Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
“ I am so disappointed that Ian couldn’t join us,” my mom said as we ate lunch.
“I am too,” I said, “but Ian’s business meeting was running longer than he expected, though he assured me he will meet us at the police station on time.”
“It’s good that Ian started expanding his business. With the introduction of Artificial Intelligence, I wondered and worried how it would affect his business.”
“Ian stays on top of things and with Beau switching to a management position, the two have come up with some great plans for the business while incorporating new technology. Ian continues to have the hottest models in the business, and they are still much in demand. And with the promo site he and Beau just launched for books, the team is swamped with work, not to mention the endless calls for interviews with Ian as an emerging entrepreneur which helps promote the company even more. But what about you, Mom,” I asked. “How is the campaign going?”
My mom’s smile was contagious. It couldn’t be helped. It was a twinkle of a smile that just couldn’t be ignored, and neither could her beauty. Nearly fifty-seven and she had no more than a few wrinkles that were barely noticeable. I prayed I got her genes, though most everyone says I am the picture of my Aunt Effie, including my mom. I can’t complain about that with my aunt having been a famous model who graced the covers and pages of international magazines. Still, I loved my mom’s smile and couldn’t help but smile along with her.
“Fabulous. Naturally, I have the support of the police, not that your dad influenced them, and they made that clear to me. The local teachers are in my corner and many of the seniors. The businesses on Main Street are overjoyed with how the beautification program of the street is going and have vowed to vote for me. But,” she said, raising her hand slightly. “That doesn’t mean I will win. I need to keep campaigning, get the word out of what I want to do for the town and its people. If you don’t mind, I would like to borrow Mo when I go to the senior center to talk with them again. He wins over every one of them there, even Charlie, who only smiles when Mo shows up.”
“Charlie Gibbons?” I asked.
“Yes, but how do you?—”
I explained what Dr. Pam told me about the elderly man.
“She’s right. Charlie’s family was the groundskeeper for the Willow Mansion for generations, which means he has probably heard story after story about the family, though he never shares much about them. Next time I go to the center you and Mo should come with me, and I’ll introduce you to Charlie.”
“Thanks, Mom, I appreciate it,” I said, growing more eager to meet the man.
My mom pushed her nearly empty plate aside. “Now, tell me about this vanishing body.”
I explained all that had happened. “So, from what I could gather so far, this guy, the vanishing body, is searching for something in the Willow Mausoleum. With the sketch that Dad wants you to do of him we may just be able to find him.”
“My concern is what was he doing at the garden center. With Kelly so close to delivering my first grandchild, I worry about her.”
“I don’t get the feeling this guy is out to hurt anyone. His interest is the mausoleum,” I said, trying to ease her worry. “I didn’t know that Aunt Effie was the founder of the Willow Lake Historical Society. Dad suggested I look through any documents she had accumulated on the Willow family since she was the driving force in the restoration of the Willow Mansion and that she took a trip to Ireland to research them. Reverend Herbert is going to let me look through the papers on the Willow Mausoleum that were archived at the church, but I don’t expect to find anything there concerning the mansion.”
“You’re right. You won’t. The church documents are for the mausoleum alone, nothing else. Any documents Effie may have gathered while in Ireland—oh, the memories of that trip. Your aunt had such a fabulous time and Max got to join her while she was there. They had the time of their lives. She recalled the fond memories often. Back to the documents from that trip. You won’t find them at your place. Effie would have archived them at the Willow Mansion.” Her brow scrunched briefly. “I always thought that your aunt didn’t share all she learned about the Willow family while in Ireland. She often said that sometimes there are family matters better left alone.”
I pulled my phone from my pocket and gave it a glance, then turned a smile on my mom. “We’ve got time before we meet with Ian at the police station. What do you say we visit the Willow Mansion?”
I had forgotten how impressive the Willow Mansion was not able to recall the last time I was here, but my mom was familiar with it, carrying on Aunt Effie’s work with the historical society.
“Hi, Sally,” a woman called out as we got out of my truck. She looked familiar.
I realized I had met her at the garden center.
“Hi, Edna, I came to show my daughter around and to do a bit of research into the mansion’s past.”
“That’s wonderful,” Edna said, and smiled. “As I mentioned when we first met, we lack young ones in the Willow Lake Historical Society and there is an empty seat on the board. I imagine that your Aunt Effie would be thrilled to have her niece follow in her footsteps. Anyway, you picked the perfect time since we’re closed today. You have the place to yourself. I stopped by to catch up on some work, but I’m all done. Do you have your key? I already locked up.”
