The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds (9 page)

Lawn furniture dotted
the side and back yards of Marlow House, suitable for groupings of four or six.
Should a larger group wish to converge, it would be easy enough to rearrange
the lightweight chairs and tables. 

Small floral
arrangements of red, white and blue carnations—each adorned with a miniature
American flag—decorated most of the tables. Inside there were additional flower
arrangements, some more varied in their blossoms and larger than what was
outside. Those had been sent over as congratulatory gifts from local merchants
and friends Danielle had met since moving to Frederickport.

Early in the week
Danielle had discovered a treasure trove of antique platters and serving dishes
stacked neatly in the bottom of the dining room hutch. Those she used to serve
her culinary party treats. Keeping with the patriotic theme, she used fresh
blueberries, strawberries and raspberries to decorate many of the desserts. 

An assortment of
crackers, gourmet cheeses, rolled deli meats and finger sandwiches filled
platters. Candy bowls brimmed with confectioneries purchased from the local
candy store. Bottles of beer and soda chilled in tubs filled with ice, and
pitchers of brewed iced tea, garnished with freshly sliced lemons waited to be
poured.

Ian went home to get
ready for the party, taking Sadie with him. After a quick shower and changing
his clothes, he returned without the dog. When he entered the front door he was
greeted by Cheryl. She had what appeared to be chocolate frosting smeared
across her bottom lip. He didn’t say anything.

She seemed taller than
the last time he’d seen her. Glancing down he immediately recognized her
shoes—the same pair he had found under the parlor couch, which explained her
new height.

“You’re the first one
to arrive!” Cheryl cheerfully announced.

“Actually, I’ve been
here all morning.” Ian walked inside and looked around. “Where are Lily and
Danielle?”

“Getting dressed, I
supposed. I figured someone had to be down here to welcome the guests.”

Ian glanced at his
watch. “They shouldn’t be arriving for another half hour at least.”

“You’re here.”

“Umm…yes I am.” Ian
started to walk down the hall toward the kitchen.

“Where are you going?”
Cheryl followed after him.

“To the kitchen.”

“Don’t you think you
should wait in the parlor?”

“Why? I’m hungry and I
imagine with all this cooking Danielle’s been doing I’ll find something.”

“You can’t take any
food yet! Danielle told me I wasn’t to eat anything until the guests arrived.”

Ian paused a moment and
looked at Cheryl. “Chocolate lipstick?”

Cheryl frowned a moment
then realized what he was saying. Licking her lips she removed the evidence of
her snack. “I live here. I can eat whatever I want.”

The sound of footsteps coming
down the stairs interrupted their exchange.

“You clean up nice,”
Lily greeted when she reached the landing and spied Ian standing outside the
door of the kitchen.

“So do you,” Ian said,
stepping closer to Lily, leaving Cheryl standing alone by the kitchen doorway.

He reached out and
touched the end of her braided hair and said, “Red…” His hand dropped from the
braid to the hem of her white shorts. Lightly touching the hem he said,
“white…” From the hem of the shorts his hand move upward and touched the navy
blue collar of her crisp blue and white blouse and said, “and blue. Very
patriotic.”

Lily laughed and asked,
“How do you like the braid? Dani did it.”

“Very nice, but I
rather like your hair wild and free.”

“Like me?” Lily
chuckled.

Cheryl let out a snort
and said, “
Oh brother
.”

“You should see Dani,
she looks amazing,” Lily said, ignoring Cheryl’s comment. “Of course she
couldn’t dress casual like this and wear the necklace; that would look silly.
She found a fabulous vintage dress at a little shop in town and it fits her
like a dream. She fixed her hair in a fishtail braid, looks so feminine. I wish
I could braid hair like that. When I try to braid my own hair I end up looking
like Raggedy Ann.”

“You don’t look like
Raggedy Ann now,” Ian said with a chuckle.

“That’s because Dani
braided my hair, not me. I only know how to do a traditional braid.”

“Well I don’t even know
how to do that. But I don’t think I’d look terrific in braids, so it has never
been an issue.” Ian laughed.

“Oh, funny.” Lily gave
Ian’s arm a playful swat.

