The Ghost of Marlow House (Haunting Danielle Book 1) (20 page)

Danielle wondered if Lily would be out
late. Glancing at the clock on her dresser she noted the time. It was a few
minutes past 9 p.m. The house was quiet with Lily gone, and it had been hours
since she’d seen Walt.
Where does he go?
She wondered. From what she
understood he couldn’t leave the house.
He must be somewhere.

Alone in her bedroom, Danielle looked around.
Her gaze fixed on the fireplace. Walking to it, she paused a moment before
putting out her right hand and caressing the paneling, looking for lose boards.
Dropping to her knees, she looked inside the fireplace. She imagined it had
been almost 90 years since anyone had built a fire in the brick firebox.
Sticking her head inside, she reached up, searching for the flue.

“Looking for something?” Walt asked.

Danielle jumped in surprised, knocking
her head against the brick. Crying out in pain she grabbed her forehead and
climbed out of the fireplace.

“I told you not to sneak up on me like
that!” she snapped, still rubbing her injury.

“Sorry, but you looked a little
ridiculous.” Walt watched Danielle who now sat on the floor, her back leaning
against the wall as she massaged her forehead.

Glaring at Walt, who now sat casually on
the edge of her bed, a thought flashed in her mind. “Don’t tell me, you put it
under your mattress,” she accused.

“Under the mattress?” Walt glanced down
at the bedspread. “If I did, then that would mean it was gone—carried off when
they delivered the new beds.”

“Wait a minute…no…when we discussed the
new beds you didn’t seem upset about them removing the old ones. So, no I don’t
think you put it there.”

“Why would I care if they took it? I’m
dead. What am I going to do with it?”

“But you didn’t realize you were dead.
Not then.”

“True. You have a point. But I didn’t
come here to discuss the necklace.”

“Why did you come here?”

“You never told me what you learned in
Astoria this morning.”

“Before we discuss that, I’d like you to
first tell me why, if you have no use for the necklace, then why can’t you just
tell me where it’s hidden?” She wanted to ask him why he stole it in the first
place. In his time Walt Marlow was a rich man. When they initially discussed
the theft his “
I had my reasons”
response made it clear he had no intentions
of sharing those reasons with her.

“Do you intend to keep it for yourself
or sell it?” Walt asked.

“What? I only want to find it so I don’t
have people like Adam breaking in here searching for hidden treasure.” Danielle
stopped rubbing her forehead.

“But after you find it, what do you
intend to do with it?”

“I suppose give it back to its rightful
owner.”

“Are you saying you wouldn’t be tempted
to keep it? After all, it’s not like anyone is still alive to claim it.”

“That wouldn’t be right. In fact, I
would think you’d want me to find it and return it to its legal owner. Who
knows, maybe that’s why you’re trapped here. You need to right a wrong—set
things straight—and then move on to the next level.”

“Is that what you think?” Walt looked
amused.

 “Come on Walt, just tell me where that
frickin’ necklace is so I can get it back to its owner.”

“They are all dead now, Danielle. It’s
too late.”

“Then it would go to their estate.”

“Can we not discuss this right now? I
will consider what you’ve asked. But for now, can you just tell me about your
trip to Astoria. I’ve had a very trying day myself, what with those two palookas
breaking in here.”

“Which they probably wouldn’t have done
if you hadn’t stolen that damn necklace,” Danielle hissed under her breath. She
stood up and faced Walt.

“
Please,
Danielle.”

Danielle studied Walt for a moment
without saying anything. Finally she let out a sigh and told him what he wanted
to hear.

“Emma Jackson in Astoria was the same
Emma Jackson mentioned in the newspaper article. Surprisingly, she was very
sharp; I would never have guessed her age.  She remembered that
night—remembered your brother-in-law coming from Frederickport and breaking
down. According to her, she changed her story after she was threatened by a
local police officer. Some guy named Hal Tucker.”

“Tucker. He was a fishing buddy of
Roger’s.”

“That’s what Emma said. She remembered
the two coming into the diner from time to time.”

“I never had a problem with Tucker until
I started seeing Angela.”