“I have it, swiped it from my car console this morning,” my mom assured her, patting her large purse.
“Enjoy,” Edna said and got into her car and drove off.
“Edna is a gem. I don’t know what we’d do without her. She’s been with the historical society for, I believe, eight years now. She moved into the old Sutton cottage about ten years ago, her husband passed two years before that. She told me that her husband’s job had taken them all over the world and after endless travel she wanted to establish some roots. She keeps the place running smoothly.”
My mom started the tour before we even stepped into the place, and I listened carefully in case she said anything that might be a reason someone was so interested in the mausoleum.
“This large courtyard would greet visitors back in the day. I just love accessing it through that grand portcullis we passed through. It’s like stepping through to another time and place.” My mom turned and pointed to the left. “That charming stone building once housed carriages and horses. It stands as a reminder of the mansion’s storied past. To the right there, that raised area contains the billiard room, library, and sitting room or parlor, though they can only be accessed from within the house.” My mom raised her chin as she said poshly and with a teasing twinkle in her eyes, “It adds an air of exclusivity.”
Once inside, we entered a grand foyer and were greeted by a round, claw-foot table and centered on top was a crystal vase with a lovely arrangement of various tall flowers. Beyond, one caught a peek at the large dining room dominated by a sizeable and ornately carved fireplace that seemed to glow with warmth and history, though no fire burned in it.
“Can you imagine the elegant parties the Willows must have hosted here? It must have been magnificent bringing such refined culture to a backward place,” my mom said as if she could picture it.
“Why aren’t I more familiar with this place if it meant so much to Aunt Effie?” I asked, having almost no memory of being here with her.
“That’s a good question,” my mom said. “I do recall her saying something about you being too curious.”
I thought that odd but let it go since my mom gave me a slight shove to the right and we entered a formal living room, followed by a small parlor where visitors would be entertained and beyond that was a library then a billiards room. The mantel on the welcoming hearth in the living room was adorned with family heirlooms and items that were popular for that period.
“The Willows were a fine-looking family,” my mom said, looking at the family portrait above the fireplace.
I had to agree. They were a good-looking family, though they appeared stuffed into their clothes. I didn’t know how a woman survived the summer heat in all that clothing or how a man could tolerate such a tight collar. The young girl, who sat between them, looked to be around eight and she wore a smile that highlighted her pretty face and had to be none other than Verbena.
“It was a shame she died so young,” I said. “Does anyone know what illness struck her?”
“The Willow family kept their private life very private, so there is only speculation about what illness claimed her at such a young age. Your aunt tried to find out the cause but wasn’t successful, which bothered her, since she was meticulous in keeping everything accurate right down to the period furnishings. She brought several pieces back with her from Ireland and the short trip she made to England, also documents concerning the family that for some reason the historical society has not been able to locate.”
“That’s odd,” I said. “If Aunt Effie was so meticulous in keeping accurate records of the Willow family and the mansion, why wouldn’t she make sure all documents were properly filed and easily accessible?”
My mom shrugged. “The documents could have been misplaced after Effie passed.”
That still didn’t sit right with me. Knowing my aunt, she would have made sure they were properly preserved.
We passed the dining room to reach the kitchen tucked in the back of the place where one could almost detect the scents of past feasts. It was small and it boggled my mind to think that such a small space could provide the amount of food required for a dinner party that would accommodate the two dozen seats at the dining table in the dining room. I noticed a door that read pantry and private next to a staircase that we took to the second floor. The wood stairs curved and creaked all the way up to the second floor. There was no way anyone could ever sneak up them without being detected, but then this was meant for the servants to use.
The second floor, if possible, was even more impressive. A narrow corridor ran the length of the gallery, leading to a small, inconspicuous closet at one end.
My mom picked up the tour from there. “To the left and right of the corridor are two main suites, each boasting luxurious bathing closets and grand fireplaces that added both warmth and grandeur to the rooms. I always think of the women who must have sat at the dressing tables preparing for a party or preparing for bed. I wondered if they were happy here, as what I’m sure they thought of as the wilderness.”
We traveled down the right side of the corridor to see three elegantly appointed bedrooms, each with its own unique charm.
We moved on to the left side of the corridor, coming to a closet at the end before turning down the hallway. I was surprised to enter an armory and to see an impressive collection of battle weapons, each with its own history and significance, meticulously maintained and showcased.
