5. CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 5
T he Plum Island Library was a quaint, if somewhat old-fashioned, treasure trove of local history, its shelves and archives brimming with tales and records of the community’s past. The musty smell of old books and the quiet hum of the air conditioning added to the library’s charm as Lila and Harper navigated through rows of archives and ancient microfilm machines.
“Can you believe people used to use these regularly?” Harper whispered, her fingers tracing the contours of the bulky microfilm reader they had just fired up. The machine hummed to life, projecting images of old newspaper clippings onto the dusty screen.
Lila chuckled softly, loading the microfilm reel with a practiced motion she’d learned from a quick tutorial by the librarian. “It’s like stepping back in time. Makes our phones seem like magic wands.”
As the old gears of the microfilm reader whirred, images began to flicker on the screen. The girls leaned in, their eyes scanning the faded texts for any mention of the Summer Inn. Every so often, Lila or Harper would let out a soft, “Here’s something!” prompting the other to peek excitedly at the screen.
They found an intriguing article from the late 1800s detailing a grand celebration at the Summer Inn, complete with a mention of mysterious disappearances even then. Snapping photos with their phones, they captured every piece of information that could hint at a long history of the inn’s rumored hauntings and thefts.
“These will be perfect for showing Liam and Aunt Dawn,” Harper murmured, her phone camera clicking softly as she took another picture of the glowing screen.
After they felt confident they had enough material, they packed up and headed to a local print shop. The shop was a small, family-run business that smelled strongly of fresh ink and paper. Here, they transferred their digital finds onto a USB drive and handed it over to the shop owner, an older man with a kind smile, who promised high-quality prints of their archive photos.
“Make sure the images are clear,” Lila instructed, her tone serious despite the excitement bubbling inside her. “We need every detail visible.”
“Of course, young lady,” the man assured her with a nod, his glasses perched precariously on the tip of his nose.
With their mission at the print shop complete, the girls discussed their next steps as they walked to the bus stop, their steps light with anticipation.
“We need to get Liam and Dawn together tonight to go over these,” Harper said as they boarded the bus back to the hotel. “How about we suggest a pizza night? Casual, but perfect for a planning session.”
Lila grinned, her mind racing with possibilities. “And then we can have Aunt Betty call during the dinner. She’ll invite us over for a movie night—make it sound spontaneous. That way, they’ll be alone to discuss everything.”
“Perfect!” Harper agreed, her eyes sparkling. “It’s like setting the stage for a detective show, but in real life.”
As the bus hummed along, Lila took out her phone and dialed Aunt Betty. After a brief exchange of greetings, she laid out their plan, explaining how it would help Liam and Dawn concentrate better on the hotel issues if they knew the girls were safe and occupied.
Aunt Betty was silent for a few seconds. “Yes, I agree. With all that’s happening at the hotel, you girls and Tiger will be better here with me.” She paused. “Alright, I’ll call in two hours and set your plan into motion.”
Hanging up, Lila turned to Harper, a triumphant smile on her face. “It’s all set. Tonight’s going to be interesting.”
With their plan in place and their spirits high, the girls leaned back in their seats as the bus carried them closer to the unfolding drama at the Summer Inn. They were unwitting catalysts in a story that was as much about uncovering the past as it was about navigating the complexities of the present.
As the last of the police officers stepped out of the hotel, the bustle finally settled, leaving a quieter, almost contemplative atmosphere behind. Dawn watched them load the last of the tagged evidence into their vehicle, a mixture of relief and frustration swirling inside her. Despite the recovery of many stolen items, the absence of Lila’s locket and her vintage watch hung heavily in the air, like a melody paused mid-note.
Carl, the head of the security detail hired by Dawn’s brother, approached her and Liam as the police cars pulled away. “I’ll keep an eye out for the missing items,” he promised with a reassuring nod. “And I’ll let you know immediately if anything turns up.” After receiving a call, he excused himself swiftly, leaving Dawn and Liam alone in the quiet aftermath.
Glancing at her watch, Dawn was startled to see it was nearly 5:30 PM, and the day had slipped by in a cascade of interviews, searches, and reports—a whirlwind of activity that left little room for anything else. “Looks like the day’s gotten away from us,” she remarked to Liam, who looked equally surprised by the hour.