“Was there ever something between Tucker
and Angela?”

“I don’t think so. As far as I ever knew
he was just an old fishing buddy of Roger’s. Tucker was from Portland, where
Roger lived. I knew Tucker was sweet on Angela, but she never seemed to pay him
any notice—at least not that I ever saw.” 

“Emma mentioned that—about Tucker being
sweet on your wife. I guess Roger used to tease him about it.”

“I wonder if Tucker and Roger were responsible
for my death.”

“I suppose the two could have conspired.
Although Emma sort of got the impression Tucker just wanted to keep in Roger’s
good graces so he could get closer to Angela. Putting her twin brother in jail
wouldn’t ingratiate himself with your wife.”

“Do you think any of this will help me?”

“Emma gave me permission to tell her
story and promised to verify it. Roger obviously lied about coming from
Portland. He had actually come from Frederickport on the day you were killed.
From everything I’ve read, I don’t think he realized his sister had been
killed. He assumed she would inherit your fortune—and he expected to benefit.
I’m not sure everyone will be convinced you didn’t commit suicide, but at least
there will be reasonable doubt.”

“I appreciate your effort, Danielle.
Sincerely.”

“I’ve one more thing I want to check
out.”

“What’s that?”

“Who would have done your autopsy back
then? I would assume they would have one, considering the circumstances of your
death.”

“Most likely Doc Clemens would have
looked me over. That was pretty standard around here.”

“Doc Clemens? Was he the coroner?”

“Doc Clemens was the local doctor—the
only one in Frederickport. So what is it exactly you intend to do?”

“I’m going to see if the local police
station has any of the old files on your death. Maybe an autopsy report of some
kind.”

“How is that going to help?”

“Maybe there’s something in the
report—something they missed the first time. I’ll probably have to get someone
to look at it, because I won’t really know what to look for.”

“When can you do this?”

“Well, tomorrow is Sunday, and I have
some stuff to get ready around here. They’re delivering our new appliances
Monday afternoon, and my things arrive on Tuesday. Maybe I can stop over at the
police station Monday morning.”

“We need to fix the library window.”

“We? Are you handy with tools?” Danielle
chuckled.

“You know what I mean.” Walt paused a
moment, hearing something. “I think Lily is home. I just heard the front door
open and close.” His suspicion was confirmed when the sound of Lily’s footsteps
could be heard coming up the staircase. “Good night Danielle.” Walt disappeared.

“Danielle, you’re still awake,” Lily
said when she reached the open doorway.

“I was just getting ready to take a
shower. Did you have a nice dinner?”

“I had steak and lobster!” Lily walked
into the bedroom and sat down on the small sofa facing Danielle and the
fireplace.

“Wow, must be nice. I can’t even think
of the last time I had lobster.”

“It was really good. I was going to
order the sole, but Ian insisted we both have steak and lobster.”

“Glad you had a nice dinner.”

“He told me a little about what he’s
working on. I can tell you, but you have to promise not to say anything to
anyone.”

“Who am I going to tell? I hardly know
anyone in Frederickport.” Danielle glanced to where Walt had been sitting
earlier.

“His article is about an actress, Eva
Thorndike. She was a silent picture star. He wouldn’t really give me any
details, other than Walt Marlow was in love with her. She broke his heart.”

“Eva Thorndike?” Danielle frowned.

“You’ve heard of her? I never had, but
I’m not really into those old movies.”

“Yes…no… I mean I had never heard of her
before coming to Frederickport… not until I visited the local museum. They have
a portrait of her there. The docent told me about her. She came from a very
wealthy family, and they used to spend their summers in Frederickport. The
docent never suggested a connection between the actress and Walt. Why does Ian
think Walt was in love with her?”

 “He didn’t say exactly.” Lily shrugged.
“I guess she married someone else. It was one reason Ian accepted the story of
Marlow’s suicide. One woman broke his heart and his wife was a gold digger. But
you already suspected the wife was in some way involved in his death.”

“The portrait of Eva Thorndike at the
museum was painted by the same artist who painted Walt and Angela Marlow’s
portraits.”

“Did the docent tell you that?”

