Murder in Chelsea Gardens

A Jessica Gray Cozy Mystery

Jane T. O’Brien

This book is fiction. All characters, events, and organizations portrayed in this novel are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons – living or dead – is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2022 by Jane T. O’Brien

ISBN: 9798807040077

Imprint: Independently published

All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Mystery Series by Jane T. O’Brien

Samantha Degan Cozy Mystery Series

Murder in Stonehill Manor

Murder in Lancashire

Murder in Ashville

Murder at Seabrook Shores

(Includes Murder in Pepperberry Lake a short story)

Molly Ryan Cozy Mystery Series 

Murder in Hillsboro

Murder in Kincaid Towers

Murder in Evergreen

Murder at Coventry Hill Inn

Cassandra Cross Cozy Mystery Series

Murder on the Isabella

Murder at Channel Two

Murder in Newcastle

Murder at Cranberry Creek

Rebecca Snow Cozy Mystery Series

Murder in Oakwood Park

Murder on Bradbury Hill

Murder on Applewood Circle

Murder at Lake Willoughby

Avery Fox Cozy Mystery Series

Murder in Somerset County

Murder in Hidden Oaks

Murder on Ravenwood Campus

Murder in Clearview Park

Katie McDougal Cozy Mystery Series

Murder in Brookhaven

Murder in Rosedale Hospital

Murder at Driftwood Bay

Murder at Fall River Resort

Sarah Delaney Cozy Mystery Series

Murder in Woodbridge

Murder on Cottonwood Bluff

Murder in Eagle Crest Manor

Murder on Danforth Island

Jessica Gray Cozy Mystery Series

Murder in Brentwood

Murder in Chelsea Gardens

Other Books by Jane T. O’Brien

Novels

Bristol Falls

Glenwood Hills

Cumberland Heights

Cozy Mysteries

Murder in Forest Glen

The Mystery of Shelby Lake

The Mystery of Waverly Island

Murder in Pinewood Bluff

Life in Camden Corners

A Continuing Saga

Parts One through Twelve

Children’s Books

Finian Frog Series

Fabulous Finian Frog

Finian Frog Falls in Love

Finian Frog and Farley’s Wishes

Finian Frog and Froglet Freddy

Hennessey Hound Tales Series

Happy Hennessey Hound

Hennessey Hound and the Bully

The Characters

Jessica Gray is an aspiring mystery writer with an affinity for resolving mysteries in her own backyard. Jessica’s curiosity often puts her in the middle of dangerous situations.

Richard (Rick) Madison, a detective on the Brentwood Police Force, is Jessica’s childhood friend. Rick is also a mystery writer and has had success with two publications. After a nearly twenty-year separation, the friends reunite and find love.

Natalie Fuller, Jessica’s twin, is a stay-at-home mom. She is busy volunteering at a children’s clinic and caring for her rambunctious offspring.

Meredith Donovan, an attorney in Jessica’s father’s law practice. Meredith is married to Jack Donovan. Together, they are parents to Jack’s precocious daughter, Lucy.

PROLOGUE

In the middle of a beautiful spring day, with the sun shining and the scent of lilacs filling the air, Jessica Gray meets her sister, Natalie Fuller, for lunch at Chelsea Gardens. With her are her two children and a little mutt. The children named the dog George.

The sisters are twins with a strong resemblance to each other. The similarity ends there.

 Jessica was a tomboy as a child. She excelled at many sports and loved playing them. Her hair and clothes were usually disheveled, while Natalie looked as fresh as a daisy.

Many happy summers were spent at their grandparents' cabin on Brentwood Shores. Jessica developed a crush on frequent vacationer Ricky Madison.

 Years later, Rick, a police detective with a penchant for writing mystery novels, took a break from the force. He rented a cabin in Brentwood Shores, where he had happy memories of summers with his childhood crush, Jessica. Jessica had the same idea and stayed in her grandparents’ cabin. They were alone at the resort. After Labor Day, the summer visitors returned home to their everyday lives.

Jessica and Rick discovered their childhood feelings remained and were more than an infatuation.

***

The sisters sipped lemonade after eating sandwiches from the deli near their father's law offices. The children and George played nearby.

Suddenly, George began to bark as though threatened. His barking frightened the children; they backed away from the bushes where George stood trembling. Natalie ran to Ryan and Leah while Jessica calmed the dog.

“What is it, boy? What did you find?”

Jessica pulled back the branch and saw the outline of a woman; her hand seemed to fly from the air, landing on Jessica’s foot. Trying to stay calm so as not to frighten her niece and nephew more than they were, Jessica felt the arm for a pulse. She knew by the dead feel of her skin that the victim had been dead since before they arrived.

Natalie gathered the children and the trembling dog and walked to her car. “I hate leaving you alone, Jess.”

“I’ll be fine; Rick will be here soon. The kids do not need to be here to see the poor woman being dragged into the open.”

Chapter One

Jessica recalls hearing of the tragedy at the Reinhart estate, now called Chelsea Gardens, as she awaits Rick and the authorities.

The year was eighteen-fifty-six. Adam Reinhart, the only son of Phillip and Eugenia Reinhart, fell in love with Miss Chelsea Farrow, the daughter of a prominent judge in a neighboring county.

Chelsea was a beauty with long golden hair and sparkling emerald eyes. Her sixteenth birthday was celebrated with a gala event at the Farrow Mansion.

         “Adam, you must attend Miss Farrow’s party. It will allow you to meet people your age. It is time you thought about getting married and making your father and me grandparents. Your nose is forever buried in your ledgers and account books.”

“Mother, I cannot support a wife on the pittance my father pays me at the mill. Your husband is a slave driver. If I don't finish the work of three men each day, he docks my stipend. If you want grandchildren, one day, you will tell him to pay me what I am worth.”

Reinhart was a strict taskmaster who never expected more from his employees, including his son, than he was willing to give himself. He only had one weakness--his wife, Eugenia. He cherished the woman and granted her every wish. Philip reluctantly agreed to allow Adam to attend the gala event when she suggested it.

Adam preferred to spend his free time at the local tavern, but he resisted the temptation. He dressed for the event, dreading the tedious young ladies who attended these silly affairs.

I am twenty-six years old. Why do I still do my father’s bidding? The old man cannot last forever, and I will take over the mill when they drop him into the ground. Adam has been telling himself this for several years. His father showed no sign of failing. At seventy-five, he was as healthy as a thirty-year-old.

Adam climbed the stairs of the Farrow estate. As a young boy, he learned to conceal the hatred he had for his father by perfecting a fake smile. He was directed to the ballroom, where his attendance was announced. Having found his way to the refreshment bar, he accepted a glass of champagne. He preferred something heavier, but it was not an option.

In an attempt to catch the attention of the charming man, several mothers approached him with their giggling daughters following closely behind.

When is the guest of honor going to appear at this tiresome gala? It is torture. I would prefer pouring over the books at the mill to sitting through this nonsense.

Judge Herbert Farrow introduced his daughter, Chelsea, to hearty applause. As Miss Chelsea Farrow descended the stairs, the orchestra played a blissful tune.

Adam Reinhart caught his breath. He had never seen anyone as lovely as the beauty who seemed to glide into the ballroom. Adam knew his life would never be the same.

As the two twirled on the dance floor, it was apparent to the judge that Adam Reinhart was smitten with his daughter. He was determined to prevent the relationship from taking root. In contrast to my innocent daughter, Reinhart is older and skilled at seduction.

Herbert called upon a young man to come between the couple as they danced. Sidney Green was afraid this gesture would anger the other man. He was more fearful of his father’s reaction if he refused Judge Farrow’s request.

Judge Farrow suggested Mr. Reinhart ask another young woman to dance.

“Judge, my interest in Chelsea is admirable. Will you please give me your permission to court her in the hope of marrying her?”

“My daughter is sixteen-years-old. I will reconsider if you still feel the same after two years. Until then, you will not have any contact with the child.”                                                        ***

Rick’s voice and the sirens sounding in the distance interrupted Jessica’s reflections.

“Are you all right, sweetheart? What have you found?”

“George was the one who found this poor woman’s body. She is dead, Rick. I only touched her to feel for a pulse. There is no warmth to her skin. She’s been dead for some time.”

They backed away while paramedics pulled her body out into the open. The look on her motionless face showed she had been surprised by her attacker. Dried blood stains appeared on the dirt under her head.

“Where are your sister and the kids?”

“Natalie took them and George home. The children did not know about the body. They were frightened at George’s intense barking. The little mutt was terrified.”

The woman was transported to the hospital morgue for evaluation by the coroner. The police scoured the area for evidence and the victim’s identification. They found nothing, indicating the incident had been a random robbery. The thief got away with her purse. It will likely be found in a trash barrel, empty of money.

“I’ll walk you to your car, Jessie.”

“No, I don’t want to leave yet. I would like to have a look around.”

“This area will be cordoned off for further investigation. You won’t be allowed to cross the barrier.”

“I will not cross any lines. It is curious why a thief would kill the woman. Why not just take her purse and run. Could she have been a target?”

Rick knows better than to argue with Jessica. She has a sixth sense of these things and is an excellent amateur detective. “Let me know if you find anything interesting,”

Jessica glances on either side of the pathway as she walks toward the old Reinhart Mansion. The building now houses city and county government offices. As a young girl, Jessica often imagined Chelsea Farrow Reinhart looking out the window at the beautiful gardens below. The outside of the mansion is as ornate and prestigious as when it was built over a century ago. The inside looks more like a typical office building. The original winding staircase and the turret are the only remaining sign; the structure was once a stately mansion.

Jessica looked to what was rumored to be Chelsea’s hideaway in the turret. The tragedy that took place there made her sad.

She saw a small notebook near the sidewalk. Without thinking, she picked it up. She looked for a name or something that would identify the owner. She thought it might be a student who jotted notes while on a field trip. Every elementary school child in Brentwood was transported to Chelsea Gardens, where the story of the Reinhart Mansion was embellished a little more each year.

Chapter Two

  Jessica examined the notebook. The entries looked like shorthand. Phone numbers and addresses were printed on the last few pages. In the center was a press pass with Sheila Scott’s name and photograph.

This is a photo of the dead woman. I’m sure of it.

Logan Daily News is printed under her name. The newspaper is published in a town less than fifty miles from Brentwood.

Despite knowing she must turn the notebook over to Rick, Jessica could not resist another look inside. She noticed that the writer often omitted vowels. In deciphering the code, Jessica recognized most of the words. According to her notes, the woman was investigating Chelsea and Adam Reinhart's lives.

***

Jessica handed the notebook to Rick, apologizing for compromising evidence.

“Until I saw the press pass, I did not realize it was a clue to the dead woman’s identity.”

“You turned it over to the police without reading it, isn’t that correct, Jessie?”  Rick had a smirk on his face.

“You know me too well. I recognized the photograph on the press pass. Ms. Sheila Scott was investigating Adam and Chelsea Reinhart. Who would want to resurrect that old story after all these years? If her murder was not the result of a robbery, why had someone wanted her dead before she completed her research?”

Rick knows he should dissuade Jessie from sticking her nose in his case. She has a point. Darlene, the receptionist at the police station, knows everything that happens in his department. His boss will have his head if he finds out, but he will not stop Jessica in her quest. Sheila Scott was looking for information on the folks who lived over a century ago.

***

Jessica checks her watch, if she hurries, she will make it to Logan and back before meeting with her family for dinner. She knows Rick is risking the wrath of his boss by not stopping her from driving to Logan. She would deny she talked about it to Rick.

Jessica could not forget the expression of terror on the reporter's face. It was understandable that she was frightened when someone approached her threateningly. That look was different; it was like the woman had seen a ghost. I’m letting my imagination run wild. I’ll find some answers this afternoon, but none will be about ghosts.

****

Jessica walked into the newspaper office. When she approached her desk, the receptionist smiled. She called the girl by name after reading her nameplate.

“Kerri, my name is Jessica Gray. Do you know a reporter named Sheila Scott?”

    When Kerri heard the name, her demeanor changed. Her smile was less genuine than at the first encounter.

“I know Sheila; is she a friend of yours?”

“I have never met the woman. She is investigating the lives of a family who lived in Brentwood over a century ago.”

“Is she in trouble? Mr. Gates warned her not to dig up dirt on those people. They had a big argument over it. Sheila told Mr. Gates she had a lead she would not ignore. He told her she would be fired if she persisted in her investigation. Sheila yelled that he could not fire her because she had a signed contract. She stormed out of his office and sped off in her car. I have never seen Mr. Gates so angry. I thought he would have a heart attack.