“Yeah, time flies when you’re in the middle of a mystery,” Liam replied with a weary smile. “I suggest we pick this up in the morning. I’ve got to go feed all the animals I’m looking after.” He began to lock up the office, his movements slow and tired.
“Whose animals?” Dawn inquired, her interest piqued. The idea of doing something normal, like caring for animals, suddenly seemed appealing after the chaos of the day.
“I’m taking care of Finn’s dog and cat while he’s away. And while Aunt Betty and Sam handle Caroline’s menagerie, I need to take more food out to the lighthouse,” Liam explained as they walked toward the hotel’s exit.
As they stepped outside, the crisp evening air was a welcome relief from the stuffy indoors. At that moment, Lila and Harper arrived, looking excited and slightly out of breath.
“Hey, where are you guys going?” Lila asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.
“We’re just heading out to feed Finn’s animals over at mine and Lila’s house. Then heading to the lighthouse to drop off more food for Caroline’s animals,” Liam answered, unlocking his SUV. “What about you two? How was your day?”
“It was great! We found a lot of old articles about the Summer Inn,” Harper chimed in, her enthusiasm infectious.
“Why were you looking into old articles about the Summer Inn?” Dawn asked with a frown.
“We heard rumors that the Inn had similar incidents before,” Lila told them. “While we were in town, we passed the library, and Harper and I decided to look into the old library archives.”
“Yeah, we used this ancient machine,” Harper said, and the girls laughed. “So we took pictures of everything we found on our phones and then had them printed.”
“We felt like we were back in the old days.” Lila grinned. “You know, surrounded by your Google, Dad.”
“Oh, wow!” Liam said, ruffling his daughter’s hair, saying playfully, “The old days were not that long ago, you cheeky brat.”
The girls laughed.
Lila asked, “Can we come with you guys? It could be fun, and Harper hasn’t seen much of Cobble Cove yet.”
“Sure, why not?” Liam said, opening the passenger doors of his SUV. “The more, the merrier.”
Dawn smiled at the teens. “Should we pick up Tiger on our way back?” she asked, thinking of the cat’s comfort as she climbed into the vehicle.
“No need,” Harper quickly said. “Aunt Betty told us Tiger could stay with her until everything at the hotel is sorted out. It’s probably best for him anyway.”
They climbed into the back of the vehicle. The drive to Liam’s house, adjacent to Finn’s, was short but filled with light conversation about their day and Harper’s first surfing lesson. Pulling into the driveway, the excited barking of Hicks, Finn’s Cane Corso, immediately greeted them, along with the curious gaze of Ritz, the green iguana, staring from the window beside the large oak door.
As they entered Liam’s house, the dog bounded up, all wagging tail and slobbery kisses, while Ritz watched from her perch on the back of the sofa, her eyes tracking their every move. Despite her general aversion to reptiles, Dawn found herself fascinated by the iguana’s calm observance and surprisingly majestic presence.
“Aren’t you adorable,” Dawn commented as Hicks nudged her hand with his nose, seeking pats.
“They’re a great company,” Liam said, leading the way to the shed where the animal feed was stored. Dawn, Harper, Lila, and Hicks followed him. “Hicks here is a big softie, aren’t you, boy?” He ruffled the dog’s ears affectionately before opening the shed.
Lila immediately darted in with Hicks’s food bowl and prepared his food.
“Nice shed,” Dawn commented, looking around.
There was a large cabinet where the animal food was stored—a double-door glass refrigerator with a selection of beers and white wine. A bar graced the one end with shelves stocked with various alcohol and a wine rack built into the wall ladened with red wines.
A big screen TV graced the one wall with plush chairs scattered about around small coffee tables.
“This is Dad’s man cave when it’s not being used to store animal food,“ Lila told Dawn and Harper.
“I can see that,” Dawn said with a smile.
“The guys and I like to watch football here sometimes,” Liam told Dawn. “Out here, I can keep the alcohol away from the teens.” He gave his daughter a smug smile. “All neatly locked up in my dad’s shed. ”
“Man cave,” Lila corrected him with a grin. She and Harper ducked out of the shed, followed by a hungry Hicks.
