The Haunted Past

by J A Whiting

  The Haunted Past

  A Lin Coffin Cozy Mystery Book 11

  J. A. Whiting

  Copyright 2019 J.A. Whiting

  Cover copyright 2019 Signifer Book Design

  Formatting by Signifer Book Design

  Proofreading by Donna Rich

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, or incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to locales, actual events, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from J. A. Whiting.

  To hear about new books and book sales, please sign up for my mailing list at:

  www.jawhiting.com

  Created with Vellum

  For my family with love

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Thank you for reading!

  Also by J. A. Whiting

  About the Author

  1

  Although the April air was chilly, the sun was bright in the beautiful blue sky as the tourists and townsfolk crowded Main Street to watch the Daffodil Festival’s antique car parade. More than one hundred vintage cars were decorated with daffodils, yellow and white streamers and ribbons, yellow balloons, and garlands of flowers. The huge urn in the center of the street was full to bursting with yellow flowers. The spectators joined in by wearing yellow clothes, scarves, and crazy hats festooned with daffodils, feathers, and any other yellow object someone could think to stick on a hat. One family wore bonnets with foot-tall lighthouses attached to the tops and decorated with flowers. Even the dogs wore yellow collars with daffodils on them.

  The Daffodil Festival, a celebration of spring, went on for several days with most activities clustered on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday including a tailgate picnic in Siasconset, the Daffodil 5k race, the Daffodil Flower Show, scavenger hunts, free concerts on the beach, and an open-air marketplace selling food, clothing, crafts, jewelry, and artwork. The island was bursting with yellow, white, light orange, and pale pink daffodils blooming along the bike paths, in flower boxes, in gardens, pots, and at the sides of the roads.

  Thirty-year-old Carolin “Lin” Coffin and her cousin, Viv, wore big brimmed hats. Lin co-owned a landscaping company on the island so her hat was decorated with flowers, miniature gardening tools, and yellow ribbon. Because Viv owned the bookstore café on Main Street, her hat was adorned with tiny books and plastic cakes and muffins with a yellow glittery garland wrapped all around. The young women’s boyfriends, Jeff and John, wore yellow ties and vests, yellow socks, and yellow and white checkered caps.

  Standing with the Coffin sisters to watch the parade were island historian, Anton Wilson, life-long Nantucket resident, Libby Hartnett, and art gallery owners, the Snow family, Robert, Lila, and their nine-year-old grandson, Chase. The previous December, Lin, Robert, and Chase had been in a harrowing situation where their lives had been in danger, but they were saved by keeping their wits about them and working together to outwit the criminal who threatened them.

  “Look, Lin.” Chase pointed down the road. “It’s an antique fire truck.”

  “Later today, they’re giving kids a ride on the truck,” Lin told the youngster.

  “Can we go?” Chase eagerly asked his granddad. “Can I get a ride?”

  With a smile, Robert put his arm around the boy’s shoulders. “Sure you can. We’ll walk over after lunch.”

  The gold highlights in Viv’s chin-length, light brown hair glittered in the sunlight. A little shorter than her cousin, she and Lin were like sisters, and since Lin had moved back to Nantucket, the two young women had been instrumental in helping to solve several mysteries. Lin and Viv were descendants of the Coffin family, original island settlers, some of whom had unusual skills and abilities which had been passed down to the cousins.

  Since returning to the place of her birth, Lin had been able to see ghosts, and during the investigation of one recent case, Viv had seen the spirit of her ancestor. Reluctant and uneasy about it, Viv hoped she would never see another ghost ever again.

  Over the past year, Lin had become more accepting of her skill and she would never turn her back on a ghost who appeared to her for assistance.

  When the parade was over, everyone piled into cars to head to the quaint village of Sconset for the picnic and on arrival, they found a spot on the green lawn overlooking the ocean and spread out their blankets and beach chairs. Salads, grilled chicken, baked potatoes with different toppings, veggie tacos, shoestring fries, fruit salad, and baked beans were set up buffet style at the back of Lin’s truck.

  A yellow and white checkered cloth had been spread over the bed of the truck and pots of flowers were placed in between the serving platters. Bottles of wine, seltzer, and a pitcher of lemonade were lined up next to the glasses and napkins. With grumbling stomachs, the friends took plates and filled them with the delicious food choices.

  “How are the wedding plans coming along?” Lila Snow asked Lin and Viv.

  The cousins and their future husbands became engaged on the same evening and had decided to have a double wedding in September at the boat club overlooking the water.

  “We have the band booked.” Lin’s blue eyes brightened as she smiled at Viv. Viv and John had been in a band together for years and their bandmates offered to play for the upcoming wedding.

  “We picked out the appetizers and the meals, too,” Viv said.

