that we only needed to access a portion of the walls and ceilings, but she was adamant. She told me to do it her way or she’d get someone else. I explained how unnecessarily costly it would be. The woman was almost rude to me … well actually, I will call her rude. She said I wasn’t in her league, that my concerns were petty when compared with hers, that I was small-minded and if I wanted the project then I’d better be willing to do it her way.”
“Yikes.” Lin was appalled by Mrs. Perkins’s treatment of Kurt. “Why bother with her? You have your choice of projects. Your reputation is like gold around here.”
Kurt scowled. “I should have walked. I let my ego get in the way. Believe me, I won’t let that happen again. I’ll listen to my gut.”
The conversation turned to upcoming projects, island news, and general chit-chat yet, all the while, Kurt’s words were ringing in Lin’s head.
Listen to my gut.
18
After her work day was completed, Lin went home for a quick bite and a shower and then dropped Nicky off at the bookstore to stay with Viv and Queenie while she did an errand. Driving her truck along the roads to the Miacomet beach area, Lin clutched the steering wheel eager to reach her destination.
Libby had left Lin a voice message telling her that a man whose father had been a rum runner would be willing to speak with her about his dad’s experiences and that she should go and meet him right after she finished her work.
Miacomet was located on the south side of the island and was a beautiful white sand beach with heavy surf and strong currents. Lin slowed to take the turnoff onto a sandy road that curved through small dunes and dark green brush and now and then she passed a few huge houses set on large lots. At the end of the narrow road, Lin pulled the truck to a stop in front of a cottage nestled between the sand and the dark green ground cover. The house’s shingles had weathered to a silver-gray color and red and white flowers overflowed from boxes set under each window.
When she stepped from her vehicle, an older man opened the front door and waved. “I’m Peter Van Helman.” The man had a full head of white hair and kind brown eyes. “Come in.” He led Lin through a living room full of comfortable white sofas and chairs accented with light blue and navy pillows to a covered deck at the back of the house where they sat in the shade looking out over the large stone patio to the sand dunes and the sea beyond.
“What a gorgeous place.” Lin admired the quiet, peaceful spot and listened to sea birds calling in the distance.
Mr. Van Helman had carried in a tray with a glass pitcher of home-made lemonade, a carafe of iced tea, and a plate of cookies. “My wife and I enjoy baking and cooking. We have a nice garden at the side of the house where we grow vegetables and some fruit.”
“Have you been here in Miacomet for a long time?” Lin sipped from her glass mixed with tea and lemonade.
“Forever. I built this house myself. My wife was very patient about how long it took me.” Mr. Van Helman winked. “The woman is a saint. Mary is out with a friend. I hope she returns before you leave so you can meet her.”
Lin and Mr. Van Helman shared information about their backgrounds and families and how much they loved Nantucket. “I bet you’re happy to be back on-island,” Mr. Van Helman said to Lin. “Once you’ve lived here, the place has a way of burrowing into your heart.”
Lin nodded in agreement. “I’m very happy to be home.”
“So, Libby Hartnett told me that you and your cousin have an interest in the history of the island. You’ve been reading lately about the Prohibition era?”
“We’ve been going through some old newspapers that we got from a friend. It’s a fascinating time with the rum runners and the watch-dog groups on opposite sides of the issue.”
“I’ve done some reading about the time and it’s my opinion that Prohibition was a misgui
ded idea which led to the rise in organized crime. Things would have been better off if Prohibition never happened.” The man smiled. “It’s always easy to judge with the benefit of hindsight.”
“I agree with you.” Lin nibbled a cookie. “The prohibition laws certainly contributed to a rise in crime networks.”
“Libby told you my father was a rum runner?” Mr. Van Helman’s eyes twinkled and he chuckled. “My father’s adventures give our family the hint of a dangerous edge.”
Lin smiled. “How did your father get into the rum running?”
