The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds (10 page)

Clarence Renton stood
alone under the shade of a maple tree along the outer perimeter of the side
yard. He watched the Kleins play croquet with several of the tellers from the
bank. They kept laughing and seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Beyond the players and
to their right were the tables and chairs set up for the day’s event. Most of
the chairs were occupied and everyone seemed to be either eating or drinking,
while happily chatting away to those around them. Beyond the people and chairs
was Marlow House.

Samuel Hayman, a can of
beer in each hand, walked up to Clarence. “You looked thirsty.” Samuel handed
Clarence a beer.

“Thanks Samuel. You
must have read my mind.” Clarence accepted the can and promptly opened it,
taking a sip.

“Nice turn out,” Samuel
said, nodding toward the group of party guests. Standing under the tree they
watched the croquet players.

“I’d say it was a
success,” Clarence said.

“I’m sure most of them
showed up to get a look at the Missing Thorndike.”

“You’re probably
right.” Clarence took another sip.

“I was wondering, do
you think Brianna O’Malley knew that necklace was hidden in the house?” Samuel
asked.

“If she did, she never
said anything to me about it. But, I don’t see how she would have known.”

“I think she might
have. I was talking to Adam Nichols about it the other day, and according to
Adam, his grandma knew about Walt Marlow stealing that necklace.”

Clarence turned to
Samuel. “It doesn’t mean Brianna knew the necklace was in the house.”

“Marie and Brianna
O’Malley were friends,” Samuel said.

“They were?” Clarence
frowned. “I didn’t know that.”

“Yes, Adam claimed they
were good friends.” Samuel looked over the crowd and spied Cheryl with Adam.
The two stood by the wine table. Before grabbing the beer, Samuel had
considered pouring himself a glass of wine at the table. The bottles had
already been opened, but each was loosely re-corked, waiting to be poured. He
watched as Cheryl picked one up and pushed the cork into the bottle.

“That cousin is sure a
good looking woman,” Samuel nodded toward Cheryl.

“Yes, she is.” Clarence
looked over at Cheryl and sipped his beer.

“Is it true she owns
half this place and the necklace?”

“I really can’t discuss
that,” Clarence said.

“Well, I guess Danielle
Boatman isn’t thrilled her cousin showed up. I heard she hit her.”

“Good lord, Samuel,
please don’t be spreading rumors like that,” Clarence said impatiently.

“It’s not a rumor.
Joanne told me she saw the bruise.” Samuel continued to watch Cheryl, who
tucked the bottle under one arm and ran toward the back gate. “What is she
doing?”

“Looks like she’s
taking off with a bottle of wine,” Clarence chuckled. The two men watched as
Cheryl tucked the bottle into the bushes by the gate, looked around to see if
anyone was watching, and then ran back to Adam.

“That’s odd.” Samuel
frowned.

“Not really. I remember
doing that. Of course I was sixteen at the time, not an adult.”

“What do you mean?”

“Come on Samuel, when
you were a teenager you never stole some of your parent’s booze and stashed it
in the bushes, so you could get it when you went out later?”

“I never drank when I
was a teenager,” Samuel said seriously.

“Of course not. What
was I thinking?” Clarence muttered.

• • • •

“You want to play when
they’re done? It actually looks like fun,” Cheryl asked Adam as she stood with
him by the wine table, her arm looped around his. They watched the small group
play croquet.

“It sure looks like the
set from the attic,” Adam mumbled.

“You mean the attic
here?” Cheryl glanced up to the attic window.

“Yeah. There was an old
set up there. Looks just like this one…but it can’t be the same one.”

“I saw Lily bring it
down from the attic. Why do you say it can’t be the same one?”

“Because the other
one...nevermind.” Adam shook his head.  While Cheryl might claim to have issues
with her cousin, he didn’t want her to say anything that might get back to
Danielle. For example, he didn’t want to confirm the fact he knew about the
special croquet set in the attic, the one that had been fitted with some sort
of remote control device. That was the only explanation he could find for how
the balls and mallets hurled across the attic when he and Bill broke in. He
knew they didn’t fly across the room on their own.  He couldn’t believe
Danielle would use that set for her open house.

“Nice to see you
again,” Samuel Hayman greeted Cheryl as he walked up to the pair, carrying his
now empty can of beer. “Adam, how you doing?”