“Umm…no...I noticed the author’s
signature,” Danielle lied.

“What did she look like, the actress?
Was she beautiful?”

“If the portrait is accurate, very
beautiful. Have you ever heard of the Gibson Girl?” Danielle asked.

“Wasn’t that a series of drawings
supposed to be based on the ideal woman?”

“Yes, back in the late 1800s, I believe.
To me Eva Thorndike looked a lot like the Gibson Girl.”

“I remember what she looked like—the
drawing, that is. Very feminine, a bit aloof. In some of the drawings I never
could decide if her eyes were supposed to be sad, or if she was just bored.”

“In the portrait Eva’s eyes are a bit
like that, but I think they are more sad than bored.” Visualizing the portrait,
Danielle remembered the woman’s expression, manner of clothes—her jewelry.

“Oh my god, the Missing Thorndike.” The
moment Danielle blurted out the words she covered her mouth with her palm,
silencing herself. Glancing around nervously, she didn’t want Walt listening in
as they discussed him.

“Missing Thorndike?”

“I…I just remembered something the
docent told me. In the painting Eva was wearing a beautiful necklace—emeralds
and diamonds. She died very young, and around the time of her death the
necklace disappeared. It was never recovered. The docent called the stolen
necklace the Missing Thorndike.” Danielle expected Walt to pop in at any
moment.

Is that the stolen necklace Marie
mentioned? If so, did Walt steal it before Eva died—or after? If he truly loved
Eva Thorndike, if she broke his heart as Ian seems to think, is that the reason
he refuses to discuss the stolen necklace? Is he perhaps so sentimentally attached
to it that he can’t bear to let it go?

“It really pisses me off to have to
spend money fixing this window,” Danielle told Lily on Sunday morning as the
two stood in the library looking at the boarded up window.

“Won’t your insurance cover it?” Lily
asked.

“There’s a deductible, and if I claim it
my rates will probably go up.”

“Does that mean you aren’t going to
report it to your insurance company?”

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do.
Tomorrow I’ll make a few calls and see how much it’s going to cost me.”

Danielle hadn’t seen Walt since the
night before, and she couldn’t stop thinking about the Missing Thorndike, and
wondering if the diamond and emerald necklace in the portrait was the same one
Walt Marlow stole a century ago.

“Lily, you want to go out to breakfast?”
Danielle had an idea and she didn’t want to discuss it in the house—just in
case Walt was nearby listening in.

 Almost an hour later Lily and Danielle
sat together in a Frederickport restaurant, finishing their breakfast.

“Busy day tomorrow,” Lily noted as she
spread strawberry preserves on her last piece of toast.

“Looking forward to having a real
refrigerator. The electrician promises to have everything finished by the time
the appliances arrive, and the plumber will be there at four to hook up the
washing machine.”

“The rest of your stuff is arriving on
Tuesday?” Lily asked.

“Yes. Not sure where I’m going to put it
all. Maybe just have them take everything to the attic. It’s mostly boxes—I
sold most of the furniture. If everything goes as planned, Marlow House B and B
will be opening for business July 4
^th
—not that I expect to have any
customers right away.”

“You still plan on having a July 4
^th
Open House?” Lily pushed her empty plate to the edge of the table.

“Yes. I know that’s pretty quick, but I
think we can do it. And if I can wrap up the loose ends on Walt Marlow—and how
he really died—I can put together some interesting brochures on the house’s
history. I’m banking on the local newspaper running a feature article on it.”

“Which will be great exposure for your
new business.” Lily glanced up and flashed a smile to the waitress who silently
collected the dirty dishes from their table before walking away.

“Funny, we haven’t even been here a
week, and I’ve done a complete 180 in how I’m approaching this new business.”
Danielle picked up the bill left behind by the waitress.

“I noticed. On our drive up here, we
were discussing names for the bed and breakfast,” Lily said with a chuckle.

“I know. You think Marlow House Bed and
Breakfast sounds okay?”

“If you’re playing on the house’s
history, it would be foolish to use something else.” Lily opened her purse and
asked, “How much do you need?”