  “A friend is going to do the flowers for us,” Lin told Lila. “And Viv wants to make the cakes, but I think it will be too much work. She should relax and enjoy the time instead of fussing with the cakes.”

  “Lin has a point,” Lila said.

  Viv gave a shrug. “I’ll be stressed out anyway so I may as well do the baking and decorating. It will keep me busy and take my mind off things.”

  John and Jeff walked over.

  “I told her not to do it,” John said, “but I may as well be spitting in the wind. When Viv gets an idea in her head, that’s it.”

  Jeff said with a grin, “I’m keeping out of it.”

  Lila asked, “What are your dresses like?”

  Lin and Viv exchanged quick looks.

  “We haven’t picked them out yet,” Lin admitted.

  “What?” Lila’s eyes went wide. “The wedding is only five months away. You two better get on with it.”

  After the main meal was finished and desserts were brought out, Robert Snow approached Lin.

  “I have a favor to ask you.” Tall and slender, in his mid-sixties, with white hair and blue eyes, Robert, and his wife had lived in a large, three-story Colonial in town for over thirty years and had experienced the presence of a ghost in their house. For them and their family, sharing the house with the ghost of Captain Samuel Baker was a normal part of their lives, although they didn’t share that information with just anyone.

  A flicker of nervousness slipped over Lin’s skin and she brushed her long, brunette hair back from her face. “
What can I help with?”

  “I have a friend who recently moved to the island,” Robert said. “He’s actually the son of my friend. The young man’s name is Tim Pierce. He inherited a house on Old Lane at the top of Main Street.”

  When Robert paused, Lin asked, “Is everything okay?”

  “Some things came with the house. It’s an antique Colonial that was built in the early 1700s,” Robert said. “The house was owned by my friend’s father and when he passed away, the place was left to the family. My friend is settled in Boston, but his son was eager to move here so he inherited the house. Some of the original furniture came with it.”

  “That’s great. Your friend’s son is lucky to have those things.”

  Robert nodded. “Tim’s father is aware that the island is known to have a lot of … activity.”

  Lin knew Robert was referring to ghostly activity.

  “Tim doesn’t quite believe such things are possible,” Robert added.

  Lin’s eyes narrowed. “Is something going on in the house?”

  “It seems so.” Robert took in a breath. “It seems there’s a table.”

  Lin cocked her head waiting to hear what Robert was about to share.

  “The table jiggles.”

  “Jiggles?” Lin couldn’t help but smile. “Maybe Tim needs to stick a bit of paper under one of the legs to even it out so it doesn’t wobble.”

  “That would be an easy fix.” Robert shook his head slightly.

  “Is there more to the table than jiggling?” Lin asked.

  Robert made eye contact with Lin. “It seems so. Would you come and have a look at it?”

  “Me? Why?”

  “I think the piece of furniture … well, I think there’s something going on that could use your attention.”

  “What kind of a table is this?” Lin asked.

  “It’s a three-legged, tilt-table. It’s made of walnut. The top is about thirty-one inches across. It’s quite a lovely piece. We think it’s been passed down with the house each time it’s been sold,” Robert explained. “There are a few scuff marks on it, but that’s to be expected.”

  “What do you what me to do?” Lin asked.

  “Could you come take a look at it?” Robert asked. “Tim doesn’t want to keep the table, but my friend doesn’t want him to sell it since it’s been in the family for ages and he doesn’t think it’s right to part with it.”

  “Does your friend want it?”

  “No. He thinks it should stay on the island.”

  Lin was feeling more and more anxious. “Does your friend want it to stay in the house?”

  “Not necessarily.”

  Lin gave Robert a look of apprehension. “You want me to take it?”

  “Could you come have a look and see what you think? Lila and I would consider taking it, but you know how Captain Baker can be. We think it might upset our ghost if we bring the table home.”

  “Is there a ghost in the table?” Lin asked with a tone of skepticism.

  Robert kept his voice down. “We don’t think there’s a ghost in the table. We think there’s a ghost that might be associated with the table.”

  “Has this table always been jiggling?”

  “Occasionally, I guess. Not often. It seems to happen mostly around the Daffodil Festival. But it seems to be becoming more active for some reason. We thought you might be able to figure it out.”

  When Lin agreed to take a look at the table, she and Robert decided to meet at Tim Pierce’s home the next day. Robert thanked Lin and went to get another drink from the truck.

  Viv walked over carrying two plates each with a slice of cake on them. She handed one to her cousin. “What’s wrong with you?” Viv’s eyes darkened suspiciously. “I know that look.”

  Lin accepted the plate with the delicious-looking dessert. “We have something to do tomorrow afternoon.”

  “What’s that?” Viv’s voice held a tone of wariness. “What are you dragging me into this time?”

  “We’re going to have a look at an antique table.”