“Sam.” Adam gave him a
nod. “So you two already met?”

“Yes, we met yesterday
when I stopped in his store,” Cheryl explained.

“I expected Bill to be
here. I understood he fixed the window after the break in.” Samuel tossed his
empty can in the nearby trash bin.

“Who told you that?”
Adam frowned.

“What break in?” Cheryl
asked.

“Your grandmother
mentioned it.” Samuel looked from Adam to Cheryl. “Marlow House was broken into
about a week after your cousin arrived. Someone broke the library window. But
apparently they didn’t take anything.”

“Was that before the
necklace was found?” Cheryl asked.

“Yes,” Samuel said.

“They must have been
looking for the necklace! Who is this Bill?”

“He does some handyman
work for me,” Adam explained. “He had some other plans for today, and he’s
already seen the house, no reason to stop by again.”

“I guess.” Samuel shrugged.
“Never considered whoever broke in was looking for the necklace.”

“I doubt they were,”
Adam said. “Just some kids screwing around.”

“Are you staying long?”
Samuel asked Cheryl.

“I’m not sure. I need
to get this inheritance thing straightened out with my cousin. I’m afraid this
open house was a little too much for her. She’s never been quite right since
her husband was killed.”

“I thought you told me
you hadn’t seen her for years?” Adam asked.

“Well no, but I do try
to keep an eye on her. After all, I am the only one she has left.” Cheryl
smiled sweetly.

“Have you tried the
necklace on yet?” Samuel asked.

“No. I’m afraid Dani
has been very selfish with it.” Cheryl leaned toward Sam, pointed to her
bruised cheek and whispered, “She even hit me over it!”

“I’m sure it was an
accident,” Adam said.

“You weren’t here!”
Cheryl flashed Adam an angry scowl and released hold of his arm.

“So she really did hit
you,” Samuel said.

“Yes. I just wanted to
take a closer look, and she knocked me to the floor! Just like that!”

“Oh Cheryl, I don’t
think…”

“You keep saying that,
Adam! I’m beginning to think you do have feelings for my cousin. You weren’t
there! But they all saw it—Ian, that housekeeper, and the cop guy who is
supposedly here to guard the necklace.”

“Joe saw her hit you?
What did he do?” Samuel asked.

“He didn’t do anything.
Claimed he didn’t see exactly what happened. But he saw me on the floor. Saw my
bruised face.”

“I’m really sorry.”
Samuel shook his head. “She seemed so nice.”

“You want to see where
she found the necklace?” Cheryl asked.

“I heard it was in the
attic, but I haven’t been up there yet,” Samuel said.

“Come, I’ll show you.”
Cheryl started to walk toward the house with Samuel, but paused when she
realized Adam hadn’t moved. She looked back at him. “You coming?” she asked
impatiently.

Adam let out a sigh and
reluctantly followed the pair. They entered the house through the kitchen door
and found Lily and Danielle inside talking to Joanne. The moment Cheryl spied
Danielle, she immediately latched onto Adam’s arm again, holding it
possessively.

Polite hellos were
exchanged as Cheryl and the two men made their way to the door leading to the
hallway. Just as they reached the door, Cheryl glanced back toward Danielle,
who was watching her and Adam. Impulsively, Cheryl leaned toward Adam and
kissed his cheek.

“What was that for?”
Adam asked when they stepped into the hall.

“I just wanted you to
know how much I’m looking forward to tonight—just you and me—alone,” Cheryl
whispered.

When they reached the
second floor, Samuel paused and said, “I haven’t been up here yet.”

“Not much to see, just
a bunch of bedrooms,” Cheryl shrugged. When she noticed the door to her room
open she frowned. “What the heck?” She marched to the doorway and looked
inside.

“What’s wrong?” Adam
asked as he and Samuel walked to the doorway of the Red Room and looked inside.

“This is my room. I had
the door closed with a note, expressly stating for no one to go inside. How
dare they! Is a little privacy too much to ask?” Cheryl looked at the back of
the door and saw the note had been removed.

“This is a nice room.”
Samuel said, looking inside. “I understood all the rooms were going to be open
for viewing.”

“I wonder what she did
with my stuff? Darn Dani. She makes me so mad!” Cheryl stomped her foot and
then took a deep breath and calmed down. “Go ahead and look at the other rooms
on this floor. I’m going to the bathroom, then we can go to the attic and I’ll
show you where she found the necklace.” Cheryl headed to the nearby bathroom.

