The Ghost Who Loved Diamonds (7 page)

Cheryl stood outside
the jewelry store window, looking in at the display. There didn’t appear to be
anyone in the store, except for the man behind the counter who gave her a
little wave when he noticed her standing outside the shop. She stood there for
a few more minutes before making the decision to go inside.

“Good morning,” the man
cheerfully greeted. He flashed a smile, showing off straight white teeth.
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?”

Cheryl thought he was
pleasant looking enough, with a clean shaven face and curly brown hair trimmed
neatly above his ears. She found his dark blue polyester slacks and crisply
pressed powder blue dress shirt dreadfully out of style. If she were to guess
his age she’d say he was in his mid-forties.

“Too cold for me. Is it
always so miserable in the summers here?” Cheryl walked to the counter and
looked down, browsing at the selection of diamond rings locked in the glass
case.

“I suppose it is a
little cooler than normal for this time of the year,” the man said with a
shrug. “Are you looking for anything in particular?”

“I was wondering, was
this the jewelry store where they brought the Missing Thorndike?”

“Oh, you read the
article!” The man beamed. “Yes. For some reason they thought the diamonds and
emeralds were fake, but I recognized the piece immediately.”

“So
you
were the
one who looked at it?”

“Yes, I was. Quite a
thrill I tell you. My name is Samuel Hayman, by the way. This is my store. When
I was just a kid my grandfather told me about the necklace. We always wondered
who had taken it.  A real shock to find out Walt Marlow, of all people, stole
the necklace.”

“So tell me, were there
many jewel heists in Frederickport back then?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did your grandfather
ever mention other jewelry that went missing when Walt Marlow was alive? I’ve
heard some jewel thieves are often members of the social circle they rob—like
that Marlow guy. They go to all the parties and social gatherings, and no one
suspects anything while they’re being ripped off.”

“Umm…no…not that I’ve
ever heard of. Why?”

“Oh, I was just
curious.” Cheryl shrugged and continued to look down at the display case.

“So, are you visiting
family or friends here?”

“You can tell I’m not a
local?”

“Rather got that
impression, plus I don’t remember seeing you around before. And I would
definitely remember such a pretty woman.”

Cheryl grinned at the
compliment and then said, “Actually, I’m staying at Marlow House.”

“I didn’t know they
were open for business yet. I’m going to their open house tomorrow.”

“Well I’m not a guest,
per se. I’m one of the owners,” Cheryl said proudly.

“Owners? I don’t understand.
I thought Danielle Boatman owned Marlow House.”

“Dani is my cousin.
Actually I’m the only relative she has. You see, Brianna Boatman, the former
owner of Marlow House was my great-aunt too. She was very ill during her last
years, Alzheimer’s.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear
that. I didn’t know.”

“I don’t wish to speak
ill of my cousin, but I’m afraid she was a tad eager when she learned Aunt
Brianna had left her Marlow House. Obviously Aunt Brianna intended to leave it
to both of us, but with that horrid disease…” Cheryl sighed dramatically then
said, “Which is why I’m here to straighten out the estate.”

“How does your
cousin…umm, feel about all this? I know that necklace is part of the estate and
its worth over a million dollars.”

“Well, I admit she was
not thrilled when I showed up. But she’ll get used to the idea. I was
wondering, do you know which bank my cousin keeps the necklace at? I noticed
there are several banks in town.”

“The one just next
door,” Samuel told her.

• • • •

Fifteen minutes later
Cheryl entered the bank next door to the jewelry store and walked up to one of
the bank tellers.

“How can I help you?”
the teller asked.

“I need to speak to the
bank manager.”

“I can help you with
deposits and withdrawals, but if you need to speak to someone about another
banking matter you can sign in over there.” The teller pointed to a sign up
sheet on the far counter.

“I need to speak to the
bank manager. If I sign up there, will I be able to see her?”

“Actually it’s a him.
Can you tell me what this is about? Maybe I can direct you to the right
person.”

“It’s about the Missing
Thorndike.”

“You mean the
necklace?”

“Yes. I want to see
it.”

“Excuse me? You want to
see it? I don’t understand.” The teller looked around nervously.

“Oh, don’t get all
jumpy,” Cheryl said with a laugh when she noticed the change in the teller. “I
didn’t come here to steal the necklace. After all, I don’t need to steal it,
since I own half of it.”

“I don’t know what
you’re talking about.” The teller shook her head nervously and glanced around.
When she spied the bank manager she waved him over.

“What can I help you
with?” the bank manager asked when he walked up to the teller’s window. He
smiled at Cheryl.

“Are you the bank
manager?” Cheryl asked before the teller could make introductions.

“Yes. I’m Steve Klein.
Was there something I can help you with?”

“I was hoping to have a
look at my necklace. I don’t want to take it out of the bank or anything, but
I’ve never seen it in person and I really would love to.”