Disgusted with the
conversation, Cheryl was about to go into the kitchen when she heard another
set of footsteps coming down the staircase. Curious about her cousin’s new
dress and anxious to see the necklace, she stepped away from the kitchen door
and walked toward Ian and Lily.

Walt was already
standing unseen next to Lily and Ian. Looking to the staircase, he watched as
Danielle appeared, wearing her new pale green dress and antique diamond and
emerald necklace.

“You look beautiful,”
Walt whispered. Danielle flashed him a smile.

“You look gorgeous,”
Ian said, letting out a whistle.

“Doesn’t she?” Lily
agreed.

“Let me see the
necklace!” Cheryl rushed toward her cousin, groping her neck.

“Careful, Cheryl.
You’re going to break it.” Danielle stepped back.

“Then take it off, let
me try it on!” Cheryl said excitedly, jumping up and down like an excited child
about to wet her pants.

“Not now. After
everyone leaves you can try it on. But not now.” Danielle pushed Cheryl back.
The doorbell rang.

“Behave yourself,
Cheryl,” Danielle hissed as she straightened her dress and watched to see who
was at the door as Ian went to answer it. She suspected it was Joe Morelli, who
had promised to arrive early. 

“Security is here,” Ian
said with a laugh as he let Joe into the house.

“Wow, you even came in
uniform,” Danielle said with a grin.

“Hi Joe,” Lily greeted.

“You really didn’t need
him,” Walt scoffed. “I am here, after all.”

“Ladies, you look
lovely.” He glanced over at Ian as if checking out his appearance and said with
a shrug, “Ian,
meh
.” Turning back to the women he patted the gun in his
holster and said, “According to the chief I am here on semi-official business.”

“Well, I sure as hell
feel safer,” Ian said dryly as he slammed the front door shut.

“You guys want a
sandwich? I have a ton of food in the kitchen and we have a while before guests
start arriving,” Danielle offered.

“Yes! I am starving.
Lily was a slave driver this morning!” Ian moaned.

“I try,” Lily said with
a grin.

“If the guests aren’t
arriving then take off the necklace and let me try it on!” Cheryl stomped her
right foot angrily.

“Knock it off Cheryl,
or I’ll have Joe arrest you.”

“Please, no domestic
squabbles,” Joe teased.

Determined to have a
closer look, Cheryl reached out and grabbed hold of the necklace. Everyone but
Walt had their backs to the cousins. Seeing what Cheryl was doing, Walt raised
his hand and gave her a powerful shove, sending her stumbling backwards away
from Dani before falling onto the floor, landing on her bottom with a thud. The
sound caught the attention of the others. They turned around quickly, surprised
to find Cheryl sprawled on the floor.

“She hit me!” Cheryl
screeched.

Joanne, who had been in
the kitchen, heard the commotion and stepped out into the hall.

“I didn’t touch you!”
Danielle held the necklace protectively. To her surprise, it came off her neck.
“But you apparently broke the necklace!”

“She assaulted me!”
Cheryl wailed, grabbing her cheek which was already starting to show evidence of
bruising.

Joe walked over to
Cheryl and put out his hand. She took it and stumbled to her feet, still
holding onto her injured cheek.

“It’s your own fault.
You shouldn’t have been grabbing at the necklace. If it had been me, I would
have smacked you too.” Lily walked to Danielle and inspected the damage.

“I didn’t hit her,”
Danielle said weakly as Lily looked at the necklace.

“Looks like one of the
little loops broke by the latch,” Lily said.

Joe reached out and
touched the side of Cheryl’s face.

“Ouch!” Cheryl winced.

“Maybe you should put
some ice on that,” Joe suggested.

“I should have you
arrest her!” Cheryl cried.

“I didn’t see what
happened,” Joe said. “But if I did arrest her and she told the court you
grabbed the necklace off her neck, I think you might end up in a bit of trouble
yourself, considering what that necklace is worth.”

“But it is half mine!”

“For the time being,
legally the necklace belongs to Danielle. You have no rights to it. Maybe you
can get the courts to overturn the terms of your aunt’s will. But for now, keep
your hands off the necklace. Do you understand?” Joe said.

