Pumpkins in Paradise (Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mystery Book 1) (13 page)

“Hazel was correct; we have a nice collection
. I’m afraid they can’t be checked out, though. You’re welcome to look at things here, if you’d like.”

“That would be great, although I don’t have a lot of time
. I’m actually most interested in finding out what I can about the young woman who lived with Zachary before his accident. In all the years I knew him, he never mentioned her.”

“I have a good idea where you might want to start.
” Frannie opened a glass-fronted cabinet at the back of the room. “I was sorry to hear about Mr. Collins’s death. I didn’t really know the man, but anyone who would willingly retreat from the world the way he did must have been living with a great deal of pain. I pray he is finally at peace.”

“Yeah, me too.
”

“These journals were donated by Emma Grainger after her sister, who had the books in her attic, passed away last summer.
” Frannie pulled one black, leather-bound book from the shelf. “Emma’s mother, Isabelle Pritchett, was the local midwife before the hospital opened. She kept a diary for each of the twenty-seven years she lived here. This volume covers nineteen forty-five to nineteen fifty. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but it seems like a good place to start your search.”

Tj took the journal to one of the round tables in the center of the room and began reading. While the majority of the population of Serenity had moved to the area much later than the time period in which the journal had been written, it was fun to read about the families who originally settled the area.

Her good friend Brock Fisher’s grandfather Gordon had moved to the area in the early 1920s after establishing a marina where the seasonal steamships that transported the wealthy from one end of the lake to the other could buy supplies and dock for the winter. The marina became known as Steamers Wharf, a name that stuck to this day, despite the fact that it had been many years since the old boats had chugged across the azure waters of Paradise Lake.

The daily lives of many of the
founding families were outlined in the well-written pages of the journal. When she had more time she’d have to come back and read about the parents and grandparents of the people she knew, who were now parents and grandparents themselves.

After
twenty minutes of skimming the fascinating book, Tj found what she was looking for. “The Collins heir has brought home a bride,” Isabelle wrote on September 12, 1948. “At least I assume she’s a bride. The girl looks barely old enough to have left the care of her parents, yet she seems quite devoted to Zachary. Perhaps this will be just what he needs to finally settle down and become the man his grandfather would have hoped.”

Tj continued to flip through the journal. She gasped when she came to an entry dated March 12, 1949. “I was called out to the estate to meet with Zachary’s young woman. I was asked to confirm her pregnancy, which I estimate to be about three months
along. Zachary has sworn me to secrecy regarding the impending birth of his child. I’m not sure I understand why he wants to keep the child a secret, although the girl, who gave only the name of Mary, is even younger than I first imagined. Although she only just turned seventeen, it seems she has already delivered at least one child. She’s a lovely young girl, full of life and hope, but I could tell by her guarded answers that she holds a secret close to her heart.”

Zachary had a child? The sound of the old-fashioned wall clock seemed loud as it clicked away the minutes in the otherwise silent room
. Reading Isabelle’s journal was fascinating, but somehow it also felt a bit like peeking into someone’s private thoughts. Tj assumed that if Emma had donated the journals to the library, Isabelle must have intended her diaries to be read, unlike Tj’s journals, which she hoped no one would
ever
read. Maybe she should rethink keeping them. She’d die if anyone ever read about her schoolgirl crushes or, worse yet, her adult crushes.

Tj paused at an entry she’d almost missed
. “Mary’s melancholy grows as the birth of her child grows near. While it is not uncommon for a woman’s discontent to grow as the weight of her burden becomes large, Mary seems to have slipped into a much deeper depression than would seem normal. I entered into a conversation with her as I checked her progress, and she revealed to me that she wasn’t married to Zachary, as most assumed, but still married, in fact, to a traveling preacher with whom she’d born twin daughters the previous year.”

And then, on August 17, 1949, she wrote: “Mary will give birth today. I fear that the child will come breach. This pregnancy hasn’t been easy for the young girl, and with each hour of labor her strength fades. I held her as she cried for the mistakes she’d
made in her life, the daughters she’d deserted, the strict and uncompromising father she barely knew, the much-older man she was married to but never loved. I’ve done what I can, but the fate of both mother and child is in his hands now. May God be with him.”

His
? His who?

Later that afternoo
n, Tj headed over to see what, if anything, Emma Grainger might be able to tell her. Grainger’s General Store was considered by most to be synonymous with the town of Serenity. First built by Manny Grainger, Nick’s father, and later handed down to Nick, it had been a staple of the community for over fifty years. On any given summer day the front deck was occupied by both visitors and locals, sitting at the tables provided for folks to gather around and enjoy a game of chess or checkers while sharing a pot of coffee and catching up on local events.

The store was laid out on two stories, the second being open to the first in the center
. Wide stairs built at each end of the building gave shoppers easy access to the clothing, camping supplies, and local souvenirs housed upstairs. A seasonal display of bright red sleds, green-handled snow shovels, and black knee-high snow boots were stacked at the base of the stairs under a sign that reminded patrons that the first snow of the season was just around the corner.

