The Ghost and the Bride

by Anna J. McIntyre

  “Yes,” Danielle said with a snort.

  “Well, you were…sorta,” Lily said.

  Danielle looked at Lily. “And you weren’t, saying it would be okay if he was hot?”

  Lily shrugged. “You have to admit it would be easier if he were hot. But I don’t think my cousin has had to deal with that yet, anyway. From what my mother told me, Pamela fixed up the downstairs bedroom for Kent. He’s not strong enough to deal with the stairs. That’s why I wanted to save the downstairs bedroom for them. I guess Pamela is sleeping in their room upstairs. I don’t think there have been any conjugal visits since the accident.”

  “At least he’s finally home. And I’m glad your favorite cousin will be at your wedding,” Danielle said.

  “And that wedding is getting closer and closer. I really need to settle on a dress. I’ve had friends who’ve had to order their dresses months in advance—and then there are the alterations!” Lily groaned.

  “I’ve also had friends who’ve found beautiful dresses right off the rack,” Danielle noted.

  “I know. But I really would love a vintage dress. Something from the twenties or earlier. I keep looking at eBay, searching for vintage wedding dresses. Nothing.”

  Before Danielle could respond, the doorbell rang. Lily jumped from the sofa, offering to answer the door. She returned a few minutes later with Adam Nichols by her side. Danielle was just moving a chess piece when he walked into the living room.

  “Do you always play chess by yourself?” Adam asked.

  “I was playing with her,” Lily quickly lied. To prove her point, she started to sit down on the empty chair across from Danielle, cringing slightly as she imagined that was where Walt was sitting.

  Grumbling, Walt moved from the chair and took his place by the fireplace just as Lily sat down.

  Turning in her chair to face Adam, Danielle asked, “To what do I owe this visit?”

  “It’s really none of my business, but I wanted to know, did your insurance company ever settle with Joyce over her mother’s death?”

  Danielle frowned. “Yeah. Just a few days ago. Why do you ask?”

  “According to Grandma, Agatha’s estate owes a significant amount to the funeral home. Apparently the property Joyce inherited from her mother would cover what she owes and leave her with a few thousand, but they haven’t been able to sell that property yet. I just wanted to know how desperate Joyce might be for money. But if you say your insurance company settled…”

  “Even if they hadn’t yet, I’m not sure what Agatha’s debt to the funeral home has to do with Joyce. It’s not like Joyce owes the money personally,” Danielle reminded him.

  Adam leaned back in the sofa and crossed one leg over the opposing knee. He let out a sigh. “I suppose not.”

  “What’s this about?” Lily asked.

  “Just between the three of us,” Adam began.

  “You mean four of us, and I’m not making any promises,” Walt said.

  Danielle glanced briefly at Walt and grinned.

  “Household items—just the new stuff—have been going missing from some of the rental houses. Oh, we always lose a few things each year—but the way appliances have been disappearing from the houses, I’m beginning to think our renters assume they’re door prizes.”

  “Don’t you usually bill a renter for stuff like that?” Lily asked. “What do they say?”

  Adam shook his head. “To be honest, it was never an issue before. Something like a missing wineglass usually means it was broken. A missing towel was probably taken to the beach and forgotten. I just figure it’s the cost of doing business. But this, this is different. And contrary to my crack about renters thinking they’re welcome to take the items, I don’t think they’re the ones who are doing it.”

  “And Joyce cleans those houses,” Danielle said.

  Adam nodded. “Leslie has access to those keys, but I don’t see her doing something like that.”

  “What about Bill?” Lily asked.

  “I’ve known Bill for years. I don’t see him pilfering toasters.”

  “He did break my library window,” Danielle pointed out.

  “Which he fixed,” Adam reminded her.

  “But he did break in to steal something,” Lily countered.

  Adam shrugged. “Well, if the toasters were encrusted with diamonds, then maybe I’d look at Bill.”

  “Have you tried your spy camera trick?” Danielle asked.