“She and her cousin
certainly don’t seem to get along,” Samuel commented after Cheryl shut the
bathroom door.

“That’s an
understatement,” Adam chuckled.

“So what’s the deal
Adam, you dating her?”

“We just met yesterday,
but yeah I suppose we’re dating.”

Hasty footsteps were
heard coming up the wood stairs. Both men looked toward the landing. It was
Clarence Renton coming up from the first floor.

“Samuel, Adam,”
Clarence greeted. Then he chuckled and said, “Damn, you two together make a
beer.”

Both men laughed and
then Adam said, “I would have thought you’d already been through the house.”

“Yes. I was coming up
here to use one of the bathrooms. The one downstairs is occupied. You two
touring the house?” Clarence asked.

“We’re waiting for
Cheryl,” Samuel explained, nodding toward the closed door of the nearby
bathroom. “She’s going to show us where Danielle found the necklace in the
attic.”

“I noticed you two
seemed pretty chummy already,” Clarence told Adam.

“What can I say, I’m
irresistible,” Adam laughed.

“So are you two going
down to the fireworks later?” Samuel asked.

“Nah. I’m thinking
something a little more private.” Adam grinned. “Wine, nice little bungalow
overlooking the ocean.”

“Your house is a couple
blocks from the beach,” Samuel said.

“Who says I’m taking
her to my house?” Adam chuckled.

“If you get down by the
beach, you’ll see the fireworks anyway,” Clarence reminded.

“Can’t see much from
the south side,” Adam said.

“I was thinking about
going when I leave here. What about you Samuel?” Clarence asked.

“I don’t think so. I’m
not really one for fireworks,” Samuel said.

Guests continued to
come and go, and according to the clock in the library it was a few minutes
past 5 p.m. Danielle suspected that by nightfall she could safely say a
majority of Frederickport residents had toured Marlow House. At least, it
seemed that way.

According to the
invitations she’d sent out, the open house ended at dusk. She suspected that by
that time most people would be gone anyway, off to watch the firework show or
to get together with their own families for a Fourth of July barbecue.

Many of the guests only
stopped by for a short time, to get a look at the Missing Thorndike, have a
quick tour of the house and grab something to eat. But a few lingered,
reluctant to leave.

In the library, Marie
Nichols and Emma Jackson sat across from each other in the leather chairs,
reminiscing about the early days of Frederickport as other guests leisurely
moved in and out of the room while touring the house. Ian and Joe stood
together at the library doorway chatting, while Ian watched the front door for
new arrivals and Joe kept an eye on Danielle, who stood on the far side of the
library with Lily.

“So that is little
Marie,” Walt said as he appeared, standing next to Danielle.

“Where have you been
for the last hour?” Danielle asked.

Lily frowned and
sniffed the air, then announced in a whisper, “Walt’s here. Hello Walt.”

“I’ve been around. I
can’t tell if she looks like her mother or father.” Walt eyed Marie. “The last
time I saw them they were both much younger than she is now.”

Samuel Hayman entered
the library and after exchanging a few words with Ian and Joe, walked directly
over to Marie. He placed a hand on her shoulder and then leaned down and
whispered something into her ear. Marie laughed gaily. She reached up and
patted his hand and then said something to Emma. From where Danielle, Lily and
Walt stood, they couldn’t hear what the three were discussing, but it looked as
if Marie had just introduced Samuel to Emma.

“I thought Samuel had
left,” Lily murmured.

“Why did you think
that?” Danielle asked.

“When I took some trash
out a while ago, I saw him drive off in his car. Guess he decided to come
back.”

“That has to be Jacob
Hayman’s grandson. Looks just like him,” Walt said.

“If that’s the person
who started the local jewelry store, yes.”

“What are you guys
talking about?” Lily asked in a whisper.

“The man who owns the
jewelry store.” Danielle nodded toward Samuel. “The one who appraised the
necklace for us.”

“Wait a minute,” Walt
said, looking curiously from Danielle to Samuel. “Are you telling me the
jeweler who appraised the necklace for you is Jacob Hayman’s grandson?”

“I don’t know about
that,” Danielle shrugged. “You just said that has to be Jacob Hayman’s
grandson. I know that Samuel’s grandfather founded the jewelry store he owns.
So if your Jacob Hayman was the one who started the jewelry store, then yeah,
that’s his grandson.”