Cheryl glared at Joe
and then looked over at Lily, Ian and Joanne, who silently stared in her
direction. Stomping her foot again, she turned her back to them and marched to
the parlor and threw open its door. Angrily she entered the room and slammed
the door behind her.

“What am I going to
do?” Danielle asked, looking at the necklace in her hands.

“There’s some of that
wire in the kitchen,” Joanne suggested. “That Lily was using for some of the
decorations. It’s pretty thin, but strong.”

“That would work,” Lily
agreed. “For now, just re-secure the latch with the wire, no one has to see
it.”

“Wonderful,” Danielle
scoffed. “A million dollar necklace held together with craft wire.”

“Just be happy it
happened now, and not at the party,” Lily said as she led the way into the
kitchen.

Once in the kitchen
Danielle handed the necklace to Joe, who’d offered to make the repair. Sitting
at the kitchen table, she watched as he secured the latch to the chain using
the wire. After the makeshift repair was complete, Joe handed the necklace back
to Danielle.

“I really didn’t hit
her,” Danielle said as she fastened the necklace back around her neck.

“I didn’t see what
happened,” Joe said. “But it was probably just a reflex.”

“Reflex?” Danielle
asked with a frown.

“She was obviously hit
on the face,” Joe said. “You probably didn’t even realize you’d done it.”

“I’m sorry, Danielle,”
Walt said. “They think you hit your cousin. I didn’t mean to hit her. I just
wanted to push her away.”

“Dani, Joe is right.
The way she was grabbing at you, I don’t blame you for knocking her on her
butt,” Lily said.

“But I didn’t.”
Danielle said tersely.

Danielle was in her
room touching up her makeup when there was a knock at the bedroom door.

“Dani?” came Lily’s
voice from the hallway.

“Come in.”

Lily opened the door
and asked, “You okay?”

“I really didn’t hit
her. Where is everyone?”

“Downstairs in the
kitchen, why?”

“It was Walt.”

“Walt hit her? Is he
here?” Lily glanced around the room. She sniffed the air but didn’t notice any
tobacco scent.

“No.”

“Why did he hit her?”

“He didn’t mean to. She
was grabbing for the necklace and he pushed her away. I’m afraid he pushed a
little too hard and his aim wasn’t terrific. Smacked her in the face.”

“And knocked her on her
butt. Serves her right.”

“But everyone thinks I
hit her.”

“I know. We were
talking about it in the kitchen. They don’t really blame you. They sort of
figure it was a knee jerk reaction on your part. At least Ian and Joe think
that.”

“What does Joanne
think?”

“She didn’t say.
Actually, she didn’t say much.”

“I don’t go around
hitting people!”

“I know that.”

“But you thought I
did.”

“I’m sorry, Dani. I
just figured if it was me I would have knocked her on her butt already.
Actually, I was kinda proud of you, considering the crap she’s been getting
away with. Although I noticed she actually cleaned her room. That surprised
me.”

“She didn’t. It was
Walt.”

“What do you mean?”

“Walt. He was trying to
help so he dumped everything in her suitcase and made her bed. Put the suitcase
in the closet.”

“Well good for him!
Gotta love a ghost that cleans house!”

“I don’t know about
that. When I say he dumped
everything
in her suitcase, I mean that quite
literally. She had makeup and crap all over the dresser and he just dumped it
with her clothes in the suitcase. I imagine when she opens it everything is
going to be stained with makeup and who knows what.”

Lily started to laugh.
“I really do like Walt!”

“Easy for you to say.
There’s going to be hell to pay when Cheryl opens her suitcase tonight.”

“Let’s worry about that
later. We have a party to go to and you look terrific. Come on, let’s grab
something to eat and try to forget about your annoying cousin.”

Danielle went
downstairs to the kitchen with Lily. She had just enough time to finish half a
sandwich when the doorbell rang.

Ian glanced at his
watch then said to Danielle, “You’re on, kid.”

“Let’s get this party
rolling!” Danielle said cheerfully.

By the time Danielle,
Lily, Ian and Joe reached the front door, Cheryl had already answered it.
Standing in the entry was Marie Nichols and her grandson Adam. Danielle greeted
the elderly woman with a quick hug and was taken aback when she noticed Cheryl
clinging to Adam’s arm.