Kerri rolled her eyes when she talked about Sheila. The woman had not made friends in the short time she had been with the paper. Rumor has it that the board chairman recommended her for the job, so Mr. Gates had no choice but to hire her.

According to Kerri, Sheila was nasty to everyone in the office. She aspired to become a top journalist for a national network and searched for a scoop that would make it possible.

“A lady came to see her a few days ago. She wore huge dark glasses and a big floppy hat that covered most of her face. Sheila took her into our break room and locked the door for over an hour. No one could get in to fill their coffee cups or take a break. I never saw the woman leave; Sheila must have led her out the back way. It was all very mysterious. Shortly after that, she and Mr. Gates had their row.”

The front door opened, and in walked Rick and his partner, Paul Fisher.

“Hello, Ms. Gray.”

“Hello, Detective Madison.”

  Mr. Gates stepped out of his office to greet the detectives. He glanced at Kerri, “Hold my calls.”

“Do you know that guy? He is a detective; I hope I haven’t said too much to you. Sometimes I ramble on about things that are none of my business.”

Jessica assured the girl that she had done nothing wrong and asked if she had a record of incoming calls.

“I don’t, but the computer does. Are you wondering if the mystery woman called Sheila? I can print out a report. We don’t get many calls at the desk. Almost everyone here uses their business cell phone. It’s worth a try.”

Kerri printed the information for the days before and after the woman’s visit.

“If she called to set up an appointment with Sheila, it is on the list.” 

Shortly after Jessica left the office, an ashen-faced Mr. Gates stepped into the reception area.

“Kerri, please ask everyone to drop what they are doing and come to my office.”

Kerri worried she had said too much to Jessica Gray. I must learn to keep my mouth shut.

***

A visibly shaken Mr. Gates stood before his staff, with Rick and Paul still in the room. He introduced the detectives and announced that Sheila Scott had been murdered in Brentwood. Gasps filled the room. He turned to Rick, who asked if anyone had information to share about a possible motive for the killing.

“Detective,” said the office manager. “I speak on behalf of everyone in this room when I say that Sheila Scott will not be missed. She was a mean, nasty woman who only cared for herself and her career. However, we are not murderers.”

“No one is accused of murder. If you remember seeing anything or anyone that seemed out of the ordinary, please let us know.”

A reporter stood up. “Without explanation, Sheila barricaded herself and some dame in our break room one day last week. The woman had no regard for anyone.”

“I saw her usher the lady out the back door. She was wearing a big hat and sunglasses. I remember wondering if she was in a witness protection program. She was definitely in hiding.”

Kerri spoke up. “Tim is right. The woman was covered from head to toe when she came to the office. I asked for her name, but Sheila whisked her away before she could answer.

Bob Hancock, a long-time reporter, balked. “That woman was a crackpot. Sheila put her up to her performance; she had a flair for the dramatic.

Other than seeing the mystery woman, no one knew much about Sheila. She kept to herself when in the office and never engaged in small talk. The office manager found a key to unlock Sheila’s desk. She had left several notebooks like the one Jessica found in the grass at Chelsea Gardens. Rick took them with him. They made no sense to him; he wished Jessica were with him. She was good at deciphering Ms. Scott’s code.

Chapter Three

It is nearing three-thirty when Jessica pulls into her parking spot at her apartment. She and Natalie have dinner plans with their mother and grandmother. Gram likes to arrive at the restaurant at precisely four o’clock when the happy hour begins. She prefers a vodka martini straight up with a twist. Her limit is two, followed by a good meal with enough left over for her dinner the following night. The girls make sure she is home by 7:00 to watch her favorite quiz shows. At eighty-one, she does well living on her own.

Jessica quickly changes clothes, brushes her hair, and is on the road to pick up the rest of her party.

“Jessica, you are flushed. Are you feeling well, dear?”

“My errand today was more trying than I thought. I’ll relax when the waitress brings me my gin and tonic.”

“Natalie tells us you two had a fright earlier. I saw on the news that a woman was found dead in Chelsea Gardens. It was an awful experience for you girls. It’s good my great-grandchildren did not discover the woman.”

“Poor George found her. He is still traumatized by it. He’s been following me around all day. I almost stepped on him twice. Jessica was the one who should have been distressed; she touched the woman’s dead arm.” Natalie cringed at the thought.

“Jessica, why would you do that? What if she was hiding from her assailant? He could have hurt you as well.”

“Gram, I only felt for a pulse. She was definitely dead. What do you know about the Reinhart Mansion from the old days?”

“Only the stories we have all heard. I doubt we will ever know what went on in that house.”

***

The most popular version of the story has stuck through the years.

Adam's parents died of pneumonia in the harsh winter during the two years he waited to court Chelsea. Adam took over his father’s business. He hired bookkeepers to do his job and promoted his father’s assistants to vice presidents to run the company. Adam spent his time renovating the Reinhart Mansion. Rather than collapsing, his father's company grew, making Adam a wealthy man.

Judge Farrow was delighted to give his blessing to the courtship and marriage of his beloved daughter and her prosperous beau.

Chelsea Farrow Reinhart was a beauty who loved dancing and parties. Adam Reinhart gave in to her every desire. Their love story was like a fairy tale. Several years later, the parties stopped. Rumors spread that Chelsea had lost her mind, and Adam kept her locked in her room. When she was spotted staring out of the turret window, she had not been seen for more than a year. From then on, she spent her days gazing at the flowers below.

Adam hired gardeners who planted beautiful flowers for as far as Chelsea could see from her perch. The gardens expanded every year until they covered an entire block in the city.

In the ensuing years, Adam’s company began to collapse. The older vice presidents hired by his father; retired or died. Adam had no interest in the company and shut it down. The upkeep of the mansion consumed his wealth. He owed back taxes on the property that he was unable to pay. When authorities arrived at the house to remove him from the property, they found him collapsed next to Chelsea’s bed in the turret room. Both died from natural causes. The coroner determined Chelsea died several hours before her husband.

The city council voted to demolish the building, remove the flowers, and sell the property to a developer. Residents demanded the gardens be saved. A campaign was launched to preserve the garden. In response, fundraisers were held, donations were made, and the mayor was pressed to designate the newly named Chelsea Gardens as a city park.

The mansion became an eyesore in an otherwise beautiful landmark. The city council met again and approved renovating the building. The city and county offices are housed there today.

***

The subject of the dead woman was forgotten when Natalie talked about Ryan and Leah. The children’s grandmother and great-grandmother loved hearing about their latest escapades. Though Jessica cherished her nephew and niece, she didn’t feel an urgency to marry or have children. She and Rick were busy with their jobs and writing their mystery novels. Their schedules didn’t allow for many evenings together. Jessica reminisced about their time at Brentwood Shores last fall. They were distracted by a mystery, but they were together. She missed those days.

“Jessica, tell me how things are going with you and your young man. Ricky Madison was such a sweet boy. I’m happy you two found each other again.”

“Gram, he goes by Rick now. The name Ricky is not fitting for a police detective. He would be ridiculed by the criminals. I don’t know what the future holds. We are both busy and have little time together.”

“Hogwash, as your grandpa used to say. You must make time for each other. I love that you are writing, but you can’t live in a fantasy world forever. You will wind up like poor Chelsea Farrow sitting in a window watching her flowers grow.”

“Gram, you know, that’s nonsense. Did anyone ever question why the woman became a recluse? Was Adam Reinhart the crazy one? Something sinister happened in that mansion, and someone knows what it is.”

“Jessica, does this have something to do with that woman’s murder?”

“Mom, that woman was a reporter for the Logan Daily News. She had information about the Reinhart Mansion and is now dead.”

The three women stared at Jessica in disbelief.

“Jessica, why does it matter now, after all these years? You should not put yourself in danger because some poor woman is dead. Does Rick know what you are up to?”

“Rick Madison is not my keeper, Mom. Sheila Scott was disliked by everyone who worked with her. She must have made enemies with others. Her murder likely had nothing to do with the mysterious Reinhart family.”

Karen Gray knew she would not dissuade her daughter from pursuing her interest in the mystery. As a child, she welcomed danger. She always climbed to the highest limb on a tree or rode on her bicycle at high speed. Jessie was always the one with skinned knees and bruises on her body. Her girls are the exact opposites, and she loves them both.

Natalie looked at her sister. “Jessica, I might be able to help you. Do you remember that old crate of books Mike found in his grandfather’s basement? They are still in the storage shed. I remember seeing a book written in the early twentieth century about the history of Brentwood. I thought it would be interesting to read but haven’t gotten to it. You are welcome to it if you think it might hold some answers.”

“I wonder if the Farrows and Reinharts are mentioned. I’ll pick it up when I drop you off at home.”

A shiver went through Karen Gray. Dredging up the past can’t be good. I wish Jessica would forget this quest.

As though reading her mother’s mind, Jessica told her not to worry.

Chapter Four

Jessica returned to her apartment after a pleasant evening with her family. She opened the copy of The History of Brentwood her sister had given her earlier.

Rick’s call was expected. They hadn’t spoken since earlier when they ran into each other at the Logan newspaper’s office.

Rick wrapped his arms around her. “I have wanted to do that since I saw you convincing the receptionist to spill the beans about Sheila Scott.”

He kissed her with such passion that Jessica found it hard to break away.

“I can’t think when you do that,” she laughed. “Kerri was helpful. Did she tell you about Sheila Scott’s mystery visitor?”

“Whoever it was, did not want to be seen. A burner phone was used to contact Sheila. I hoped you could decipher a clue to her identity in the notebooks.”

While Jessica examined the notebooks for answers, Rick glanced through the Brentwood history book. He looked for references to the Reinhart and Farrow names.

“I don’t know how the woman read her notes. She scribbled the letters MT FTH CRN. On another note, she writes FTH. MT without vowels could be met or meet. FTH might stand for Father, but there is no R. Faith could be the name. Does CRN mean Corn, Carne, or Crane? Sheila Scott had a strange note-taking pattern. I get the feeling she was a strange person in other ways too. Kerri had nothing complimentary to say about her.”

Rick handed Jessica the history book, which was open to a section called Reinhart Mansion. She read it with interest.

The first few paragraphs were about Chelsea Farrow. Despite not knowing the young woman, the author discovered that she was considered the most beautiful girl in her state, if not the country. Adam Reinhart, an older womanizer, did not figure into Judge Farrow's plans for his daughter's future. Adam and the girl became infatuated with each other on the night of her sixteenth birthday. The Judge forbade the man from seeing or speaking to his daughter until she was eighteen years old. Adam and Chelsea were certain to tire of waiting, and their romantic feelings would diminish.

Adam became wealthy during the waiting period due to unforeseen circumstances. The Judge rethought the decision and agreed to the marriage.

Though Adam had his share of ill-advised liaisons with other women, he remained faithful to Chelsea while he waited for marriage. He knew little of the girl, except that she was a beauty.

Adam discovered his wife’s beauty was only skin deep but loved her, despite her self-centered nature. She spent her time primping and preening before her mirror. Chelsea vowed she would never bear children and ruin her perfect figure.

Adam was a man of his word. He had promised Judge Farrow he would cherish the man’s daughter and love her until he died. He accepted his fate and never mentioned children again.

Chelsea discovered she was in the family way after years of endless parties and dances at the Reinhart Mansion. She could no longer wear elegant, fitted gowns due to her expanding waistline. The swelling in her feet prevented her from dancing the night away. Adam tried to comfort her by talking about the new life she would bring into the world.

“I told you I didn’t want children. I hate this thing, and I hate you for ruining my life. You will never come near me again.”

The remaining seven months of her pregnancy were a nightmare for Adam. She ranted and raved about her unwanted condition. She became deeply depressed, refusing help from the doctor and from Adam.

As a result of near starvation, Chelsea slipped into a comatose state, resulting in the birth of her baby. It is unknown if the child survived. Chelsea was not seen again until she appeared in the turret window. Adam rarely ventured outside the mansion.

***

“I wonder how much of this is fiction. In my grandmother’s time, many rumors floated around. She never mentioned a child being born to the couple.”

“Any child born back then would have died long ago.”

“Why would a seasoned reporter like Sheila give credence to the mystery woman’s story? Did she believe the child lived and had a child or children of their own? How hard can it be to find Faith? My guess is she lives in Logan or Brentwood.”

“What can she hope to gain by claiming to be a Reinhart. The money is gone, and the mansion is not available. Do you suppose she has a thing for flowers?”

