Skeleton's Key (Delta Crossroads Trilogy, Book 2) (16 page)

“Is it worth repairing?”

Lee pushed his glasses up. “You know me, Cage. Anything historical is worth fixing. But I doubt you’re here to talk shop with me. Been over to Ironwood yet this morning?”

He nodded as he sat down in the hard wooden chair in front of Lee’s desk. “They opened the butler’s pantry and are going from there.”

“How’s Dani doing with the investigation?” Lee set the gun aside, covering it with a soft cloth.

“Better than I expected,” Cage said. “Holding her own against Landers.”

“Did the butler’s pantry yield any evidence?”

Cage shunted personal feelings aside and approached Lee as if he were dangling information in front of a suspect. “I can’t give that information out, but progress is being made.”

“I just can’t believe what’s happened there. Who in the world would do such a thing?”

“That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about,” Cage said.

“Gina’s already asked me a few questions,” Lee said. “I expect a follow up since I had as much access to the house as anyone but,” Lee’s graying eyebrows knitted in confusion, “I also assumed you would be in the same position as me?”

“You mean technically a suspect?” Cage nodded. “You’ll hear from Gina. Or Landers, if you’re unlucky. I’m here because Dani and I both think the killer chose Ironwood as a dumping ground for some kind of twisted historical reference.” Cage kept the evidence about explorers and Ironwood’s missing original locks to himself.

“Really?”

“It’s just a theory, but I wanted to ask you about the church deciding to sell after all these years. Do you know their reasoning?”

Lee’s upper lip curled as if he smelled something rotten. “They didn’t want the financial burden anymore. For nearly forty years, Adams County Baptist owned Ironwood. You know they originally owned more than just the house and the three acres?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Lee nodded. “In ’71, when the church originally purchased, they bought the house and seventy acres. Two of the cotton fields purchased were still active, and the church hired those farmers for quite a while, using the funds to take care of the house. It was used as a parsonage and church offices for several years before the church decided to rent. I fought against that, too, but the rest of the members of the board didn’t want to hear it.”

“How long have you been a member of the church board?”

“Since ’82. Was pretty active for quite a while, but after my marriage ended, they pushed me to the back burner. To be honest, I think they kept me on because my position here helped ensure donations for both Ironwood and the church.”

“But you were against the renters?” Cage couldn’t blame him. Most renters had little respect for property, especially if it was old and they were getting the space cheap.

“I was furious at the idea. I don’t have to tell you about the legends of Ironwood, I’m sure. About the supposed family cache of treasure?”

Cage leaned forward, folding his arms across the desk. “I’d heard there were claims that was how John James succeeded during the Reconstruction. But do you really think there is still a treasure cache?”

Lee gave him a grim smile. “I’m sure there isn’t. John James probably did hide family valuables, and he probably did sell them after the war. But by the time his daughter died, Ironwood was in real debt. If she had any treasure, she would have used it to better the place. But that doesn’t matter to the treasure seekers.”

“You were afraid renters would tear the place up in search of it.”

“Absolutely. The church donated many of the family artifacts that survived – including CaryAnne’s book collection – to the historical foundation. But 8000 square feet is too big for any renter to have unrestricted access to, especially when there are stories of buried treasure. I managed to convince the church to keep parts of the house locked.”

“Not a big deterrent,” Cage said. “Anyone with patience can pick a lock.”

“I had to do something, and I could tell when a renter had been messing around. We did random walk-throughs. Rather, I did. Didn’t always stop them from trying. And when she sat empty, I worried. I checked once a week to make sure no one was tampering with the place.”

“Bet you changed the locks pretty frequently.”

“In that place?” Lee laughed. “Cost a small fortune. They were changed when the church purchased and again when they started renting, to ease renters’ concerns about multiple copies. But that was it.”

“Why were you against the sale, then? After all those years of her sitting empty and you having to keep watch, I’d think you’d be happy.

Lee stroked the beard he’d had for as long as Cage had known him. Its only change was the silvery gray invasion. “I was relieved when they hired you. I could tell you loved the place, and that took some weight off my shoulders. But I still argued against the sale. I was afraid of some treasure seeker coming in and tearing the place apart. There were offers, too. I was afraid we were going to have to accept.”

