Chapter 17

Gillian gave me a pitying look. “You may have lost your chance to tell him yourself.”

I sighed and dropped my head. “All right already. As soon as I can, I’ll do it.”

“Good! A treasure could be buried under the cottage,” Gillian said.

“Or the garage,” Jack added.

“I haven’t found any secret panels or hidden—” I stopped. “Actually, that’s not true. There are cupboards under the eaves.”

“I used to play up there as a child when I came to visit my mother.” Doris wavered in and out, a sign of her strong emotions.

I wanted to hug her, even knowing it would be impossible and I would feel the wet damp of her ghostly form.

“I’ll stay down here and finish getting our news programs set back up.” Jack picked up the remote.

“That’s my honey, dodging the hard work.” Gillian laughed. “Let’s grab some cleaning supplies. There’s bound to be dust.”

“And spiders.” I shivered.

We carried up dust cloths, cleaning spray, and a couple of bags. I expected spiders, dust, and the broken stuff people stash in corners and forget about, the detritus of their lives.

“I’ll work on the area between the two window seats. Want to start on the other side?” I glanced at the moonbeams dancing along the tips of the low waves. “Suits me.” Gillian turned on all the lamps. “If we don’t finish by the time you want to go to bed, it won’t be a problem if I we leave stuff out on the floor or window seats.”

As we worked, Doris floated in and out. Sometimes she came up the stairs, but she often startled us by sticking her head up through the floor to check on our progress.

“I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t give me a heart attack.” Gillian picked up a naked, broken china doll with one eye that wouldn’t close, examined it, and tossed into the garbage bag, shaking her head.

“I heard that.” Doris’ disembodied voice echoed through the loft.

As I cleared the space, I tapped on the sides and bottom of each shelf. I removed drawers to see if anything was taped to the bottoms. After clearing four large drawers, I unpacked a box of clothes, put them away and broke the box down. “This treasure hunt could work to my advantage if I get some of my neglected unpacking done.”

I had more storage space than I’d originally thought. The next section along that wall was a two-door, two-shelf cabinet. The top shelf looked empty, but the bottom shelf yielded three dolls, a pile of clothes, several porcelain dogs, and three children’s books.

Doris instantly appeared. “Those are mine!”

“What? Do you have radar? How did you know I’d found these?”

“I came up to tell you George is here.”

“Oh.” I felt mollified. “Guess I’d better go down to greet him.” I climbed down the circular staircase.

“I’ll stay up here and keep working,” Gillian said.

George knocked as I opened the door, startling him. “Hello. C’mon in.” I stepped aside.

“X-ray vision?”

I laughed. “Funny you should say that. I…” I couldn’t tell him the truth even though I’d started to. “I was about to take a break to get a drink. Gillian and I have been going through the storage areas in my loft. Would you like something to drink or eat?”

“I’d take some water.”

“Coming up.” I poured him a glass of water and grabbed a cream soda for myself.

“Hi, George.” Jack said as he finished setting up the news for recording. “We’re having catch-as-catch-can leftovers for dinner if you’re hungry.”

“No, thanks. I’ve eaten.”

“Want to sit down here and let us in on what’s going on or do you want to talk while we work upstairs? I sort of hate to quit now that I’m on a roll.”

“I’ll follow you up, but why are you cleaning at this late hour?”

I opened my mouth and closed it again.

His eyes narrowed at my hesitation.

“It’s your fault. You got me all intrigued at the thought of buried treasure. I have unpacking to do, so I thought I’d clean out some cabinets, look to see if anything’s hidden, and get my clothes out of boxes and into the built-in drawers upstairs.”

“You’ve always been a little crazy.” He followed me upstairs. “Hi, Gillian.”

She stood and dusted off her hands. “Hi, George. Off work?”

He nodded. “Thought I’d stop by to try to keep you out of trouble.”

I showed him what we’d done, and he opened and closed everything again and sat on the window seat.

“What did you find?”

“So far, it looks like stuff that would belong to a little girl.”

George nodded. “A little girl did live here at one time.”

“There’ve been quite a few owners, but I think these belonged to a little girl who visited her mother here while her father, her legal guardian, smuggled stuff.” I didn’t mention that the girl hadn’t left the premises.

“Stuff.” George shook his head and smiled. “I think you’re wrong about the little girl living with her father. The information we have is that a writer named Shelagh Macalin lived here with her daughter Francine. Any toys probably belonged to Francine. In any case, that tallies with the information in our files and what I’ve been able to research, which you may have guessed is why I’m looking for hidden treasure.”

I sat back on my heels. I’d forgotten about Doris’ much younger half-sister. “Then do you want to tell us what we’re supposed to be looking for specifically? A chest brimming with jewels? A fabulous necklace? Spanish bullion?”

He laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and I saw my George for a few minutes. “We don’t actually know. Given that we’re talking about a smuggler, my guess would be gems. Could be cut or uncut. If they had originally been in jewelry, they would have been removed for two reasons: easier to transport stones and would be too recognizable in their original form. There are a lot of stories about this place and what went on here.”

Jack joined us. “It was getting lonely down there.”

“You can help me.” Gillian went back to cleaning.

“That sounds like fun.” Jack’s monotone belied his words, but he picked up a dust rag and pitched in.

George looked around. “This place is supposed to be haunted.”

I tensed and dodged the implied question. “I’m surprised you came back in that case.”

“Do you believe in ghosts, Cass?”

I had the impression he was baiting me. He’d heard us on the flash drive. I was sure of it. “You know about Doris, don’t you?”

“Is that what you call her? The little girl who owned these toys? I’m afraid I set you up when I mentioned Francine, and you hesitated. I now know that you’ve been holding out on me, and I’m wondering why.”

My heart raced. “George, I—”

“Because of me.” Doris stepped daintily through the wall, lifting her feet as if to step over an invisible threshold. She picked invisible lint off her very short flapper skirt. A band encircled her dark bob with one large feather rising straight up from the middle of her forehead. Her eye makeup exaggerated her eyes. She pouted and batted her eyelashes at George.

She’d taken the decision away from me, but I knew it was overdue.

His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t move as she advanced on him shimmying.

The fringe on the dress swung wildly. There was no sound either of footfalls or swishing fabric. She stopped in front of him. The top of her head barely reached his chin. She looked up at him and put a finger on his chest.

“Boo!”

I held my breath. Jack and Gillian appeared frozen in place.

George was the only person who’d met Doris that didn’t look around for projectors. He was the only one who actually believed in ghosts before he saw her. I had no idea how this was going to go.

George licked his lips. “I’m George.” He didn’t take his eyes off her, but he put his hand into his pocket. He clearly wasn’t about to offer to shake hers.

I suspected he already had an idea what shaking hands with a ghost would feel like. I remembered the green onions. Would he have some with him because it was Halloween season and spirits were about? Or because the other cops had told him that my house was haunted? He was the only person I knew who would expect to see a real ghost this time of year. He had come to my house prepared.

Doris curtseyed. “Pleased ta meetcha. We’re going to get along just fine.”

He didn’t take his gaze off her, but he addressed me. “So your cottage really is haunted.”

“Yes.” I bit my lip.

He nodded. “Uh huh. Doris, what do you want?” His enunciation was clipped, precise.

Doris cocked her head. “To know why I’m still here.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Is this the old get-rid-of-the-evil-spirit-by-giving-it-what-it-wants routine?”

His eyes widened, but he continued to focus on her.

“I’m not an evil spirit.”

“That’s what they all say.”

Now that sounded more like George the cop to me. I hoped the shock of meeting Doris was wearing off. I took small, shallow breaths.

Doris turned toward me. “He hasn’t run screaming yet.”

I coughed before I found my voice. “No thanks to you.” I tried to laugh, but it sounded more like a croak.

“If he’s going to help us, he has to be ready for whatever happens during the séance. It’s now or never. Either he loves you or he doesn’t. Either you trust him or you don’t!”

George cleared his throat. “Excuse me. Séance, Cass?”

“Yeah, Samantha wants to contact—” I waved my hands around.

Jack cut me off. “George, Darius wants to contact Amelia—”

Gillian talked over both of us. “We thought we could clear Darius and make Samantha feel better about being in love with Brendan.”

“Really.” He finally broke visual contact with Doris to look at Jack, me, and Gillian. “You two knew all about this?” He raised an eyebrow.

Jack nodded and looked down at the floor.

Gillian said, “Since last summer. We found out while we were helping her move in. I was terrified at first. But Doris…well…Doris is… Doris cares about Cass and helps protect her. She won’t hurt you.”

“She nearly gave me a coronary.” Cautiously, he glanced back at Doris.

Doris put her hands on her shimmery hips. “I can be scarier.”

“I’ll bet you can.”

“In my defense,” Jack said. “I wanted Cass to be honest with you. She cares about you, and a relationship shouldn’t be built on a lie.”

George tapped my chin with his finger. “Your ghost is right. You should have told me.”

“I was going to.” There was that defensive tone in my voice again. “I was waiting for the right time.”

“So I had to hear about her and your séance through someone else’s spy media.” Still watching Doris, George took a deep breath and cleared his throat. “I don’t want you following me home.”

There was the crux of it. “Doris can’t follow you home.”

George raised an eyebrow. “How do you know she can’t follow me?”

“We don’t know why, but she has limits.” I wasn’t sure I should tell him about her ability to possess Thor.

“So she says.”

I opened my mouth to tell him more, but he held up a hand and said, “Later.”

Doris shook her head. “You’re thinking that maybe you shouldn’t say your plans in front of me.” She shook her head and her fringe danced. “You’re a real pipperoo. Or in modern parlance, Dude, I can go invisible and listen in, anyway.” She raised an eyebrow and leaned toward him.

