Chapter 4
“A mini mystery at Locke Pointe?” Wyatt asked. “I’m intrigued.”
“I’ll show you after dinner,” Morgan said.
“It’s a deal.”
Filling their plates with food, the couple settled in at the back patio’s bistro table. Morgan and Wyatt savored the meal, sharing small bites of steak with Chester, who went back and forth between them.
After dinner, cleaning up was quick and easy and soon the couple, along with Chester in his sidecar, were cruising around the island.
Wyatt made a quick stop to check on the zipline he and fellow police officer Grady MacDonald had built that spring.
After finishing, they hopped back on and coasted through downtown Locke Village, stopping by friend Ariel Vanmeter’s Bean Brewing coffee shop for a beverage break and a chat.
Chester, never one to miss an opportunity, finagled a chew stick from Ariel, who kept an ample supply of treats on hand for the islanders’ pets.
Back on the road, Wyatt cut across the backstreets until reaching Locke Pointe. He picked an empty spot between Morgan’s property and the Lilac Inn, their friend Grace Coates’ place.
After hanging their helmets on the handlebars, the couple meandered around to the front so Morgan could show Wyatt the new privacy fence.
Chester scampered past them, making a beeline for the nearest peek-a-boo panel. He scoped out the first one before moving onto the next, stopping at each panel to check out the view.
After finishing, they circled around to the carriage house.
As they drew closer, Morgan could see a soft glow coming from what was now Greg’s living room. A flit of movement passed by the window.
“Greg’s home.” She gave the front door a tentative rap.
Her new tenant appeared. “Hey, Morgan. Wyatt.”
“Hello, Greg. Wyatt and I were cruising around after dinner and figured we would stop by. Do you mind if he checks out your apartment?”
“Not at all.” Greg flung the door open. “C’mon in.”
Wyatt stepped inside and let out a low whistle. “This is a nice pad, man.”
“Thanks. I’m sleeping here tonight. Ben and Jax are going to help me move the big stuff in the morning.” Greg excitedly showed Wyatt around—the kitchen, cozy yet fully equipped to whip up gourmet dinners or quick and easy meals. The eat-in bar area, the bathroom, and finally the bedroom. They finished where they’d started the tour—in the living room.
“Congratulations,” Wyatt said. “I know Morgan is thrilled to have you here.”
“Morgan is the best boss ever.”
“She is pretty awesome.”
Morgan made a timeout with her hands. “Stop. You two are going to make my head swell up so big I won’t be able to get out the door.”
“You do get pretty full of yourself when showered with too many compliments,” Wyatt teased.
Morgan slugged his arm. “Very funny.”
“Why don’t you show Greg the keys while we’re here?”
“I almost forgot.” Morgan reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the set of keys Wyatt had found. “I found these upstairs in the attic. I was thinking they might be for the half-moon window locks above the carriage house doors.”
“The one Steve found a while back?” Greg asked.
“Yeah. I’ve been tearing my house apart, trying to find them. Chester must’ve hidden them under my hutch.”
“Let’s go check it out.” Greg led the way, exiting through the back door and stepping into the original part of the carriage house, the part Morgan was still using for storage and where Greg kept his tools and equipment.
He carried the ladder over to the window and positioned it beneath it. “It’s kinda dark. Let me grab a flashlight.”
“No need. I can use my cell phone.” Morgan, with keys in hand, climbed to the top of the ladder. She turned her phone’s light on and propped it against the windowsill. Working her way through the set, she was three keys in when she finally found a fit.
“I think I found it.” Morgan gently slid the key in the keyhole.
Pop. The latch popped. Using her fingernail, she pried the wooden box’s cover open.
Wyatt stood at the bottom of the ladder, holding it steady. “What is it?”
“Some sort of roundish storage compartment.” Morgan set the keys aside and shined her light into the opening. “I can’t tell if it’s empty.”
She cautiously stuck her hand inside. “I’m afraid something is going to bite me.”
“I can check it out for you,” Greg offered.
“So can I. Hop down and swap places with me,” Wyatt said.
“No. I can do it.” Morgan tilted her phone, beaming the light inside the opening. “There’s something in the back. I need a long thingamajig with a pair of tweezers on the end to grab hold of it.”
“A thingamajig?” Wyatt chuckled.
“Like a flexible line with tweezers on the end.”
Greg snapped his fingers. “I know what we can use. Be right back.” He hurried off, returning seconds later with a long piece of bendy metal in hand. He held it up. “Try this.”
“What is it?”
“A flexible claw grabber.”
“I could use one of these.” Wyatt took it from him and showed Morgan how it worked. “Slide the flexible hose in the hole. When you get to the object, squeeze the end and grab hold of it.”
“This is perfect. I think it will work.”
Wyatt flexed the center piece. “Where did you get this, Greg?”
“Over at Harbor Hardware. It comes in pretty handy.”
“I bet. This is slick.” Wyatt latched onto the back of Morgan’s blouse and playfully tugged.
“Stop.” Morgan swatted at it. “Stop messing around.”
“Don’t get cranky,” Wyatt laughed.
She wagged her finger at him.
He handed it over. “Fine. But I am going to buy one of these.”
“Thank you. And if you don’t, maybe Santa will put one under the Christmas tree for you this year.” Morgan slid the magnetic end of the grabber into the opening and squeezed the button. She latched onto the edge and pulled. It refused to budge. She tried a second time. Again, it refused to budge. “I can’t get it.”
“Let me try,” Greg said. “It can be a little tricky.”
The two swapped places.
Greg beamed the light into the opening. “I see it.” Holding Morgan’s phone in his right hand, he wiggled the claw back and forth. Back and forth.
“I got it, boss.”
Morgan stepped out of the way, holding her breath as Greg cautiously backed down the ladder. He handed her the phone and then held out what appeared to be a jewelry box. A ring box, to be exact. “This was the only thing in there.”
Wyatt and Greg gathered around, watching as Morgan slowly lifted the lid. Inside was a small diamond ring with a gold band. She gingerly removed it from the velvet folds and held it up to the light. “It looks like an engagement ring.”
“That’s an odd place to hide it,” Wyatt said.
She peeled the padded ring base from the box and handed it to Wyatt. Tucked beneath the padding was a miniature wooden heart. She tipped the box over and the heart dropped into her palm.
Morgan’s eyes squinted. “Ruby.” She flipped it over. “Gabe. This ring belongs to Ruby and Gabe.”
“Who are Ruby and Gabe?” Greg asked.
“I don’t know, but I plan on finding out and hopefully returning this ring to its rightful owner.” Morgan promptly called her grandmother to briefly fill her in on what they’d found and asked if either of those names rang a bell.
“I’m sorry, Morgan. They do not. Ronni might have a better idea. You could also ask Grace.”
Morgan thanked her grandmother and ended the call. “As much as I’m itching to delve into a good mystery, it will have to wait until tomorrow.”