The Ghost and the Mystery Writer (15 page)

“
T
his is lovely
,” Melony told Danielle when she was finally shown up to her room. She turned to face Danielle, who stood in the doorway. “Chris told me on the plane you had a cancellation resulting in a vacancy. It seemed like an unexpected stroke of luck after all the recent unpleasantness. I think I'll be quite comfortable here.”

“I'll admit I'm a little surprised you decided to stay here instead of your mother's house.”

Melony smiled. “Do you mean because of what my father's business partner did?”

Danielle studied Melony for a moment before asking, “You know what Clarence Renton did?”

“Of course. Even though I rarely spoked to my mother, I do watch the news. Just so you know, I never cared for Clarence. I knew him all my life, he was my father's best friend, but I loathed that man.”

“Why are you staying here?” Danielle didn't intend to voice the question; it just popped out of her mouth.

Melony set her suitcase on the bed and then turned to face Danielle again. She sat on the edge of the mattress. “When I heard about my mother, I booked a flight as soon as possible. I wanted to get my mother's estate settled and put it behind me. In my haste, I really didn't consider where I'd be staying.”

“I'd just assumed you'd want to stay at your mother's.”

Melony shook her head. “Too many unpleasant memories. When I was on the plane, talking to Chris, and he mentioned Marlow House, well, it just seemed right. Coming full circle.”

Danielle frowned. “I'm afraid I don't understand.”

“I wanted to meet you.”

“Meet me? Why?”

Melony stood up. “It's hard to explain.” Cocking her head to one side, she studied Danielle for a moment and then asked, “What was your relationship with my mother? I know you knew her.”

“Honestly, your mother didn't like me very much.”

Melony laughed. “I don't imagine she did. From what I understand, Clarence's little downfall took her with him. Unfortunately, Mother was not very good at accepting personal responsibility.”

“I take it you and your mother weren't close?”

“No—definitely not close. To say my mother and I had issues would be an understatement.” Melony opened her suitcase and started to unpack. She paused a moment and smiled at Danielle. “I imagine you think I'm awful?”

“Awful?”

“My mother was just killed—murdered, which adds an even more tragic element—and I'm not showing proper grief. Some would assume that because of those issues, my grief should be more devastating—losing a mother before she and I were able to resolve our issues.” Melony let out a sigh and grabbed some of her clothes. She turned and put them in a dresser drawer.

“I was under the impression your mother moved to New York to be with you after your father died.”

“True. That's what she told everyone. But it wasn't the case.” Turning back to the bed, Melony looked up to Danielle. “You see, I came to terms with my mother years ago. Counseling helped. I learned I didn't have to like—or love—my mother simply because she was the woman who raised me.”

D
anielle found Lily
, Walt, and Chris downstairs in the parlor.

“Is Melony all settled in?” Lily asked.

“She's unpacking.” Danielle turned her attention to Chris, who sat on the sofa next to Lily. Walt stood by the bookshelf, a cigar in hand. “I figured you'd have gone to your place and get unpacked yourself.”

Chris flashed her a smile. “Plenty of time for that. And Marlow House feels like home.” He leaned back in the sofa and propped one ankle casually over the opposing knee.

“Don't get too comfortable,” Walt grumbled.

“Aw, come on, Walt, admit it, you're happy to see me. Someone else to talk to.” Chris grinned.

“I'll take that as my cue to go.” Lily stood up.

“What do you mean?” Danielle asked.

“I always feel weird sitting in on these conversations with Walt.” Lily looked to where the source of the cigar scent drifted from. “No offense, Walt.”

“None taken, Lily.” Walt puffed his cigar.

“Anyway, I'm going to see what's taking Ian. Thought I'd let him know you're back.” Lily flashed Chris a smile and started for the door. She paused at the doorway and looked back. “Welcome home.”

“Glad to be home!”

When Lily left, Danielle took her place on the sofa next to Chris. “Melony seems nice, but I felt a little uncomfortable up there when she was talking about her mom. I didn't like Jolene, but it felt strange listening to Melony talk about her—so detached.”

“Apparently they had some issues,” Chris said.

“No kidding,” Danielle scoffed.

“I had no idea her mom was the woman you told me about on the phone. Do they have any idea who murdered her?”

“I think you might ask our other guest,” Walt said, strolling from his place by the bookshelf and taking a seat facing Danielle and Chris.

“You talking about that lady I just met?” Chris asked.

Walt looked to the open doorway. In the next moment, the door closed, seemingly on its own volition. Neither Chris nor Danielle seemed surprised.

“Hillary Hemmingway, that's her name,” Danielle explained. “I told you about her. She's a mystery writer. I guess sort of famous. She's one of Ian's favorite authors.”

“What did Walt mean?” Chris asked.

