Aunt Bessie Observes (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 15)

by Diana Xarissa

  “What about a smuggling theme?” she asked Agnes.

  Agnes looked up from the pile of papers she was going through and grinned. “It could be fun,” she said. “What we need are a bunch of wooden crates. Let me ring my sister and see what she can do.”

  Bessie left her to ring her sister and returned to the storage room. Janet was just about finished with the boxes. Once that was done, she pulled out her drawing of the room where the party was going to be held and began to add and modify various items on the sketch.

  “My sister is going to have fifty wooden crates delivered to the House of Mannanan tomorrow morning,” Agnes said from the doorway a moment later. “Will that be enough?”

  “That would be wonderful,” Janet said happily. “I didn’t think we’d be able to get anywhere near that many. We can use them to display the auction items as well as for decorating the room.”

  “My sister and her husband bought a property that included a large barn a few years ago,” Agnes told her. “The barn was just about full of old shipping crates. The previous owner had been in the import and export business and he’d simply stacked up the crates in the barn so that he had them available when he needed them.”

  “It sounds like he did more import than export,” Joan remarked.

  “My sister reckons there are still several hundred in the barn, although they’ve managed to sell some to one of the local furniture shops. The shop has been turning them into unique bookcases and interesting coffee tables, but they only buy a few each year. My big problem now will be getting my sister to take them all back when we’re done with them.”

  “Smuggling it is,” Janet said. “We’ll have to put all of the bottles behind the bar into crates. Maybe we can create some sort of import and export paperwork that looks official to put across the top of the bar.”

  “I can ring Marjorie and ask her if she can make copies of some of the actual import and export paperwork from the day,” Bessie suggested.

  “That would be brilliant,” Janet said.

  “I think I need to get home so I can start ringing people,” Bessie told her. “I’ve quite a long list of people I need to speak with and no time to waste.”

  “How are we going to get all of these boxes to Ramsey?” Joan asked, gesturing towards the pile of boxes that Janet had selected.

  “One of our volunteers has a van,” Agnes told her. “I’ll ring him. I’m sure he’ll be able to get them all out there either later today or early tomorrow morning.”

  “I’ll probably want to start working on decorating tomorrow afternoon, then,” Janet said. “That way, if we find we’re missing anything, we’ll still have a little bit of time to find whatever it is.”

  “I’ll meet you at the House of Mannanan at half one,” Agnes said. “And I’ll make sure that your boxes of decorations and your crates are there by that time as well.”

  “Perfect,” Janet said happily.

  “If you two want to go and do some more sightseeing, I can get a taxi home,” Bessie offered as she and the Markham sisters walked back to the sisters’ car.

  “I think I’m ready for a cuppa and rest,” Janet said. “It’s been a very odd day and tomorrow seems as if it’s going to be awfully busy.”

  “You aren’t getting much of a holiday out of your visit,” Bessie said.

  “But it’s good to be useful,” Joan replied. “Maybe we could do some sightseeing tomorrow morning, before we start decorating?”

  “Yes, let’s,” Janet agreed.

  “You two think about where you’d like to go,” Bessie suggested. “We can talk about it over dinner. What do you want to do for dinner?”

  “As we’re going back to the cottage now, I’ll have time to cook,” Joan said. “What if I roast the chicken that you bought for us? I’ll do some mash and veggies with it and a Victoria sponge for pudding.”

  “That sounds wonderful, but a lot of bother,” Bessie said. “Are you sure you want to go to all the trouble?”

  “I love to cook,” Joan insisted. “And that’s what sounds good to me. I know I have everything I need to make it, as well, thanks to you doing all the shopping for us.”

  “I didn’t mind in the slightest,” Bessie replied.

  Joan pulled the car into the small parking area next to Bessie’s cottage. “I’ll let you out here and then move over to the car park for the holiday cottages,” Joan said.

  “You can leave the car here, if you want,” Bessie told her. “I’m sure it’s closer to your cottage than the car park, and I don’t need the space.”