In the center of the main floor was a square counter with several cash registers and glass jars filled with penny candy that at Grainger’s still cost a penny
. Garlands of bright orange, red, and yellow leaves were draped across the front of the wooden display, while bright orange pumpkins were piled on the surface.

Emma Grainger was standing behind the antique cash register, talking to a customer Tj didn’t recognize
. She walked across the brightly polished wooden floor that had more than a few scratches and pockmarks toward the inviting counter. Pausing to wait for Emma to finish her conversation, Tj sifted through a table of hand-knitted wool sweaters and warm angora mittens in a variety of bright colors. Perhaps she should get a pair of the dark green ones for Ashley, and maybe the bright red for Gracie. And both girls were going to need waterproof boots and heavy winter jackets as well. Last winter they’d still lived in sunny Los Angeles with their parents. Had it really only been three months since they’d come to Serenity?

“Tj, how are you, dear?
” Emma greeted her once the customer had walked away.

“Do you have a moment?
” Tj set the mittens aside, deciding to let the girls pick out their own colors.

“Certainly.
” Emma waved to a young girl restocking shelves in a gesture that indicated she was taking a break. “Let’s go back to the office and have a cup of coffee.”

Emma poured coffee for both of them,
then sat down across from Tj at an old oak table the staff used for breaks. A warm fire crackled cozily in a potbellied stove in the corner of the cheery room, while soothing music played softly in the background. “Now, what can I do for you?’

By the time Tj was on her second cup of coffee she had explained about her search of Zachary’s past, the information she’d gotten from Isabelle’s journals, and her desire to find out more about Mary’s child. She explained that she hoped Isabelle had mentioned something to Emma that could help her figure out what had happened all those years ago.

“My mother never talked about it, nor did I ask,” Emma admitted
. “I do have her official birthing papers, however. Serenity Community Hospital wasn’t built until nineteen fifty. Prior to that, anyone with a medical emergency had to go down the mountain to the hospital in Reno. My mother was a trained midwife and delivered most of the babies in town. She kept files on each of her mothers, much as a doctor would keep a medical file on each patient. The files contain personal information I didn’t feel comfortable donating to the library. I’ve kept them locked up in a chest at home. I’d be happy to see if I can find the file on Zachary’s Mary, if you’d like.”

“That would be great.”

Tj glanced at her watch as she left Granger’s
. She still had a few minutes before she needed to meet with Dylan, and Glen Keller’s law office was on the way. As interested as Tj was to find out about Zachary’s past, she was even more interested in finding out what had been going on in his life just prior to his death. If, as Melanie claimed, Glen had managed Zachary’s estate, maybe he could provide some insight.

Two years earlier, when the Serenity Business Park was built, Glen had moved his office to the complex, which also housed a doctor, a dentist, an accountant, and other professional men and women
. Although the architect had done a good job making the building blend in with the natural landscape, Tj didn’t think it characterized Serenity’s small-town charm. When Lloyd Benson first proposed the project, there had been a huge uproar among town purists, including Tj, who didn’t want to see the little mom-and-pop shops that made the town what it was, replaced by a modern structure that, many thought, would stuck out like a sore thumb.

Tj entered the lobby through the glass door
. Expecting to see Melanie behind the reception desk, Tj was surprised to see Glen sitting at her desk.

“Tj, what can I do for you?”

She decided to get right to the point. “I understand you managed Zachary Collins’s estate.”

“Yes, that’s right
. Did he tell you that?”

“Yeah, he mentioned it.
” Tj thought it best not to bring Melanie into it. “I was planning on speaking to Pastor Dan about the funeral and I was wondering if Zachary left a will or some final wishes or instructions.”

“Mr. Collins has a will on file,” Glen confirmed
. “It’s quite simple. No final requests to speak of. Zachary was never really interested in the financial aspect of his life and didn’t want anyone to be burdened with it after his death, so he left instructions that whatever amount was left in his trust should be distributed to reputable charities as I saw fit.”

“What about the house?
” Tj asked.

Glen paused
. “Zachary made arrangements to sell the house and the land it sits on to Lloyd Benson before he died. I’m surprised he didn’t tell you.”

Tj frowned
. “He sold the house? Why would he do that?”

“We didn’t really talk about the why
. He asked me to draw up a contract selling the house and the land it sits on to Lloyd, with the provision that he wouldn’t take possession of the property until after Zachary’s death.”

“That doesn’t make any sense
. Lloyd wants to tear down the house and build condominiums.”

Glen placed an open hand on Tj’s shoulder
. “I know Mr. Collins was your friend and it might be hard for you to understand why he did what he did, but Zachary was an old man in ill health. I think there was a part of him that wanted things wrapped up before he passed on. He didn’t have anyone to whom he wanted to leave the property, so why not sell it to someone who really wanted it?”

“Thank you for your time.
” Tj got up from her chair. “When was the last time you spoke to Zachary?” she asked as she turned toward the door.

“On Friday
. Why?”

“Did you have dinner at his home?”

“Yes. I brought chowder to share while we dealt with some paperwork.”

“How did he seem?”

“A little tired, but fine otherwise. He was in good spirits, actually.”