“On the night Jolene was murdered…” Danielle began. She then went on to tell Chris about the writer's notes Walt had read and then told him what she knew about Jolene's murder. By the time she finished filling him in on what had been going on, he sat next to her, silently shaking his head.

“You don't think your writer had anything to do with Jolene's death, do you?” Chris asked.

“Like I told you, MacDonald suspects Hillary witnessed the murder but didn't say anything. He said that's not really uncommon. Witnesses are often reluctant to come forward. But he plans to show her those notes I gave him and see what she says. Of course, he figures she'll probably tell him she wrote that after she read the article in the paper about finding Jolene's rings off the pier. But maybe he can get her to step up and do the right thing. And if the killer finds out Hillary saw him, she could be in danger.”

“But maybe the chief is wrong,” Chris suggested.

“Wrong how?” Walt asked.

“Are you both forgetting your guests know each other. Don't you think that's a little odd?”

Danielle frowned. “That's right. I meant to ask Melony how she knew Hillary, but when she started talking about her mom up there—well—I started feeling like a voyeur.”

Walt cocked his brow at Danielle and asked with a chuckle, “Voyeur?”

“It was just weird.” Danielle shrugged.

“Melony is a very nice woman,” Chris said. “I enjoyed talking with her on the plane.”

“She's quite beautiful, too,” Walt observed.

“I suppose she is. But I prefer brunettes.” Chris flashed Danielle a smile.

“I prefer not to judge a woman by her hair color,” Walt countered.

Danielle couldn't help but laugh. “That's very—
enlightened
—of you, Walt.”

Walt flashed Chris a smug smile and took another drag off his cigar.

“Oh, I haven't told you.” Danielle looked at Chris. “There was a break-in at the Gusarov Estate. Everything's okay, but some homeless guy was living there. We found him the day of the murder.”

Chris frowned. “We who?”

Danielle went on to tell Chris the part of the story she had forgotten to tell him—about the wine bottle with Adam's fingerprints and how she had gone to the estate with Joe, Brian, and Adam.

“I'm just glad you didn't go over there yourself and run into that guy,” Chris told her after she finished recounting the events. “That could have been dangerous.”

“I don't think he was a dangerous guy. Just some poor homeless man.”

“But if he admitted to taking the wine bottle down to the beach, how can the chief be so sure he isn't the killer?” Chris asked.

“For one reason, he was in the ER at the local hospital during the time of Jolene's murder. It couldn't have been him.”

“My next question—why would Adam spend so much on one bottle of wine? A case of beer would make me happy.”

“That's pretty much what I told him,” Danielle said.

Walt stood up and waved his hand. The cigar vanished. “I'll let you two catch up in private. I suppose you don't need me hanging around.” In the next moment, Walt vanished.

Chris looked from where Walt had been sitting, back to Danielle. “How's it been going with you two?”

“Going? What do you mean?”

Chris shrugged. “I don't know. I guess I just wondered if Walt was glad to get me out of his hair for a while. Have you to himself.”

O
n the second floor
, Walt watched as Hillary approached Melony's room. Its door was ajar. She peeked in. Curious, Walt moved to the door, standing next to Hillary. Looking into the room, he could see Melony standing by her bed. He watched as she closed her suitcase and then lifted it from the mattress before placing it in the closet.

Tentatively, Hillary knocked.

“Come in,” Melony called out, her back to the door.

Hillary stepped into the room. “Are you all settled in?”

Walt followed her into the room and listened.

Melony turned to face Hillary. “Yes. It's been a long time, Hillary. How have you been?”

“Good. Working on a new book.”

“Yes, you mentioned something about your muse. He brought you here?”

Hillary smiled. “I suppose. In a manner of speaking.”

“How long are you staying?” Melony asked.

“I planned to stay at least a month. I've been here a few weeks already. And you?”

“Just long enough to get my mother's estate settled.”

“I'm sorry about your mother. I knew you were from Oregon, but had no idea you were from Frederickport,” Hillary told her.

“I find that hard to believe. You have a way of knowing everything.”

When Hillary didn't respond, Melony asked, “Why are you really here?”

“I told you, my muse—”

“Enough with that muse crap, Hillary. If I had my way, you'd be in a mental institution, writing your damn books.”

Walt thought Hillary looked as if she had been slapped. “I…I can't believe you just said that,” she stammered.

“And I can't believe you're here!” Melony snapped.

“Melony, I know this must be hard on you; you just lost your mother.”

“You don't know anything about me!”

“No…I suppose I don't. But you really know nothing about me either.”

“Don't I?”

Hillary turned from Melony and rushed from the room. Walt watched as she retreated into her bedroom. He heard a clicking sound—Hillary had locked her door.

Walt was still standing by Melony's doorway when she walked through him and slammed her door shut. Walt glanced down, watching as Melony again walked through him, returning to her bed. She sat down and began to cry.