“I don’t know about Faith, but I have a thing for you. Let’s continue what you started when you walked through the door earlier.”

Rick was happy to oblige as he took Jessica in his arms.

Chapter Five

“Jessica, your mother tells me you are smack dab in the middle of a murder. Can you please quit living mysteries and just write about them?”

“I am just lucky, I guess. Finding bodies gives me fodder for my books.”

Steven Gray did not let on that he finds his adventuresome daughter a delight. She is the opposite of her docile sister, Natalie. He loves both his girls and would not trade them for the world.

Steve never paid much attention to the talk of ghosts in the mansion when he was a teenager. The building had been renovated by then. Though the turret stood unchanged, it no longer appeared menacing to the young people. Still, the rumors continued. Adam Reinhart was envisioned as a villain who imprisoned his beautiful young wife. Jessica could uncover the truth and vindicate the man after all these years.

Jessica called her grandmother. She planned to stop by her house with Gram’s favorite pastry and a Frappuccino from the nearby coffee shop. The older woman would balk at the calories but enjoy every bite and sip.

She always loved visiting with her grandmother. Today, Jessica’s mission was to quiz Gram about the Reinhart baby.

“Jessica, I never heard of a baby. Because Chelsea was barren, she fell into a depression and never recovered. If a baby had been born, what happened to it?”

“According to the book Natalie gave me, Chelsea refused to bear children. Mother nature surprised her, causing her mental collapse. No matter what the truth is, Chelsea was an unfortunate woman.”

***

Jessica returned to the law firm. She warned herself she was becoming obsessed with Chelsea Farrow. The woman was beginning to consume her every thought. She had not written a word of her novel since George discovered Sheila Scott’s body.

Her friend, Meredith, knocked on her office door.

“Jessica, what is distracting you?”

“Is it that obvious?”  Jessica told Meredith about finding a body and guessing it had something to do with the mystery of the Reinhart Mansion.

The name Faith Crane came up empty when Jessica tried to find her. She explained the shorthand Sheila used in her notes.

“I’ve seen people eliminate vowels. It took too much concentration for me; I’d forget what I was writing. If the mystery woman didn’t want to be identified, the name could have been a fake. What name would be a substitute for Faith?”

“Hope! Meredith, you are a genius. Of course, she hid her real name. She did not want her true identity known. The last name could be disguised as well. When people make up phony names, they often use the same initials. The name could be Crandall or Cornell. I’ll check those out.”

“You don’t have to. Hope Crandall is a new client. She has an appointment with me this afternoon. The woman refused to tell Allison the reason for her visit. I’ll see what she wants and share anything I can with you. If she was the mystery woman, it might not be much.”

“Be careful, Meredith. She is hiding for a reason. Sheila Scott might have threatened her with exposure. Perhaps she stopped her by killing her.”

***

The door to the law firm opened slowly. Allison asked the visitor if she needed help. The woman shook her head no. She was wearing dark glasses and a scarf covering her head. Allison guessed it was Hope Crandall, Meredith’s mysterious client.

“I have a meeting with Meredith Donovan,” the woman whispered.

Knowing she was near panic, Allison chose not to add to her discomfort by asking for a name.

“I’ll let Ms. Donovan know you are waiting.”

Knocking on Meredith’s door, Allison stepped inside. “Your client is here. She is a nervous breakdown waiting to happen.”

“I hope I can calm her nerves. Send her in, Allison.”

Meredith walked to the door, extending her hand to the frightened woman. Hope removed her scarf and sunglasses.

“I’m sorry to be so mysterious, Ms. Donovan. I can’t let anyone see me entering a law office.”

“Suppose you tell me the reason for your visit and why no one must know you are here.”

“I have come to see you because I need a lawyer to defend me for murder.”

“Suppose you tell me who you murdered.” Meredith had no doubt her answer would be Sheila Scott.

“Her name is Sheila. She is a reporter for the Logan Daily News. She was helping me find the truth about my ancestors.”

Hope began to sob uncontrollably. Meredith let her cry it out before asking more questions.

“Have you spoken with the police?”

“No, I thought I should have legal representation first. The judge is certain to send me to the gas chamber. If I did kill a person, I deserve to be punished.”

“If you killed a person? Are you unsure of your guilt?”

“I don’t remember. Ernie says I killed her to prevent her from telling Charlie the truth about my family.

“Let’s start from the beginning. Who is Ernie, and who is Charlie?”

“Ernie is my cousin. Charlie was my fiancée before I found out about mental illness in my family.”

This woman is a lunatic, or someone has brainwashed her into believing she is deranged. I wonder how she would feel about Jessica joining us. I’m not sure if I can handle this alone.

Chapter Six

Meredith asked Hope if she objected to Jessica joining their conversation. “Jessica is Mr. Gray’s daughter. She has studied law, though she is not a practicing attorney. She is a mystery author and is a gifted investigator. If it weren’t for Jessica’s skills, my husband would be serving time in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.”

“I came to you because of attorney-client privilege. This other person does not have the same obligation.”

“I’ll ask Jessica to come in. If you still feel uncomfortable after meeting her, we will continue our conversation alone.”

As Meredith knew she would, Jessica gained Hope’s confidence in a short time. The lawyer was surprised by how easily the girl spoke about her dilemma, thanks to her friend.

“I am a student at the university in Logan, studying for my elementary teaching degree. Fraternity parties and bar hopping do not appeal to me. I’d rather be in the library devouring a historical novel when I’m not studying. On one of those evenings, Charles Dalton III walked through the door.

“I had seen him on campus and knew they called him Charlie. My heart skipped a beat when he smiled at me. He said he was tired of the partying and preferred to be in the quiet of the library. We talked about the book I’d been reading. We both were drawn to history and chatted until the library closed. The next day, Charlie called me. It didn’t take long before we fell in love. We planned to be married in the spring after graduation. I had never been happier in my life.

“Ernie Crandall is my cousin and my only family. His folks took me in after my parents were killed in an automobile accident when I was ten. Uncle Cal was my father’s older brother. Two years ago, he and Aunt Sally died a few months apart.

“Before he died, Uncle Cal set up a trust fund for me, and I was able to attend school and rent a small apartment.

“Ernie is several years my senior. He has always been my protector. His job took him to Pennsylvania just before I met Charlie. When he returned to Logan, he told me I could not marry Charlie or anyone. Mental illness ran in my family, and I would pass it along to any children I bore.”

Tears formed in the girl’s eyes as she continued her tale.

“I am a descendant of Adam and Chelsea Reinhart. Chelsea gave birth to a baby girl. She was given to a farming couple before the turn of the century. The couple welcomed the little girl into their home. It was never revealed the baby was born to the Reinharts. It is common knowledge Chelsea Reinhart had lost her mind. Adam’s mental health was in question, too. I can remember stories of their lives when I was a child. Our school arranges for field trips to see Chelsea Gardens in the spring. The kids on the bus made fun of the crazy people who lived and died in the turret. I had no idea they were talking about my great-great-grandparents.”

Jessica tried to assure Hope that the couple lived over a century ago. If they were mentally ill, it would not necessarily affect her. This is especially true since their daughter was not raised by them.

“Ernie says the condition didn’t stop there. The daughter, Lydia, married and had a son. When the boy was barely three. Lydia, an avid equestrian, died while attempting to jump a hurdle too tall for her horse. The death was reported as a suicide. Lydia’s son, Roger, started a fire in his barn. His charred body was found in the rubble of the building. My mother, Roger’s daughter, was driving the car that killed her and my father. The accident report showed no skid marks to indicate she attempted to apply the brakes.”

“Hope, these conclusions are all speculation. We have all heard the stories of Chelsea and Adam. Chelsea could have suffered from depression. These days, the condition can be treated with medication and therapy. Adam loved his wife. His love for her was evident in the beautiful garden he planted for her.”

“If I’m not doomed to lose my mind, I can marry Charlie and have babies.” Hope’s chin quivered. “Why would Ernie say I killed Sheila if I didn’t? Charlie will never want me now.”

“You are not a killer. I don’t know why your cousin would tell you such a thing. The woman was bludgeoned, and her body was dragged into the bushes. How does Ernie explain your loss of memory?”

“He says it’s part of my sickness. I have erased it from my mind to save my skin.”

Jessica and Meredith suspected Ernie would not be cooperative. As though he heard his name mentioned, Hope’s phone rang.

“Ernie is calling; shall I answer it?”

Meredith asked her to put the phone in speaker mode.

“Where are you, Hope? I told you to stay in your apartment.”

“I am with a lawyer, Ernie. If I killed Sheila, I need to go to the police.”

“You little fool, I told you I would handle it. Do you want to spend the rest of your life in prison?”

“Mr. Crandall, this is Meredith Donovan. I am representing your cousin. She is innocent of murder; I recommend she report what she knows to the police. If you care to join us, I will tell the receptionist to expect you.”

“Look, lady, my cousin comes from a long line of nut cases from her mother’s side. We don’t need your interference. Next, you will accuse me of killing the dame.”

“Did you kill Sheila Scott, Mr. Crandall?”

“I’m coming there. Tell my cousin to wait for me outside the building.”

“She will wait for you in my office. You are welcome to join us.”

“Sheila’s notebooks hold the key to the mystery. I am sure of it.”

Hope mistook Ernie’s bullying for the protection he claimed he gave her. He rarely paid attention to her until he found a journal. Hope discovered the book in his room and recognized her mother’s handwriting. Ernie threw a fit and came close to striking the young girl.

“If I ever catch you messing with my things again, I’ll rearrange that pretty face until no one can stand to look at you.” 

Hope wanted to argue with him but feared he would hurt her. She never dared enter his room after that.

I wonder if I should mention the journal to Meredith.

Chapter Seven

Jessica placed a call to Rick while in her office, telling him Meredith had a client who was of interest in the Sheila Scott case.

“Let me guess; the mystery woman has revealed herself.”

“She is in Brentwood and innocent of Sheila’s murder. Meredith is working with her. There is no doubt they will contact you soon. In the meantime, could you research a man named Ernie Crandall? I can’t tell you much about him, except that he lives in Logan.”

Rick quickly found Ernest Peter Crandall. “The man served six months in a Pennsylvania prison for assault. Who is this guy?”

“Someone who was involved in the murder. Thanks, I’ll get back to you.”

Jessica relayed the information to Meredith with a warning. “Let me know when the gentleman gets here. You might need backup.”

“I definitely want you here. I’m afraid Hope will fold if he can convince her to drop the subject of Sheila Scott.”

“Keep your finger on the panic button. The man could be a killer.”                           

***

Rick Madison didn’t like it. His instincts told him Jessica could be in over her head. According to his rap sheet, Mr. Crandall is a hothead who suffered more from his altercation in a bar than his opponent. The man had no further arrests. Rick thought now would be a good time to visit Jessica in her office. With his badge out of sight and wearing his suit jacket, he could pass for just another lawyer at the Gray Law Firm.

***

Jessica isn’t surprised to see Rick standing in the doorway of her office as she pours over Sheila’s notebook.

“I’m glad you are here. Cousin Ernie might be an upstanding guy, but I suspect he is not. Meredith will have her finger on the panic button while we interview him.”

Jessica couldn’t get into details about Hope Crandall’s involvement with Sheila’s death. She merely stated that the girl was a victim of the event. Rick respected confidentiality and refrained from asking questions at the present time.

“In deciphering Sheila’s notes, she was an intuitive investigator. If she’d lived, she could well have met her goal of becoming a national television reporter. I can’t wait to share the information with you and the victim.”

“You say the mystery woman is a victim. Does that mean you think she is innocent of wrongdoing?”

“I believe so, yes. The person is an innocent victim of her cousin, who has convinced her she has lost her mind. I can’t wait to meet the sleazebag.”

Meredith called to say Cousin Ernie had arrived. Rick waited in Jessica’s office after she had joined Meredith and Hope.

Ernie Crandall walked into the room. He is in his thirties, slightly built, and walks with a practiced swagger. Ernie glares at Hope as she cowers in her chair.

The man stands before Hope, demanding she leave with him. His tone sends chills through Jessica.

Meredith keeps her voice calm when she asks him to sit. “Mr. Crandall, Hope came to me for advice on a legal matter; I am determined to help her in any way I can. You can either cooperate, or be on

your way. You will not threaten my client with words, gestures, or scathing looks.”

Ernie remains quiet. He wants to know what Hope has blabbed to these two hot babes.