  “Are you sure?” Janet asked. “What if everyone from the cottages sees our car and then decides to start parking here?”

  “Then I’ll ring Thomas and tell him to make everyone move,” Bessie replied. “But I don’t think it will be a problem.”

  Janet and Joan headed back to their cottage while Bessie let herself into Treoghe Bwaane. She put the kettle on before she picked up the phone.

  “Marjorie? It’s Bessie. I need a favour,” she began. Once she’d explained what she needed, Marjorie was happy to help.

  “I have a student assistant from the college here this week,” she said. “This is the perfect sort of project for her. She’ll love having an excuse to go through all of the old records and make copies of anything interesting. I’ll have her work on it for the rest of today and tomorrow morning and then have her deliver whatever she finds to the House of Mannanan by midday tomorrow.”

  “Thank you so much,” Bessie said. “I was worried you wouldn’t have time because of the conference.”

  “I don’t have time,” Marjorie laughed. “But Kristy does.”

  Bessie made herself a cup of tea and put a few biscuits on a plate before she sat back down next to the phone. She thought about some of her favourite restaurants, wondering which ones she might ask to help on such short notice. Catering for two hundred people was a huge job and one that took a great deal of planning. There probably weren’t many places that would be able to accommodate her. An idea popped into her head. It probably wouldn’t work, but it was worth a try.

  Mentally crossing her fingers, Bessie rang Anne Caine’s cottage.

  “Hello?”

  The young male voice that Bessie heard gave her hope. “Andy?” she asked.

  “Bessie? Is that you? I was going to try to find time to see you while I’m home,” the man replied. “I’m actually home now until September, so I suppose I have no excuse for not finding time.”

  Bessie laughed. “I wasn’t sure when, or even if, culinary school took breaks,” she said.

  “I could have stayed and done classes all summer,” the man told her. “But I missed Mum and the island, so I thought I would come back and spend some time working before I go back to finish the course.”

  “Do you have a job lined up?”

  “Not yet. If I’m honest, I haven’t really been looking very hard,” the man laughed. “I don’t actually need to work, you know, and I’ve only been home for a few days. I’ve been taking it easy and trying to get Mum to let me spoil her with shopping trips and nice meals, but she isn’t really keen.”

  Bessie grinned. Anne was a hard-working and frugal woman. She’d worked two jobs for many years while bringing up Andy and also supporting a husband who preferred spending his time at the pub to finding work himself. The couple had finally separated just over a year ago. Not long after that, Andy had discovered that he was heir to his father’s estate. Anne had kept the identity of Andy’s father a secret from everyone for many years, but those that knew Anne and Andy well had been delighted with their unexpected good fortune.

  While there had been some legal issues and debts to clear up, Andy had been left with enough money to fulfill his dream of attending culinary school, and would have the money to one day open his own restaurant. Bessie knew that the young man had tried to persuade his mother to move into a larger and more modern home, but Anne loved the tiny cottage that she had been born in and w
ouldn’t even consider moving. Clearly, she didn’t want her son spending money on her for much else, either.

  “If you aren’t busy, then maybe you’ll be able to do me an enormous favour,” Bessie said.

  “Anything for you,” he replied quickly. Andy had been a frequent visitor at Bessie’s cottage during his teen years. He and the man he’d always thought was his father had had a very difficult relationship. Because she was the only breadwinner, Anne was rarely home to intervene in the arguments. Andy found Bessie’s cottage a good deal more welcoming than home, and it was under Bessie’s careful tutelage that he’d first learned to cook.

  “You may not feel that way when I tell you what I need,” Bessie warned him. “How would you like to cater a charity event for two hundred people on Thursday?”

  “Thursday? You don’t mean this Thursday, of course. When is it, exactly?”

  “This Thursday,” Bessie replied.