My mom hurried me to the next room. “I loved that Ignatius Willow had another library up here connected by stairs to the lower library, creating a seamless connection between the two levels and providing a vast collection of knowledge as Aunt Effie often said. The mansion’s completion took years, with the back colonnade being a later addition that enhanced its majestic appearance. The entire estate exudes an Irish charm. A visit here is like being transported to the Irish countryside.”
I thought more English than Irish, but I didn’t comment. I did agree with my mom though about the mansion being out of place here in Willow Lake, PA.
“It makes me think that Ignatius Willow favored symmetry since there is an equal balance to this place both up and downstairs,” I said, recognizing how precise it seemed.
My mom cast a curious glance around. “I never noticed that, but I believe you’re right.”
“Where would Aunt Effie have stored the documents?” I asked, time running short before we had to get to the police station.
“The sizeable pantry off the kitchen was turned into an office years ago. All the original documents would be there, and Edna has scanned some so we have them on the computer, but there is still so much more that needs to be done. You can access the files through my name and password.”
“I appreciate that, Mom.”
“Well, you never know, you may find information that we can add to the Willow family history.”
The pantry turned office was a good size. It contained two small desks and several filing cabinets and some shelving. I had a quick look through some of the files, but I would need more time than we had to do a thorough search.
“I’m going to need to come back, Mom,” I said.
“No problem. I’ll let Edna know and, in the meantime, if you want to have your own key to the place you should apply for a board member seat. The board would snatch you up in a heartbeat. The present board is aging, and like Edna said the historical society needs young people to take an interest and see to the care and future of this place. I believe your Aunt Effie would love for you to carry on the work she started here.”
“I could do that and maybe there is room for Ian as well. He could bring a good prospective being from Scotland, and Amy might want to join as well.”
“The board would be delighted and there certainly is room for all of you,” my mom said, teary-eyed. “It would be nice to know the mansion will continue to have caretakers.”
“We better get going. We’re going to be late as it is to the police station,” I said.
We stepped outside and my mom shook her head. “I left my purse in the office.”
“I’ll get it and lock up the place. You wait by the truck,” I said and hurried back inside.
I grabbed her purse, locked the office door, hurried outside, and quickly locked the door. I turned to go to the truck and froze.
My mom lay on the ground near my truck.
I ran to her, dropping down beside her. Blood ran from a cut on the side of her head. I went to grab my phone from out of my back pocket when I heard a sound. I turned in time to see a guy, the hood on his sweatshirt pulled low over his head to hide his face making a mad dash for the portcullis. I got my phone out of my pocket to get a photo, but it was too late. He was gone. But I did notice he wore biker boots.
I heard a noise behind me and with my mom still out cold on the ground, I didn’t hesitate. I swerved around using my mom’s purse as a weapon since it was big and heavy. It caught the guy in the face, and he stumbled, and I whacked him again with it. He fell to the ground, giving me enough time to call 911. He heard me speaking to the dispatch person and he scrambled to his feet and fled. I finished with, “This is Sheriff Madison’s daughter. I am outside at the Willow Mansion. Please tell him his wife was attacked and needs an ambulance.”
I intended to call my dad myself, but I needed to see to my mom first.
“Mom,” I said, bending down beside her, but she didn’t answer. My heart pounded in my chest, fearing she was hurt badly.
My cell rang and I answered not needing to see who called, I knew it was my dad.
“Pepper, what happened.”
“Mom is unconscious, Dad. Someone struck her hard. She’s bleeding from the side of her head. I can’t wake her,” I said, feeling fear and tears building.
“I’m on my way.”
I almost grabbed my mom and kissed her when I heard her moan.
“Mom,” I cried anxiously.
She moaned again and tried to turn.
“Stay as you are, Mom, someone hit you and your bleeding on the side of your head.”
“Help me up, I’m fine,” she said.
“Stay as you are, Mom. Dad is on his way,” I urged.
“Oh, goodness, he’s going to be upset. Help me up. I don’t want to be lying on the ground when he gets here,” she insisted.
As I helped her to sit, two police cars came barreling through the portcullis. My dad bolted out of his SUV, and Josh hurried out of his with a first aid kit in his hand. Ian emerged from my dad’s vehicle. By then my mom was resting in the crook of my arm.
“Sally,” my dad said with a look of relief and eased her out of my arms into his.
“I’m fine, Warren, don’t worry. It’s just a scratch.”
It was more than a scratch but none of us bothered to say that.
Josh had the first aid kit open and was tearing open gauze patches to press gently against our mom’s wound.
“So, what did Pepper get you into this time?” Josh asked teasingly.
