Madison Johns - Agnes Barton Paranormal 01 - Haunted Hijinks (11 page)

“Twenty thousand.”

Frank Alton whistled. “Wow, Elsie. You’ve never been one to let your cash stray far from you.”

She squared her shoulders. “No need to rub it in, Frank.”

“Don’t blame my Frank just because you made a bad decision. I sure hope you won’t lose your house,” huffed Dorothy.

Elsie sat down in a huff. “I’m not that stupid, Dorothy.”

“Well, you sure were stupid enough not to at least check out the woman. You could at least have checked on Facebook.”

“Oh, are you on Facebook, Dorothy?” I asked.

“Yes, but I’m only on there to keep track of my family. That granddaughter of mine has been dating one of the Hill boys on and off. I can’t tell you how upset that makes me.”

I imagined she might feel that way since the Hill boys are part of the Michigan Militia, but there’s no sense fussing about anyone your grown-up granddaughter decides to date. I should know, since my granddaughter, Sophia, dated Trooper Sales before she ended up pregnant. But, he made it right and married her before the baby was born. Besides, Curt and Curtis Hill weren’t all that bad. They’d helped me out on occasions like when my awning came crashing down after Eleanor had crashed into it once.

“No need to make Elsie feel bad. She wasn’t the only one in town to be conned out of money,” I said without elaborating further.

“Nope,” Eleanor said. “Even Jack Winston got conned.”

Gasps split the air. “Well,” Elsie said. She quickly diverted her eyes. “That’s—”

“Well, deserved,” Dorothy butted in. “The way that man carries on with all those bimbos is just dreadful. Why, back when his wife was alive, he even cheated on her.”

Elsie cleared her throat, staggering to her feet. “I really could use a glass of cold water. I’m parched.”

Eleanor went in search of the water and returned, handing her the glass. “Now, Dorothy, no need to wish ill of anyone. Jack’s life isn’t—”

“He’s not deserving of getting conned any more that Elsie was,” I interjected, giving Eleanor a nudge in the ribs. “No need to share all of Jack’s secrets,” I whispered to Eleanor.

“Sorry, Agnes. I didn’t think.”

That is classic Eleanor. She’s never one who thinks before she speaks, and doles out more information than is necessary. It’s none of anyone’s concern that Jack has been paying money out for his female companionship.

“Elsie, would you mind speaking with us in private?”

“That’s just as well,” Bernice said. “I have to take my cats home—if I can find all of them.”

Bill and Marjory Hays made their way to the door, following Bernice out.

“I don’t see why we have to leave,” Dorothy said.

“Because they don’t want you in their business is why,” Frank blubbered.

“But I’m Elsie’s friend. I’m sure she won’t mind me staying.”

“Confound it, woman, we’re leaving, now!” Frank made way for the door, muttering something about him wishing he had listened to his mother and stayed single.

Dorothy trailed after him. “Oh, Frank.”

Once the door slammed shut and cars rumbled out of the drive, Mr. Wilson struggled to get off the chair. Eleanor rushed over and helped him get up. He said, “I’ll busy myself elsewhere. I haven’t seen my granddaughter since we arrived.”

Chapter Nine

When we were alone, Elsie said, “Maybe we should go to the library. That way, nobody can overhear our conversation.”

Thinking about how I heard plenty from the hidden passageway, I doubted it was completely safe, but since I hadn’t seen any signs that anyone else had been in there, I figured it was as good a place as anywhere.

We strode to the library and it was eerily silent. Outside, the sky had already begun to darken and all I could think about was how Eleanor and I had to stay the night in this haunted mansion.

In the library, there was a desk that was next to a window that overlooked the spacious lawn and rose gardens. Dark shapes were visible for a moment, but they took on the shape of the cleaners that Sara had hired, minus the one in the wheelchair who I presumed was still talking to Mr. Wilson’s granddaughter. I reminded myself to speak with her later about what she was up to; hoping that it only had to do with getting the cleaners to work faster.

Eleanor sank into a leather chair near the desk, with Elsie taking the other one. I sat behind the desk and interlaced my fingers. “How did you
really
find out about the business opportunity?”

Elsie blinked a few times and said, “What do you mean,
really
?”

“I couldn’t help but notice how you reacted when I told everyone Jack Winston had also been swindled.”

“You mean when
I
told them, Agnes,” Eleanor said.