  Andy didn’t reply. After a moment, Bessie sighed. “I told you it was a huge favour,” she said. “I don’t know if anyone is going to be able to manage it.”

  “Does this have anything to do with the dead body you found?” Andy asked.

  “I didn’t find him, but it does, at least indirectly. The man who died was meant to be sorting out catering and drinks for the event, but he doesn’t seem to have done it.”

  “I thought the local paper said he was some sort of con man who was helping to organise the event, but planning to steal all of the money,” Andy said.

  “I believe that’s accurate.”

  “So this is for the charity auction at the House of Mannanan?”

  “Yes. All of the tickets have been sold, so they don’t want to cancel, but I don’t know what we’re going to do for food.”

  “It isn’t a sit-down dinner, is it?”

  “No, just finger foods,” Bessie told him. “Maybe I can find three or four restaurants who can each supply a couple of trays of food,” she mused. “That might solve the problem.”

  “No need,” Andy told her. “I’ll do it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “No, but I’ll do it anyway,” Andy laughed. “I’ll ring a few friends from school and offer to fly them over if they can help. The House of Mannanan has kitchen facilities, I’m sure of that. I’ll do trays of hot food there on Thursday afternoon, but I can start cooking tomorrow. I’ll do trays of puddings as well. If the puddings are gorgeous enough, maybe no one will complain about the food.”

  “I’m sure the puddings will be fabulous,” Bessie said. They were Andy’s specialty and he had a real gift for taking old classics and giving them interesting twists.

  “I’ll need to see the kitchens at the House of Mannanan,” he said. “The sooner the better.”

  “I can ring someone and set it up for tonight if you want, or tomorrow morning. I’ll be there from around half one tomorrow, if you can wait that long.”

  “I’d rather go tonight if I can,” he told her. “I’ll be able to plan better once I’ve seen the space.”

  “I’ll ring someone and let them know you’re coming,” Bessie promised.

  “Thanks.”

  “If you can work out an approximate budget, Mary Quayle has offered to pay for the catering,” Bessie told him. “Work out what the ingredients will cost and how many staff you’ll need. I don’t know what catering staff earn these days, but whatever it is, you all should get paid double because of the short notice.”

  “I’ll pay for the food,” Andy countered. “And I’m happy to donate my time. I’m sure my friends will be as well. It will be good experience for them and I’m sure we’ll have fun. Mrs. Quayle can spend her money bidding outrageously on the auction items.”

  “I’m certain she’ll do that as well, but are you sure?”

  “I’m quite sure,” Andy said firmly. “I’m not meant to tell anyone, but Doncan was able work out a deal with Matthew Barnes that has restored even more of the Teare family estate to me. It seems that some of the estate’s property that he sold illegally, he’d actually purchased himself. Rather than face a lawsuit, he’s returned the property to the estate and the sales have been cancelled. Since he paid about a tenth of the actual value of the various properties, Doncan was happy to give him his money back, although he did deduct all of his legal fees from the money before he repaid Mr. Barnes.”

  “That is good news,” Bessie said happily. “Too bad Doncan couldn’t have that horrible man arrested, though.”

  “I had to agree not to press charges in order to get the property back,” Andy said. “But Mr. Barnes had to agree to stop working as an advocate in exchange for settlement.”

  “At least that’s something.”

  “Anyway, I now have far more money than I’ll ever be able to use,” Andy told her. “And I should be giving something back to the island. I’m more than happy to cater your charity fundraiser as a donation.”

  “That’s incredibly kind of you,” Bessie said, feeling very proud of the small part she’d played in raising the wonderful young man. “I can’t wait to see you Thursday to thank you with a big hug.”

  “I’ll look forward to that.”

  Bessie set the phone down and wiped her eyes. There’s nothing to cry about, she told herself sternly. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she dug out the list of auction donors that she’d promised to try to reach. Before she started on the list, she poured herself another cup of tea and nibbled her way through a few biscuits. Feeling refreshed, she began her next job.