“Mr. Crandall, you told Hope she was a descendant of Adam and Chelsea Reinhart. Where did this information come from, and why was Hope not told long before this?”

“My old man didn’t know. He wouldn’t have cared if he did. When Hope came to live with us, my mother told her about her family history. She forgets things. Like her mother, she can’t handle stress. Look at her; she’s a skinny little thing.”

“It runs in the family.” The words slipped out of Jessica’s mouth. Ernie gave her a look that sent a shiver through her body. Hope put her hand over her mouth to hide her smile. She’d never seen anyone put Ernie in his place before.

“Tell me what you know of Hope’s family history.”

“Old man Reinhart and the wife were a couple of nuts. They gave away a baby neither wanted. The kid was as crazy as her parents. She grew up and had another cuckoo kid. It went on through two more generations. Hope is a screwball like her mother. I told her she cannot bring more nutty kids into the world.

Mr. Crandall, you do know mental illness is a treatable disease. Has Hope been treated by a medical doctor for her condition?”

“No, why waste money on those quacks. Hope will be fine if she doesn’t breed.”

The sorrowful look on Hope’s face saddened Jessica. The girl is as sane as anyone and deserves to raise a family with the man she loves.

“Mr. Crandall, what can you tell me about Sheila Scott?”

“So this is what it’s all about. A nosy broad is dead, and you need someone to blame it on. Well, it’s not going to be me. You will twist my words and make it sound like a confession. Come on, Hope. We are out of here.”

Hope gathered the courage she didn’t feel and told Ernie he could leave, but she would stay. “Ms. Donovan believes I’m innocent. I trust her and Ms. Gray more than I trust you.”

His frustration showed on Ernie’s face. He knew if he stayed longer, his anger would betray him. He stood up from his chair and left the room without saying another word.

“I’m sorry Ernie was so nasty. He says he has to be stern if he is to protect me. I am not protected at all by him.”

“Hope, what did you say to Charlie when you broke it off with him?”

“I said I didn’t love him and couldn’t marry him.”

“Did he try to convince you to stay with him?”

“Initially, he did, but after Ernie spoke to him, he stopped calling. He never really loved me.”

“You don’t know what Ernie said to Charlie. I doubt it was the truth. Why not give him a call. What have you got to lose?”

“What if I killed Sheila? What if I am insane? I can’t ask Charlie to love a person like me, Jessica.”

“You are the warm, loving person Charlie fell in love with. You didn’t kill anyone, and you are as sane as the rest of us.”

“Hope, it is time we involve the police. Detective Rick Madison is in Jessica’s office. I want you to talk to him. Jessica is right about Charlie; if he loves you, he will want to help you through this. We will leave you alone in my office if you want to call him.”

Somehow, Hope found the courage to dial Charlie’s number. He answered on the first ring.

“Charlie, It’s Hope!”

Chapter Eight

Charlie Dalton didn’t wait for an explanation. He pleaded with Hope to tell him where to find her. Cousin Ernie had secretly blocked Charlie from Hope’s phone. He claimed she had moved to California and changed her name. “You are dead to her, man. She doesn’t want you in her life.” 

He tried in vain to find her. The school semester was over. Ernie bribed her landlord to say she had moved away and left no forwarding address. Charlie kept the engagement ring he’d planned to give her in his pocket, close to his heart, hoping it would bring her back to him.

“I told Charlie to meet me here; he is on his way.”

Tears filled Hope’s eyes when Charlie walked through the door. She ran into his arms. “Will you ever forgive me?”

“I already have.”

Meredith and Jessica left the young people alone while meeting with Rick to discuss Hope’s involvement with Sheila.

“What is the cousin’s interest in this? If the so-called mental illness is on her mother’s side, it has nothing to do with him.”

“There must be something else. According to Sheila’s notes, the deaths in Hope’s family were the result of tragic accidents. I will share what the reporter uncovered in her investigation with you and Hope.”

The couple’s reunion was kept short. Charlie gave Hope the courage to talk with the police.

Everyone gathered together to hear what Jessica interpreted from the notebook.

Sheila agreed with Jessica’s theory that Chelsea suffered from severe, chronic depression. She suspected Adam feared his wife would neglect the unwanted baby and arranged for a family to keep her safe.

The baby grew to adulthood, married, and gave birth to a baby boy. While riding one day, her great-grandmother’s horse was spooked by a rattlesnake, causing her to be thrown from the animal. She never recovered from the fall.

Hope’s grandfather died in a barn fire. He did not set the blaze; it was caused by a lightning strike. The man rushed to the barn to release his horses. A beam collapsed, trapping him while the fire burned the building to the ground.

Her mother lost control of the family car when she ran into black ice during a winter storm. Skid marks were not visible due to the ice on the roadway.

“Sheila Scott investigated using the local newspaper archives and the library. She proved that your family members were victims of tragic accidents. Hope, no matter what your cousin told you. Mental illness does not run in your family.”

A sense of relief came over Hope. “I believed Ernie when he said I killed Sheila and blocked it from my mind. He has been manipulating me all along. He told me Charlie would leave me if he discovered the truth about my family.”

“I love you, Hope. If the stories about your ancestors had been true, my feelings would have been the same. If mental illness issues had resulted in their deaths, we would have dealt with them together. I could wring Ernie’s neck for causing you to doubt yourself and your sanity.”

“Hope, can you think of any reason Ernie would want you to believe you are unstable? Did he explain why he wanted Charlie out of your life? You didn’t seem close to each other when you were a child in the house.”

“We were never close. Uncle Cal paid little attention to his son. I remember my mom and dad laughing and playing with me. Aunt Sally was nice to me, but it was never the same. Ernie resented me being there. I tried to stay out of his way. Ernie still lives in his parents’ house. A small trust fund pays for my apartment and tuition. I left the Crandall home after Aunt Sally’s death.”

“How did you know Sheila?”

“I attended a lecture she had presented on investigative reporting. After hearing about my deranged family tree, I was intrigued. I contacted her, hoping for her help in uncovering the truth. The disguise was a bit much. Ernie’s revelations unnerved me, and I overreacted.”

“You were hiding from me.”

“Yes, Charlie. I couldn’t face bringing shame upon you and your family until I knew the truth. Sheila showed no sympathy for my plight. She admitted she was looking for a blockbuster story, and this could be it. I told her what I knew. She took notes and said she would contact me. I heard about her murder on the local news. Ernie told me I confessed to killing her. It is the reason I came to see you, Ms. Donovan.”

Rick assured the young woman she was not a suspect in the death of Sheila Scott. He planned to call Ernie Crandall to the station for questioning.

“There is something I neglected to mention; it may be nothing. I saw a cardboard box on Ernie’s bed. My curiosity got the better of me. While he was away from home, I stepped into his room to get a closer look. The box held a few trinkets and a leather-bound book. I recognized a ceramic cat that my mother kept in a bookcase in our living room. Aunt Sally must have stored the things in the attic and forgotten about them. The book was my mother’s journal. I recognized her handwriting. Ernie came in and stopped me from reading the entries. He was furious with me and accused me of stealing from him. I was terrified. I ran from the room, forgetting I had the ceramic cat in my pocket. What would he do with a journal written over ten years ago?”

Jessica was curious why Ernie had held on to Hope’s mother’s journal. Did he deprive her of reading her mother’s thoughts because of spite? From what she saw, she doubted the man had an ounce of empathy in his scrawny body. Why did Sally Crandall neglect to give the girl her mother’s treasures? Was it merely thoughtlessness, or did the woman have a more specific objective?

“We have done all we can for the day. Hope and Charlie need time to be together.” Meredith smiles at the couple, who are clearly in love.

“I’ll continue to work on Sheila’s notes. It should be easier now that I am familiar with her system. Rick, is it safe for Hope to return to her apartment?”

“Hope and I will go to my folks’ house. Dad has a big, lovable mutt who loves Hope as much as the rest of the family. With Bosco as a protector, Hope will be safe. Ernie is a danger; I don’t want him around her.”

“I’ll work on getting a search warrant. Considering the little evidence we have, I am not sure I will succeed, but it is worth a shot.”

Chapter Nine

Opening the door to her son, Carolyn Dalton is surprised to see Hope holding Charlie’s hand.

“Hope, it is lovely to see you,” Carolyn said, hiding her displeasure toward the girl for breaking her son’s heart.

“Mom, may we come in?”

Carolyn stood back, motioning the young couple inside.

“I thought you had moved to California, Hope. What brings you back to town?”

“Mrs. Dalton, I kept secrets from Charlie and you about my past. I thought I had no choice but to call off the engagement.”

Carolyn stared at the innocent young woman, wondering what secrets lay in her past.

“Mom, Hope’s cousin filled her head with blatant lies about her ancestors.”

“What is this talk about lies?” Charles Dalton entered the room. “Hope, is it your intention to break my son’s heart once more?”

“Dad, Hope thought she was doing the right thing. If you two will listen, we will explain the reason for her actions.”

After hearing the details of Ernie’s deception, the older couple offered comfort to their visitor.

“Mr. and Mrs. Dalton, you have always been kind to me, though I could never compete in your world. My aunt and uncle took me into their home after my parents were killed in an automobile accident. My uncle worked hard, but we lived frugally. I’m sure you would prefer Charlie marry someone within his social circle.”

Carolyn and Charles glanced at each other and laughed.

“Hope, my dear, you are a breath of fresh air. After you and Charlie parted ways, we were afraid he would fall into the clutches of Daphne Holbrook or Phoebe Worthington. Those two females are in competition to find the richest, most influential husbands in town.”

“Mother! Don’t make me cringe at the thought. I feel sorry for the poor saps who fall into their clutches.”

“Hope, I think you should know how Charles and I met. My mother was barely seventeen when she met my father. He was unlike the boys she had known. She fell in love and would sneak out of the house to meet him. The day she discovered she was expecting me was the day he hightailed it out of town. Mother insisted on keeping me. My grandparents took us in, though they were ashamed of my mother and her illegitimate child. I was seven when my mother ran into my birth father again. She hopped on his motorcycle with him. He was drunk and drove off the road. My mother died instantly. My father lived for three days before he succumbed to his injuries.

“While my grandparents loved me, they were older and more set in their ways. I was kept on a short leash out of fear that I would get into trouble as my mother did. After graduating high school, I became a waitress in an upscale restaurant. My intention was to meet a wealthy man.

“I’ll never forget the day Charles Dalton II walked through the door. He caught my eye immediately. I was thrilled when he was seated at a table in my station.”  Carolyn stared lovingly into Charles’ eyes. He smiled back.

“Carolyn didn’t know I’d asked to be seated where she was waiting tables. If there is such a thing as love at first sight, I experienced it that day.”

“His parents weren’t happy their son was marrying a waitress, but they came around eventually. I have always been honest about my upbringing, and people have accepted me for being me. So, you see, dear, I am in no position to judge you. You have brought a smile back to my son’s face; I am grateful for that.

“When this murder business is over, we can start planning your wedding. In the meantime, I wish you would call us mom and dad.”

Bosco plodded into the room, cuddling close to Hope and licking her cheek. She felt safe and a part of a real family. A tear fell from her eye. It was a happy tear.

***

At the police station…

“Rick, you asked about some guy named Ernest Crandall earlier. He’s in holding. He tried to break into an apartment on the east side.”

“Good, that saves me from tracking him down. He is of interest in the Scott murder case.”

***

Ernie was fit to be tied after his arrest. “My cousin lives in the apartment. She is bonkers. I had to stop her from killing herself. She has already murdered some dame in that fancy park in Brentwood.”

“Hello, Ernie. I’m Detective Rick Madison. I’m here to ask you some questions about a journal belonging to Hope Crandall.”

Ernie’s eyes lit up. How did he know about that journal?

“Are you going to tell me where to find it, or must I disturb the judge at this hour to issue a search warrant?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. I know nothing about a stupid journal.”

“Tell me, Ernie, did Sheila Scott find the journal? Is that why you killed her?”

“I didn’t kill the broad. My cousin Hope did. You guys should have arrested her by now. Leave me alone. I’m not saying another word without an attorney.”

“Have it your way, Ernie. If you harm one hair on Hope Crandall’s head, you will answer to me.”

“I’ll sue you for police brutality. You dumb cops are all alike.”

The search warrant can wait until morning. Rick was eager to spend time alone with Jessie.

***

Jessica finds personal references in Sheila’s notes. She was known to lack friends; it appears her notes were her only method of communication. To whom was she communicating? Herself? Someone she calls R is mentioned. There is a hint of animosity in her words. Could it be a relative, a co-worker, or an ex-lover? The woman is a puzzle. She shows coldness in one note and vulnerability in the next.