  “Yes. That’s how I found out Agatha could walk, if you’ll remember. But with the summer in full season, I can’t be putting cameras in houses as soon as a renter checks out, and then taking them out before a new renter moves in. No time for that. And can you imagine the grief I’d get if some renter found a camera I forgot about in a rental?” Adam cringed.

  “That would be pretty pervy…even for you,” Danielle teased.

  “The insurance settlement wasn’t huge, but if Joyce was the one stealing, I’d think she’d stop now. Why risk it? And if it does stop, I guess you’ll have your answer,” Lily said.

  “I know Joyce walked out of that bank with my coins, but I don’t see her stealing appliances from her boss. Certainly she’d have to know you’d eventually notice. And how does she get rid of them? Is there some appliance black market in Frederickport?” Danielle asked.

  “There’s eBay,” Lily suggested.

  Both Danielle and Adam turned to Lily.

  “eBay?” Danielle said. “Don’t her sons have an eBay business? That would be the place to make money on used household items.”

  “New,” Adam corrected. “Most of the items went missing before they were used.”

  “Maybe you should talk to the chief about it,” Danielle suggested.

  Adam shook his head. “I’d rather try to figure this out on my own. Joyce has always been such a good employee—at least I thought she was. I never started to doubt her until she confessed to taking your coins. But even then…well…I could understand why she took them.”

  “I imagine you could,” Danielle muttered under her breath.

  “Considering what I overheard her sons saying to their dead grandmother’s body, you might want to take a closer look at the woman’s sons. Especially since you say they have the means to dispose of the stolen property,” Walt suggested, knowing only Danielle could hear him.

  Danielle glanced over at Walt, considering his words a moment. She turned to Adam. “Maybe it wasn’t Joyce. Maybe it was one of her sons. My bet would be the younger one. He’s had his brushes with the law, and we know he makes a living off eBay. How difficult would it be for him to lift keys from his mother, make copies, and return the keys, without her ever knowing?” Danielle suggested.

  “You have a point, Dani. All you really need to do is check out his eBay account and see if any of the missing items are included in his past or current inventory.”

  “Good idea, Lily, but eBay accounts normally use anonymous user names. I don’t think they’re listed by region or the person’s name,” Adam said. “So it’s not like we can pull up either one of Joyce’s sons’ eBay accounts. Or even check to see if she has one.”

  “If you have a list of the missing items, we could search eBay and see who’s selling them,” Lily suggested. “Think about it. If you have ten missing items, and one eBay user is selling—or has listed—all ten of the items, then we probably have your thief.”

  “That would take forever.” Adam groaned.

  “Or you could just ask the chief,” Danielle suggested.

  Adam frowned at Danielle. “The chief?”

  “Remember when Shane was arrested, the police searched his computer. I’m not sure exactly what they found on his computer that compelled them to arrest him for Agatha’s murder, but I know they found out about the blog he was writing on Marlow House. Maybe they also found his eBay user name.”

  “Even if they did, I doubt they’ll tell us,” Adam said.

  “I imagine they won’t, but if you go down to
the station and tell the chief what you just told us, I bet he’ll be happy to check the eBay account for your stolen merchandise. After all, it is his job,” Danielle told him.

  Adam let out a weary sigh and stood up. “I suppose you’re right.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ll stop by the station in the morning. Thanks for your help. I guess I’ll see you at Grandma’s Saturday night?”

  “Looking forward to it. Is Melony going to be there?” Danielle asked.

  “Yes, but I really wish I hadn’t asked her.” Adam groaned.

  “Why do you say that?” Lily asked.

  Adam glared at Lily. “Well, it’s your fault.”

  Lily frowned. “My fault?”

  “You and Ian getting married. All this wedding talk,” Adam grumbled.

  Danielle laughed.

  Three

  The next morning Adam stopped by his Frederickport Vacation Property offices before going to the police station. He wanted to pick up the inventory list of recent missing items from his rental properties. Before leaving for the station, he phoned Chief MacDonald to see if he could schedule an appointment.