“Then Dani came along.”

“A stroke of luck. She inquired about the restoration position, and within minutes of talking with her, I knew she would take good care of Ironwood. I’m so grateful she was able to purchase it.”

“So, in the last five years, besides you and me, who had access to Ironwood?”

“Well, I’d like to think that in recent months, it’s just been us. Before the church hired you as caretaker, the pastor and the church board chair also had keys. We confiscated all renters’ keys, but who knows if there were duplicates. I’m afraid Captain Barnes will have her hands full trying to track them all down.”

“What about squatters? When I started, there was a lot of trash and junk lying around. No direct evidence of anyone recent but still made me wonder.”

“I never caught anyone. But I did think the locks had been picked a few times. And there were two different broken windows. No sign of any damage or theft, though.” Lee cocked his head. “Just know, I’ve got no doubt this didn’t happen on your watch. And frankly, I blame myself. I should have noticed something during my check-ins.”

“Were those routine?” Cage asked. “Did you establish a pattern the killer could have easily avoided?”

Lee looked sheepish. “Every Friday after I left here.”

“Don’t feel bad. Last thing you’re thinking about is some psycho using the place as his playground.” Cage waited a moment, choosing his next words carefully. “Back to the legends about the cache–do you believe that story about CaryAnne keeping John James’s body?”

“I highly doubt it’s true. Logistically, something like that likely would have involved more than just CaryAnne, which would mean more than just whispers. It’s probably a story that started after her death and Ironwood was abandoned. A spooky story for the ghost hunters. As for the supposed treasure cache, the idea is just foolish. As I said, whatever John James and CaryAnne had is long gone. Not that the idea wasn’t a big selling point.” Lee’s cordial tone sharpened, and he rapped his knuckles against the desk. “Do you know there were two different buyers interested in the place simply for that stupid rumor? They would have no doubt torn the place apart looking for it.”

“Well, thankfully that didn’t happen. At least there’s still hope to salvage Ironwood.” Cage stood, offering the older man his hand. Lee shook it.

“Listen, keep an eye on Dani, would you? I feel a bit guilty about her predicament.”

“How so?”

“I introduced her to Ironwood. I helped her decide to buy. And I confess, I was thinking of the house first. And now she’s up to her ears in debt and dealing with this mess. I know she’s upset about the damage that may be caused, and she hasn’t really stopped to think about what’s happened at the place. I’m just afraid that when she does—”

“She’ll lose it,” Cage finished. “I’ll watch out for her.”

He turned to leave and then stopped at the door. “One other thing Dani asked about, and I didn’t have the answer. Maybe you do.”

“What’s that?”

“The church changed the locks in the 70s, right? Were those the house’s original locks?”

“As in 1835 original? That was before my time at the foundation, but I’ve always been told the locks were at least one hundred years old. So their being originals is definitely possible.”

Cage rubbed his fingers against his jaw. He’d forgotten to shave this morning. “But the locks that were removed, they had historical value?”

“I’m sure they did.”

“You got any idea where those are? Dani wondered if they could be restored and maybe eventually displayed.” Cage made a mental note to give Dani a heads-up on his white lie.

Lee sat back down and started cleaning the gun again. “You know, I’ve never seen them. I didn’t start working for the foundation until 1980, but I’ve been through all of our records on Ironwood, and they aren’t listed as recovered objects. I’d guess they weren’t kept. And you know, that’s very common. They aren’t a priority when doing a restoration. Shame, too.”

He glanced up at Cage, but his focus slid just over his left shoulder. “Did you need anything else?”

“Nope, I’m good for now. I’ll see myself out.”

“Close the door, if you don’t mind.”

Cage obeyed, and as the office door shut, he traced the ornate brass knob. Worn with age and use, it was clearly old, no doubt preserved for its ability to add authenticity to the foundation.

As he walked out and said his goodbyes to Heather, he noticed the other doors in the building had similar hardware.