  “Oh, okay.” Viv visibly relaxed … until she heard her cousin’s next sentence.

  Lin added, “A haunted table.”

  2

  The antique Colonial was yellow with a dark red door and a flower garden set behind a white picket fence. Mature trees stood tall around the periphery of the property, their leaves still small and light green, but ready to fully leaf-out in a matter of a week or two.

  “Early 1700s?” Viv stood next to her cousin, both of them gazing at the fine old house.

  Lin nodded. “That’s what Robert said.”

  Viv nervously pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. “You don’t think this table will jump around when we’re looking at it, do you?”

  “I don’t know what to expect,” Lin admitted.

  “If I suddenly have to leave, you know where to find me.” Viv looked over her shoulder plotting her escape.

  “Don’t run away,” Lin chided. “I need you to stay with me. I’d like to hear your opinion once we see the table.”

  Robert hurried along the brick sidewalk towards them and he waved when he spotted the cousins near the house. “Hello. I’m a few minutes late,” he apologized. “Someone was looking at a painting in the gallery and I didn’t want to push them into making a decision.”

  “We only just got here ourselves,” Lin said. “It’s a beautiful house.”

  My friend’s father was meticulous about keeping the Colonial in tip-top condition.” Robert walked with the young women to the front door where he rang the bell setting off a melodious chiming that could be heard coming from inside the foyer.

  The door opened almost immediately and Tim Pierce greeted his guests with a smile. “Come in. Nice to see you, Robert.”

  Lin and Viv were introduced and the young man asked if they’d like a tour.

  Thirty-two-years old, Tim was tall with broad shoulders and a slim build that hinted at him being a runner. He had dark brown hair and blue eyes, a handsome, friendly face and a sunny disposition.

  “This is the sitting room. The dining room is on the other side of the foyer near the parlor.” Tim showed them the rooms decorated with period antiques, rugs in muted colors, and carefully chosen accessories. “There’s a wood-paneled library with loads of built-in bookshelves and a fireplace.” Tim led them down the hall to the room he’d just described, and then he took the guests to see the kitchen.

  The space had tall ceilings, white cabinets, high-end appliances, a long island, and granite countertops, with a beautiful wood floor completing the chef’s kitchen. Large windows looked out to the lawn and gardens and allowed natural light to flood the room.

  Tim showed them another sitting room and a glass conservatory, each looking like something out of an architectural magazine.

  “What a gorgeous place,” Viv gushed.

  “I’m lucky to have inherited the house. My family and I spent a lot of time in this home with my grandparents when I was little, and I can’t believe my good fortune to now be its owner.” Tim had them sit down on the comfortable white sofas in the conservatory where pitchers of water and lemonade had been set out along with a carafe of coffee and a platter of cookies.

  “When did you move in?” Lin sipped from her glass of lemonade.

  “About three weeks ago.” Tim passed around the plate of cookies. “The home was fully-furnished so all I had to do was bring my suitcases.”

  “What do you do for work?” Viv asked. “Do you have to go back to the mainland often?”

  “I own an architectural firm with offices in Boston and Hyannis. I can do most of my work from here, but I will have to travel to the offices for meetings. Most of my time will be spent on-island though.” Tim had a wide grin on his face. “I love it here. I’ve loved it since I was a little child. I always imagined making a permanent home on the island, but I never dreamed I’d own my grandfather’s house.”

  After more conversation, L
in brought up the reason they’d come. “We hear you have a piece of furniture that you might not want to keep.”

  Tim’s face lost its cheery expression. “That’s right. It’s an antique table. I don’t really know what to do it,” he said uncomfortably.

  “Can you tell us why it makes you feel that way?” Lin asked with an encouraging tone of voice.

  “I don’t know how to explain it.” Tim looked over at Robert Snow, and the older man gave a nod.

  “We’ve had our own share of unusual objects,” Lin explained.

  “I’ll say.” Viv sighed and rolled her eyes.

  “We’ve also heard and seen some unusual things,” Lin told the man. “You can speak freely with us.”

  Tim shifted a little on the sofa, clearly feeling uneasy and a little tense.

  “It’s your grandfather’s table, is that right?” Robert tried to get the discussion started.

  “It is.” Tim looked almost embarrassed to talk about it. “It’s called a tea table. It’s one of those tilt tables with an oval top. The piece is made of walnut. It’s a beautiful piece of furniture.”

  “Was it here in the house when you visited as a child?” Lin asked.

  Tim nodded. “It’s always been here.”

  “You don’t want to keep it?”

  Tim let out a breath of air. “Maybe not. Maybe it should go somewhere else for a while and then come back one day. I need a break.”

  Viv’s eyebrows shot up her forehead. “Why do you need a break from it?”

  Tim lifted his hands in a helpless gesture. “It jiggles. It drives me nuts.”