Jessica’s musings are interrupted by Rick’s familiar knock on her door.

“Hope is safe from Ernie. He will be spending the night behind bars. He tried to break into Hope’s apartment.”

“Was he after her or something of hers? Sheila’s thought process was jumbled. She seems to change subjects in the middle of a sentence. She was close to finding answers. I hope I can come to the same conclusions, but it won’t be easy.”

Rick suggested they forget about Sheila and her notes for tonight. Jessica poured Rick a beer, and they snuggled on the sofa to watch a silly movie and forget about journals, notebooks, and death; just for tonight.

Chapter Ten

Natalie calls her sister at the law office the following morning.

“Hi, Sis. I just dropped the kids off at Mom and Dad’s for a few hours. Dad wanted an excuse to go to the zoo today. Mom said you are thinking of driving to Logan. Would you like some company?”

“I wondered where Dad was hiding today. Good for him; he deserves a day off to relax.”

Natalie chuckled. “I don’t know how relaxing his day will be with Ryan and Leah.”

“They are high-spirited children. Dad loves it.”

“They take after their Aunt Jessie. What is the mission in Logan today? Another visit to that poor woman’s newspaper office?”

“Yes, I have questions for Kerri. The receptionist is a wealth of knowledge about the happenings there. I hoped she could shed light on some things. Rick has requested a search warrant for a suspect’s residence. He thinks it’s a long shot, but will give it a try.”

***

Jessica drives with Natalie in the passenger seat. Though the twins are opposites, in many ways, they are close friends.

“Did Gram call you yesterday? She remembered something she had heard about the Reinhart woman.”

“She didn’t call me while I was home. I’ll call her before her afternoon stories begin.” Everyone knows not to disturb Gram during her daytime favorites.

“Gram, it’s Jessica; Natalie is with me. She said you thought of something concerning Chelsea Reinhart.”

“Yes, I thought of something yesterday. It was something the workers found wedged into the floorboards of the Reinhart Mansion.”

Gram was silent. Jessica knew she was trying to remember what was found.

“A locket, a locket with a ring to attach a key. They thought it might be valuable, so they took it to the museum director. It was on display along with some other items salvaged from the house. I am sure it has no significance.”

“It might, Gram. Thanks for the information. I will see what I can find at the museum. You have piqued my interest.”

“Don’t do anything foolish, Jessica. Trouble always follows you when your curiosity is piqued.”

***

The Reinhart Mansion had housed government offices before the twins were born. If it were not for the flower gardens, the lives of the Reinharts would have been long forgotten.

“Let’s stop by the museum on the way back home.”

***

Kerri smiled when Jessica walked into the newspaper’s office.

“Ms. Gray, you came back. Oh my, this must be your sister. You look like twins.”

“We are twins. Jessica introduced the two women.”

“How is everyone holding up after Sheila’s death?”

 “Exceedingly well. Poor Sheila is not missed. This morning, I heard Mr. Hancock singing Ding Dong, the witch is dead. Almost no one gave money for flowers. It didn’t matter; I had no place to send them. I feel sorry for her.”

“She must have been a lonely woman.” Jessica knew from some of her notes; that she was also a troubled lady. “Have you thought of anything new that could help find her killer?”

  “Mr. Gates asked me to clean out her desk. Some papers had been taped to the bottom of the drawer. I found personal items and office supplies. Her things are in an envelope in my credenza. Mr. Gates said to keep it for a year; then toss it if no one asks for it.”

Kerri reached back, pulled out the envelope, and handed it to Jessica.

Jessica knew she shouldn’t read the papers. They appeared to be ripped from a journal. She took a deep breath and scanned the pages.

… Brad thinks the phone call was a hoax. Father claimed he had been orphaned as an infant and never knew his family. Why would he say it if it wasn’t true? The caller said Father’s grandmother was Chelsea Farrow, sole heir to the Farrow family estate. The courts declared her incompetent and demanded the money be returned to the estate. It never was. Is Brad right? Is someone playing a cruel joke on me?

… He called again. This time he said to look for Father’s metal box. Where would I find that? After the fire, the farm and its contents were sold. I remember a metal box. Father kept it on a high shelf. It must have been hauled away with the rest of the junk.

… I’m beginning to fear answering the telephone. I was told to check with First Bank of Logan for a safe-deposit box in Father’s name. I should forget it, but I must check it out.

…The bank requires a copy of Father’s death certificate. I can’t stop now.

… After all that, the only item in the box was a key. I told the caller the box was empty. I don’t think he believed me, but he stopped calling. I should dispose of the key, but I think I’ll keep it just in case.

“Jessica, this is becoming dangerous. Turn this stuff over to Rick and let the police handle it. Is Ernie the one who made the phone calls?”

“How would Ernie know the relationship between Hope’s grandfather and Chelsea Reinhart. Susan Crandall was unaware of her family history.”

“These pages were ripped from the journal and were in Sheila’s possession. Sheila is now dead. I wish you would give up your quest. It’s not safe.”

“You are right about turning these over to the police. Now that I have read the entries, I must find the journal. Where did Susan hide the key? Is it in the box Ernie had in his room? What does the key open?”

Chapter Eleven

After a quiet lunch on the way home, Jessica and Natalie stopped at the Brentwood Museum to look at the Reinhart relics. They had not paid attention to the small display before. The locket found in the turret's floorboards was placed in the center. The items included a lace handkerchief and a beaded tiara. Their younger photographs showed a somber, yet lovely couple. Adam was seated in an old Victorian chair with Chelsea standing behind him, her hand on his shoulder. Up-to-date postcards of the gardens completed the display.

The proprietor, Mr. Granger, approached the women. “Few folks stopped to admire this display. The rumors of the girl’s imprisonment still circulate after decades. Adam Reinhart has a kind face. I doubt he is guilty of abusing his wife. The young woman’s beauty takes your breath away. Her looks may have faded with age. Consequently, she became despondent and never recovered her sanity."

“I understand the locket was found between the floorboards of the mansion’s turret. Do you know if this is true?”

“This is my understanding. I remember when the workers brought it to me. The thing looked like someone had tried to destroy it. As you can see, there is a ring to hold a key. The key was never found. We cleaned it up as best we could. The scratches were caused by stepping on it while trying to stuff it into crevices on the floor. Of course, that is speculation on my part. There was a sense of mystery surrounding those two people. It’s easy to let my imagination go wild.”

Natalie stared at the locket. “I pictured a normal size locket with a small key. It is much bigger than I’d imagined.”

“The key must have been large as well. It was probably removed to make the locket light enough to wear.”

The sisters thanked Mr. Granger for his time. Jessica’s next stop would be the police station, where she would turn over the journal pages to Rick. There is no use denying she’d read them. He knows she caves when confronted with temptation.

“You are nervous about Rick’s reaction to those journal pages. Do you want me to go with you for moral support?”

“No, we had better get you home to the kids. Dad will have them overexcited enough for one day. I don’t want you to see me grovel for forgiveness.”

Natalie laughed, “I’ve never seen you grovel; it is a novel idea. Rick won’t stay mad; he’s crazy about you.”

Jessica smiles. She knows Rick loves her, but she has overstepped once too often. She should join the force as Rick suggested. No, she isn’t one to play by the rules. She wouldn’t last a day as a cop.

***

Leah and Ryan run to their mother and Aunt Jessie with remnants of cotton candy on their cheeks. Their Grandmother chases behind them, trying to wash their faces.

“Your father fed these two enough junk food to last a month. They are both on a sugar high.”

“That’s the job of being a grandfather. Spoil the kids rotten, feed them sugar, and send them home to their mothers.”  Steve Gray laughed. He’d also had his fill of sweet treats.

***

Jessica said her goodbyes. She hoped someday her children would be spoiled by their grandfather. Unless she stops interfering with Rick's police work, those children might never come.

***

“Hello, Sweetheart, what did you and Kerri talk about today? As if I didn’t know.”

“She said no one in the office is agonizing over Sheila’s demise, but we already knew that. Mr. Gates had Kerri clean out the vacant desk. She found two pages from Susan’s journal, taped to the underside of the drawer.”

“She found two pages, and you read them.”

“Are you mad?”

“No, not mad. Sheila’s things should have been turned over to the police, not given to you. Does Kerry know she could be in trouble for withholding evidence in a murder case?”

“Rick, she is a young girl. She didn’t know she was doing anything wrong. She would have given you the contents of the desk if you had asked for them.”

“She’s not in trouble. I should have handled it when I was there. I’ve been distracted by other cases. There has been a rash of criminal activity in the last few weeks. The entire department feels overwhelmed.”

“Are you saying you are grateful for my help?”

“I’m saying no such thing, but I will take what you have.”

Rick read the pages. “This is not about the Reinhart family. The focus is on the Farrow family. What do you make of it, Jessie?”

Jessica has no answers. The mystery becomes more baffling with each new revelation. She tells Rick about the locket and Mr. Granger’s speculation that someone tried to destroy it.

“How is our friend Ernie? Is he still behind bars?”

“No, he had an alibi for the day of Sheila’s murder. He’d been in a ruckus the night before at his favorite watering hole. Someone conked him over the head with a beer bottle. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and passed out in the ER. They let him sleep it off until the following day. He couldn’t have made it to Brentwood before she was killed. He was so relieved to be free that he gave us permission to search his house. We found nothing to link him to Sheila.”

“You didn’t find the cardboard box Hope saw in his room?”

“No, he denies having a box. He continues to claim Hope is deranged. The journal is somewhere. Sheila had her hands on it. Did she take it from Ernie, or was someone else involved?”

“Someone with the initial R. I’ll leave you to ponder the question while I go home to pour over Sheila’s notes again. That woman was a chronic note-taker. Will you be free later this evening? We can finish watching the movie we fell asleep through last night.”

“I’ll be there,” he smiles and winks.

As always, when she is with Rick, Jessica feels her heart skip a beat.

Chapter Twelve

TRTH CLS MST STP R. Jessica translated the letters to mean Sheila was close to discovering the truth. The R person needed to be stopped before finding the truth themselves. I hope I’m interpreting this stuff correctly. Whoever murdered Sheila could be a danger to Hope.

Jessica placed a call to Hope. She told her Ernie had been cleared of Sheila’s murder. “You still need to be cautious. It is good you are with Charlie’s family; you will be safe there.”

After I told the Daltons why I called off the engagement, they welcomed me into the family. They want me to call them mom and dad. Yesterday, I had no one. Today I have a family, including a big mutt named Bosco.

***

Hope offered to make dinner for the family. Her Aunt Sally was a good cook who made do with the little food they had in the house. Hope watched and learned from the woman and eventually took over much of the cooking duties.

“Son, you are not only marrying a looker, but you are also getting a fantastic cook in the bargain.” Charles glanced at his wife. “Almost as good as you, dear.”

Carolyn laughs. Cooking is not her strong suit. She is delighted to have Hope take over in the kitchen. "My grandmother believed a meal was better with a generous amount of salt added to every dish. Until I worked at a restaurant, I didn't know how tasty food could be.”

After dinner, Hope and Charlie walked in the neighborhood with Bosco on his leash. Hope couldn’t get her mind off the cardboard box in Ernie’s room and its contents. “I’m missing something, Charlie. I must have seen something familiar other than the journal and the ceramic cat.”

“That is the cat you have on a shelf in your apartment.”

“He’s the one. I remember him from our home. I don’t know the significance; my mother loved that little thing. It had a clapper inside that had broken loose. The bottom had a small hole making it difficult to re-attach. I only keep it because it is one of the few memories I have of my life before the accident. Am I being silly?”

“No, not at all. I only wish your parents were still here to see what a beautiful woman their daughter became. My dad’s mother displayed bells on a bookcase shelf. She let me ring them until it drove my father to distraction. Not one of them had a bottom. It would muffle the sound of the bell, wouldn’t it?”

“The cat does not sound like a bell. You are right, the ring is muffled. Maybe it is not a bell after all.”

***

Ernie Crandall’s head still throbbed from his hangover and his head injury the night before. It didn’t stop him from opening a beer. He thought about the day he met Sheila. She wasn’t much of a looker, but she smiled at him when she sat down at the bar in Dooley’s. Women rarely paid attention to the skinny guy with a chip on his shoulder.

He couldn’t believe his luck when she wrapped her arm around him and invited herself back to his place.