The group noisily
exchanged greetings and when Marie noticed Danielle eying her grandson and
Cheryl, she reached over, patted her hand and whispered, “Oh, I am sorry dear.
I know we hoped something would work out between you and my grandson but it
seems your lovely cousin has snatched him up.” Marie’s whisper was loud enough
for Cheryl to overhear. Cheryl glanced up and looked Danielle in the eyes,
smiling. Taken aback by Marie’s comment, Danielle wasn’t sure how to respond.

“You’ve done a great
job decorating Marlow House, Danielle. Quite patriotic,” Adam said. Danielle
wasn’t sure if he was ignoring his grandmother’s comment or hadn’t heard it.
Since he and Joe had been talking at the time, it was possible he hadn’t, even
though Cheryl, who stood close by his side, had heard it.

“Thank you, but Lily
and Ian did most of it. And thanks for bringing your grandmother today,”
Danielle said politely.

“I wouldn’t have missed
it for the world.” Adam grinned at Cheryl, who giggled and squeezed his arm.

“Am I missing
something? Have you two met already?” Danielle asked.

“Seems they met
yesterday,” Marie explained.

“They met yesterday?”
Danielle asked under her breath.

“So that is the
necklace,” Adam said taking a step closer, pulling away from Cheryl. Diamonds
and emerald sparkled, brightly illuminated by a ray of sunshine streaming in
one of the windows. Adam let out a low whistle of appreciation.

“Just don’t try to
touch it or she’ll hit you,” Cheryl said as she reached up to touch her bruised
cheek.

“Oh dear, what
happened?” Marie asked with a concerned frown as she took a closer look at the
fresh bruise.

“Dani hit me.”

“I did not hit you!”
Danielle insisted.

The doorbell rang
again.

“I can’t believe
Danielle would hit you on purpose. I’m sure it was an accident,” Adam said,
giving Dani a kind smile. He took Cheryl by the arm and whispered, “Why don’t
you take me on a tour?”

“Your cousin has a
peculiar sense of humor,” Marie murmured. She watched her grandson and Cheryl
walk toward the library.

Ian opened the front
door and greeted the six people standing on the front porch.  Danielle didn’t
have time to think about Cheryl. Guest after guest flooded into the house.

Joe stuck by Danielle’s
side as Ian and Lily played tour guides and led groups of visitors through
Marlow House, and then took them outside for refreshments.  Joanne took charge
of the food, intermittently taking fresh platters outside, refilling dishes,
offering beverages and cleaning up after the guests.

Danielle knew some of
her guests, but not all. Ben Jones and Millie Samson from the museum showed up,
as did Samuel Hayman from the jewelry store. Danielle’s attorney, Clarence
Renton arrived about an hour after Marie and Adam. Steve Klein, the bank
manager showed up with his wife and several bank employees. They claimed they
could only stay for a short time, yet ended up in the back yard enjoying the
refreshments and each other’s company, and didn’t seem in a hurry to leave.
Danielle resisted the temptation to scold them for discussing her bank business
with Cheryl. But the last thing she wanted was for Cheryl to overhear the
conversation and start telling more people she had hit her. 

She was delightfully
surprised when Astoria resident Emma Jackson showed up, accompanied by a young
couple from Emma’s church. Emma, the centenarian who had been an eyewitness
many decades ago, had placed Walt Marlow’s killer at the scene of the crime. On
Lily’s suggestion, Ian had arranged a meeting with Emma and had since decided
to do an article, and possibly a book, on the woman’s life.

Danielle spent most of
her time mingling and modeling the Missing Thorndike, while answering questions
about Marlow House and what the bed and breakfast would offer to its guests.
Yet it was the necklace that seemed to capture the most attention. Some people
wanted to reach out and touch the brilliant stones, but Joe gently discouraged
guests from handling the piece, reminding them the necklace was an antique.

It wasn’t until after
2:00 p.m. that Danielle was able to tear herself away from her guests and grab
something to eat. Joe excused himself to visit the restroom, believing Danielle
and the necklace would be reasonably safe while he stepped away for a moment.

