Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“You’re right,” I said. “Why rob my mom when they could have robbed the keys from any of the people working there.”
“Does your mom hold a key to the Willow Mansion that the others don’t?” Ian asked.
I hurried to move the computer to his lap. “I don’t know but I am going to find out.” I grabbed my phone off the coffee table and called my mom.
“Hi, Pepper,” she sang into the phone.
“Where are you, Mom?” I asked, hearing music and laughter in the background.
“At the campaign party the local woman’s club is hosting for me. I’m having a blast.”
“Where’s Dad?”
“He had work to see to. He’s picking me up afterward.”
Nice excuse, Dad, I thought but didn’t say.
“I’m sorry, Pepper, I don’t have time to talk. Did you call for a reason?”
“Yes, Mom, and I won’t keep you. “Are your keys for the Willow Lake Historical Society any different from the other society members’ keys?”
“I don’t believe so.”
“Okay, that’s all I needed to know. Enjoy the party.”
“Toodles,” my mom sang out before ending the call.
Ian smiled. “Your mom is partying?”
“Yup, and my dad, the sheriff, is hiding out at the police station.”
“Why? He seemed to have a great time at my Halloween party.”
“A mixed bunch. This party is women only and no way would my dad want to be the only man there and I don’t blame him.”
“Some men might enjoy it.”
“Would you?” I rolled my eyes. “What am I thinking? You’re a male cover model. You’re used to women hanging all over you.”
“There is only one woman I want hanging all over me.”
I glanced at the tattoos on his arm and knew he had gotten a temporary one today that covered a good portion of his chest, and I was eager to see it. But first things first. “Later, biker, we have work to do.”
He winked playfully at me. “I can wait, since anticipation makes it that more enjoyable.”
I forced my mind back to the case. “My mom’s keys are no different from the others.”
Ian shook his head. “Why then was there another attempt to steal her purse if it wasn’t the keys they wanted?”
“It doesn’t make sense and, so far, there is nothing in any of the documents on the Willow family that mentions anything close to a treasure or even a mention of a dowry. But someone believes there is something to find since not here was written on that note I found. What’s not where? The mausoleum or the Willow Mansion.”
“Logic might point to the Willow Mansion being the mausoleum was looted and the next incident, your mom being assaulted, took place at the mansion. That would leave one to believe nothing was found at the mausoleum, so the search moved to the mansion.”
“I think there are two separate guys searching for the supposed treasure.”
Ian was quick to agree with me. “I think you’re right. There is the guy you saw running away and then there is the guy you whacked with your mom’s purse and was probably the one who assaulted her.”
I shifted the computer back onto my lap to make some notes. “Do you think they are in competition?”
“Could be. A substantial treasure could easily pit people against each other.”
“Well, if it is a treasure worth hunting, I wonder how it has remained hidden all these years.”
I made more notes as we talked a while longer and we decided our next step was for me to talk with Charlie Gibbons, the elderly man whose family was the groundskeepers for decades as well as Amy continuing to go through the society’s files.
Ian pushed the top of the computer closed. “Enough for tonight. I want some alone time with you.”
I knew what he meant but I teased him anyway. “We are alone.”
Ian pointed to Mo who had sat up from where he was stretched out in front of the television and stared at us. “We are not alone, and you, Mo, are staying put until bedtime is called.”
Mo grumbled a growl and laid back down.
Ian looked around and called out, “You better not be in the bedroom, Roxie.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, especially when Roxie came prancing into the room from the direction of the bedroom and cuddled herself against Mo.
“Now it’s you and me, mo ghràdh.”
I am not the overly romantic kind, but I do enjoy when Ian calls me my love in Scottish Gaelic. It gives me warm fuzzies.
He leaned over to kiss me, and I leaned in eager for his kiss… then my cell rang.
“Your mom,” Ian said, seeing her name come up on my phone.
I hurried to answer it, eager for the night ahead with Ian. “I’m a bit busy, Mom.”
“I won’t keep you. About the keys. I remember your Aunt Effie giving me a key for the Willow Mansion and made me promise not to lose it—strange as it sounds—she told me to keep it for you that you would need it one day.”