The Ghost and the Bride Read online

  Melony stood. “My fault. I did ask you about it.”

  Laura and Danielle stood up.

  “Always the lawyer,” Danielle teased. “Always talking shop.”

  Melony grinned. “So true.”

  “Today the topic is supposed to be marriage, so now you can go back into the living room and let Marie give you her ideas about your wedding. It does seem to be on my dear friend’s mind,” Danielle teased Melony.

  Melony chuckled. “True. But it’s way more fun when Adam is here to listen in.”

  Pamela and Laura returned to the living room and other guests while Danielle stayed behind with Melony, who needed to do what she originally intended to do when she had entered the kitchen earlier—make another pitcher of lemonade and refill the coconut shrimp platter. Danielle stayed behind to help.

  “This has all been very fun, but I don’t know how you do it,” Melony said as she filled an empty pitcher with ice.

  “Do what?” Danielle asked as she arranged the last of the coconut shrimp on a fresh platter.

  “You always seem to be entertaining—after all, you do run a B and B. And I suspect you don’t have the breakfasts catered. All that cooking! How do you do it? I loathe cooking.” Melony groaned.

  “I suppose because I don’t loathe cooking. I rather enjoy it. Especially baking. You have that in common with Marie—neither of you especially enjoy cooking.”

  Melony turned to Danielle and smiled. “Yes, I know, Marie has never made it a secret she doesn’t like to cook. It’s kind of sweet, really, she told me last week that it wasn’t necessary for me to be a good cook to be a good wife. She said the trick was to know all the best take-out restaurants in town—and the best bakery.”

  “Ahh, so you aren’t so opposed to the idea of marrying her grandson?”

  Melony filled the pitcher with freshly brewed tea. “Not being opposed isn’t the same as making wedding plans. Truth is, I don’t know where Adam and I are. We keep saying we’re just good friends, like you and Chris.”

  “For some reason, I don’t see you and Adam like me and Chris.”

  “That’s only because Adam and I have a history.” Filled pitcher in hand, Melony turned to Danielle. “But the fact is, no matter what our feelings might be toward each other, Adam has serious commitment issues, while I’ve just gotten myself out of a marriage. I don’t see a wedding in our near future—or in our future at all. Yet I still find it sweet that Marie is so accepting of who I am.”

  “Marie is pretty special. Anyway, I’m kind of glad you and Adam aren’t planning to get married.”

  Melony frowned. “Should I be offended?”

  Danielle laughed. “Hardly. It’s just that Marie recently celebrated her ninety-first birthday, and she claims she’s not going anywhere until she sees Adam happily married. His state of non-marriage is helping to keep one of my favorite people alive.”

  Melony grinned. “Gee, I never thought of it that way. But you’re right!”

  Eighteen

  Danielle walked into the Frederickport police station, carrying a package wrapped in aluminum foil. Brian Henderson, who stood chatting with the woman sitting at the front desk, greeted her while eyeing the foil package.

  “What do you have there?” Brian asked.

  “German chocolate cake for the chief. Is he in?”

  “Yes,” the woman at the desk told her. “He’s expecting you. Said to go right in.”

  Danielle flashed her a smile. “Thanks.”

  Brian frowned. “Why don’t you ever bring me cake?”

  “Because I like the chief better,” Danielle said as she turned toward the hallway with Brian. The two started walking toward the police chief’s office. “Anyway, this cake is from Melony.”

  “Ahh, that’s right. Today was Lily’s shower. I told Joe he better be careful, or before he knows it, Kelly will be dragging him down the aisle. Weddings can be contagious,” Brian said with a grunt.

  “Such a romantic, Brian,” Danielle said with a chuckle. “You don’t think you’ll ever get married again?”

  “Hell no. Although, I ran into Beverly Klein the other day. I could see how someone like that might make a man let down his defenses.”

  Now at the chief’s closed office door, Danielle paused and smiled at Brian. “Ahh, Beverly Klein. The lovely widow. She seems like a nice woman.”