A number of the people
who had stopped by had already left, but a group of twenty or more gathered in
the backyard taking advantage of the rented lawn furniture and enjoying the
food Danielle had prepared, while a few more played croquet. New guests
continued to arrive, but at a trickle rate.

“I think your open
house is a success,” Lily said when she entered the kitchen a few minutes after
Danielle. The two friends were alone in the room.

“Seems like a good turn
out. I’m trying to remember everyone’s name. I should have had them wear name
tags.”

 “What’s with your
cousin and Adam? Did you have any idea they knew each other?”

“Not a clue. According
to Marie they met yesterday. I guess Cheryl asked him to be his date for today.
Marie was rather tickled. I think she wants to get her grandson married off.”
Danielle shuddered at the idea.

“What in the world was
Marie talking about? You and Adam?”

“Don’t ask me. I don’t
know what that was about. If she only knew how I really felt.”

“I about died when she
said it. But you better be prepared for Ian after the party.”

“Ian? What do you
mean?”

“He thought it was
pretty hilarious—you and Adam. Expect some teasing.”

“Just tell
him
to be prepared. I might have to knock him on his butt. You know I can do it.”

“Humm, right. With
Walt’s help. Speaking of Walt, is he here?” Lily glanced around the room.

“He was a minute ago. I
think he’s in the library.”

“I thought he was going
to stick by you and help watch over the necklace.”

“I don’t know. Maybe
after knocking Cheryl on her butt he decided he’d just leave the job to Joe.”
Danielle shrugged and looked out the kitchen window into the back yard.

Lily glanced outside
and spotted Joanne talking to one of the guests. “That Joanne has sure been a
big help today.”

“You’ve all been so
helpful. I could not have done this without you.”

“No problem, it has
been lots of fun. I’ve met some really nice people today.”

Danielle pointed out
the window and asked, “Who is that woman Joanne is talking to?”

“The one in the green
straw hat?”

“Yes. I don’t remember
being introduced to her.”

“I can’t remember her
name; her granddaughter keeps calling her Gran.”

“She’s here with her
granddaughter?”

“Actually with her
grandchildren and daughter. See the five people hovering around her chair?”

Squinting her eyes to
get a clearer view, Danielle studied the people standing around the elderly
woman, who looked up from her chair talking to Joanna. There were two women and
three men.

“The shorter woman is
the daughter. I remember her name, Joyce. The others are Joyce’s kids. I swear,
the way those four hover around that woman you would think she was Queen
Elizabeth.”

“Doting family?”

“According to Marie,”
Lily explained, “the woman is loaded. Her husband invented something—what
exactly I have no clue—and she is super rich but tighter than a tick. Marie’s
words. I guess she lives with Joyce, but the grandkids dote on her, just to
make sure they’re in grandma’s will when the old broad kicks the bucket. Also
Marie’s words.”

“Maybe they simply love
their grandma? But I wonder, do you think Marie worries Adam is only nice to
her so he stays in her will?”

“I don’t think so. The
way she looks at her grandson I doubt she even considers that possibility. Is
that what you think?”

“Actually, I sort of
get the feeling the thief really does love his grandma.” Danielle sighed.

“I was kind of
surprised he stuck up for you this morning.”

“What do you mean…oh,
you mean about how it was probably an accident about me hitting Cheryl.”

“Yes. Did you see the
dirty look Cheryl gave him?” Lily asked.

“I missed that. But
this whole Adam and Cheryl thing rather freaks me out.”

“I know what you mean.”
Turning from the window to Danielle, Lily asked, “Are you and Joe going with us
to the fireworks show later?”

“I considered it. But I
really feel funny leaving the necklace here alone, even though it will be in
the safe.”

“Walt will be here,”
Lily reminded.

“I know. I’ll think
about it. Although, by the time everyone gets out of here and I put whatever
food we have left away, I’ll probably be ready to just put my feet up and
crash.”

“Ian and I will help
you put the food away, and we can worry about cleaning up in the morning. Walt
will take care of the necklace. I think you and Joe need to come with us. A
fireworks show will be a fitting ending to your open house.”

“Let me think about it.”