“Oh, bother. Does it really matter who told whom what, El?”

“Well, it does when you don’t give me credit for my part in this investigative business.”

“I give you plenty of credit, El. Jeez, can we just question Elsie, already?”

“Yes,” Eleanor began. “Why did you react like that when I said Jack’s name? It’s almost like it wasn’t a surprise to you.”

“So you already knew about Jack?” I added.

Elsie’s face flushed. “Yes, Jack kinda gave me the tip, and I went all the way to Bay Port to meet with Katherine. It was then that she told me she had planned to come to East Tawas, but she needed the cash right away or I’d miss out on the deal. That time was of the essence. She insisted on cash, you see.”

“Why would Jack Winston even tell you about this tip?” I asked, perplexed.
Unless he was part of the scam
, was my thought.

“Well, I’ve known Jack for years. We bumped into each other at the library. I didn’t even know he was staying with his son. Word had it that he had lost his house. He told me about how his son was limiting his funds and he found a way to make back all the money he had lost. All he had to do was invest money short term.”

“Did you ask him how he planned to get the money from his son?”

“I told him to look around for a checkbook. I was quite sure his son didn’t keep it under lock and key.”

“Well, it seems like he should have. Why take Jack’s word for it, though?” I pressed.

Elsie sighed. “Jack and I go way back.”

“Is there any truth that you and Jack had an affair years ago?”

“That’s none of our business, Agnes Barton!” Eleanor shouted.

“I’m trying to establish a connection between Elsie and Jack. Why else would he tell her about the business opportunity?”

“I have nothing to hide now, but I swear I’m so sorry for all of that. His wife was one of my friends, but I called it off real quick-like, before things had gotten too out of hand,” Elsie explained. “I swear that I never meant to hurt anyone.”

“That’s all in the past, Elsie,” I said. “What I’d like to know is what happened lately. So, Jack was just giving you a tip for old time’s sake?”

“Well, I think the man is a little sweet on me after all these years. He told me none of those younger women holds a candle next to me.”

“So Katherine turned up in town and then what?”

“I had agreed to introduce her to my friends, but then Jack told me that the company, International Energy, had gone belly-up. That all of his money, probably all our money, was long gone. He tried to call Katherine. I tried to call Katherine, but she wouldn’t return our calls. When Jack did find her, she threatened to turn him into the police if he didn’t quit bothering her.”

“Did you report what happened to the police?”

Elsie’s shoulders slumped. “I was too ashamed to admit we had been taken.”

“Too ashamed?” Eleanor said. “What about all the other potential victims she hadn’t scammed yet? I can’t believe you didn’t call the police.”

“Well, both Jack and I had turned over the cash to her in Huron County, not Iosco. I didn’t think Sheriff Peterson would be able to do anything about it.”

“Other than put the word out, at least,” Eleanor said, her arms folded across her chest.

“Now, Eleanor. There’s no need to be so cross with Elsie. It’s hard to admit that you’ve been taken by a con artist.”

“Jack felt so bad and promised to make it right.”

My brow shot up. “Oh, and did he say how?”

“No, but he was very angry. You wouldn’t like Jack when he’s angry.”

I recalled a few times when he did get angry, and he was quite scary, but one time Eleanor didn’t back down a bit and he got entangled in a lawn chair, of all things. Luckily, for Eleanor and me, we were able to flee the scene before he had freed himself. I personally wouldn’t give two cents for Jack. I had managed to see him in a different light, but now wondered if it was the right light.

“He must have said something more,” Eleanor said. “Please, every little bit might help.”

“Jack told me he found out that Katherine took a job at the Butler Mansion and we both figured it was a cover for her con business. He told me he’d catch her unaware at the mansion and get us our money back, or—”

“Or what?” Eleanor interjected. “Did he say he’d harm the woman?”

“I-I shouldn’t say. I mean, I don’t want to get Jack into any trouble.”

“You’ll both be in trouble if you don’t spill the beans, and quick,” Eleanor said. “I have half a mind to call in the sheriff right now.”

“Eleanor!” I shouted.

“Or else. Jack said he’d get our money back or else. I wasn’t sure what he meant.”

“Did you ask him what he meant?” I asked, as the ghost floated through the ceiling.

“No, I didn’t.”