  Brian shrugged. “Nice looking, that’s for sure. And what about you? Going to make it a double wedding with you and Glandon?”

  Danielle glanced around quickly to make sure no one was within earshot. “Don’t call him that.”

  Brian rolled his eyes. “No one can hear us. So what about it?”

  Danielle reached for the doorknob. “We’re just friends.”

  “Is Brian seeing Beverly Klein?” Danielle asked Police Chief MacDonald moments later after she entered his office and handed him the foil package. Brian had continued down the hall, leaving the chief alone with Danielle.

  The chief glanced down at the foil package now in his hands. “What’s this?”

  “It’s from Melony. German chocolate cake from Lily’s shower.”

  “How was the shower?” MacDonald took his seat behind the desk and sat down while eagerly opening the foil package.

  “It turned out really nice. Lily got some beautiful things. So what about Brian and Beverly?”

  “Not that I know. Although he did mention seeing her at the store, said how good she looked.” The chief glanced up from the cake and frowned. “Why, did he say something?”

  “He told me pretty much the same thing, which for Brian is kind of unusual. I’ve never known him to bring up a woman. Hmmm…maybe she really did strike his fancy.”

  “Strike his fancy? I think you’re hanging around Marie too much. You’re starting to talk like a ninety-year-old woman.” He lifted the slice of cake to his mouth and took a bite.

  “Oh hush. Anyway, I didn’t come here to get picked on. This is official business.”

  “I thought you came to bring me cake? For which I’m grateful.”

  “No.” Danielle stood up and walked to the office door and closed it. When she turned around, the chief was staring at her.

  “So this is official. What’s up?” He took another bite of the cake.

  Danielle walked back to her chair and sat down, facing the desk. “Eva Thorndike stopped in to see me before I left for the shower today.”

  “Eva Thorndike?” The chief reached for a cup of coffee sitting on his desk and took a sip.

  “In the flesh—umm—no, not the flesh—you know what I mean.”

  “You say she came to see you. She went to Marlow House?”

  “She didn’t come inside. She still doesn’t want to see Walt. But it’s the first time I’ve ever seen her outside of the museum.” Danielle then went on to tell him about her conversation with Eva, and then she told him about the mystery ghost.

  When Danielle was finished with her telling, the chief took the last bite of the cake and considered what she had just told him. Taking another sip of the coffee, he leaned back in the office chair and then set the now empty coffee cup on the desk. “Small world. Borge’s sister, you say?”

  “No kidding. Too bizarre of a coincidence. Of course, Eva insists there are no coincidences.”

  The chief smiled. “Isn’t that what I’m always telling you?”

  Danielle shook her head. “Not the same thing. According to Eva, this has something to do with the universe’s master plan.”

  “So you think your ghost is her dead boyfriend?”

  “I did at first. But no. According to Laura, Felicia’s boyfriend was really tall and slender. This guy is very average height and build. And the boyfriend had a bunch of piercings and a Mohawk. No, not the same. But maybe the other guy who was killed.”

  “Let me see what I can find.” The chief grabbed his computer mouse. “What did you say this Kent’s last name is?”

  “Harper. And the accident occurred
in Morro Bay, California. Was about spring of 2014.”

  A few minutes later, the chief had an article up on his monitor. “I found something.”

  “And?” Danielle scooted the chair closer to the desk.

  “The other guy who was in the accident—Rowland Scuttle.” The chief frowned. “That name sounds awful familiar.”

  “Rowland Scuttle? Is that seriously a name?”

  “Ahh, now I know why the guy sounded familiar. It says here Rowland Scuttle worked for the Golden Pearl in Morro Bay.”

  “A restaurant?” Danielle asked.

  The chief shook his head. “No. A jewelry store.”

  “Why does he sound familiar?”

  “A Rowland Scuttle used to work for Samuel Hayman. From what I recall, he did repairs. Set diamonds.”