  First she rang the House of Mannanan and told them to expect Andy, and then she started on her list of possible donors. An hour later, she put the phone down happily. She’d spoken to a dozen different people and every one of them had agreed to donate something for the auction. A glance at the clock showed her that it was nearly time to join the Markham sisters for dinner. Before she did that, though, she rang Agnes at home.

  “I just wanted to let you know that the catering is sorted,” she began.

  “It is? Oh, Bessie, that’s wonderful. Who is going to be doing it?”

  “My friend Andy Caine,” Bessie told her. “He’s halfway through culinary college, but I promise you he’s an excellent chef. He’s going to have some of his friends from school come over to help, if they can get here in time.”

  “Is that the young man who did puddings at La Terrazza last summer?”

  “It is.”

  “He can just do ten trays of puddings, then,” Agnes suggested. “No one would complain. His puddings are amazing.”

  Bessie laughed. “You’re absolutely right,” she said. “But he’s happy to do finger foods as well.”

  “I shall sleep better tonight,” Agnes said. “I’ve already heard from Trevor, or rather from his secretary. From the sound of it, we’ll have more than enough wine and spirits on Thursday. I’m starting to think it’s all going to come together, you know.”

  “Of course it will.”

  “I’m also starting to think that it might be our best event ever,” Agnes added. “Maybe there are advantages to leaving everything to the last minute.”

  Bessie laughed. “You may be right, actually,” she said. “I’ve spoken to everyone on my list of potential donors and they’ve all agreed to give us something for the auction.”

  “Really? That’s even more good news.”

  “For what it’s worth, none of them had been contacted by Jonathan or Nathan,” Bessie told her. “From what I can tell from the list, I would suggest that he focussed on the bigger items and ignored all of the smaller donors. He may have been planning to get around to them eventually.”

  “Except he told me last week that he’d reached out to everyone and that we couldn’t count on getting anything else,” Agnes said. “He actually suggested that we use some of the ticket sales money to buy more auction items.”

  “Did he, now?”

  “He wanted me to give him the money, and he would buy whatever he could to supplement the things
we already had.”

  “Maybe he was planning on ringing the smaller donors after you gave him the money. Then, anything else he managed to get, he could claim he’d had to pay for,” Bessie said.

  “That was my thought as well,” Agnes said. “I know I should feel sad that he’s dead, but I’m afraid I don’t.”

  “Everyone I spoke to has promised to deliver their donations to the House of Mannanan some time tomorrow,” Bessie added. “I can tell you exactly what to expect if you need that information now.”

  “I don’t,” Agnes said. “I’ll let you check what we get against what you were promised, but as they are donations, we really can’t complain, can we? I’m too tired tonight to start making up the signs for the displays. I’ll do them tomorrow night when we’ll have a more complete list.”

  “Have you heard anything from Mary or Trevor about the other donations?” Bessie asked.

  “Mary rang a short while ago. I believe only one person couldn’t help, which was better than I was expecting. Like you, no one she talked to had been contacted before today. Trevor’s secretary said that Kathryn was working on the list and that someone would ring me either tonight or tomorrow.”

  “Even if she doesn’t get anything, we’ll have enough,” Bessie said.

  “We will. While Mary was ringing around, she secured a few extra things as well, including a mystery box of books from the Douglas bookshop and several gift certificates for Douglas area restaurants.”

  “Books?” Bessie echoed. “Oh, dear.”

  Agnes laughed. “I thought that might interest you.”

  “I bought a box like that at Christmas at the Castle,” Bessie told her. “And I read every single book in the box, even the ones I didn’t think I would like.”

  “And did you like them all?”

  “No, but I didn’t hate any of them. I’ve given some of them away to friends now, but at least a handful of them have found their way onto my shelves.”

  “Well, I can’t possibly tell you what’s going to be in the box we get, but it should be here tomorrow if you want to try rubbing it all over to see if you can get a feel for what’s inside,” Agnes teased.