“You didn’t care is why,” Eleanor went on to say. “You should have called the police and had ample opportunity to do so, and now Katherine is dead, leaving both you and Jack on the suspect list.”

Elsie sprung to her feet. “But I didn’t do anything. I swear I didn’t.”

“How much were you in for,
really
?” I asked, giving Eleanor a dirty look. I couldn’t believe how hostile she was acting towards Elsie. I had an idea it was far more than the twenty thousand she told us she handed over when the others were here.

Elsie pursed her lips and finally said, “Fifty thousand.”

I bit a fist, Eleanor flopped back on her chair, her arms thrown back and the ghost smacked her head on the wall, whatever that was all about.

“Now that’s a lot of greenbacks,” Eleanor said. “I’m sorry I was so hard on you. I just—well—I thought there might even be more victims other than you and Jack.”

“I don’t blame you. I blame myself for listening to Jack to begin with. In the beginning, I even blamed him for being part of the scam.”

“What did he have to say to that?” I asked.

“He denied it, of course, but I can’t get that doubt out of my mind completely. Then when he told me he’d get our money back, I just knew he couldn’t be a part of it. He was so enraged.”

“I had hoped to keep this under wraps, but I really think we need to pull Sheriff Peterson in on this one.”

“Oh, please don’t do that. Can’t you just investigate the case yourself?”

“Yes, we can and will, but if I don’t tell Peterson, he won’t be happy. Besides, he might just share some information with us, too. I can’t help but wonder who this Katherine really is, and why she’d stay in town after scamming the two of you.”

“Beats me, Agnes, but I swear I’m not in cahoots with Jack Winston. I was angry, but not enough to murder someone.”

“So you admit that Jack seemed angry enough to murder Katherine?”

Elsie threw up her arms. “Now don’t be putting words in my mouth. I never said that. Sure, Jack was mad as a wet hen, but murder? Now that’s a stretch.”  Elsie glanced at her watch. “Are you two through interrogating me now? It’s almost time for my night time pills.”

“This wasn’t an interrogation, Elsie. For the life of me, I don’t know how to proceed. Jack was our only lead. I can’t help but wonder why Katherine would come to the area if she’d swindled you two, is all. How could she be sure you wouldn’t go to the police?”

“Well,” Eleanor said. “If they both paid the woman in cash, there’d be no paper trail. It would be their word against Katherine’s.”

“But Elsie and Jack are … er—”

“Upstanding citizens for the most part, or at least Elsie is. Jack Winston’s reputation stands for itself, not that he’s ever broken any laws other than using medicinal locally grown products without the proper prescription,”

“From my recollection,” Elsie said, “Jack wasn’t the only one in town doing that. You both—”

I interjected. “Oh, no, you don’t. Neither El nor I have ever smoked any of that wacky weed that Rose Lee used to grow. Besides, she’s gone out of that business and is now growing plants for her potpourri.”

“All I’m saying is, don’t be too quick to nail this on Jack. We can’t be the only two people who that woman has conned, and that’s all I have to say on the subject.”

I gave up talking about this, too. Eleanor and I led Elsie to the door and she tore out of the drive with a scattering of dust and stones.

“Well, are we really going to do it, Agnes? Tell Sheriff Peterson what we’ve found out? He’ll be mad that we haven’t brought him in sooner.”

“Not as much as if we never told him what’s going on.”

“So just to be clear, what are we planning to tell him?”

I thought for a moment. “Not sure, but perhaps we should keep that secret passageway to ourselves for now.”

“Good point, but what about the vanishing suitcase?”

“Leave it to me, El. Just follow my lead when we get to the sheriff’s department.”

“The sheriff won’t be there this time of night. We’ll have to call him at home.”

I shook my head. “Do you really expect me to call Clem at home?”

“Doesn’t seem like we have much of a choice, but you’d better hurry. It’s six o’clock. We only have one more solid day of investigating. Tomorrow is Halloween. We’ll have to be back here at the mansion by seven o’clock when this mansion will be open to the public.”

That bothered me. How were gonna ever be able to solve this case in time, and what about Caroline? I have yet to figure out who she is and how she’s connected to this mansion. After Eleanor goes to bed, I’m going to have a talk with my new partner, the ghost, Caroline. I was so torn, but I just was not ready to tell Eleanor about her, I still haven’t come to terms with her myself, nor the seeing and speaking to the ghost part.