With a shake of his head, he looked to the crying woman and back to the closed door. “I have to say I don't believe you two are friends.”

“
I
t doesn't prove
you didn't kill Jolene,” Bill told Adam. The two sat in a booth in the diner, waiting for their lunch order to arrive.

“What do you mean it doesn't prove I didn't kill her? I told you that guy who broke in admitted he took the wine bottle down to the beach and left it there. His fingerprints were all over it.”

“And they also found your fingerprint.” Bill picked up his glass of iced tea and took a swig.

Adam frowned across the table at Bill. “From when I put that bottle in the house.”

Bill shrugged. “Still doesn't prove you didn't kill her. You threatened to kill her once.”

“Lord, that's ancient history. And I was drunk.”

“It was right before she left town. I seemed to remember you saying something like,
‘If you ever come back to Frederickport, I'll kill you.'
And she did just move back.”

“Shut up. You're just being a jerk.”

Bill laughed and took another drink of his iced tea. “Yeah, I am. You just better hope MacDonald doesn't hear about your little threat to Jolene. Do you remember who else heard you say it? I can't remember who was all there.”

Adam shrugged. “Hell, I was so drunk that night, I barely remember saying it.”

Bill shoved his glass of tea aside and glanced toward their waitress, who was taking an order on the other side of the room. “The food is taking long enough today.”

“That would be one hell of a coincidence. Picking up an empty bottle on the beach that I happened to buy before it was stolen and left there. And then I use it as a murder weapon. That's quite a stretch.”

“Or incredibly crappy luck. Especially if you thought you'd wiped off all your fingerprints—except for one you left when you first bought the bottle. Now that would be crappy luck.”

“Oh, shut up.”

“Have you heard from Melony?”

Before Adam could answer, a server arrived with their food. After they were alone again, Bill picked up his sandwich. Before taking a bite, he looked across the table and asked, “Well, have you?”

“Have I what?”

“Talked to Melony?”

Adam frowned, picked up a French fry, and popped it into his mouth. Bill watched, waiting for an answer. Adam picked up a second fry. Feeling Bill's eyes on him, he glared across the table. “No. I haven't talked to Melony, and I doubt I will. I wouldn't even be surprised if she didn't come back to town.”

“Not even to settle her mother's estate? I'd think she'd want to sell her mom's house.” Bill smiled at Adam. “Hey, I bet she'll have you list the property.”

Adam rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Now that would make Jolene roll over in her grave.”

“When is the funeral, by the way?”

“I heard there isn't going to be one. She's being cremated.” Lifting his sandwich to his mouth, Adam paused a moment and said, “So I guess she won't be rolling around in her grave. But if I listed her house, she would probably come back and haunt us. That, I could definitely do without.”

“I have to admit that woman had balls. With the history of you two, for her to go to your rental and try claiming those gold coins.” Bill shook his head at the thought.

“Like I said, all that is old news. Happened a long time ago. Hell, as far as I know, I didn't threaten to kill her. You probably told me that to be a jerk.”

Bill chuckled. “No, you said it. You were pretty drunk, but you said it.”

A few minutes later Adam's cellphone vibrated, signifying an incoming text message. Setting his half-eaten sandwich back on his plate, he picked up his phone and looked at it.

“It's from Chris. He's back in town. I thought he was going to be gone for a few more days.”

“Did you replace the wine yet?” Bill asked.

Adam shook his head. “No. They don't sell that wine locally. I haven't had a chance to replace it. I'll probably do what Danielle suggested.”

“What's that?”

“Pick up a couple cases of beer for him.”

Bill laughed. “Well, that would have saved you a hell of a lot of money if you had done that in the first place. Not to mention you probably wouldn't have been hauled down to the police station.”

The phone vibrated again. Adam picked it up from the table and looked at it. “He got a car.”

“Who?”

“Chris. Told me to stop by and see it.” Adam then laughed.

“What's so funny?” Bill asked.

“He told me not to forget to bring him a case of beer to make up for the wine.”

B
efore heading
over to Chris's house, Adam stopped by the grocery store and bought a couple cases of beer. It was much cheaper than the bottle of wine he had originally purchased. Chris obviously knew about the stolen bottle of wine, which Adam assumed Danielle had told him about, along with how much he had spent. He figured since it was the thought that counted—or so his grandmother was always telling him—as long as Chris knew he had spent a fortune on a thank you gift, the pricy purchase wasn't a complete waste.

When Adam drove down Beach Drive, he noticed a new car parked in front of Marlow House. It had dealer's plates. He guessed it was Chris's new car. Just to be sure, he drove down the street to Chris's house. There was no car in Chris's driveway, and by the looks of the closed blinds, he suspected Chris was still visiting with Danielle. Making a U-turn, Adam headed back to Marlow House.

