The Ghost and the Bride
Page 21
“Like I said, I need to talk to you alone. I have something I have to explain. If you insist on meeting at Marlow House, I would prefer to do it when no one is here, before Boatman comes back.”
“So she is coming back?”
“Certainly. She lives here.”
“I suppose that means everyone else is coming back when she does.”
“I don’t think so. But what does that matter? We’ll be done by then.”
“What do you mean you don’t think so?”
“When everyone was talking this morning, they said something about going somewhere else after dinner, but Boatman said she probably would just come back here. Why do you even care?”
“Like you keep telling me, I’ll explain everything when I get there.”
“What do you mean by that?” he asked.
“You have some things you want to get off your chest, and I have some things I want to tell you too.”
“I need to talk to you first before you say anything,” he insisted.
There was silence on the line for a moment. Finally, Felicia said, “Okay, but before I listen to a word of what you want to say to me, I want the thousand dollars. If you don’t give me that money, I’m not listening to a word you have to say. And I mean that.”
“Understood. I’ll give you the money as soon as you get here.”
“Perfect. I guess I’ll see you about five tonight.”
Thirty-Two
Eva stopped by at the Silverton Cemetery to have a chat with Ramone when she spied Felicia getting out of a parked car.
“If you’re going to talk to your boyfriend, you’ve come to the wrong place,” Eva told deaf ears, trailing alongside Felicia as the woman made her way to the same grave she had visited on her last trip to the cemetery.
“Ahh, I see you didn’t bring flowers again,” Eva said when she noticed the only thing Felicia carried was a handbag. She watched as Felicia sat down next to the grave and then opened the handbag. A moment later she pulled out a revolver.
“A gun instead of flowers?” Eva asked as she hovered over Felicia.
“I brought your gun, Tagg,” Felicia began.
“I don’t think he can use it here,” Eva smirked.
“I thought it would be fitting if I used your gun. No one knows I have it. They’ll never trace it to me. Hell, they’ll never trace it to you, since you stole it!” Felicia laughed.
Eva frowned. “Exactly what do you intend to do with that?”
“He called this morning. I’m going to Frederickport and meeting him at Marlow House at five tonight. I’m going to let him give me the money, and then I’m going to shoot the creep for what he did to you. But I’ll tell him why I’m doing it. I want yours to be the last name he hears.”
“Oh dear, it’s rather a shame you don’t see the irony in all this,” Eva said aloud. “The man you’re shooting is actually the man your revenging. Delicious. This would make a spectacular melodrama. I believe I could have played your role quite marvelously. Actually, much better than you’re doing yourself.”
“And when he’s dead, I’ll wait for Danielle Boatman to show up. According to him, she’s coming back before the rest of them. I’ll finish them both off and then put the gun in his hand. Everyone will think he killed her.”
“Ummm…there is a little flaw with your plot. Exactly who will they think killed him?”
“Of course, I’ll have to shoot him somewhere so that it looks like a suicide.”
“Ahh, a suicide. But still, won’t they know he was shot first?” Eva asked. “And what about his motive for killing her? What is his motivation? Far too many plot holes, dear.”
Felicia stood up and shoved the gun back in her purse. “I’m doing this for you, Tagg—and for my brother.” She turned and started toward her car.
As Eva watched her walk away, Ramone appeared.
“Eva! You’ve come to visit!”
With a sigh, Eva turned to Ramone. “Yes, I did, but I really can’t stay. I suppose I need to go to Frederickport and warn Danielle. I can’t let that woman shoot her.”
Ramone frowned. “But, Eva, we’re not supposed to interfere with the living.”
Eva laughed. “Ramone, when have you ever known me to follow rules?” She disappeared.
Lily stood in her bedroom, wearing her wedding gown, her right hand outstretched as her sister patiently pulled the extra-long satin glove up Lily’s arm. Lily had tried the gloves on when they had first arrived in the mail, but putting them on today while dressed in the antique gown proved too difficult. Perhaps I’m just nervous, she thought. Laura had already helped her on with the left glove.