“I don’t understand…”
the manager frowned.

“This woman claims to
own the Missing Thorndike,” the teller explained.

“I’m afraid that is not
possible.” The manager sounded far less friendly than he had a moment before.

Cheryl put out her hand
and said, “I’m Danielle Boatman’s cousin, Cheryl Hartford.”

“I still don’t
understand,” the manager mumbled, as he shook Cheryl’s hand.

“Dani and I are the
only remaining members of our great aunt’s family. Aunt Brianna meant to leave
the estate to both of us, but I’m afraid she had Alzheimer’s during her last
years and sadly…well she forgot about me. I know Aunt Brianna would never have
intentionally left me out of her will, she was such a dear.”

“I really don’t see how
any of that is the bank’s business,” Steve said.

“Well, you have our
necklace here. So naturally I want to see it, since it belongs to me too.”

“Ms. Hartford, unless
your name is on the safety deposit box,” Steve began.

“It’s not here anyway,”
the teller interrupted.

“What do you mean?”
Cheryl asked.

“Why, Ms. Boatman left
not forty-five minutes ago with the necklace.”

“The necklace isn’t
here?” Cheryl asked angrily.

“I’m afraid not,” the
teller said.

Without saying another
word, Cheryl turned around and stormed toward the exit.

“Susan, I really wish
you hadn’t told her that,” Steve said after Cheryl left the bank.

“But it isn’t here.”

“I understand that. But
it is not in our customer’s best interest for us to be informing strangers when
they leave the bank carrying something of such value.  What one of our
customers takes out of their safety deposit box is no one else’s business.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Klein.
I didn’t think. But she said she was Ms. Boatman’s cousin. Anyway, everyone
knows she intends to wear the necklace during tomorrow’s open house. So it’s
not really a secret the necklace is going to be out of the bank.”

“Damn foolish if you
ask me. Wearing something like that. Just asking for trouble. I wonder if that
woman really is who she says she is,” Steve mumbled.

Steve was about to go
to his office and call Marlow House to verify the fact the woman who identified
herself as Cheryl Hartford was indeed Danielle’s cousin, when Clarence Renton
walked into the bank. Steve quickly excused himself from the teller and went to
Renton.

“Clarence, I was hoping
you could answer a quick question for me.”

“If I can. What’s the
problem?”

“Did you see that woman
who just left the bank a few minutes ago?”

“The blonde with the
generous rack?” Clarence whispered.

“Damn Clarence, no way
for you to talk,” Steve chuckled.

“I may be old but I’m
not dead. Good looking woman, what about her?”

“Do you know if she’s
Danielle Boatman’s cousin?”

“You mean Cheryl
Hartford?” Clarence glanced at the doorway he’d just entered.

“So she is the cousin?”
Steve asked.

“Well I don’t know if
she is the cousin. I’ve never met her before. But I know Ms. Boatman’s cousin
is here in Frederickport staying at Marlow House.”

“She says she owns half
of the Marlow estate.”

“Well, she is making
that claim. Off the record, mind you. Just between you and me, Steve.”

“Is it valid?”

“Enough that it’s upset
Ms. Boatman. Don’t repeat me. But you know how it is, someone dies and all the
distant relatives crawl out of the woodwork.”

“She wanted to see the
necklace.”

“Did you explain to her
you can’t simply open someone’s safety deposit box just because they want a
peek inside?” Clarence chuckled.

“I started to, but then
Mrs. Mitchell blurted out that the necklace isn’t here.”

“So she’s really going
to wear it at the open house?” Clarence asked.

“I guess so. She calls
it publicity, I call it foolishness.”

“I think I’ve just died
and gone to heaven,” Adam Nichols mumbled under his breath as he watched the
buxom blonde breeze through the doorway of Lucy’s Diner. Alone at his booth, he
sipped his water and watched as she glanced around the diner looking for a free
table. Even the lunch counter was full.

Cheryl stood at the
entrance of the diner, a few feet from Adam’s booth. The sign at the entrance
said
seat yourself
, yet she didn’t see any openings. The kitchen and
lunch counter was to her left, with a line of booths to her right and tables
directly ahead. From the kitchen area a waitress rushed in her direction,
carrying a tray with four lunch plates. Cheryl attempted to flag her down.

“I’m afraid it will be
a thirty minute wait,” the harried waitress told Cheryl as she rushed by.

“Thirty minutes?”
Cheryl groaned, again looking around for someplace to sit.

“It’s the beginning of
a holiday weekend,” Adam called out. “Always gets crazy around here this time
of year.”

“It isn’t the weekend
yet and I’m starved!” Cheryl stomped a foot in frustration.

“You’re welcome to join
me. The waitress hasn’t taken my order yet. In fact, I’d be honored to buy you
lunch.”

