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)
“But in Ignatius’s grief over losing his daughter, the necklace became worthless to him, and he had it buried with her, never wanting to look upon it again?” Amy said as if reading the words from a novel.
“It would explain why someone wanted access to the tomb,” Beau said. “They believed the necklace rests with Verbena.”
“But what proof could they have gotten that it wasn’t there and turned their search to the Willow Mansion?” Amy asked, but no one had an answer.
“What about the fellow that caused your mishap with the rake? Were you able to see who it was?” Ian asked.
“Unfortunately, no, but my first thought was the vanishing guy though that could be because he wore jeans and a hoodie. Strange, though, that the guy chose to squat on Willow land.”
The manager of the restaurant brought a bag of ice. Ian took turns with me holding it to the back of my head, until supper was brought to the table. We ate and talked about more than the Willow mystery and I had a better time than I expected since I thought I’d be quizzed endlessly about the rake incident, but thankfully my friends spared me.
We stepped out of the restaurant to see two police cars parked near the back of the parking lot, their lights flashing.
“They found a body. Haven’t heard if he’s dead or unconscious,” a man said as we stopped beside him and the woman with him.
I looked at Ian and I could tell by his expression that his thought was the same as mine. Could it be the guy who kept vanishing? We ran toward the police cars.
“Is there any time Pepper is not involved when a body is found?” I heard Beau say and Amy laughed as they followed us.
“I was just coming to get you two,” Josh said. “I think he’s a match to your guy.”
“Is he dead?” I asked.
“No, he’s unconscious and the EMT guys are almost ready to transport him. So, hurry and have a look.”
One look was all Ian and I needed.
“It’s him,” Ian and I said in unison.
CHAPTER 16
With it being Saturday, Ian and I had the day to ourselves. We weren’t in a rush to start it, relaxing on the couch with a second cup of tea while tossing around some ideas about the Willow mystery.
That was until Ian said, “You can’t avoid your dad. He’s probably already suspicious that you didn’t wait for him to arrive at the scene or that you didn’t follow the ambulance to the hospital last night.”
“I talked with him on the phone,” I said. It sounded like a poor excuse and Ian must have thought the same as well since he scrunched his brow. “I’ll see him soon enough.” Though I would rather not. At least not until my raccoon eyes had faded some, which likely wouldn’t happen soon enough. I was glad he changed the subject since I had planned to.
“How about we go to the bookstore in Barnsville, grab lunch out, though before we go, I thought we could do an Internet search for an aerial view of the cemetery. It could give us an idea of what might be close enough to connect a secret passageway from the mausoleum. Then we can trace the most logical ones on foot and see where it gets us.”
“I like your way of thinking,” I said, eager to start the day.
Once our Internet search was done and a few photos saved, we got dressed and found Mo sitting at the front door with his vest in his mouth and his head slightly tilted to the side, his eyes drooping with sadness.
Ian laughed. “He is just too adorable to say no to.” He squatted down and got Mo’s vest on him when his ears perked up and he barked, though his tail wagged. Someone he knew had just pulled up.
Ian stood and wrapped his arm around me to give me a squeeze. “Time to face the music.”
He knew who it was as well as I did.
We stepped outside and Mo whoofed at my dad and hurried to my truck to make sure he wasn’t left behind.
When my dad’s eyes didn’t register shock when he looked at me, it had me realizing someone had told him what had happened to me.
“Who?” I asked, then shook my head. “Josh just couldn’t resist, could he?”
“When it comes to you, your brother could never resist tattling. You should have told me.”
“And get another lecture?” I asked as sweetly as possible.
My dad threw his hands up as if in surrender. “What difference does another lecture make? You never pay attention to any of them. Are you all right?”
I was about to say, ‘Don’t I look it’ when I stopped realizing what a mistake that would be. I said what I knew would relieve his worry. “Dr. Wagner was very thorough. I am good to go.”