“She always does that,” Liam said, rolling his eyes. “Has the last word and ducks out to make sure she does.”
“Clever girl,” Dawn said with a laugh, watching Liam lift a bag of dog food.
“Would you mind getting that box of parrot food?” He pointed to a shelf while picking up a box of cat food.
“Sure,” Dawn reached up and got the box.
They spent the next hour feeding Hicks and refilling Ritz’s feeding station with fresh vegetables and water. The teens played fetch with Hicks for a while, and Dawn enjoyed the simplicity and routine of being there, giving her a sense of normalcy that Dawn hadn’t realized she’d been missing.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the island, they made their way to the lighthouse with extra supplies. The lighthouse, an old structure that had been recently automated, still served as a symbol of the island’s rich history and as a beacon for boats navigating the tricky coastal waters.
“I love coming here. It’s so beautiful,” Dawn said, taking in the view from Caroline’s living room in the lighthouse cottage a few minutes later. The ocean stretched out before them, vast and seemingly endless, its surface reflecting the fiery hues of the sunset.
“It’s always been one of my favorite spots,” Liam admitted, watching her reaction with a soft expression. “It’s peaceful, isn’t it?”
“Very,” Dawn agreed, her gaze lingering on the horizon. The moment felt suspended in time, the troubles of the day temporarily forgotten.
Their peaceful interlude was interrupted by the cheerful chatter of Lila and Harper as they came rushing in, followed by Melton, Caroline’s large ginger-striped cat, Sandy, the German shepherd, and Blue Beard, the blue and red macaw.
“After we’re finished here, we should do a pizza night to go over those articles we found,” Lila suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “We can have pizza night at my house.” She looked at her father. “Please, Dad?” She looked at Harper. “Do you want to stay over?”
“May I?” Harper looked questioningly at Dawn and Liam.
“It’s fine by me,” Liam looked at Dawn. “If it’s okay with you?”
“Sure,” Dawn said with a nod.
“What about the pizza night idea?” Lila pressed.
“That sounds like a great idea,” Dawn said, smiling at their enthusiasm and looking at Liam, realizing he might have plans. “Unless you’re busy?”
“No,” Liam said. “It sounds fun, and it’s my turn to host dinner.”
“Great,” Dawn said, her heart flipping at the idea of having dinner at Liam’s house. She glanced at the animals sitting, watching her intently. “They’re not staying here alone, are they?”
“No, Uncle Sam stays here when Caroline and Brad are out of town,” Lila answered Dawn. “So the animals aren’t on their own.”
As they left the lighthouse, the last of the sun’s rays dipped below the horizon, signaling the end of the day. The drive back was quiet, each lost in their thoughts. When they pulled up at the hotel, Harper and Dawn climbed out.
“We’ll walk over to your house in about forty minutes,” Dawn told Liam.
“Great,” Liam said. “We’ll have the pizza ordered.”
“I’ll bring the information,” Harper said, patting her beach bag.
They waved goodbye and walked into the hotel. Dawn was just about to get in the shower when her phone rang. She saw a number she didn’t recognize and answered it.
“Hello?”
“Is that Dawn Vanderbilt?” a familiar male voice asked.
“Yes,” Dawn replied.
“Hi, this is Chris Nicol, Tiger’s vet,” Chris said. “How is Tiger?”
Dawn suddenly realized with everything going on, she’d forgotten to call him to ask about the Peters siblings.
“He’s fine,” Dawn told Chris. “Tiger is with a good friend of the family, Betty Swan, for the night as my niece and I are going out to dinner, and I didn’t want to leave him on his own.” Well, it wasn’t a lie.
“How wonderful,” Chris said. “I know Betty well. She’s a wonderful lady. I’m glad Tiger is with such thoughtful people.”
“Talking about Tiger,” Dawn said. “Daniel Peters visited me last night wanting Tiger back. Daniel said that Tiger jumped out of his travel box and then out of the open back window of his car.”
“I don’t believe that for a second,” Chris told her. “Daniel and his sister Kelly are not the nicest people. I think they take after their awful mother. I don’t know how Mrs. Peters’s son ever married that woman in the first place.” He paused. “None of them like animals, and that’s why Mrs. Peters stipulated that Tiger has to be taken care of in her will. She hoped that they might take Tiger in, and he’d somehow reform them.”