  “Rowland Scuttle isn’t the most common name. And if they both worked in jewelry stores…”

  “It very well could be the same guy. He didn’t work for Samuel for long, maybe about six months. This was about two years ago.”

  “Is there a photo of him?”

  “Not with the article. Why?”

  “I want to see if he’s our ghost.”

  “Let me see.” The chief ran several more searches and then shook his head. “Sorry, nothing comes up.”

  Danielle slumped back in the chair. “Can you remember what he looked like?”

  He shrugged. “Not really. I just remember the name.”

  “You think Samuel will remember?” Danielle asked.

  “He should. He worked with him every day for about six months. Of course, the guy probably had a driver’s license.” The chief turned back to the computer. After a few minutes, he shook his head. “Sorry, I don’t think this will help much.”

  Danielle stood up and walked around the desk. Standing next to the chief, she stared at the monitor.

  “That’s a pretty lousy photo. It’s awful dark. I suppose it might be the ghost. Of course, it also looks a little like—a number of people.”

  “It doesn’t appear as if he had a California license,” he told her.

  Danielle wandered back to her chair and sat down. “I’m not thrilled about talking to Samuel, but I’ll do it.”

  “You want me to talk to him?”

  Danielle shook her head. “No. I’d rather do it. Do you know where I can find him?”

  “He got a job at that diner outside of town.” He frowned. “The name’s on the tip of my tongue. Jason Baker owns it. Do you know who he is?”

  “You mean the diner where Richard’s soda was spiked?”

  “That’s the one.”

  Danielle frowned. “What is Samuel doing there?”

  “Washing dishes.”

  “Are you serious?”

  The chief shrugged. “It’s the only job he could find in town, and he wanted to come back to Frederickport.”

  “Wow…” Danielle shook her head. “Part of me feels sorry for him.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Well, there was a time I blamed him for Cheryl’s death. After all, he drugged her and made it easier for Renton to finish her off. But I understand now, Renton would have found some way to get to Cheryl that night. And frankly, had he found her on the beach, walking back here, Cheryl’s death may have been more violent. And in the big scheme of things, a violent death—well, more violent than she experienced—could have made it even more difficult for her to transition to her new reality than it was—which wasn’t particularly easy.”

  “What do you hope to find out from Samuel?”

  “If our mystery ghost is this Rowland character, maybe he can tell me something about him. I need to figure out some way to get him to move on and stop hanging around Kent and Pamela.”

  “I know it’s annoying to you now, since he’s at your house, but when they leave, does it really matter? Lily’s cousin and her husband obviously can’t see him.”

  “True. But over time, especially if he stays in one place, it’s possible for him to harness energy, and an angry ghost with harnessed energy can be dangerous. Maybe not lethal, but they can be menacing.”

  Danielle noticed the chief had turned his attention back to his computer, and his fingers tapped away at the keyboard. “What are you looking for now?”

  “I was curious to see if Rowland had any priors; he doesn’t. At least he wasn’t a criminal. But you should probably be happy your ghost isn’t Felicia’s boyfriend.”

  Danielle leaned forward again. “Why do you say that?”

  “That guy had quite a rap sheet. Including dog fighting.”

  “Like Felicia’s brother,” Danielle murmured.

  The chief nodded. “He spent some time in prison for holding up a liquor store about ten years ago.”

  “Charming fellow,” Danielle quipped.

  “It looks like your Felicia also has some priors.” The chief glanced up. “If Eva is right and Felicia is determined to seek revenge, you have to be careful. You need to have Walt keep a close eye on Marlow House.”

  Danielle frowned. “What kind of priors?”

  “According to this, she tried to shoot a previous boyfriend. Not the one who was killed in the car accident. Some other guy. Looks like she got off on some technicality. Aside from that, a number of minor things, like shoplifting.”

  Danielle stood up. “Okay. I’ll be careful. I just wish I could enjoy Lily’s wedding and not have to worry about some crazy woman and a pissed-off ghost.”

  “What does Lily say about all this?”