“A lot of brides I know never covered their tats for the wedding,” Laura told Lily as she adjusted the glove. “It’s part of who they are; they proudly show them.”
“I imagine all those women chose their own tattoos,” Lily countered.
“Heavens! That horrid tattoo would ruin the outfit,” Tammy insisted. “This looks so much better. You can’t even see it.”
“Mom, you’re going to make Lily feel bad,” Laura said with a scowl.
“No, she’s not,” Lily said as she turned to look in the mirror. “It would ruin the look and just remind me of what happened whenever I looked at my wedding pictures. I don’t want any reminder of Stoddard Gusarov in my wedding pictures. Plus, I think these gloves look perfect with the gown.”
“But I thought you were okay with the tattoo now that you personalized it?” Laura asked.
“I can live with it, Laura. But today is my day—and Ian’s. And when I walk down the stairs, I don’t want him—or anyone else—seeing that damn dragon tat jumping out at them. It really does not go with this dress.” As Lily turned back to them, she stumbled.
“Be careful!” Laura admonished, dropping to her knees to adjust her sister’s hem. “You’re going to kill yourself on those heels. You better take it slow on the stairs.”
“I can’t take it too slow,” Lily said as she adjusted her skirt. “If I do, the song will end before I reach Ian.”
“I don’t know why you didn’t wear ballet slippers. That’s what I did for my wedding. I had them dyed to match my dress,” Tammy said. “I remember they were so comfortable.”
“Ian already towers over me. Anyway, I didn’t want to take up this hem and ruin the dress. With the shoes it’s perfect.”
Laura stood up and glanced back down at her sister’s feet. “Not exactly. You should have taken that hem up an inch. It’s still a little long. If you aren’t careful, you could trip.”
“Oh, I’ll be careful.” Lily looked back to the mirror. “Hey, I look pretty good, don’t I?”
“You look more than pretty good. You look gorgeous,” Laura said, now standing next to Lily, looking into the mirror with her.
“You only say that because people always think we look like twins,” Lily teased.
Laura chuckled. “Well, today you look especially gorgeous.”
“Yes, she does.” Tammy began to tear up.
After helping prepare Marlow House for the wedding, Ian and his family had returned to his house to dress for the ceremony. Ian, who was feeling especially anxious, finished dressing first and was about to step out the front door with Sadie when his mother called him back.
“Certainly you aren’t taking Sadie over there for the wedding, are you?” She scowled at the dog.
“I thought I told you Sadie is going to stand by me during the ceremony.” Actually, Ian knew he hadn’t told his mother. He knew what her reaction would be and he didn’t want her to nag him.
“A dog can’t be at a wedding!”
“Why not? Max will be there.” Ian grinned.
“Max?” She frowned.
“You know, Danielle’s cat. You’ve seen him.”
“Knowing cats, he’ll probably be in some corner, out of the way, sleeping. Sadie is a dog, and dogs bark and jump on people and get in the way. She has no business being over there during the ceremony. She ca
n stay here.”
Ian leaned to his mother and kissed her cheek. “No, Mom, Lily and I already discussed this. She wants Sadie there too. Don’t worry, we have this covered.”
To Mrs. Bartley’s annoyance, Ian and Sadie stepped out the door and headed across the street to Marlow House.
Fifteen minutes later, Ian’s family joined him at Marlow House. The men in the wedding party, already in their morning suits and matching ties, directed the seating of the incoming guests. Pamela, who was in control of the music system, played soft background music while the guests arrived. She would be in charge of changing the music for the ceremony and eventually turning on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Chief MacDonald had brought his two sons with him, Evan and Eddie Jr. They were the only children in attendance. Initially he had discussed leaving them with his sister for the day, but Lily had insisted the boys were invited—Evan held a special place in her and Ian’s heart. The young boy had practically saved their lives.