He didn’t notice the look of disgust when he guided her into the house. The stench of filth permeated the air. Sheila knew she must complete her mission before the little creep got too excited.

“What’s this I hear about a journal, Ernie?”

He stared at her questioningly.

“The journal or diary your aunt left for your cousin, Hope.”

“I don’t want to talk about my cousin.” He handed her a beer, but she declined, and he took a hefty swig. He was about to kiss her, but lost his footing and stumbled.

“Get me the diary, Ernie.”

He hoped by giving her the stupid diary she would shut up and he could finally have his way with her.

After fishing it out of the box in his bedroom, she told him to have a nice night and was out the door. She hadn’t noticed someone following close behind her as she walked back to her car.

As Ernie passed out on the couch, he wondered where Sheila had gone.

***

After their encounter, he waited at Dooley's for several nights in hopes that Sheila would walk through the door. Days later, he discovered his Aunt Susan’s diary was missing from the box. Though Ernie’s brain had been pickled by overindulgence, he realized Sheila had come on to him only to get her hands on the diary.

The tramp made a fool of me. I could kill her for the stunt.

He vowed not to fall for that trick again. He carried the box to a corner of the basement where it would be safe from Hope and her friend, Sheila.

***

Sheila's instincts told her that the answers to the Reinhart mystery lay within the pages of the journal. She’d almost given up on the sleepy town of Logan to provide a scoop to bring her to the attention of the national networks. It was the day after she visited Ernie’s house. Despite her best efforts, Sheila couldn’t get the stink of his place out of her nose. She took the book to a park by the newspaper’s office and began to read it there. The first twenty or so pages were about a happy family, nothing newsworthy, and nothing of interest to Sheila. She finally got to the part about phone calls to the writer. Sheila held two pages with her fingers when suddenly the book was grabbed from her hand with the two pages still between her fingers. The shock of the incident prevented her from seeing the thief. Nevertheless, she knew who was to blame.

Chapter Thirteen

Disturbing dreams filled Hope's night. Her mother and Sheila appeared before her telling her to find the key and warning her to let it go. She had an impulse to return to her apartment for the cat left with her mother’s things.

“I’ll go to your apartment with you. It might not be safe. You should call Jessica to meet you there. She has been a major player in this mystery.”

***

Jessica is glad to be included in the search. After receiving directions to Hope’s apartment near campus, she plans to meet Hope and Charlie there.

 Is it my imagination, or is that black sedan on my tail? It appears to be driven by a tall man or woman. That eliminates the diminutive Ernie. The car turns onto a side street, and Jessica continues her route.

She pulls in front of the apartment building as Hope and Charlie are exiting his car.

“Thanks for driving all this way, Jessica. I hope it is not all for nothing. We think my mother’s ceramic cat could hold a clue.”

  “The drive to Logan is not bad. I felt like someone was following me. It was a false alarm, and the mystery is causing my paranoia.”

“You have nothing to fear. You are as sane as I am. Oh, that is still up for debate, isn’t it?” Hope laughs as she opens the door to her apartment.

The place is little more than a room with a kitchenette and a tiny bathroom. The furniture is sparse with a small bookcase near the entry. It is neat and orderly, unlike Jessica’s first apartment as a college student.

Hope walks directly to the shelf where the cat is displayed. She picks him up lovingly. Jessica guesses Hope is thinking of her mother. She gently shakes the cat.

“There is something inside; it is not a clapper.”

Charlie uses a pair of tweezers he had borrowed from his mother’s house. He gently feels for the item inside. After several tries to grasp it, he pulls a key from its hiding place.

When the threesome realize they have no idea what the key opens, their excitement quickly fades.

“According to what we have been told, Chelsea spent many years cooped up in the turret. The room was untouched during the reconstruction. It’s a good place to start. We might need some help getting permission to explore the space. I’ll talk to my dad. He knows most of the city and county officials. Shall we head to Brentwood?”

***

The person waiting in the black sedan two blocks east of the apartment watched as the Crawford girl and her boyfriend followed the nosy one in her car. They found something; I can tell by the determination in their steps. If I follow them, Jessica will spot me. She came close to discovering I was behind her on the way here. I’ll go the back roads. It will take longer to get to Brentwood, but I’ll be safe from prying eyes as they head to the mansion.

***

Jessica places a call to her father. “Dad, do you think you could ask Dan Miller to let my friends and me do some investigation into the Reinhart Mansion turret? We are working on clues to the murder of the reporter in Chelsea Gardens.”

Steve’s first instinct is to tell his daughter to stop snooping. Can’t she find a safer hobby than tracking down killers? He knows she won’t listen to him. He agrees to talk to his friend Dan and get back to her.

I’ll call Kerri; she can tell me the staff members at the paper whose names begin with the letter R.

Kerri answers in her cheerful voice on the first ring.

“Sure, Jessica, I have a list of everyone.”  There is a pause while the girl reaches for the list. “Ron Holden is our tech guy. He could access Sheila’s computer without any trouble. I can’t see him as a murderer. He is a real family man with four or five kids.” 

Jessica suppresses a laugh. Kerri is turning into a fine investigator.

“Rebecca Flynn is a copywriter. She had a spinal injury several years ago. She walks with a cane. She would be unable to drag Sheila’s body into the bushes. Besides, she is too nice to be a killer. Josh Richards is a gopher around here. Despite his head always being in the clouds, he is a good kid. I can’t see him as a murderer either. Her killer could have been someone from her personal life, although she didn’t appear to have a personal life.”

“What about a fellow reporter. One she might have scooped with the Reinhart story or another big headliner?”

  “If only to get her out of Brentwood, the other reporters would have helped her with a blockbuster story. Mr. Hancock provided her with some leads. I heard Mr. Gray call him out on it. I am not much help, Jessica. I’ll think about it some more and ask around. Maybe someone knows something that will help.”

***

Jessica and her friends arrive at the old Reinhart Mansion. The receptionist in the main office directed them to Dan Miller’s office. “Mr. Miller is expecting you.”

“Jessica, your dad told me you are involved in another whodunit.” He turned to the newcomers. “Jessica Gray is known as Brentwood’s super sleuth.”

“Don’t give me credit yet, Mr. Miller. This thing has me baffled. The mystery spans over one hundred years. There is no one left to answer questions.”

Dan retrieved the key to the turret from the receptionist. “The place is used to store old computer equipment, typewriters, and that kind of thing. I don’t know why we keep all that stuff. Someone is waiting to resurrect the old Smith-Coronas.” No one laughed at his joke. They had never heard of a Smith-Corona.

Dan opens the door. Jessica is surprised by the bright sunshine streaming through the windows. “This place is cheerful, not the dungeon I imagined.”

Hope trembles when she walks into the room.

“Sweetheart, are you all right? You are shaking.”

"A strange feeling came over me seeing this place. I overreacted again.”

“Hope if it makes you uncomfortable, don’t come in. We will have a quick look around and leave.”

“No, you came to explore. I’m fine now. I want to know what is in here if anything.”  Hope looked out the window at the flowers. A peace came over her. Is this how Chelsea felt when she gazed out the window?

Jessica placed her hands on the wall, giving a nudge. “In all the old movies with a spooky mansion, there is always a secret passageway in the walls.” As the words spilled from her mouth, they heard a creaking sound. Jessica pushed harder; the wall moved slightly. Dan and Charlie pressed their hands against it and shoved it with all their might until the door opened. It is almost pitch black in the room, with the only light coming from the turret. Dan calls the maintenance man to bring him a flashlight..

         Two minutes later, Harvey Lynch walks into the room. “This place gives me the creeps, Boss. I’ll give you the flashlight, but I’m staying here by the door.”

Dan chuckles. He doesn’t feel comfortable in the place either. The room is empty except for a small bench. On top of the bench is a metal box. Dan brings it into the sunlit room.

“That is my grandfather’s metal box. I recognize the stickers on the sides. How did it get here? Did he know Chelsea Reinhart was his grandmother?” Hope inserted the key into the hole and the box opened, revealing a hand-drawn map.

“It’s a hoax. Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to play a joke. I was young when my grandfather died in the fire. I had forgotten about the box until now. He kept it in his workshop on a high shelf. He told me I couldn’t touch it, and I didn’t, but that didn’t stop me from being curious. My mother said there was nothing special in there, just some old papers he’d saved. I don’t understand any of this, Jessica.”

Chapter Fourteen

With the map in hand, the threesome thanked Dan for his help and set out to search for the next clue.

The map directs them to the bushes in Chelsea Gardens near where Sheila’s body was discovered. Jessica and Hope stand guard while Charlie digs around with a trowel to find something buried. After several minutes, he hits something solid. He removes an old, rusty, ornate container, leaving a large hole in the dirt.

“Let’s get this thing out of here before someone sees what we are up to.”

“Charlie, we can’t just take the thing with us. It is stealing.”

“Sweetheart, if you want answers, a bit of larceny is in order.”

“I’ll carry it to the car, so you won’t be blamed. My dad is a defense attorney; he’ll get me off if I’m charged.”

***

Slumped in the car, someone watches every move they make. Following them without being seen will be difficult. The snoopy one has spotted my car.

“There is a black sedan parked in the parking lot. The driver is slouched in his seat. The same car followed me to Hope's apartment earlier today. We will take your car, Charlie; it might not be spotted as easily as mine.”

Even though Hope is nervous about breaking the law, she is having a great time helping Jessica unravel the mystery.

“When I grow up, I want to be you, Jessica.”

Jessica laughs, keeping her eye out for the black sedan. Charlie takes backroads and makes extra turns to avoid being followed by the black sedan. He lets the women out at the front door of the building and parks out of sight in the parking lot next door.

***

Meredith’s eyes widen when Jessica walks into her office carrying the old relic. Jessica sets the dirty container on the conference table after Hope covers the wood with sheets of newspaper.

“I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“Probably not. Do you have a screwdriver or something to open this thing? I think it’s rusted shut.”

“I have a letter opener, but I think you will need a crowbar. What do you suppose is in there? Human bones?”

“I have no clue, but I can tell you the thing weighs a ton.”

Charlie walks into the office carrying a chisel and a hammer. It takes some work, but he loosens the lid. Gingerly, he opens the box. There is a collective gasp in the room.

“If this stuff is real, it is worth a fortune,” said Meredith. “Jessica, I want you to call Rick immediately. You three have broken the law and made me an accomplice.”

“Hope, relax; if anyone is in trouble, it is me.”

“I won’t let you take the blame. You are in this because of me. If you go to jail, I will go too.”

“No one is going to jail. Make the call. I want this thing out of my office.”

***

“Why didn’t you call me before you dug this thing up? I should have you arrested for theft of public property.”

“Rick, this box was buried illegally. It is the property of Chelsea Farrow Reinhart and her descendants. That means it belongs to Hope. We only took what was rightfully hers.”

“I would challenge your lack of evidence, but we need to get this stuff out of here and locked up.”

         Rick instructs the officers to get the box and its contents to the station quickly. He calls a jewelry appraiser, who is eager to check out the mysterious pieces found buried in Chelsea Gardens.

Jessica felt her hackles rise. Rick is being a jerk. She is tempted to give him a kick in the shins, but he would probably have her arrested for attacking a police officer.

“Will you allow us to witness the appraiser examining the gems?”

The tone of her voice alerts Rick to her fury. He is torn between taking her in his arms and slapping cuffs on her wrists. This woman can be so exasperating and so beautiful at the same time.

“Jessie, I can’t allow that. I will let you know what I can. I must follow procedure.”

***

Jessica’s phone rang. She scowled at Rick before answering the call.

“Jessica,” said Kerri in a voice barely recognizable.

“Kerri, what is wrong. Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m just scared after what I’ve done.”

“Slow down, tell me what is troubling you.”

“Mr. Hancock left the office earlier. I was getting ready to leave for the day and noticed his overhead light was on. I went to turn it off and saw a book on his desk. Jessica, it’s the journal you have been looking for. I swiped it. I have always called him Mr. Hancock; his first name is Bob. That’s short for Robert. He could be the R in Sheila’s notes. As I said before, no one around here was sorry about Sheila’s death, but Mr. Hancock was positively gleeful.”

“Does Mr. Hancock drive a black sedan by any chance?”

“Yes, he does. He has his own parking spot. I see his car parked there every morning. What should I do with the journal? Do you want me to bring it to you in Brentwood?”

“Can we meet at the rest area between here and Logan?”

“I’m on my way.”