“My dad was a great storyteller. He loved to regale my brother and me with tales of his younger days.” Mr. Van Helman’s face softened thinking fondly of his father. “I’m sure there was some elaboration to it all, but even without the exaggeration, they were interesting stories nonetheless.”
Pouring more lemonade into his glass, the man went on. “My dad was Dutch and came over to the States alone at the age of seventeen. He claimed to be older than he was. I wouldn’t have had the guts to move across the ocean to an unknown place with no friends or family, but Dad did it. He landed in Boston, made a friend, and the two of them ended up moving here to the island. Prohibition had been in force for a few years and the boys had heard that there was a lot of money to be made in smuggling alcohol.” Mr. Van Helman shook his head and gave Lin a smile. “If you’d met my father, you would never believe he would get involved in anything illegal. It must have been the foolishness of youth that made him think it was a good idea.”
“Did your father actually join up with a gang?” Lin’s eyes were wide with interest.
“He had interaction with a gang and it almost cost him his life.” Van Helman sighed. “Lucky for me and my brother that Dad escaped with his life or we wouldn’t be here.”
A serious expression showed on Lin’s face. “What happened?”
“My dad and his friend didn’t understand the workings of an organized crime ring. They were naïve and thought they could waltz onto the island and start up and run their own thing.” Van Helman shook his head. “They couldn’t do such a thing and they soon discovered that fact.”
“The organized groups on the island found out about them and threatened them?”
“Indeed they did. In fact, one group did more than threaten them. My father and his friend were “recruited” to join the team. In other words, they were forced at gunpoint to work for the group after being beaten up and told they’d be killed if they didn’t cooperate. The group was running a big smuggling operation and they had a huge deal coming up when they enlisted my dad and his friend. After the fact, my dad realized that they were being set up to take the fall should things go badly.”
“Did the deal go badly?” Lin asked.
“The weather was terrible on the night of the transaction. They were attempting the deal out on the open water to elude the authorities and the weather went from bad to worse. The storm blew in with pelting rain, huge seas. My dad was an experienced boater, he could sail, he knew the sea well. I think that’s the only way he survived that night. Three boats went out. Only one returned.”
“The other boats sank? Were the men saved?”
Van Helman shook his head. “The men were lost, some due to the storm and others in the gunfight that took place during the smuggling run. Only two bodies washed up on shore the next day. My dad’s skills helped one of the crewmembers get the boat back to port. The whole thing was a disaster.”
Lin slowly shook her head imagining the terrible event.
“The boss of the gang was on my father’s boat that night. He didn’t usually go out on the deals, but this was a big one and he wanted to show his face to the guys they were meeting. My father had warned them not to attempt the deal due to the bad weather. Impressed with dad’s boating skills during the ordeal, the boss tried to force him to remain in the group. Dad flatly refused.”
“He did?” Lin was flabbergasted to hear that Van Helman’s father stood up to the boss.
“Everyone on the run that night was nearly killed. Dad’s friend was on one of the other boats, he died that night in the gunfight and his body was never found. The gang-boss threatened to kill my father if he didn’t join the group as a permanent member. My father told the guy to go ahead and kill him because he wasn’t joining. Dad stormed away.”
Lin’s jaw dropped in surprise. “Did the boss go after him?”
“He did not. Who knows why? Dad tried to get work on the big fishing boats, but no one would hire him. Dad knew the gang-boss was behind it. It was the boss’s way of trying to ruin dad or run him off the island.”
“Your father stayed here? He didn’t leave? What did he do for work?”
“He worked on a farm for a while, saved up his money and bought his own small boat. He became a small independent fisherman.”
“Did that boss stay on the island or did he move away? Did your father ever run into that man again?”
“For the most part, the boss stayed on-island. After Prohibition, he became a legitimate businessman, tried to clean up his act, became a respectable community member and citizen.” Van Helman narrowed his eyes. “He could put on a business suit and play a role, but the guy was still a monster. He threatened the guys who had worked for him to keep them quiet about the illegal activity of the past. They were not to mention his involvement. The ones who did speak of him were discredited and people said that they were lying in order to ruin the man’s reputation. Those who persisted in spreading rumors about him, well, somehow they disappeared or met with accidents.” Van Helman shrugged a shoulder. “Some people in the world are very powerful and are best avoided.”