“I hate this,” Lily
grumbled, annoyed that she could only hear Danielle’s side of the conversation.

“I remember when Jacob
opened the store. It was a couple of years before…well, before my untimely
death. I always thought it was a strange coincidence he decided to open a store
here.”

“What do you mean?”
Danielle asked.

“Jacob owned a jewelry
store in Portland before opening one in Frederickport. From what I recall, he
closed it down a few years before he opened one here. As for the coincidence
I’m referring to: his Portland shop is where Eva had the necklace appraised.
He’s the one who told her the diamonds and emeralds were fake.”

“Seriously?” Danielle
looked over to Samuel who chatted with Marie, unaware he was the subject of
their conversation. “Was Jacob the one who gave the appraisal?”

“His signature was on
the document,” Walt said.

“What? Come on, you
have to tell me what he said!” Lily whined.

“The jeweler who told
Eva Thorndike the diamonds and emeralds were fake was Samuel’s grandfather,”
Danielle whispered to Lily. “Samuel’s grandfather used to own a store in
Portland. That’s where Eva took the necklace when she suspected the stones had
been switched.”

“But why, why did he
lie?” Lily asked.

“Tell Lily I wonder
about that too. It really makes no sense. What did he have to gain telling her
they were fake?”

“Maybe he hoped she’d
leave the necklace with him, and then he could take out the real diamonds and
emeralds and put fake ones in,” Danielle suggested.

“I always knew Jacob to
be an honest man. I can’t see him doing something like that. Eva never
mentioned anything about him wanting her to leave the necklace with him.”

“He wonders about that
too. Says he thought Jacob was an honest man,” Danielle said.

“Didn’t Samuel mention
that his grandfather opened up his shop in Frederickport after the Thorndike
went missing?” Lily asked.

“Tell Lily he did. From
what I remember, it was at least five years after Eva’s death. I had no idea
his store was still open—or that his grandson owned it now.”

“Walt said he didn’t
open the store here until after Eva’s death,” Danielle said.

“How funny is that? The
grandfather says the stones are fake—and the grandson insists they’re real.
Damn, what happens if the grandfather was right and the grandson is wrong?”

“It might get Cheryl
out of my hair,” Danielle chuckled. “Although, I wouldn’t hold my breath. If
you’ll recall, the insurance company insisted on having their own appraiser
look at the necklace before they would insure it. These damn stones are real.”

“Where is your cousin,
by the way? I’ve barely seen her?” Lily asked.

“I haven’t seen her or
Adam for a couple hours. I’m actually surprised she hasn’t started bugging me
again about trying on the necklace.”

“Are you going to let
her?” Lily asked.

“Yes. I really don’t
care if she tries it on. But knowing her, I was afraid she’d refuse to take it
off and I didn’t want to wrestle her to the ground in front of my guests to get
it back.”

“If you ladies will
excuse me,” Walt said as he moved toward Marie, Emma and Samuel.

“Walt just left us,”
Danielle explained. “I think he’s eavesdropping on Marie’s little group. I
guess I better get back to mingling.”

“Me too. I’ll go check
on Joanne,” Lily said. 

• • • •

Danielle found Mr.
Renton chatting with a small group in the parlor. She hadn’t had an opportunity
to have a real discussion with the attorney beyond the initial greeting when he
had first arrived for the open house.

Stepping away from the
small group, Mr. Renton walked to Danielle. “I’d say your party is a success.”

“I’m delighted with the
turn out.” Danielle stood alone with Clarence in one corner of the room, while
the other people continued their discussion.

“And that necklace
looks beautiful on you, everyone is talking about it.”

By reflex, Danielle’s
right hand lifted to her throat and lightly touched the necklace.

“I keep checking to
make sure it hasn’t fallen off.”

“I met your cousin.
Actually, she was playing tour guide. Showed several of us where you found the
Missing Thorndike.”

“She’s convinced there
are more hidden treasures in the house. What did you tell her about the
estate?”

“Just that now was not
the time to discuss it. She’s going to stop in my office on Monday, after the
holiday weekend.”

“Have you found out
anything? I mean, does she have a legitimate claim?”

“Like I told your
cousin, we should discuss this later. But I still think you should contact your
buyer and delay the sale of the necklace. At least until this is resolved.”