***

Charlie drops Jessica off at her car. The black sedan is nowhere in sight. She is certain it is Sheila’s fellow reporter, Robert (Bob) Hancock, who was following her earlier. What was he after? Was it the box filled with gems? Did he kill Sheila to take credit for an exposé on a long-dead family? There are more questions than answers in the case.

Jessica drives while carefully watching for other cars. Hancock could appear at any time. She is afraid for Kerri. The girl took a chance removing Susan’s journal from his office. Jessica couldn’t bear something happening to the young woman if the reporter catches her handing the book over to Jessica.

***

“Hi, Jessica. I’ve been watching for Mr. Hancock’s car. He didn’t follow you.”

“I hope you don’t get into trouble because of this.”

“Me, in trouble? How about the man who stole the lady’s private thoughts? Although I was tempted to see what she had written, I didn't want to invade her privacy."

“You are a good person, Kerri. Luckily, I don’t have the same moral standards. Get going, I don’t want you to be seen aiding and abetting.”

As Jessica returned to her car, her phone rang. The ringtone means it is Rick.

"I don't want to talk to you if you are calling to yell at me again."

“Jessica, get to the police station as soon as you can. Bring your friends with you. You won’t believe what you uncovered today. Forget how mad you are at me and get down here.”

“You are scaring me, Rick. How much trouble am I in?”

“Probably none. You might have solved a hundred-year-old crime.”

“Jessica called Charlie and Hope to meet her at the police station. We are not in trouble; it sounds like it might be the opposite.”

The nearly forgotten journal is on the front seat of the car. She places it in her purse for safekeeping. I’m not letting this thing out of my sight.

Chapter Fifteen

Jessica’s chin fell when she saw the FBI insignia on cars parked outside the police station. Rick said she was not in trouble, but she wondered if it was a ruse to trap her for retrieving the gems.

Anticipating her arrival, Rick met her at the door.

“The agents want to talk to you. The gems you found are the real thing and part of an unsolved smuggling ring from the last century. They want to know what led you to discover a fortune in stolen precious stones.”

The usually calm and collected Jessica Gray shuddered. “Why didn’t I call you instead of digging that box out of the ground? It’s all my fault, Charlie and Hope are not to blame for my stupid behavior.”

Rick agreed she should have called the authorities, but he also knew when Jessica made up her mind, she felt compelled to follow through. He told her they simply want information.

The FBI agents were pleasant to her. They were more interested in how she found the gems than why she removed them from the place they’d been buried years before. Jessica told them she followed clues taken from a journal. A mysterious box held a handwritten map found in the turret. The map led to finding the box. She tried to keep Charlie and Hope’s names out of it, but they were willing to tell what they knew.

“Ms. Crandall, you believe you are a descendant of Chelsea Farrow Reinhart; is that correct?”

“Yes, sir, I believe so.”

“Are you planning to claim the gems as your own, ma’am?”

“The answer is no, sir. Why would I be entitled to stolen items? I have been told my ancestor’s sanity is questionable. I hate to think I’m related to crooks as well.”

“Possibly only one crook,” the agent chuckled. “Judge Herbert Farrow is believed to have been implicated in a smuggling ring. His involvement was never proven, and the gems were never discovered. Until now.”

Jessica mentioned Sheila Scott’s investigation. She believed the reporter knew of the existence of the gems. She had an accomplice to help her locate and remove the box. Then she was bludgeoned to death. Her body was discovered near the box.

“An accomplice, you say?”

“I caught a fellow reporter, Bob Hancock, following me in his car. From what I hear, they were rivals at the newspaper.”

As Jessica leaves the interrogation room, she runs into a man in his late fifties.

“Hello, Ms. Gray; read any good books lately?”

Jessica scowls at him; he is the man who followed her. He is referring to the journal she carries in her purse.

As Jessica stares into the face of a murderer, she shivers. She wants to look away, but can’t. The glint in his eyes tells her this man is not a killer.

“Why were you following me today, Mr. Hancock?”

“I didn’t intend to frighten you. You have information about the location of the gems. Sheila and I were not friends. The truth is, I could not stand the woman. However, she was an excellent reporter. She had instincts beyond any I’d ever experienced before. When your friend, Hope Crandall, came to her to tell her story, it opened up new secrets. Sheila was determined to find the answers. It is a complicated story with few folks left to fill in the blanks.”

“Why did you lose interest?”

“The story lost relevance after the gems were found. A smuggling ring from a century ago would be headlines for a day. People don’t care about stuff like that. Farrow was a prominent judge involved in the crime, but no one remembers his name. In other words, the story would not sell newspapers.

“Sheila had a theory about Chelsea Farrow. The girl was obsessed with her beauty. Did you know she had mirrors on every wall in her bedroom? Over the years, too many late-night parties and too much champagne took a toll on her lovely face. Sheila thinks she looked in the mirror and saw her perfect face aging. Her depression worsened when she learned she was pregnant, thinking it would ruin her figure.

“The woman sat and stared at the gardens all day. From the window she might have seen her father bury the box of gems. In Chelsea’s delusional mind, it could have been a body, maybe even her body. Who knows what went through her mind.”

“I think Sheila might have been correct. You could have joined our little party; you didn’t have to follow me. This cloak and dagger stuff isn’t for you. You are terrible at it.”

“I take it you don’t believe I murdered Sheila.”

“No, but someone did. I would like to know why and who. That would make a good story, wouldn’t you think?”

“Yes, Sheila deserves her fifteen minutes of fame. After all, she won’t be available when the national networks call her.” 

“You did not like her, did you?”             

“I did not like her. Maybe because she was smarter than I am.”

“Cavorting with the enemy, I see.”

“Hi Rick, meet Bob Hancock. I was wrong about him being a murderer. Bob, this is my significant other, Detective Rick Madison.”

“Detective? Hmmm, I will be more careful about who I stalk in the future.”

Chapter Sixteen

Jessica debated turning over the journal to the FBI agent. The entries were made long before Sheila discovered its existence. Hope might never see it or be able to read her mother’s thoughts. She did not remove it from her purse until she was in the privacy of her apartment.

Most entries were of a personal nature. Susan’s love for Hope and her husband showed through. Jessica skipped through her private thoughts until the mysterious caller was mentioned again.

…The mystery man called again. He told me I held the key to a treasure that was partly his. I thought he had given up calling after I lied about finding Father’s safe-deposit box empty. Brad tells me not to answer the telephone when he calls. He is right; the man only manages to upset me.

…He calls me once a week at the same time of day. Brad believes he is calling from prison, where his phone calls are limited to a strict schedule. Since he is not making threats, they cannot trace the calls. I should not answer the telephone, but I can’t help myself.             

…Brad arranged to have our phone number changed. It is now unlisted.

It was the last entry made in the journal. Based on that date, Susan Crandall died the following day.

Jessica’s heart broke for Hope. Losing both her parents had to be devastating to her. She makes copies of the entries concerning the phone calls and will give Hope her mother’s journal.

She made herself a salad and sat at the table, going over Sheila’s notes again. She re-reads the references to R. Why didn’t I see this before? Sheila Scott was in love with Bob Hancock. Even in her notes, she tried to hide it. She must have been heartbroken when her feelings were not returned.

***

“How is the research going?” Rick asked when he stopped by the apartment to pick her up for dinner. Jessica had been engrossed in her task and didn’t realize the time.

They arrived at the restaurant, finding a table away from the noisy bar. It had been a long and tiring day. Jessica felt the need to order her grandmother’s favorite drink, a vodka martini, straight up with a twist.

“You have had a busy day discovering hidden treasures and confronting your stalker. Are you sure he is not Sheila’s killer?”

“I am sure of it, just as I am sure Sheila was madly in love with Bob Hancock. It is evident from her notes that she had feelings for him. Bob told me he couldn’t stand the woman. He’s clueless about her affection for him.”

“That’s a switch from your first impression that the ill feelings were mutual. Did you discover any other tidbits from the dragon lady’s notes?”

“She talks about the KD. The letters could stand for the word kid. Kerri mentioned a young man who is a gopher at the station. She doesn’t see him as a murderer, but anyone can snap if provoked. Sheila Scott was known for infuriating her co-workers.”

***

Ernie Crandall sat at his favorite barstool at Dooley’s. He was told if he shot his mouth off, he’d be thrown out on his ear. Dooley had been warned the sheriff would shut him down if his patrons caused more trouble. He felt sorry for the little guy. If ever there was a loser, it was Ernie. He was on the verge of being evicted from his family’s home. It wasn’t much of a house, but better than living on the streets.

The local news broadcast played behind the bar. Ernie looked up and saw his cousin, Hope, talking to a reporter.

“Hey, Dooley, turn up the sound.”

Dooley glared at him.

“Please, Mr. Dooley, my cousin is on television.”’

Dooley grabbed the remote and stared at the set. “Where’s your cousin, Ernie.”

“The girl who is talking to the press. They say a box filled with gems was found in Chelsea Gardens. The place was named after a great-grandmother or some relative of hers. She’ll be worth a bundle when she cashes in on that stuff.”

“She won’t make a penny on it,” said another customer. “The chick’s ancestor smuggled it into this country. It’s stolen merchandise, stupid.”

“Don’t call me stupid. My cousin will be rich, and so will I. We are kin, and kin takes care of one another.”

“Look at her, you ugly little twerp! She’s a good-looking broad. Why would she give you her money?”

The other customers laughed. Ernie saw red and started swinging. Although he missed any of the men, one of their blows knocked him down. He hit his head on the table and collapsed on the floor. Dooley and the bouncer carried him outside near the river to sleep it off. His body was found the next morning. He had tried to stand and fell into the water face first. He lacked the strength to pull himself out of the water. His death was recorded as an accidental drowning.

***

Bob Hancock arrived at the newspaper office. Kerri sat contritely behind her desk. She liked Mr. Hancock; he had always been kind to her and treated her as a co-worker, not a flunky to be ignored like Sheila.

His presence sparked a touch of fear in her eyes. “Kerri, you did the right thing. I should not have snatched the journal from Sheila’s hands. I’d planned to turn it over to the authorities but inadvertently left it on my desk. I never hid my dislike of the woman, but I didn’t murder her.”

“I overstepped my boundaries, Mr. Hancock. I am sorry about that and for doubting you. I got caught up in Jessica’s passion for crime-solving. I’ll leave the investigative work to you and stick with answering the telephone from now on.”

Bob smiles at the girl. She has good instincts. She had spotted Sheila as a conniving witch the day she met her.

“Kerri, have you ever thought of becoming a reporter? Newspapers are headed for extinction, but there are other outlets for reporting the news.”

“Mr. Hancock, it would be a dream come true for me. It is just Mom, me, and my little brother at home. There isn’t enough extra money for tuition at the university.”

“There are scholarships and grants available. I have a few connections with the university administration. Does Mr. Gates know your interest in journalism? He is a good source for securing financial aid.”

Kerri’s eyes sparkled with hope. “You would do that for me after what I did?”

“Yes, a good investigative reporter takes chances and never apologizes for stepping on toes. I’ll be here to guide you along the way. We’ll make a journalist out of you yet.”

***

Kerri thought she was dreaming. When she walked into the office an hour ago, she expected to be fired for her prank yesterday. Now, she can hear Mr. Hancock talking to someone on the phone about enrolling her in college.

Josh Reynolds stops at her desk. “What was Hancock talking to you about? Has he figured out who killed the dragon lady?”

“The woman is dead, Josh. Can’t we let her rest in peace instead of calling her names?”

“What’s up with the attitude? I thought you hated her as much as the rest of us.”

“She was a human being; let’s leave it at that.”

Josh’s tone changed. “What did you hear about the loot they found in Brentwood? When do the judge’s descendants get to cash in?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you read your own newspaper? They found a stash filled with gems. I heard the find was in the billions.”

A stack of the latest edition of the Logan Daily news rested on Kerri’s desk. She glanced at the headline. The fear of losing her job distracted her from reading the paper when she got to work this morning.

“Jessica is the one who discovered the treasure. It won’t be long before she solves the murder as well.”

Josh’s pager sounded, alerting him his services were needed in the newsroom. He walked off in a huff. I cannot wait to ditch this stupid job.

Chapter Seventeen

While Jessica thought Bob Hancock would be okay with Kerri's interference, she was worried that he might have given her grief over it. Kerri assured her that Mr. Hancock was not upset and offered to help her apply for college classes at the university.

 “Kerri that is terrific news; you will make a great journalist.”

Jessica asked how many people her age worked for the newspaper. The reference to the kid deciphered from Sheila's notes came to mind.