She turned to his booth
and smiled. “Really?” Pausing a moment she asked, “How do I know you aren’t a
serial killer?”

“I grew up in this
town, just ask the waitress. We haven’t had a mad killing spree in Frederikport
since—well, since ever. So if I am a serial killer, I obviously go out of town
to find my victims, so you’re safe.”

Walking closer to
Adam’s booth, Cheryl giggled then asked, “But why would you want to buy me
lunch?”

“I hate eating alone.
But mostly, you’re a very beautiful woman—which I’m sure you already know. What
man wouldn’t willingly buy you lunch just to have the pleasure of your company
for a few hours?”

“A few hours? That is
rather a long lunch isn’t it?” Cheryl said as she sat down at the booth.

“What can I say, I’m an
optimist.” Adam reached across the table and offered his hand in greeting. “I’m
Adam Nichols. I promise I am a respectable local business man, I own
Frederickport Property Rentals.”

Cheryl accepted his
hand and gave it a brief shake. “I’m Cheryl Hartford. I’m staying at Marlow
House. Do you know it?” She picked up a menu from the end of the table and
opened it.

“Marlow House? Why
sure. Who doesn’t? Big party there tomorrow. I was under the impression they
weren’t taking guests yet.”

“Oh, I’m not a guest.
I’m Danielle Boatman’s cousin.” Cheryl looked through the menu.

“Ahh, well maybe you
shouldn’t be sitting with me. Danielle Boatman isn’t particularly fond of me.”

“She isn’t?” Cheryl set
the menu down and looked at Adam.

“Well….has she
mentioned anything about me?”

“No. Why would she?”

“Let’s just say she got
the wrong impression. Since then, well, I don’t think she’s thrilled with me.”

Cheryl quietly
considered the possibilities for a few moments before saying, “Ahh, I
understand.”

“You do?”

“I can only think of
one reason my cousin would have a problem with such a handsome and charming
man—the scorned woman.”

“Scorned woman?”

“She thought you liked
her more than you did—and when she found out you didn’t share her feelings she
got all…well…you know. That’s just Dani. She could never take rejection well. I
guess this means you won’t be at the party tomorrow.”

“No. I’m going to be
there. She’s friends with my grandmother, and I’ve promised Grandma I’d take
her.”

“That’s sweet of you,
taking your grandma.”

A moment later the
waitress came to the table and took their order, then left to get their beverages.

“I hope you won’t be
angry at me, but I’m afraid it’s going to be impossible for me to sit here
without staring at you. You’ve got to be one of the most beautiful—no, possibly
the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Are you a model or something?”

“Oh…” Cheryl blushed.
“Actually, I have done a little modeling. Of course, they want stick figures,
and I just have too many curves.”

“Yes. I can see that.
All in the right places, if you don’t mind me saying.”

“Oh, you are very
naughty Adam Nichols!” Cheryl giggled.

“I guess you just bring
out the naughty in me.”

“It isn’t easy looking
like me.” Cheryl sighed dramatically.

“It isn’t? I would
think the world would fall at your feet.”

“No,” Cheryl shook her
head. “Take my cousin, Dani, for instance. She has always been so jealous of
me. It really isn’t my fault I look like this!”

“That is a shame,
Danielle shouldn’t be jealous of you.”

“She shouldn’t?” Cheryl
frowned.

“Why no, I mean
Danielle is also an attractive woman.”

“Do you think she is as
pretty as me?” Cheryl sounded offended.

“Oh no—” Adam said
quickly, realizing his blunder. “I just meant she is an attractive woman, not
as beautiful as you, of course. But she should be able to appreciate her
beautiful cousin, without being jealous.”

“Yes,” Cheryl said,
pleased with Adam’s explanation. “I agree.”

“Is this your first
time in Frederickport?”

“Yes. I just learned
recently about Aunt Brianna’s death.”

“Brianna? You mean the
one who left Danielle Boatman Marlow House?”

“Yes. But that is a
mistake. It was supposed to go to both of us.”

“I hadn’t heard that.”

“My great-aunt had
Alzheimer’s and became forgetful in her later years. Dani and I were her only
remaining relatives and it was the horrid disease that made her forget to
mention me in the will.”

“If she wasn’t in her
right mind, how could she execute a will?”

“Exactly! That’s what
my lawyer back home told me too. You know, no one even told me my aunt had
died. Dani certainly never contacted me. But why would she? She obviously
wanted to keep me in the dark, hoping I would never find out. But after that
article came out about the necklace, well, I hired a private detective. I was
shocked to hear Aunt Brianna had Alzheimer’s.”

“I assume you’re going
to contest the will?”

“Of course!”

“Is she still selling
the necklace next week?”

“How did you know about
that?” Cheryl asked.

“Like I said, she and
my grandmother are friends. But it’s pretty common knowledge around here.”

