Authors: Marianne Spitzer
Not knowing what to do, she hugged Mr. Townsend. Embarrassed, he waved at the receptionist when Annamarie stepped back. She used her key to lock the box into its space in the wall of boxes. With everything in place, Mr. Townsend and Annamarie walked back to his office.
“I heard a rumor Garret Frant was killed.”
Since he was her attorney, she told him everything. He didn’t think Daniel or Annamarie had anything to worry about, but if the sheriff ever called her to his office again, Mr. Townsend asked her to be sure to summon him right away.
“I promise. Have a nice day, sir.”
“You, too Annamarie.
Be careful who you tell about the bonds. If someone steals them from you, they will be able to cash them before the sheriff catches the thief.”
“I will.” She hurried to her car.
***
Thinking Daniel must be worried about her, she headed toward his office. It was almost two-thirty. They would have to enjoy a late lunch. His car was not in the lot at work, so she drove home. Happy to see his Jeep in the drive, she had
unexpected, exciting news.
Running into the house, she began to tell Daniel what had happened. He was trying to tell her something at the same time.
Slowing down, Daniel said, “We’re safe because they have arrested Nancy’s brother.” He picked her up and swung her in the air.
“Put me down. I have wonderful news. We’re also rich.”
Annamarie explained about the bearer bonds.
Daniel’s face couldn’t contain his astonishment.
“Magdalena was right. Something good was hidden and you found it. I was right. Magdalena does rule the spirits.”
She agreed as chills ran down her spine, curious why he had called her Magdalena.
“She looks just like you. She has to be your great-grandmother and our guardian spirit. I think the spirits that are after me are listening to Magdalena and her spirits now. They may still come after me, but you’ll be protected.”
At this point, Annamarie was ready to believe anything. “I still don’t understand why you think there are more spirits.”
“That’s easy. When you dream of Magdalena, she’s always with others. They’re all watching over you.”
“So now there are two groups of spirits in the woods?”
“I think so, but Magdalena will take care of you. Don’t worry.”
“You keep saying that as if it’s reality.”
“It is, baby. You’ll always be safe.”
“Okay,” she answered, tired of trying to find reasons to dissuade him.
“C’mon,” Daniel said. “We’re going to have a late lunch, but we’re going have it at the Steak Grill in Oaklin. We deserve an exceptional meal.” He didn’t have to convince her.
“Wait, I forgot about the locksmith in all the excitement. I stopped by the house before I came home and took care of it. Everything is safe now with all new locks.”
“That’s a relief,” she said.
***
Nancy’s brother Chuck was being held in the Oaklin county jail. He hired a lawyer and wasn’t talking to anyone. He knew they were charging him with second degree murder, which meant life in prison. However, his lawyer said they might be able to make a deal if he was willing to answer the district attorney’s questions. He would have to explain who his accomplices were, not only in Ben’s death, but in the car stripping business that led to Ben’s death. He had a lot to think about.
Sheriff Richardson was also on his way to question him about the night Ben died.
Chuck decided not to talk to the sheriff, but would explain a few things to the Oaklin district attorney. The district attorney said he would listen and from that determine what, if anything, he could do.
“I refuse to name names no matter what. I’d be killed in or out of prison if I do. I had a partner in the auto stripping business. Another accomplice befriended Garret and found out he would be at the cabin that night partying. It seemed the perfect time to enact our revenge. We intended to drag him off into the woods, and beat some sense into him. Some kid came out first, spotted me and let out a yell. I
panicked and cut him with my knife twice. My partner went back to his usual business. Before daybreak the next morning, our other accomplice and I went back to the cabin, dragged the body inside and set three fires to cover up the crime. We thought the fires would consume all the evidence.”
The district attorney said, “You haven’t given me enough information. I can’t offer you any deal.”
Chuck’s attorney suggested a compromise. “Second-degree murder is life in prison, and we might be able to make a deal for forty years if you just give them a name. Since you admitted you killed Ben Hanson, they’re not interested in offering you anything unless you make it worth their while.”
Chuck didn’t care. He knew if he talked he’d be dead, and life even in prison was better than death. His lawyer told him they would set a court date where he could plead guilty and accept his punishment. The district attorney was satisfied they had their killer even if the accomplice might never be caught.
Sheriff Richardson wasn’t happy because this was personal, and he wanted everyone punished. Even though he might not be a hundred percent happy with the outcome, he knew the Hansons would be better off not sitting through a trial, and the town of Timmus Woods could sleep peacefully again.
***
Sheriff Richardson pulled into the dairy parking lot and went inside. Seeing him, Mr. Hanson came out of his office. The sheriff reported they had not only found Ben’s killer, but he admitted to his crime. He added Chuck would admit the same in court, saving everyone the ordeal of a trial.
Shaking the sheriff’s hand and thanking him, Mr. Hanson said, “I’m going home and let my wife know. Perhaps her terror will stop and she can rest. Since no one in town knew who the killer was, everyone has been afraid.”
“Give my best to your wife and have a nice evening.”
“You too, sheriff.
Thanks again.”
The sheriff also had to get the word out to his town that Ben’s killer was in jail. Greta had already begun by telling everyone she saw at Ray’s, even though she didn’t have clearance from the sheriff to do so. When the sheriff arrived back at the station, people were coming up to him and asking if it was true.
“Yes,” he told them, realizing the entire town would know soon. Walking into the station, he saw the annoying young man from the weekly paper sitting there waiting for a statement. He told him he didn’t have a statement now, and would release one later. The paper didn’t come out for three more days. That kid was always asking questions, annoying the sheriff beyond comprehension. Sighing, the sheriff sat at his desk to begin his paperwork.
***
Mr. and Mrs. Frant were sitting in Pastor Anders’ office. Mrs. Frant was still crying.