“I got this.” Danielle waved Lily’s hand
away. ”Hey, would you mind if we stopped at Marie Hemming’s house?”

“That’s fine, but do you think she might
be at church?” Lily asked.

“I’ll give her a call when we get to the
car.” Danielle’s intention all along was to see Marie and to ask her questions
regarding the jewel heist. She hadn’t wanted to mention it while still at
Marlow House, for fear Walt might be listening.

After returning to the car, Danielle
called Marie, who was at home and welcomed a visit. Before driving to the older
woman’s house Lily and Danielle stopped by the bakery and picked up some
pastries. The elderly woman greeted them at the gate and ushered them to the
back porch where she had a pot of coffee and three cups waiting.

“I have been so anxious to see how it
went yesterday,” Marie said as she took a seat at the patio table. “Was she the
Emma Jackson you were looking for?”

“Not only was she the same Emma Jackson
from the old newspaper articles, she was sharp and remembered the incident,”
Danielle told her.

Danielle removed the pastries from the
paper sack while telling Marie about their visit with Emma Jackson. Tucking a
napkin under a sweet roll, she handed it to Marie, before giving one to Lily,
and taking one for herself. She took a seat at the patio table with Lily and
Marie. Marie stood up a moment and poured them each a cup of coffee while
listening to Danielle.

“I have to admit, I wasn’t sure Emma
Jackson would remember much—if any—of it, assuming of course she was the right
woman. I’m so glad it worked out for you,” Marie said after Danielle finished
recounting yesterday’s trip to Astoria.

“I wanted to ask you about something,”
Danielle said after they finished discussing Emma Jackson.

“What is that?” Marie asked.

“You mentioned Walt Marlow was involved
in a jewel heist.”

“A jewel heist? How come I’ve never
heard about this?” Lily asked.

“I believe I mentioned it to Danielle
when we first met,” Marie explained. Lily frowned at Danielle, wondering why
she was just hearing about it now. “Funny thing, I hadn’t thought about that
story in years—not since my father told me about it. But then that writer
interviewed me about it—and later I mentioned it to you. I guess sometimes it
just works that way.”

“A writer interviewed you?” Danielle
asked.

“Yes, about a week before you arrived. I
can’t remember his name.”

“Was it Jon Altar?” Lily asked.

“Yes! Yes that’s it!” Marie said
brightly. “A nice young man; asked me if we could keep the interview between
us—
confidential
. But I know I can trust you girls.” Marie leaned across
the table and patted Lily’s hand and then Danielle’s hand.

“Did you tell him about the jewel
heist?” Danielle asked.

“I still want to know what you two are
talking about—what jewel heist?” Lily insisted.

“Before I was born there was a rather
notorious jewelry heist in Frederickport,” Marie explained. “It was always
referred to as the Missing Thorndike, because the necklace belonged to Eva
Thorndike. In my father’s later years he confided in me that Walt Marlow was
responsible.” Marie turned to Danielle. “But no, I didn’t tell Jon Altar about
the stolen necklace. He asked me about it.”

“He asked you? Why?” Danielle asked.

“Apparently he’s doing a story on Eva
Thorndike,” Marie explained. “He came across some information that suggested
Walt Marlow was responsible—and that when Marlow died, he still had the
necklace. Mr. Altar wanted to know if I had ever heard anything about the
story, since my father was close to Marlow.”

 “Why didn’t you tell me any of this
when you mentioned Marlow was involved in a heist?” Danielle asked.

“Oh, I couldn’t.” Marie shook her head
seriously. “I promised Mr. Altar I wouldn’t say anything.”

“That’s why Walt Marlow was killed!”
Lily said excitedly.

“What do you mean?” Danielle frowned.

“Well duhh, if he stole some expensive
necklace and supposedly had it when he died, and it has since disappeared—I’m
assuming it has not surfaced—then doesn’t it stand to reason he was killed for
the necklace?”

Danielle looked at Lily. She didn’t want
to contradict her theory, because it wasn’t bad—except Walt had already
insinuated the necklace was hidden somewhere in Marlow House.

“I imagine you told Adam about the
necklace?” Danielle asked Marie.