  “She doesn’t know. Oh, she knows there’s a new ghost hanging around. But she sees that as more annoying than threatening. She doesn’t know he’s connected to her cousin. And I haven’t said anything about Felicia or that Eva stopped by.”

  “I’ll see what else I can find out about Felicia and Rowland,” the chief promised.

  Nineteen

  Tammy Miller sat at the foot of her daughter’s bed and watched as Lily rearranged the packages she had stacked in the corner of her bedroom.

  Stepping back from the pile, Lily placed her hands on her hips and looked down at the boxes. “I guess I should have taken some of these across the street.”

  “You received some lovely gifts.”

  Lily turned to her mother and grinned. “I did. It was fun today. The food was amazing.”

  Tammy patted the empty space on the mattress next to her. Taking her mother’s cue, Lily sat down next to her on the bed.

  “I’ll admit, I still don’t understand why you decided to get married up here instead of back home, where all your friends are.”

  Lily briefly patted her mother’s knee. “Mom. This is my home now.”

  “I understand that. But you know what I mean.”

  Glancing to the far corner where her wedding gown hung on a hook, Lily smiled and said, “Anyway, I never wanted a big wedding.”

  “It’s just that I never thought this day would come, and when it did…well, I imagined something different, with all our family and friends.”

  “What does that mean? You never thought this day would come?” Just as Lily asked the question, her nose twitched—cigar smoke. Walt had joined them.

  “You are thirty-one, Lily. I just assumed you had no desire to get married.”

  “What, like I’m an over-the-hill spinster or something? What about Laura? She’s older than me.”

  “Laura has never hidden the fact she wants to get married and have children; she just can’t seem to find the right man. It’s not like she hasn’t tried. The poor girl has been engaged three times.”

  “Poor girl?” Lily mumbled under her breath.

  “And no one says spinster anymore. Haven’t I always taught you there is nothing wrong with a woman choosing a career over marriage. I’m just surprised you gave up your career for marriage.”

  “Mother, I did not give up teaching for Ian. You know that.”

  “I certainly hope you didn’t. As for this wedding, I just feel bad all your friends
and family can’t be here.”

  “Mom, they understand. Trust me.”

  “I was just thinking, maybe you and Ian would consider letting your father and I throw you a reception back home in Sacramento—after you return from your honeymoon.”

  Lily shook her head. “Absolutely not. I’d feel funny. It’s like saying I’m not inviting you to my wedding, but I still want presents.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Lily. Receptions separate from a wedding are quite common, especially when the couple is married out of state.”

  Lily stood up. “Thanks for the offer, Mom. But no. Ian and I already discussed this when we were making our wedding plans. We both agreed we didn’t want to have a reception back in my hometown—or his. And anyway, it’s not like we need wedding gifts.”

  “It’s not just for the gifts,” Tammy argued.

  “Thanks, Mom. But no. We really are not interested. We just want to enjoy this week with our immediate families, a few friends, and have a nice wedding in Marlow House, and then go to Hawaii for our honeymoon. That’s all we want.”

  A brief knock came at the open doorway. Laura walked into the room.

  “What are you guys doing in here?” Laura asked as she approached the bed.

  “Discussing your sister’s wedding,” Tammy explained.

  “So were we,” Laura said. “And I have an idea.” Laura paused a moment and sniffed the air. “Who was smoking a cigar?”

  Tammy laughed. “It’s the house, Laura. That smell comes and goes. I noticed it the last time we were here.”

  Laura shrugged and then turned her attention back to what she had been saying before noticing the cigar smoke. “I have an idea about the wedding.”

  Lily groaned inwardly at her sister’s words and watched as Laura plopped down on the bed with them.

  “It was my idea,” Laura said proudly.

  “What?” Tammy asked.

  Laura looked at Lily. “You should get married on the beach. You could do it right in front of Ian’s house. I don’t know why you didn’t think of it. It’s so obvious.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea!” Tammy agreed. “A wedding on the beach. I always wanted to get married on the beach.”