Ian had reached my side, and his arm went around me, and I rested against him, still worried for my mom especially since I knew Josh teased me to see what response he could get out of my mom to ascertain what damage the wound may have caused.
I smiled along with Josh when my mom responded.
“No need to test me, Josh, I still have all my faculties about me. It is just a bump on the head.”
“We’ll let the doctor decide,” my dad said firmly and with a slight tremble to his words, no one would notice if they didn’t know him well.
Josh and I did, and we exchanged concerned looks, realizing how worried Dad was about Mom.
I noticed how my mom clung to my dad. The incident had left her with a fright, and I couldn’t blame her, but I did blame myself since I had a feeling this had something to do with the mausoleum break-in.
“Why are my pockets turned inside out?” my mom asked, glancing at the flowing, sleeveless vest she wore over her blouse and flowing skirt. She squeezed my dad’s arm. “Someone searched my pockets, Warren.”
That got my dad angry. “I’m going to find who did this, Sally, and he’s going to be sorry he ever set foot in Willow Lake.”
Ian and I stepped aside as the ambulance arrived and the medics quickly tended to my mom, my dad remaining by her side.
“You okay, Pep?” Ian asked.
“I got a good fright seeing my mom on the ground bleeding,” I admitted.
“What happened, Pep?” Ian asked, his arm remaining around my waist.
“I was just going to ask you that,” Josh said, a notepad ready in his hand. “But first the truth. Are you really okay? Because when I heard Mom was on the ground unconscious and bleeding, it scared the sh— you know what out of me.”
“It gave me the worst fright,” I admitted, “and I can’t tell you how relieved I was when she woke.”
“So, then you’re okay to tell me what happened?” Josh asked with serious concern.
“I’m good,” I assured him and began detailing what happened and what I could recall about the two men.
“So, you tried to get a picture of the one guy, but it was too late, then you turned to see another guy who snuck up behind you,” Josh said to clarify.
I nodded.
“Smart move with her purse. It’s always heavy. You might have done some damage to the guy. I’ll check out the hospitals and well-care places for head wounds. And the guy who ran, you say, wore biker boots?”
“Yup, and he ran fast and ducked out of sight before I could snap a picture like I told you. I don’t know why but I didn’t get the sense that the two guys were together. Maybe one followed the other here. Did Dad send someone to get a description of the two guys who came into Kate’s shop and bought the book on Willow Lake’s history?”
“I have yet to mention it to him, but now that you have,” my dad said joining us. “Josh, go talk to Kate and have her come in to see if she can describe the two men to the guy who does the computer sketches. Pepper, you and Ian find time to do the same and we’ll see what comes of it. And whatever info you have so far from Pepper, Josh, get right on it after you wrap things up here. This is now an official case, assault and possible attempted robbery since her pockets were turned inside out.”
“But her rings weren’t taken.” Josh pointed out.
“Pepper’s arrival might have prevented that,” my dad said. “We’ll investigate every possibility. Right now, I’m going to the hospital with your mom. I’ll keep you updated to what’s going on.”
“I’ll get right on it, Dad,” Josh said, “and if you think of anything else, Pepper, let me know.” He hurried off, calling out orders to the other officers.
I saw that my mom was being placed in the ambulance, looking alert and busy chatting with the EMS workers, most of them locals.
“Your mom is campaigning, asking the local rescue squad how she can help them if elected,” my dad said, shaking his head. “Between you and your mom, I’ll be lucky if I make it to retirement.”
“Baldness will come before retirement,” I teased.
“After this unfortunate incident, you may be right,” my dad said, raising his voice and his finger to point at me. “You’re going to listen to me about this, Pepper.” He looked at Ian. “And you’re going to make sure she does what I tell her or you’re both in trouble.” He turned back to me. “You are no longer to pursue this. Leave it to me and the sheriff’s department. If this person thinks nothing of striking an older woman who can’t defend herself, then he’s a dangerous fool. Stay away and leave it to me.”
“I’d be careful if I were you, Dad,” I warned.
“I’m the sheriff. I can handle it.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know about that, Dad. I think your goose is cooked.” I pointed to the ambulance. Mom was inside, sitting up with her arms crossed over her chest and a death ray glare shooting out of her eyes at my dad.
He looked for himself, then quickly looked back at me and Ian for one of us to explain.
I was trying not to laugh, and I saw Josh doing the same. So, Ian answered him, fighting not to smile. “I believe it was the part where you called her an older woman who couldn’t defend herself.”
My dad’s shoulders sagged. “My goose is more than cooked.”
I managed not to laugh as I said, “I’d say it’s burnt to a crisp.”