“I was really hoping I
wouldn’t have to do that.” Danielle groaned.

“I think it would be
for the best. Your cousin also said something that I found disturbing.”

“What was that?”

“She claims you hit
her. Even showed me a bruise.”

“I did not hit her.”

“I couldn’t imagine you
would. Exactly how did she get that bruise?”

“She grabbed for the
necklace and tripped. I did not touch her. But she fell backwards and swears I
hit her.”

“I don’t understand. If
she fell backwards, how did she get a bruise on her face?”

“I…I suppose she hit
herself when she fell.”

“Humm…”

“Honestly, Mr. Renton.
I did not hit my cousin.”

“There you are!” Cheryl
said to Danielle as she walked into the parlor. “The party is almost over, can
I please try on our necklace now?”

Danielle looked from
Mr. Renton to Cheryl. Glancing past Cheryl, she spied Joe, who was standing in
the entry and talking to several of her guests. He had stayed faithfully by her
side for most of the day, only leaving to use the bathroom or standing guard at
doorways, as he was now, visiting with other guests.

“Where’s Adam?”
Danielle asked. It was the first time she’d seen Cheryl that day without Adam
close at hand.

“I think he’s talking
with his grandmother in the library. So can I, please?”

“Sure,” Danielle said
with a sigh.  Reaching back she unlatched the necklace as Cheryl anxiously
waited to try it on. The other guests in the room gathered around them,
watching the valuable piece being passed from one cousin to the other.

“It looks beautiful on
you,” Samuel Hayman said as he entered the parlor. “I knew it would.”

“Oh does it? Does it?”
Cheryl glanced down at her chest, trying to get a better look.

“It is absolutely
exquisite,” Mr. Renton said.

“I wish I’d find
something like that behind my floorboards,” one of the guest said.

“You really should go
look at yourself in the mirror,” Mr. Renton suggested. “It’s quite
spectacular.”

“Oh yes! I will,”
Cheryl turned from Danielle.

“Cheryl, where are you
going?” Danielle asked.

“Just to the bathroom,
I’ll be right back!”

Before Danielle could
respond Cheryl rushed from the room.

“She’ll be fine,” Mr.
Renton chuckled. “It’s just down the hall and Joe’s out there.”

Danielle smiled at her
attorney in spite of the fact she wanted to smack him. Turning back to the
doorway to let Joe know Cheryl had the necklace, the front door opened and a
new group of guests walked into the entry.

Before she could get to
Joe, Mr. Renton pushed passed her and walked toward the library. The guests
from the parlor spilled into the entry to greet the new arrivals.

It took Danielle a few
minutes to finally reach Joe, and when she did he grabbed her arm and informed
her the necklace was missing.

“Yes I know.” Danielle
touched her throat. “I let Cheryl try it on. She went to the bathroom to look
in the mirror.”

“Let’s get over there
and get it back,” Joe said. He and Danielle pushed through the small group.

 When they reached the
bathroom door, Danielle gave it a little knock. “Cheryl?”

“Just a minute, I will
be right out,” a voice that was not Cheryl’s called back. A few moments later
the door opened and a woman Danielle didn’t recognize stepped out.

“It’s all yours,” the
woman said cheerfully as she walked away.

Danielle pushed in the
powder room and quickly discovered it was empty.

“Darn her, where did
she go?” Danielle grumbled.

“She probably went to
one of the other bathrooms since this one was occupied.”

“Or another mirror,”
Danielle suggested.

“Maybe.”

Danielle quickly raced
through the first floor, then ran up to the second floor, Joe at her heels.

“She isn’t up here,”
Danielle said after she looked through all the rooms.

Lily jogged up the
stairs and when she reached the second floor landing asked, “What’s going on? I
saw you two running up here.”

“We’re looking for
Cheryl, she has the necklace,” Joe explained.

“She took it?” Lily
asked.

“I let her try it on,”
Danielle said.

“I hate to be the one
to tell you guys this, but Cheryl just left with Adam. I saw them drive off
just a minute ago.”

“What?” Danielle
gasped.

“Stupid stunt,” Joe
grumbled.

“I don’t think this is
a stunt, I think they just stole the necklace!” Danielle said.

“I seriously doubt it.
I’ve known Adam a long time, and I don’t think he is going to walk off with a
million dollar necklace in front of all these witnesses. Not so sure about your
cousin.”