Evan was disappointed he couldn’t visit with Walt, but with all the people around, they would think he was talking to himself and then his brother would give him a hard time about it later. He and Eddy took seats in the second row, sitting next to Joe Morelli and Brian Henderson.
In the kitchen, Joanne was finishing up some last minute tasks. The wedding cake had arrived an hour earlier, which she had placed on the center of the dining room table, surrounded by glass luncheon plates, silverware and napkins. She had arranged the food on the buffet, which she would uncover after the ceremony. It wouldn’t be a formal seating—guests would be free to wander with their plates of food—to the living room, parlor, library, or outside.
Because of the constraints of the entry hall, there were just six chairs in each row. When Marie Nichols arrived with Adam and Melony, Marie was seated in the front row with the mothers of the bride and groom along with Pamela and Kent—at least the man everyone believed was Kent. In her hand Pamela held the music system’s remote control.
To Joe Morelli’s surprise, Heather Donovan took a seat in the second row, next to Evan. By Evan’s reaction to Heather, it was obvious those two considered each other buddies. He found himself frowning, wondering how the chief felt about his youngest being so obviously smitten by someone who looked like she should be hanging out at the graveyard.
Relieved not to have to sit next to his grandmother during the ceremony and be subjected to her constant barrage of hints that he should consider walking down the aisle, Adam took Melony to the back row to sit down.
Glancing around, Brian Henderson noticed all the chairs seemed to be filled. By his calculation, there were just under forty people stuffed into the entry hall of Marlow House. He wondered briefly what the fire chief would think, although he was surprised it didn’t feel more cramped. He suspected one reason was that the doors leading to the other rooms on the first floor were all open.
Ian took his place, his back to the people sitting in the chairs, and faced the staircase. Next to his side was Sadie, who sat obediently. Unbeknownst to anyone in the room, Walt had given Sadie a stern lecture the day before, telling her how she was to behave during the ceremony.
Ian took a deep breath and anxiously glanced from Sadie to the staircase. He wondered briefly if his mother had been right—was having Sadie up here with him a bad idea? Would she do something unexpected and ruin the moment for Lily?
But then he felt it. A gentle pat on the shoulder, as if to say—everything is going to be alright. He knew instantly it was Walt, his way of extending his congratulations. He also knew it meant Walt would keep an eye on Sadie. As much as he prided himself on having a well-trained dog, he understood Sadie would always listen to Walt, who really did speak her language.
Ian heard the music change and volume intensify. Everyone grew quiet. With a satisfied smile, Ian looked up the staircase, waiting for his bride.
The first couple he saw was Danielle walking with Chris. Lily hadn’t selected specific dresses for the women in her wedding party. Instead, she had asked them to each wear a solid-color, knee-length summer dress of their own choosing. Danielle’s was pink. Not a color Lily could wear, but one that suited Danielle and her complexion. Danielle—as did all the women in the wedding party—carried a small rosebud bouquet, the center cream-colored buds the same shade as Lily’s wedding gown, surrounded by red and pink roses.
Following Danielle and Chris were Cory and Kelly, with Kelly wearing a pale lavender dress. After Cory and Kelly was Laura, wearing a blue dress. Laura walked down the stairs on the arm of Ian’s father. He was glad he’d asked his father to be his best man.
When the six people who had just come down the staircase each took their places to the right and left of him, Ian heard the music change again: Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole’s rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
With his heart ready to burst, Ian looked up the staircase and watched as Lily descended the stairs, holding onto her father’s arm. She had refused to let Ian see the wedding dress until the ceremony—although he had seen it in photographs. Staring up at his bride, he couldn’t imagine she could look more perfect.
He had never seen her hair arranged up in that fashion—reminiscent of styles worn in the late 1800s, with stray tendrils around her face. Ian found her utterly feminine.