Lin looked out at the sand dunes and the blue ocean. Hearing about one of the rum runner’s stories from a relative made the whole thing far more real to her.
“The world is better off without that man in it.” Van Helman gave a wistful smile. “But I suppose there’s always someone ready to step into the void and take his place.”
Lin turned her head to ask Mr. Van Helman a question and she braced herself for the answer. “Can you tell me the boss’s name?”
The older man nodded. “It doesn’t matter anymore. He’s gone now and he can’t do any more damage. He used the fake name of Ronald Jones when he was running the smuggling rings, but his real name was Rowan Richards. Have you heard of him?”
Lin certainly had.
19
Lin and Viv had been sitting in the back room of the historical museum reading through old records trying to find information on William Weston when the librarian suggested that they pull up online vital records information through the state’s archives database which listed birth, marriage, and death records beginning with 1841. The girls were also pointed to a genealogical website that might be useful to them.
“That would be a lot easier than what we’ve been doing.” Viv rolled her eyes. “Who knew those records could be accessed online?”
Lin keyed Weston’s name, date range, and town of birth into the search window of the vital records database.
“Are you sure he was born on Nantucket?” Viv asked.
“No. I’m just hoping he was.” Lin hit the enter button after guessing what the date range would be. Information filled the screen and Lin pointed the cursor to an entry and clicked. “Look.”
Viv read out loud. “William John Weston was born in Nantucket Town, Nantucket, Massachusetts on January 5, 1880. Is that your ghost?”
A smile spread over Lin’s face. “I think so. It must be him. Let’s search for marriage records.”
An entry for marriage records indicated that William Weston married Yvette Rose Millard in June 1905. The girls then searched for Weston’s death record and found that he had passed away in Nantucket Town on September 5, 1928. Lin looked up and blinked after reading that the cause of death was listed as “accident.”
“Accident?” Lin repeated what she saw written on the computer screen. “What kind of accident? That’s it? N
o other information?”
“That would make him ….” Viv calculated in her head. “Forty-eight when he died?”
Lin nodded and tapped away at the computer keys. “I’m going to do a search on his daughter, Rose.” She stared at the screen. “Here’s her birth record. April 1906. It lists William and Yvette as her parents.” After more tapping, Lin announced, “There are no marriage records listed for her. No death record either.” Looking at her cousin, Lin scowled. “How can that be? How can there be no death record?”
Viv said, “There wouldn’t be a death record listed for her if she moved out of state. She may have been married and died in a state other than Massachusetts. This database is only for Massachusetts vital records.”
“Oh, right.” Lin’s shoulders sank. “Let’s take a look at the genealogical website.”
Just as Lin logged out of the vital records database, the librarian returned to alert the cousins that the museum hours were over for the day and that they were about to lock up.
Viv checked the time on her phone and realized that they had overstayed by thirty minutes. They apologized for losing track of time, thanked the librarian for her help, and left the building. The setting sun painted the sky with violet and rose streaks and as the cousins walked through town past the stores and restaurants, Lin’s phone rang.
Lin spoke to the caller. “Yes. That would be great. Yes, she’s right here with me. Thanks so much. We’ll see you soon.” Clicking off from the call, Lin turned to Viv. “That was Mr. Van Helman. His brother has some photos from his father’s early days on-island that he’d like to show us. Will you come?”
“Right now?” Viv asked.
Lin nodded.
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
The girls hurried to Viv’s house to pick up her car and, in thirty minutes, they were at Mr. Van Helman’s house in Miacomet. Two men who looked like twins stood at the front door waiting to greet the young women.
“This is my much older brother, Paul.” Mr. Van Helman smiled at his joke.