So why had Lee lied about their importance?

L
ong and stressful
described the past several hours of Dani’s life. She’d hovered in the background alternating between panic and disgust as Landers and the technician swept the house for evidence. The majority of their time was spent in the butler’s pantry, and though Dani was shooed out of the area every time she peeked inside, the process looked very different from what she saw on CSI.

They combed through every room downstairs, and Dani got her first look at the library. It was one of the largest rooms of the first floor, with three walls full of barren, built-in shelves. Her stomach filled with excited butterflies at the old drapes and carpets, although they were layered with dust, just as the shelves were.

“You cannot go inside,” Landers said. “Every room is a potential crime scene. We don’t need some damned defense attorney messing this case up. It’s going to be hard enough to sell you as a needed expert.”

“I
am
a needed expert,” she snapped. “My track record proves it. I just want to get a look at the materials–”

“No.” His tone and set jowls left nothing for argument. “You can watch, make sure we don’t get too rough. But you don’t set one Yankee toe in this room.”

He hadn’t shared any information with her, but she guessed by his grumblings throughout the rest of the search, he’d come up empty.

Around two o’clock, he informed Dani they were heading upstairs.

“I don’t think so.” This time, she stood her ground, planting herself in front of the grand staircase with her arms crossed over her chest as though that somehow made her more intimidating.

“’Scuse me?”

She decided to soften her approach. Landers didn’t seem to appreciate taking orders from anyone but Gina, and Dani got the feeling her being a Yankee added insult to injury.

“They’re not safe for you or anyone else. The servants’ quarter stairs aren’t either.”

“Foster tell you this?”

“Yes, but I’ve checked them over myself, and several of the stairs are rotting. As for the main structure, I don’t have the tools or the expertise to tell for sure. But I know you’ve got to get up there, so I’ve got an expert coming in from Jackson first thing in the morning. That’s the soonest he could get here, but he’s aware the situation is urgent, and he’s got more than thirty years’ experience.” Dani made sure to add extra emphasis on the contractor’s gender. “If he says they can withstand the weight, they’re all yours.”

“And if I choose not to wait for tomorrow?” Challenge tainted his thick accent.

“Obviously, I can’t stop you. But I’m asking you to wait. And if someone does get hurt, won’t that delay the investigation further?”

In the end, he’d agreed, but not without more grumbling under his breath about Yankees and women and God knows what else.

With the afternoon sun racing toward the western horizon, Dani had driven away from her home, leaving Ironwood forlorn and empty. She thought about calling Cage, but they hadn’t made plans to get together this evening. He wasn’t her personal tour guide.

She’d still like to see him.

Her fingernails tapped an uneven rhythm against the wheel. The mystery at hand drove her interest in seeing Cage…except every time she thought about talking to him, nervous energy flowed through her so quickly her breath evaporated.

A throng of oak trees caught her attention. Oak Lynn. She glanced at the clock–just past four p.m. Surely the owner–what was her name? Grace. Surely she wasn’t getting ready to serve dinner just yet. A paralyzing yawn burst out of Dani’s mouth, and the need for sleep almost defeated her curiosity. But at the last second, she hit the brakes on her rental car and swerved onto Oak Lynn’s tree-lined drive. It was time to meet her new neighbor.

She knew the house sat on six acres, and the drive, lined with towering live oaks, had given the house its name. As majestic as Tara in
Gone With The Wind
, the massive house emerged through the trees, a beautifully remodeled specimen of plantation architecture. Oak Lynn was three stories, with a widow’s walk and a massive walk around porch and second and third floor galleries.

Dani checked herself in the rearview mirror; most of her foundation had sweat off, and part of her hair had escaped its knot. She ran a quick brush through it, swept it back up, and then dabbed on some powder and lip gloss. Smoothing out her wrinkled shirt, she hurried up Oak Lynn’s steps. Hopefully Grace wouldn’t judge her messy attire.

A compact, white-haired woman answered Dani’s knock. She smiled warmly. “Can I help you?”

“I’m Dani Evans, the new owner of Ironwood. I wanted to stop by and say hello.”