Tj said her final good-bye,
then returned to her car. After climbing in she paused to consider what, if anything, to do next. Glen hadn’t said anything that would cast suspicion on him; it was reasonable that Zachary’s attorney might bring him takeout if they had business to discuss. And Zachary really didn’t seem to care about money. But sell the house? He had once told her that the only way Lloyd Benson was going to get the house was over his dead body. Was it possible that was exactly what had happened?

Tj hurried down the street to the sheriff’s office, arriving with less than a minute to spare. Juggling the girls’ schedule with her own was something she was still trying to get a handle on. More often than not, she found herself hurrying to get from one place or another.

“I have to pick up the girls in less than thirty minutes,” Tj began, “but I wanted to talk to you about a few things I’ve found out.”

“Shoot.” Dylan leaned forward, giving her his full attention.

“I don’t believe Zachary Collins’s death was either an accident or a suicide,” Tj began.

“You think he was murdered?”

“I do.”

Dylan paused to consider her assertion. “Okay, say you’re right. Any idea why someone would kill him?”

“I think it has something to do with the house or, more precisely, access to his land
. Glen told me Zachary sold the house to Lloyd Benson before he died.”

“So?”

Tj outlined the past conversations she had had with Zachary concerning his love for the house his grandfather had built in the eighteen hundreds, and his desire to see it preserved. She explained that Zachary had turned down Lloyd’s offer to buy the property on at least one occasion.

“So you think Mr. Collins was murdered and this developer had something to do with it?
” Dylan asked.

“I don’t know; maybe
. I do know it’s totally out of character for Zachary to sell the house. He didn’t seem to care about much, but he cared about the house and the land it was built on. I can remember the stories he told me about the banister he slid down as a child, and the way his mother would laugh when he fell at the bottom. He showed me the mantel his grandfather carved from the first tree he fell when he opened his lumber mill, and he told me about the old-growth trees surrounding the estate and his grandmother’s adamant refusal to let his grandfather cut even one. Zachary loved that house. I’m certain if he didn’t have family to leave it to, he would have left it to the town, or maybe the historical society. Besides, I’ve also heard that Lloyd applied for a permit to build the condos before Zachary even died and, according to Glen, one of the stipulations of the sale was that Zachary could continue to live in the house until his death.”

“You’ve brought up some interesting things. I’ll see what I can find out about them
. Anything else?”

“Yes
. There’s a general contractor in town named Kurt Brown. After you left the hardware store, yesterday I overheard Mr. Chase speaking to him on the phone. It seems he’s been hired to build Lloyd’s condos. Mr. Chase said that before he got the job Kurt was on the verge of bankruptcy. Mr. Chase also mentioned that Kurt thought he might lose the job due to access issues and was relieved it was back on track.”

“So you think he could have killed Zachary to save the project?

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Okay, I’ll check that out as well
. Anyone else you suspect?”

“There’s a guest at the resort, Kyle Donovan
. At this point I have no idea how he might relate to the house or Lloyd’s condo project and he seems like the nicest guy you’d ever want to meet, but he has Zachary’s bottle.”

“Zachary’s bottle?”

Tj explained about the bottle of scotch and her perception of its importance in finding out what had happened to Zachary. She filled him in on the reason for Kyle’s presence in Serenity, and the fact that he seemed to be applying for a job at a company no one had ever heard of.

“Okay, I’ll add him to my list.”

Tj glanced at the clock on the wall. “I really should get going. I did want to thank you for being so nice to the girls yesterday. I think they both might have little crushes on you.”

“They seem like great kids
. Roy filled me in on their history. It’s hard to lose someone you love.”

Tj realized that if anyone could identify with what they were going through, he certainly could
.

“That Justin?
” Tj glanced toward the photo she’d seen the first time she was in his office.

“Yeah
. I really miss him.”

“Did you see him often before you moved out west?
” Tj asked.

“Every day
. My sister moved in with me after she found out she was pregnant. Her deadbeat boyfriend took off the minute he heard he was going to be a daddy. Allie and I raised Justin together until I got married three years ago. After that, Allie moved into an apartment down the hall, so I still saw Justin every day. He’s really more like a son than a nephew.”

“Your sister didn’t want to move out here with you
? You’ll certainly have room in that big old house.”

“No.
” Tj saw a flash of pain in his eyes.

“Oh, by the way,” Dylan added as Tj turned to leave, “I was wondering if you knew if Mr. Collins might have any documents that would point us toward his next of kin
. So far we haven’t been able to find anyone who knows of any relations, distant or otherwise.”

Tj thought about it
. “Zachary’s family came from England at least three generations ago. I don’t know of anyone he stayed in contact with, but, yeah, there is a book of sorts detailing the family history up until the time Zachary’s father died. I’m not sure if he kept up with the tradition of providing new entries, but I’m sure there are names in the book that might point you in the right direction. If I remember correctly, Zachary’s grandfather, Jeremiah, had an older brother whose name I think might have been Charles. Charles was married and had two or three kids who each married, and so on. I know that Zachary’s dad kept the book up to date, so there should be entries through the late nineteen forties at least. I can get it for you, if you want.”