“Josh Reynolds and I are the youngest here. We are the only ones who started right out of high school. The others have college degrees or have worked other jobs in the industry.”

“What do you know about Josh? Will he pursue a career in the news business?”

“I doubt he has considered his future. I like Josh, but he is not the least bit ambitious. He says he’s biding his time until the money comes rolling in. The guy is a dreamer. I don’t know where he thinks the money will come from.”

“How close were he and Sheila?”

         “Sheila didn't acknowledge him until Hope Crandall came to see her. Josh barged into Sheila's office after Hope left. I heard her scream for him to get out. He spent another half hour or so with her. From then on, they were always together. Today, he called her the dragon lady and said everyone hated her. It is true, but he is a hypocrite, it rubbed me the wrong way.”

Jessica is convinced Sheila knew about the treasure and coerced Josh into helping her find it. He expected a windfall, according to his conversations with Kerri. Was he merely gullible, or did he have knowledge of the gems?

Joshua Richards, Logan, New York, age twenty, appeared on her screen. Josh is the only child of Albert and Marie Richards. She found little information on the young man. On a hunch, she searched for Albert Richards. The man is serving twenty years in prison. His full name is Albert Farrow Richards. Is it possible Josh is related to Hope? Sheila knew the connection. The answers are in her notes.

“Hope, it’s Jessica. This question might sound strange; are you positive you are the only living relative of Herbert Farrow?”

“At this point, nothing would surprise me. Chelsea's daughter gave birth to only one child, as far as I know. The pattern continued. I’m sorry to be so distracted, Jessica. I just received a call about Ernie. He died when he fell into the river. It is no surprise he was drunk. He was a nasty little man, but it makes me sad that he died alone and unloved.”

“Hope, I am sorry. Maybe he has found the peace that was not afforded to him in life.”

“The sheriff said he could be buried in a pauper’s grave outside of town. Charlie insists we give him a proper burial next to his parents.”

“Charlie is a good man. Let me know when you plan the service. I’d like to be there.”

“Thanks, Jessica. That would mean a lot. Why are you asking about relations? Is someone looking to cash in on the gems?”

“Not yet, if at all. I want to do more checking, and I’ll get back to you if I come up with anything new.”

***

Jessica studied each paragraph of Sheila’s notes with refreshed eyes. A young person was definitely in on the scheme. Susan had written in her journal that she and her husband suspected the mystery caller was in prison because there was a pattern to the calls. Could the kid be Josh? Did his father know about the treasure? Was Sheila too close to uncovering secrets of the past?

***

From her office, Jessica heard a male voice shout her name. Josh Richards barged into her office with Allison following behind.

“I’m sorry, Jessica; I couldn’t stop him. I’ll call the building security.”

“It’s all right, Allison. I’ll speak with Mr. Richards.”

“How do you know my name? Did Kerri tell you about me?”

“Your name came up when we discussed Sheila Scott and her unfortunate passing. What do you want from me, Josh?”

“You are Hope Crandall’s lawyer. I want half the money from the loot you found. It’s rightfully mine.”

“First, I am not Hope’s lawyer. Even though I studied law, I do not have a degree or a license to practice. Second, no one is the rightful owner of the gems. They were smuggled into this country illegally. They are in the hands of the FBI. If you feel you have a claim to them, I suggest you contact them.”

The young man looked crestfallen. Jessica’s words began to sink in. Josh would not be living in the lap of luxury as he’d always envisioned.

Jessica encouraged Josh to tell her why he felt entitled to the gems.

“Hope Crandall and I are the descendants of Herbert Farrow. The only difference is Hope’s family is legitimate. It doesn’t matter how we came into this world; it’s that we are both heirs to the Farrow fortune.”

“Josh, even if that is true, there is no fortune to be had. What fortune Judge Farrow had was gone years ago. Except for Chelsea Farrow Reinhart, the man had no known offspring. Are you aware Adam Reinhart gave Chelsea’s baby to someone else to raise? The truth didn’t come out until years later.”

“My dad was convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and was sentenced to twenty years in prison. He had a lot of time on his hands and researched the Richards family tree. Old Judge Farrow had his fun with a barmaid and knocked her up. My dad calls it born on the wrong side of the blanket.”

“Did Sheila Scott have this information?”

“Yes, I told her.”

“What made your father suspect there was more to your family history?”

“He said he’d heard stories all his life. The barmaid told a few people about the old guy. Dad says he paid her hush money, but she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Their kid knew he was born out of wedlock and kept the story going through the next generation.”

“How did your father know about the treasure?”

“He didn’t know for sure. His old man told him about a key that was stashed somewhere. My dad wouldn’t give up trying to find the names of the judge’s other kid and his family.”

Jessica wondered if Josh knew his father contacted Susan Crandall, insisting she locates the key to the box that held the map of the buried gems. Though the young man had a boyishness about him, he looked like he carried a weight on his shoulders.

“Josh, when you came in here, you needed legal advice. I can’t help you. Meredith Donovan is in her office; she is a lawyer. Would you like to talk to her?”

“I’ll talk to her if she can get me my money.”

“Stay here, I’ll ask her to come in.”

Jessica hurried to Meredith’s office. She quickly explained the situation. “I don’t know what Sheila told him, but she and his father have done a number on the boy. I can’t make him understand that the money is not his.”

“Do you think he killed Sheila?”

“It is a possibility.”

Chapter Eighteen

Josh followed Jessica to Meredith’s office. She returned to her desk to call Rick, leaving them alone to talk. Jessica asked Rick to check the records of Albert Richards, a prisoner.

“Albert Farrow Richards was sentenced to twenty years in the state pen for armed robbery and assaulting a security guard. He was a model prisoner and granted an early release. Richards is one of many inmates benefiting from prison overcrowding. What is his connection to Sheila Scott?”

Jessica’s heart skipped. “If the man is free, he could well be a killer. He has filled his son’s head with nonsense. Josh Richards is a naïve young man who believes he will collect on the gems found in Chelsea Gardens.”

“Josh is the kid who works at the newspaper office in Logan. Has he implicated his father in the murder?”

“No, he said nothing about the murder. His father spent time researching his lineage. Albert heard tales of an affair between a barmaid and Herbert Farrow. Josh insists he and his father are descendants of the judge and entitled to cash in on the smuggled gems.”

“Good luck with that. Does the lad know the loot belongs to the FBI?”

“He knows but doesn’t think it is an obstacle to getting it. There is no telling what his father said to him to make him believe he would reap the benefits of his ancestor’s ill-gotten gains.”

Rick asked Jessica to keep Josh in the building. He wanted to talk to him about his father. “When I hear someone referred to as a model prisoner, it makes me wonder. This guy was serving time for assault and armed robbery. It is a miraculous change.”

***

Jessica became engrossed in Sheila’s notes about the presence of a man who made her feel uncomfortable. Could it be Albert Richards? Did Josh tell his father that Sheila had a hunch about the buried treasure?

“Are you Jessica? “A gruff voice called out.

Jessica looked up, seeing a stranger standing in her doorway.

“How did you get in here?” Allison must be on a break; no one gets by her unannounced.

He ignored her question. “You found my stuff. I want it back.”

“Mr. Richards,” she said, knowing it must be him. “I do not have the smuggled gems. You need to contact the FBI. Even if I wanted the box back, they would not give it to me."  Jessica could feel herself beginning to tremble. There was evil in the man's eyes. He killed Sheila; she is sure of it. If she set him off for any reason, he would kill her as well.

“Tell me why you believe you are a descendant of Herbert Farrow.”

“My father told me Judge Farrow took advantage of an innocent girl and ruined her life. She was an outcast because her kid had no father. The judge never acknowledged the girl or her kid. It’s only fitting that his legitimate daughter gave his grandchild away to strangers. It served him right.”

“You realize, the judge’s only descendant is not wealthy. She lives a simple life as a student at the university. Her parents were killed in an automobile accident when she was young. She was taken in by an aunt and uncle. Her life has not been an easy one.”

“I knew her mother. Well, let’s say I talked to her on the telephone. The woman lied to me about finding a key her old man had hidden from the other family. It didn’t matter; Sheila figured out where they buried the treasure. She wanted Josh to help her dig it up, but the stupid kid got cold feet.”

“So, you offered to help her.”

“Of course, I’d been waiting half my life to cash in on that junk. The only reason she wanted the stuff was to give her a story. After that, she would give my loot to the cops, and I would have nothing. After years of being second-class citizens, my family would be vindicated. She had to go.”

“Does Josh know you killed Sheila?”

“No, I told him some drunk bopped her over the head. The kid is stupid; he believes anything, I tell him.”

Josh watches in horror as his father aims a gun at Jessica, telling her to call the FBI to bring back his stuff or he will kill her and everyone in the building.

“Dad!” Josh shouts. “What are you doing?”

Josh’s voice startles Albert, he turns abruptly with his finger still on the trigger. The gun fires, a bullet pierces Josh’s body as he falls to the floor.

Albert’s blood-curdling scream echoes throughout the building. His face turns white, he stares at Jessica with venom in his cold eyes. Rick pushes through the doorway, wrestling the weapon from Albert’s hand while subduing him.

Josh is dazed but coherent. The bullet merely grazed his shoulder.

“Why Dad? Why did you shoot me?”

It was as though a bell had gone off in the young man’s head. He saw his father for the coward he was. Josh believed him when he said he was wrongly imprisoned. He believed him when he said the money from the gems was rightfully theirs. He believed him when he said a vagrant killed Sheila. He believed everything the man told him.

“You killed Sheila, didn’t you?”

“She betrayed me, Son. I had to stop her from giving my inheritance away. Don’t you see, it was up to you and me to change history? With all that money, no one would call us illegitimate. We are Farrows, and we deserve to be recognized as such.” 

Albert Farrow Richards began to laugh, a maniacal laugh. The man who Josh thought was larger than life fell to pieces before his son’s eyes.

***

After the officers had hauled Albert away, they transported Josh to the hospital, where he received stitches for his wound.

Jessica sat with the broken young man. “I’m sorry for my part in my father’s plan. He has told me all my life that I am stupid; he was right.”

“You are not stupid, Josh. You trusted your father. The man let his resentment build through the years until it took over his life. You thought you were righting a wrong.”

“My dad wasn’t much, but he was my only kin. I am alone in the world.”

Hope poked her head in the door. “You have me, Josh. We are distant cousins and that makes us family.”

The word family brought a smile to Josh’s face. “I would like us to be family, Hope. Jessica, I’m not alone after all.”

“Jessica, I have one question. How did my grandfather’s metal box get behind the wall of the turret?”

“Do you believe in ghosts, Hope?” Jessica said shrugging her shoulders.”

Epilogue

Five years later:

After graduation, Hope and Charlie were married in the Dalton backyard. Hope teaches third grade at an elementary school near their home. They welcomed their son, Andrew, two years ago. Continuing the Dalton tradition, Hope suggested naming the boy Charles IV. Both his father and grandfather felt the boy should have his own name. Hope is expecting their second child, a girl, in the fall. She will be named Susan Carolyn Dalton after her two grandmothers.

Josh has become an honorary Dalton. He accepted that he would not be the recipient of easy money. He enrolled in the community college and continues to attend classes at the university. He met and fell in love with a classmate named Elizabeth. Once again, the Dalton backyard will be the scene of a wedding.

Josh and Hope both have found the family of their dreams.

Though a staple in the community for years, the Logan Daily News could not compete with other news outlets and closed its doors. Robert Hancock claimed newspaper ink ran through his veins. He had always been a newspaperman and had no intention of changing now. He packed up his typewriter and retired. As he sat in his recliner in his home by the seashore, Bob’s smiled when Kerri came on his television screen to report breaking news. The young girl he mentored had become a first-class reporter. If only Sheila Scott could see the newspaper’s receptionist covering a story on the national news.

“What’s so funny, Bobby?” His long-time girlfriend, Rochelle, asked while handing him a cold beer.

“I’m enjoying the thought of my old nemesis getting her comeuppance. From the great beyond, the woman is undoubtedly green with envy.”

Albert Farrow Richards died of a brain tumor three months after his encounter with Jessica. It gave Josh comfort to know his father's medical condition played a role in his regrettable choices.

Coming Soon:

Murder at Cromwell Enterprises

A Jessica Gray Cozy Mystery

Jessica Gray is an innocent bystander at the Franklin Cromwell Enterprises monthly board meeting. The meeting ends abruptly when a bullet pierces the company president’s heart. The suspects multiply as Jessica hones her sleuthing skills.