Lily and her father were about ten feet from the first-floor landing when it happened. Her foot caught on the hem of her dress and she stumbled, and for a moment it looked as if she was about to topple down the remainder of the staircase—taking her father with her.
As quickly as it happened—it corrected itself—and the bride and her father were again on steady footing. The pair stopped briefly, and Mr. Miller glanced warily to Lily, as if he wasn’t sure what had just happened.
Lily took a deep breath, gave her father a gentle nudge to keep going, and mumbled, “Thank you, Walt.”
Thirty-Three
The last wedding hosted at Marlow House—before this one—was Walt’s. Eva hadn’t been invited to that one either. Not that Walt wouldn’t have extended an invitation had she been alive at the time—which she hadn’t been. Eva hoped this marriage was more successful than Walt’s had been, yet unless she was able to warn Danielle, the wedding—or at least its aftermath—would be deadlier, considering the insane woman intended to kill two people this evening.
Peering into the living room window, she spied a dozen or so people—each holding a crystal luncheon plate piled with food—some standing, others sitting, chatting amongst each other. The doorway to the hallway was open, and she could see more people in the entry, yet she didn’t see Danielle or Walt.
Moving to the narrow window, looking into the entry hall, she peeked through its glass pane. The lace curtain obscured her view. It would be easy enough to simply step inside, but she wasn’t willing to do that quite yet. It had become something of a habit, avoiding Marlow House, avoiding seeing Walt again. Her dear friend Walt, who had stood faithfully by her side during her last days, holding her hand while she slipped away. Her dear friend Walt, who had risked his own reputation by taking the necklace—her family’s heirloom—so her parents wouldn’t discover how foolish she had been when they realized Eva’s useless husband had switched out the real gems for fakes.
Eddie Jr. and Evan trailed behind their father, who held two luncheon plates—one in each hand—as he made his way down the buffet line.
“Hasn’t anyone ever heard of paper plates?” MacDonald grumbled under his breath as he piled food on the plates for his sons.
“I want some cake,” Eddie blurted out, pointing to the wedding cake on the dining room table.
“No cake until the bride and groom cut it. You’ll just have to wait,” MacDonald told his son as he spooned fruit salad on each plate.
“They won’t mind,” Eddy insisted.
“Trust me, if we cut into that cake, they will mind.” MacDonald chuckled. “Come on, boys, I’m taking you outside to eat this.”
“Sorry, Evan, you guys are eating this outside. I don’t need you to make a mess in the house.”
Begrudgingly, Evan followed his father and older brother from the dining room to the kitchen, and out the door to the side yard, where tables and chairs had been set up that morning. MacDonald spied Brian and Joe. His two officers sat together at a table for six, each with a plate of food and beer.
“Can we sit with you?” MacDonald asked when he reached their table. He glanced at the four empty chairs. “I assume you’re saving a seat for Kelly?”
“She’s in getting more pictures taken. I don’t expect her here for a while. But sure,” Joe said. “There’s plenty of room.”
Just as MacDonald set his boys’ plates on the table, Eddy announced he had to use the bathroom.
“Fine, but when you’re done, wash your hands and get back here and eat your food.”
Eddy ran back to the house.
MacDonald then glanced at Joe and Brian. “I’ll be back in a minute; I need to get some food for myself.”
“No problem. We’ll keep an eye on Evan here.” Brian winked at the small boy.
MacDonald started to walk away and then paused a moment, looking back to Evan. “Whatever you do, do not pick up that plate. Just leave it there.”
Evan frowned at his plate, obviously confused.
Brian chuckled at the boy’s expression. “I suspect your dad doesn’t want you to break one of Danielle’s dishes.”
“Paper would have been so much easier,” MacDonald muttered as he walked back to the house.
Evan picked up one of the finger sandwiches from his plate and started to take a bite when he glanced across the yard. He noticed Danielle standing with Chris and another man he didn’t recognize. The man was crying.