“Well, not if I have
anything to say about it!”

“You don’t want to sell
it? I heard it’s worth over a million bucks.”

“I’m not sure. I would
like to look at it first. Try it on. How thrilling to wear something that
exquisite!”

“I’d love to see it on
you. The Missing Thorndike needs to be worn by someone like you, to do it
justice.”

“You do know how to
flatter a girl,” Cheryl reached over and patted Adam’s hand. “Why is it again
they call it the Missing Thorndike?”

“Because it belonged to
the silent screen star, Eva Thorndike.”

“You mean silent
movies?”

“Yes. I guess she was
pretty famous back in her day. The Thorndikes had money. They used to spend
summers here, starting back before Eva became famous. The necklace was a family
heirloom. When Eva died, the necklace went missing. It became known as the
Missing Thorndike.”

“And Walt Marlow stole it?”

“It appears so. Your
cousin found it in the attic.”

“Well, maybe when all
this is resolved, the estate that is, I’ll simply keep the necklace.”

“You can afford to do
that?”

“Of course,” Cheryl
laughed. “I don’t need the money from my aunt’s estate. It’s simply a matter of
principle. And…well, I do love diamonds and emeralds.”

“It’s really too bad
your cousin doesn’t like me. I think you and I could have a lot of fun
together.”

The next moment the
server brought their beverages.

“What does Dani have to
do with it?” Cheryl asked after the waitress left their table.

“For one thing, about
now I’d love to ask you if I could call you while you’re here, maybe I could
take you out to dinner, show you around the area. But with you staying with
your cousin, and with what she now thinks of me, well I wouldn’t want to do
anything to make you uncomfortable.”

“Don’t be silly. Dani
and I rarely agree on anything. In fact, I would love for you to be my date at
the party tomorrow.  Oh, I know you have to bring your grandma and everything,
but after you get there. I imagine she already knows most of those people. You
don’t have to stay by her side, do you?”

“I certainly don’t.
Grandma will be perfectly fine once we get to the party. I’d be honored to be
your date. But are you sure?”

 “Yes I am. And if you
think about it, it will be our second date.”

“It will?” Adam smiled.

“Why certainly. After
all, you’re buying my lunch today.” Cheryl smiled sweetly.

“So tell me Cheryl, do
you ever kiss on the first date?” Adam teased.

“Well…sometimes.”
Cheryl’s eyes flashed to the table and then back up to Adam. The corners of her
mouth turned into a smile.

“Really?” Adam grinned.

Before Cheryl could
respond, the waitress brought their lunch.

“You know, it really
isn’t your fault Dani wasn’t your type. It’s wrong of her to be mad at you.”
Cheryl said after the waitress left the table.

Cheryl was just about
to pick up her fork when Adam reached across the table and placed his hand over
hers. “
You
are definitely my type.”

“I am?” Cheryl whispered.

“Oh yeah.” He squeezed
her hand.

“You think I’m sexier
than my cousin?”

“There is no
comparison.” Adam gave Cheryl’s hand another squeeze and then let it go. He
picked up his burger and took a bite.

“Oh, you must think I’m
terribly forward!” Cheryl folded and unfolded her napkin.

“I can tell you’re an
honest woman. One who doesn’t play games.”

“That is so sweet of
you to notice,” Cheryl said. “So…tell me about your business. Do you just
manage other people’s properties, or do you have your own rentals?”

“Both. My
great-grandfather was one of the original Frederickport pioneers. He and my
grandparents acquired quite a bit of property over the years, and of course
I’ve picked up a few along the way.”

“I’m impressed. Do you
have anything right on the beach?”

“Are you looking for
something?” Adam asked.

“I’ll admit I was a
little disappointed Marlow House isn’t right on the ocean. If the man who built
the house really founded this town, why didn’t he move the house closer?”

“Some people don’t want
to be that close to the water. Not sure why Frederick Marlow built his house
where he did. As for your question, yes, I have several beach front properties.
Of course, those are typically booked up several years in advance.”

“I suppose I can
understand that. And that’s great for you, to keep them rented.”

“Actually, I do have a
beach front house that’s vacant right now.”

“I thought you said
they’re normally booked up several years in advance?”

“Normally that’s true.
The family that rents this property has been coming every summer for six—no,
seven years now. Just weeks after they arrived this season, there was a death
in their family. Packed up and went back home. They won’t be coming back this
summer.”

“So it’s empty?”

“Yes.”

“I’d love to see it.”

“You would?”

“I don’t know if
staying at Marlow House while we settle my aunt’s estate is going to work out
for me. Dani doesn’t want me. She’s made that clear enough. I may need
someplace to stay for a while and I would love a place right on the ocean.”

“If you want, I’d be
happy to take you over there after we finish lunch.”

“I’d love that!”