When Danielle answered the door a few minutes later, Chris was by her side. Adam pointed over his shoulder and said, “I have some beer in the car I'm trying to deliver.”

Chris let out a laugh and shook Adam's hand in greeting. “I heard about the wine. Thanks for the thought.”

“I figured Danielle would tell you.” Adam followed Chris into the house.

“I guess a lot's been going on since I've been gone.” Chris closed the door.

Adam paused a moment and looked back at the closed door. “I was serious. I have some beer in the car for you.”

“I'll get it in a minute and toss it in my car. Thanks. You'll have to stop by and help me drink it.”

“As long as it doesn't get ripped off first, like the wine.” Adam then smiled at Danielle and said hello. He and Chris followed her into the living room.

“We have a new guest. Someone you know,” Danielle told Adam when she sat down on the sofa.

“Someone I know?” Adam asked as he took a seat.

“Yeah. Chris met her on his flight. When he found out she was coming to Frederickport, he suggested she stay here.”

Adam frowned. “Who is it?”

“Melony—Jolene's daughter,” Danielle told him.

“Melony? She's here?” Adam glanced at the door leading to the hallway. He stood up.

“She's upstairs.”

“I guess I can understand why she doesn't want to stay at her mom's.” Adam glanced at his watch. “You know, I really need to get back to the office.” He looked at Chris. “Is your car unlocked? I can just put the beer in it. Or maybe stop by later and give it to you.”

Chris stood. “I'll go out with you. I wanted to show you my new car anyway.”

Just as they stepped back into the hallway, a woman's voice called out, “Adam? Adam Nichols? Is it really you?”

Danielle silently watched from the living room doorway as Melony approached Adam. If she was Adam's old friend, one he was excited to see, his blank expression didn't give away his feelings.

“Melony…” Adam put out his hand in greeting.

She accepted his hand and then pulled him in for a brief hug and whispered, “Come on Adam, a handshake?”

“I didn't consider you two probably knew each other,” Chris said when the brief hug ended. He stood with Chris, Melony, and Danielle in the foyer.

“Yeah, Adam and I grew up together,” Melony explained. “On our first day of kindergarten I made him cry.”

Adam laughed. “I didn't cry.”

“Sure you did.” Melony smiled. She glanced at Chris and then Danielle. “I hope you don't mind if I steal Adam away. I'd like to talk to him a moment in private.”

Danielle pointed to the door leading to the parlor. “You can have some privacy in there.”

“I really need to get back to the office,” Adam stammered.

“Don't be silly. This will only take a minute. I can't believe you haven't time for an old friend.” Melony grabbed hold of his hand and began leading him to the parlor.

“Shall I see what she wants to say to him?” Walt asked when he appeared the next moment. He flashed a smile at Danielle and Chris and then followed Adam and Melony into the parlor.

The moment they entered the small room, Melony closed the door and turned to face Adam. Her smile vanished. “Did you kill her?”

“I wasn't expecting that,” Walt murmured. He took a step away from the pair and leaned back on the edge of the desk, watching.

“Seriously, that's the first thing you ask me after all these years? Did I kill her?”

Melony shrugged and then walked farther into the room. Turning to face Adam, she plopped down on the sofa and looked up. “Well, it did cross my mind. Mother called me, by the way, after she found that gold in your grandmother's house. She told me how angry you were. Reminded me of how you'd threatened her.”

“I was drunk, Mel. That was a long time ago.”

She shrugged again. “I suppose…an ocean's gone under that particular bridge.”

With a sigh, Adam took a seat on a chair facing the sofa.

“How have you been, Adam?”

He studied her a moment and then laughed. “You haven't changed, Mel. One moment asking me if I killed your mother and the next casually asking how I've been.”

“I only asked because I wanted to know if I should thank you.”

“Whoo…that's cold, Mel. Even for you.”

“After I left Frederickport, our relationship didn't improve.”

“Funny, when I ran into your mother that time—” Adam paused a moment and let out a wry chuckle “—when I supposedly threatened to kill her—at least according to Bill—she told me how you two had worked it all out. Ironic, I've a spotty memory regarding what I actually said to her, but I can clearly remember everything she said to me.”

“Mother was never very good at telling the truth. How is Bill, by the way? Is he married, a bunch of kids?”

“Bill?” Adam laughed. “No, he's never been married. He has a handyman service in town and does a lot of work for me. Hasn't really changed since high school, maybe smokes more.”

“What about you? Mother told me you were still single. Why's that?”

Adam shrugged. “I was in a serious relationship a while back. She died.”

Melony's smile softened. “I'm sorry.”

Walt narrowed his eyes and studied Adam. “Are you talking about Isabella?” he asked aloud, knowing neither party could hear him. “Yes, she died, like a year after you two broke it off.”

“Did your husband come with you?”

“No. We're getting a divorce.”