  “I hope you don’t mind me bringing this directly to you,” Adam said after being welcomed in the chief’s office. He took a seat facing the desk. “But I really would prefer not to make a formal report right now, and Danielle thought you might be able to help me.”

  MacDonald, who had stood briefly to shake Adam’s hand, sat back down, resting his elbows on the desktop. He leaned forward. “Danielle phoned me this morning, said you might be coming in and why. After you called, I looked up Shane’s eBay account. Did you bring a list of the missing items? I assume that’s why you wanted to see me.”

  “Yes, it is.” Adam stood and handed the chief the manila file he had been holding. The chief accepted it and opened it briefly, glancing through the documents inside.

  Setting the file on his desk, he waved Adam closer to the computer monitor. “Maybe it would be easier if you scrolled through Shane’s eBay account. I’m not sure exactly how you can find something he’s listed and already sold.”

  As Adam approached the desk, MacDonald stood up and offered him his desk chair in front of the computer.

  Adam accepted the seat and said, “I’m pretty sure I can do that by checking out the items on his feedback page. There might be another way…let me see.”

  MacDonald stood beside his desk. He looked down and watched as Adam scrolled through Shane’s eBay seller’s account.

  “Damn,” Adam muttered.

  The chief leaned closer. “Did you find something?”

  “You mean all those toasters, coffee pots, beach towels, wineglasses, and other missing items? Yes. And something that proves it’s no coincidence that he’s been selling the exact same items I’m missing.”

  MacDonald narrowed his eyes and studied the monitor. On the screen was a primitive hand-carved sign with the slogan “Life’s a Beach.”

  Adam pointed to it. “See this sign he’s selling. He took it from one of my properties.”

  “Are you sure? I’ve seen that slogan on a lot of signs.”

  “It’s not the slogan that’s unique, it’s the sign. Bill Jones made it. See that shell-like burn carving in the right-hand corner? If you look closer, you can see…” Adam enlarged the photo and pointed to an oblong shape with a pointy end in the center of the shell. “Bill set the wood burner down to grab a beer, and ended up leaving that burn mark. He turned it into a shell to masque the mark.”

  “I didn’t know Jones did wood burnings.”

  Adam shrugged. “Bill’s always liked to make things with his hands.”

  The chief stood up straight again. “What else can you confirm?”

  “I can count at least a dozen of his items that are on my list. I have receipts for them in that folder to prove they existed. And I imagine I can get Bill to sign a statement that he made the sign Shane is trying to sell.”

  Adam looked at the eBay product page and chuckled. “Damn, the bid is already up to fifty bucks. Not sure if I should tell Bill or not. He might stop doing my repairs and focus his time on sign making.”

  It had been over a month since Agatha Pine’s untimely death—a tragic fall down Marlow House’s attic stairs, during the annual July Fourth open house. Chief MacDonald hadn’t seen Agatha’s youngest grandson, Shane Pruitt, since his release after his brief arrest for Agatha’s murder. Since that time, everyone had come to accept the general consensus that it hadn’t been murder after all, simply a tragic accident.

  Chief MacDonald stood with Officer Brian Henderson in the office adjacent to the interrogation room, peering through the two-way mirror. Sergeant Joe Morelli had just deposited Shane in the interrogation room, leaving the young man there alone at the table, waiting for the chief.

  “What the hell happened to him?” the chief asked Joe when he joined him and Brian in the small office.

  Shaking his head, Joe approached MacDonald and Brian. “Looks like he hasn’t slept for days.”

  “Or combed his hair,” Brian added, still looking through the window.

  MacDonald continued to study Shane, who fidgeted nervously at the table. Instead of looking up to the two-way mirror, which was common for many who were brought to the room, Shane focused his attention on his hands folded on the table before him.

  Now standing next to the chief and Brian, Joe stared through the window at Shane. “At first I wondered if he was on crack. The kid is eighteen and he looks like a well-used forty-something.”