Mr.
Frant said, “Considering everything that has gone on lately, and Garret might somehow be involved, we’ve decided not to have a big service. We’re going to have Garret cremated at Walker Funeral Home in Oaklin, with a family-only service there. We plan to keep it quiet, and it will be over before the obituary is in the weekly paper. What we’d like to know is if you would come to the funeral home. We can’t let Garret go without prayers and a service.”
Pastor Anders assured them he would be there offering them what words of solace he could. Giving Mr.
Frant a pamphlet on loss and grief, he told them they could call him anytime, and come in for private counseling if they needed it. Mrs. Frant managed to thank the pastor through her tears before they left.
***
Maureen paced in the attorney’s office complaining, repeating her words again. “What do I pay you for and how many times have I used this firm?”
“Mrs. Logan, I’m a real estate attorney and can’t help you. My associate, well versed in probate law, just explained to you the will you brought in is legal. He highly doubts any judge would overturn it, especially since it is Michael Logan’s will
drawn up by one of the most prominent attorneys in the county.”
“I don’t care,” she answered raising her voice. “You find a way or I’ll find a new attorney.” She slammed the office door behind her when she left.
Slumping in his chair, he mumbled, “There goes my best client.”
Maureen grew angrier as she headed back to Timmus Woods. She wasn’t going to let Daniel and Annamarie have the Logan home. If it had been left to Daniel, she knew she would have been able to talk him into leaving by frightening him with references to spirits, but that girl would ruin it all. She had thought Annamarie would be the perfect wife and settle Daniel down, but somehow Annamarie had developed a backbone. With the help of
Townsend, that girl could ruin her plans to live in the Logan home. It should be her and George’s home. Her mind kept racing back to the porcelain birds the old man had.
Maureen had coveted them for years and bided her time until he passed away. Now they would be gone forever. That stupid girl would probably throw them away. She doesn’t have the sense of what is good and proper. Before she knew it, she was back at the office, still fuming.
She barged into George’s office and plopped down on the leather sofa in a most unladylike fashion. “Townsend is an ass,” Maureen ranted. “He’s doing all he can to be sure that girl keeps your father’s house.”
“Calm down. There are more lawyers than Townsend in the world.”
“I spoke to a probate attorney in Oaklin. He’s in the same firm as my real estate attorney, and he said the will is legal and if we fight it, we’ll lose.”
“I know. I’ve made several calls to the best probate attorneys, and they all said the same thing.”
“Okay. If we give up on the house then what happens?” Maureen said.
“We can buy the land we saw this spring, and begin building our dream home. We’ll add the features you love about father’s house, but make it our own.”
Maureen thought it over for a minute, her mind still on the porcelain birds, but she agreed with George.
Picking up the phone, he called a well-respected architect and made an appointment for him and Maureen to begin the plans for their dream home.
“This will keep us too busy to worry about father’s house,” George comforted his wife.
“I’m going home to start dinner,” Maureen called when she left the room. George said he’d be along in about an hour.
“Perfect,” she thought. “That’ll give me the right amount of time.”
In her
office, she pulled out her largest briefcase. George always commented it looked more like a small suitcase. She looked around for something soft and remembered the roll of paper towels in the kitchen area. She hurriedly grabbed it and put it in the empty briefcase. She quickly left the office. The drive to the Logan house only took her a few minutes. She had her key and hoped the house would be empty.
Upset to see Elaine’s car in the drive, she wondered how she’d keep her out of the way.
Maureen rang the front door bell and Elaine answered, “Hello, Mrs. Logan. What can I do for you?”
Maureen thought quickly, “I’m here to meet Annamarie. I must be early.”
“Come in. You can wait in the living room.”
“That’ll be perfect, thanks.”
As soon as Elaine left the room Maureen opened her briefcase, and pulled out some paper toweling. She picked up the first porcelain bird, wrapped it in the towels and placed it in her briefcase. She was able to get four more before Elaine came in with coffee and cookies.
“Do you mind if I finish the work I was doing upstairs?”
“Just forget I’m here. I’ll wait for Annamarie.”
Elaine went back to work, and Maureen continued to pack the birds until she had all twelve in her briefcase. She quickly finished the coffee and ate a cookie. She called up the stairs to Elaine explaining she’d spoken to Annamarie on the phone, and they would have to meet another day.
Elaine came down and walked Maureen to the door. Maureen said she could lock up, but Elaine told her the locks had been changed.
Walking to her car with her precious
bird collection in her briefcase, Maureen felt proud she’d pulled off getting what she wanted. With the locks changed, there may not have been a better time. She carefully placed the briefcase in her trunk and headed home. Daniel and Annamarie had the house, but Maureen was going to have her dream home. She also had her precious birds.
***
Bulk woke with a start. It was getting dark and whatever drugs they had given him were wearing off. He lay on the bed wishing he could talk to Garret. Garret knew about everything that happened to Ben and who did it. Garret knew how to keep them both safe. At the moment, Bulk was safe, but when he went home, anyone could find him, even that man he saw yelling at Garret and Chuck. He wished he could run away and thought he would. First, he had to be released and go home again. Then he’d find a way to run from Timmus Woods, Oaklin, the spirits, and them.
***
Daniel and Annamarie arrived home after a perfect evening. They had a great late lunch at the Steak Grill, and then decided to do some shopping and talk about their future. Possibilities flooded in one after another since Annamarie had found the bearer bonds, and they owned the Logan house. It all happened so fast they were more than overwhelmed. Not sure when they should move or how they would redecorate the house was the major subject of their conversation. The only thing they knew for certain was the outbuilding where Garret died was going to be torn down and the wood disposed of when the sheriff gave his okay. Annamarie thought they should plant an area of wildflowers where the outbuilding had been. Wild flowers would suit Garret’s memory best.