He pulled back.

Her eyes narrowed and she smiled wickedly. From my perspective, it looked like she’d just gotten the upper hand.

After a pause, he segued. “I’m off tonight.”

I swear my heart skipped a few beats. “On call?”

“Nope.” He waggled his eyebrows at me, and I laughed. He looked around the room. “I’ve never taken a close look at this room before.”

“It’s not like you’ve made a habit of coming up to my bedroom.”

His eyes widened. “True.” Then he turned back and pointed at the built-ins across the room. “The roof is pitched.”

“Yes.”

“Insulated?”

“Has to be or you’d be able to roast chicken in the summer and make ice cream in the winter.”

“Sounds like someone’s hungry.” He laughed. “So, there’s a triangular space between the tops of the cabinets and the roof all along there where they meet?” He traced a line with his arm from one end of the loft to the other.

Gillian picked up the used paper towels and threw them into a trash bag. “I’ll carry this stuff down.” A hint of a smile played across her lips as she looked at me and went downstairs. “C’mon, Jack.”

I’d tapped the sides and bottom of each cabinet but hadn’t considered the tops. “I don’t know for sure. Let’s look.” I went to the cabinet I’d cleared out last and reached up. There was a flat top. “There’d be a triangular space above this one.” I moved to the open top shelf of the built-in bookcase. “Not here. If you reach up, you feel a slanted top.”

“So I’m guessing the roof was insulated and finished on the inside with the material you see in your vaulted ceiling. Then the cabinets and drawers were probably built as units and put in place under the eaves; whereas, the bookshelves were built in place between the storage units. That would mean that there are areas behind and above the cabinets and drawers.”

“You’ll tear up my bedroom, won’t you?”

He winced. “You’re going to hate me all over again, aren’t you?”

I sighed. “No, but I will grouse a lot. The only thing that will make this better is if you tell me what’s going on.”

“You could refuse.”

“You’d get a warrant or at least try. We’d be at odds. When you finally got in, it would be a hostile takeover. No. I’m every bit as curious and interested as you are.”

He looked around the room. “The Rumrunner Murders. Rumors abound. Loads of local stories. My guess is that you’re being targeted by treasure hunters because the murder has brought up all the old stories again.”

“Why hasn’t this bungalow been searched before? It was unoccupied before I bought it.”

“Who knows? Maybe it has.”

I nodded.

“If we do a thorough search, regardless of whether we find the treasure or not, it should divert interest from your house as a possible treasure hunting site for the general public. You’d be safer afterward.”

“I get it. I might not be a target of the current murderer. That does make me feel better.” I smiled. “What’s involved?”

“We’ll move your things down for you. You should pack up anything personal. We’ll wrap the bed in plastic.” He paused, looked down, and back up. “We might have to remove some of your built-ins.”

I looked around. “I love the window seats and built-ins. This is such a cozy space.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll put it all back the way it is now.”

“I bought this place as is. I own everything in the place. Do not throw away anything you find, and I want to see everything, and I mean everything that you find. Is that clear?”

He hesitated, and I narrowed my eyes at him. Then he nodded. “I will talk to my boss. To gain fast and willing access, I think what you’re asking for is reasonable.”

“If I get those assurances, we have a deal.”

He held out a hand, and I shook it, enjoying its warmth and strength. At that moment, I wanted to pull him close and never let him go again. “It won’t be as bad as you think. You’ll be seeing a bit more of me.”

“I can live with that.” I smiled up into his warm brown eyes, sighed inside, and led the way downstairs.

Gillian and Jack were watching the news.

“Anything new?” I asked.

Jack leaned forward and paused the recording. “Not really. What’s up?”

“I’ve given permission for them to search my loft.”

Gillian frowned. “But not before the séance, right?”

I turned to George. “We’re having a séance for Darius and Samantha tomorrow.”

“Seriously? That fast?”

“C’mon, George. Jack already told you. They both want answers. Darius wants to know what happened to Amelia and…” I looked at Gillian and back at George. “I suspect to tell her that he still loves her.”

George pursed his lips. “I don’t really think that’s a good idea. Do I need to remind you that he’s a suspect in her murder? I could say that we need to start our search tomorrow.”

It felt as though the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. I put my hands on my hips and lifted my chin. “And I could say get a warrant.”

George’s eyes narrowed and his lips thinned.

For a moment I thought he would challenge me, but he let out a frustrated sigh.

“Still headstrong. You’re playing with fire.”

I stared him down and his body relaxed.

“Okay. Look, before we rip up your woodwork, I’ll go down to the station in the morning. There’s a piece of equipment that should make it possible to get some idea if there’s anything in there, and I want to talk to my boss. Lock the door behind me.”

He paused as if waiting for something, but I only nodded. He grabbed his jacket and left.