  Brian shook his head. “Doesn’t look like crack. No noticeable abrasions, but he’s obviously lost at least twenty pounds. He’s pasty, and it looks like he’s been rubbing charcoal under his eyes.”

  “Something’s obviously going on. I wonder what his mother thinks,” Joe muttered.

  “One thing I’m pretty sure of, he’s back to breaking and entering,” the chief said before turning from the window and heading for the door.

  Shane looked up to the chief when he walked into the interrogation room. Quickly moving his hands from the table, Shane awkwardly folded his arms in front of his chest and scooted back into the chair.

  Closing the door behind him, the chief walked to Shane and tossed a file on the table in front of the young man. The contents of the file slipped out, one being a printout of the eBay ad of Bill’s wooden sign.

  “I see you’ve been expanding your eBay inventory at Adam Nichol’s expense. Does your mother have any idea what you’ve been up to?”

  Staring at the incriminating printouts, Shane shook his head and mumbled, “She doesn’t know anything about it.”

  MacDonald took a seat across from Shane and studied him. “So you admit to stealing from Adam Nichols’s rental properties?”

  Still staring blankly at the pages before him, Shane said, “I had to. I needed the money. Mom refused to help me, and I have to get away from here.”

  “You’re saying you stole from Adam because you want to move?” MacDonald asked incredulously.

  Jerking his head up, Shane looked at the chief through wild eyes. “You don’t understand. She won’t leave me alone! You have to help me! I can’t take it anymore!” With a sob, Shane collapsed on the table, his face pillowed in his arms, as his sobs intensified.

  Stunned by Shane’s abrupt and unexpected outburst, MacDonald could only stare. When the cries eventually subsided, Shane lifted his tearstained face and looked pleadingly into the chief’s face.

  “Please, you have to help me. Make her stop,” Shane whispered.

  “Make who stop?” MacDonald asked.

  Blinking his eyes to clear the tears, Shane continued to stare up into the chief’s face. “My grandmother.”

  MacDonald frowned. “Your grandmother?”

  “Maybe if you arrest me for her murder, she’ll leave me alone. Maybe that’s why she’s doing this. I’d rather go to jail than keep seeing her.”

  “What do you mean your grandmother’s murder? You told me y
ou had nothing to do with her fall.”

  “I lied.” Lifting one arm, Shane brushed away his tears with one sleeve of his shirt. “I killed her. It wasn’t planned. Not saying I hadn’t thought about it before. But that day, when I found her coming up the stairs and she was all alone, something in me just snapped. I thought how everyone’s life would be better if that old woman would just hurry up and die. So I pushed her.”

  “You’re saying—you pushed your grandmother to her death?” MacDonald stammered. He had come prepared to arrest Shane for theft and breaking and entering—this, he hadn’t expected.

  Shane shook his head frantically. “She won’t leave me alone. Every night she comes to my dreams. Makes me relive that day—over and over again. And even when I’m awake, she refuses to leave me alone. If I look in a window—in a mirror—even in the water—she’s there, looking up at me, taunting me. I can’t do this anymore. Please, make her stop!”

  Four

  When Chief MacDonald stopped by Marlow House later that afternoon, he found Danielle in the basement, sorting through boxes.

  “Lily told me I could find you down here,” the chief said when he stepped onto the basement’s cement floor. Briefly glancing around the dark room, he surveyed the area. The only light came from a socketed lightbulb hanging overhead. Random pieces of broken furniture littered the basement’s perimeter. Cool and damp, he thought it smelled musty—and perhaps a little moldy.

  Turning from where she stood at the far end of the room, Danielle flashed him a smile. On the wall behind her was metal shelving filled with random-shaped cardboard and wooden boxes. From the top shelf, a box seemingly floated outward of its own accord, making its way to the center of the room, landing next to several other boxes that had recently been placed there.

  Eyeing the floating box, MacDonald smiled. “I see you have help. Afternoon, Walt.”

  Wiping the dust from her hands onto the sides of her denims, Danielle walked toward the chief. “Walt says hello to you too. So what’s up?”