“No, we never discussed it.”

“So he knows nothing about the Missing
Thorndike?” Danielle asked.

“Of course he knows about the Missing
Thorndike, that’s folklore around Frederickport. But we never discussed Walt
Marlow’s possible involvement in the theft.”

“Why not?” Danielle asked.

“Oh…no reason really.” Marie pondered
the question. “In all honesty, it never came up. After all, my father told me
those things years ago, before Adam was ever born. And frankly, I never thought
the necklace was still in the house. I’m sure Roger Calvert went through Marlow
House with a fine tooth comb after Walt died. Knowing what kind of man Roger
was, he probably had the gems chiseled out of the piece and sold before hearing
of his sister’s death.”

“They would have let him in Marlow
House?” Danielle asked.

“Why, certainly. Remember, they didn’t
know about Angela’s death right away. I don’t think anyone would’ve questioned
Roger going into the house. After all, he was family.”

“So, Adam never, ever knew Walt Marlow
might have taken the necklace?” Danielle couldn’t believe he didn’t know,
considering he had broken into her house.

“I suppose he could have overheard Mr.
Altar and me discussing it.” Marie shrugged.

“What do you mean?” Danielle asked.

“The day Mr. Altar came over, Adam and
Bill Jones—Adam’s handy man—were in the kitchen. Bill was fixing my oven. Adam
knows I don’t care for Bill, never have. The boys went to high school together
and Bill was nothing but trouble. But Adam insists he’s changed and is good at
what he does. I’ve told Adam if he wants Bill to do repairs here, he needs to
stick around when he does it. I don’t want to be alone with the man.”

“You think Bill is dangerous?” Lily
asked.

“Dangerous?” Marie laughed. “No. He is
just irritating. Adam can deal with him.”

“So, you think it possible they
overheard your conversation with Altar?” Danielle almost said
with Ian
,
but caught herself.

“I suppose it is possible. Mr. Altar and
I were sitting here, where we are now. The kitchen windows were open.”

Danielle glanced over to the nearby
kitchen window. From where they were sitting, there was not a clear view into
the kitchen—yet it was close enough to possibly overhear a conversation taking
place on the patio if standing by the stove.

“Did Mr. Altar know your grandson and
Bill were in the kitchen?” Danielle asked.

“Hmm…” Marie considered the question a
moment. “I don’t think so. In fact, when Mr. Altar left, Adam came right
outside and asked me who he was. I gave Adam his name, and told him he was
interviewing me for an article. But…why is all this important?”

“Oh…I was just curious,” Danielle said.
It’s
not exactly a lie
, she thought.

 They chatted for about fifteen minutes
longer when Marie’s grandson showed up at the house.

“Adam, I didn’t expect to see you for
another hour,” Marie greeted when Adam walked out onto the patio.

“I didn’t realize you had company.
Danielle…Lily…nice to see you both. How did your meeting with Emma Jackson work
out?” He glanced from Lily to Danielle and smiled.

“It worked out nicely,” Danielle said
sweetly, trying to conceal her true feelings toward the man for Marie’s sake.
“Except for the fact Marlow House was broken into when we were in Astoria.”

“Broken into? You never mentioned that!”
Marie gasped.

“I’m sorry to hear that. What did they
take?” he asked.

 “Nothing,” Lily answered before
Danielle, who was about to lie and say
“just our computer and televisions”
to see how he would respond.

“Nothing? I guess you’re lucky.” Adam
smiled.

“Why would someone break into the house
and not take anything?” Marie asked.

“We think something scared them off,”
Lily explained.

“Them?” Adam asked. “You think it was
more than one person?”

“Oh, definitely. And we weren’t that
lucky. They broke the library window to get in, now I have to hire someone to
fix it.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Adam said.

Yeah, right, you jerk. You and that side
kick of yours broke into my house….humm…I wonder…

“You know that man you brought over to
Marlow House with you? When you brought the photographs over?” Danielle asked
Adam.

“Bill? What about him?”

“You mentioned he does handy man work. I
need someone to fix the window in the library,” Danielle said.