“They seemed to be worried about Tiger.” Dawn knew she wasn’t telling the truth. The man and his sister had creeped her out. “What should I do if they come for Tiger again?”
“That’s why I was calling,” Chris said. “After you left, I contacted Mrs. Peters’s attorney, who also happens to be my fiancée, and Jackie got a judge to grant you custody of Tiger.” He paused again. “I hope that’s okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry into your life, but I found out that you would be the best guardian for Tiger and not just after the money that comes with him.”
“I don’t mind being Tiger’s guardian,” Dawn said, smiling. Harper and Lila were going to be pleased. “What does this mean, though?”
“It means that you’re now Tiger’s owner until Mrs. Peters’s estate has been sorted out,” Chris told her. “Tiger must not under any circumstances go to the Peters family. Mrs. Peters’s son will be back from a business trip in a week to speak to Mrs. Peters’s attorney about Tiger and the rest of the estate that her grandchildren are rather angry about.”
“Did they not get what they wanted?” Dawn knew it was none of her business, but her natural curiosity about all things drama took over.
“No,” Chris said. “Apparently, their grandmother left them nothing and everything to their father, who will sort the estate out as he sees fit. Daniel offered to fetch Tiger for his father and offered to look after the cat. You see, whoever takes care of Tiger gets the money. Paid out over a few years to ensure Tiger’s well-being.”
“So Daniel took Tiger and thought he could get rid of the cat and still claim the money,” Dawn guessed. “Lovely children he has.”
“Yes,” Chris said. “I warned my fiancée not to trust him, but she granted him custody and said she won’t have the wool pulled over her eyes again.”
“Not that I need it or want it,” Dawn made it clear. “Just how much is Tiger worth?”
“Three million dollars,” Chris told her, and Dawn’s jaw dropped.
“Mrs. Peters left three million dollars to her cat?” Dawn said in disbelief. “Now I know why Daniel and Kelly are after him.” She shook her head. “Don’t worry, we’ll keep him safe, and we don’t want the money.”
“I know,” Chris said. “Nor does Tom Peters, Mrs. Peters’s son, want or need the money. Although he did say he couldn’t keep Tiger because his wife was allergic to cats. He was going to find Tiger a new forever home.”
“I’m sure Tiger would find one very quickly with his small fortune,” Dawn stated. “But if Tom Peters wants to find Tiger a forever home, please tell him we will adopt him.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Chris said. “As soon as Tom gets back to me, as I’ve left messages for him on this development, I will let him know. If you don’t mind, I’ll put Tom in touch with you to make the arrangements?”
“Of course,” Dawn agreed, walking into the bathroom. “And I’ll make sure we bring Tiger to you tomorrow for his check-up.”
“Yes, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Chris said goodbye, and they hung up.
Dawn stood staring at her phone. She still couldn’t believe how much Tiger was worth. It wasn’t that Dawn needed the money, but she knew of a worthy cause to which the money could be donated. But she’d wait and speak to Tom Peters when he called her about adopting Tiger before talking about donating it. Dawn smiled as she set her phone down on the bathroom counter. The teenagers were going to be thrilled.
Dawn had just finished getting dressed and was pulling her hair back when Harper knocked on her room door and burst in.
“Aunt Dawn,” Harper said. “Lila has just called and wants to know if I can spend the night with her at her Aunt Betty’s house. We’re going to have a movie night.”
Dawn frowned as she looked at her niece. “What about pizza night at Liam’s?”
“Oh, you must still go,” Harper said. “I’ll give you the photos of the newspaper clippings. Liam has already ordered the pizza, so you can’t waste it.”
Dawn saw the excitement in Harper’s eyes and was so pleased with how happy her niece was that she knew she couldn’t say no. Her heart also did a flip at the thought of having dinner alone with Liam.
“Sure.” Dawn nodded and smiled. “How are you getting there?”
“Sam is fetching me in…” Harper looked at her wristwatch. “Oh shoot.” She looked at Dawn. “Now. Sam’s going to be here now.” She dashed out of the room and was back in a few seconds, handing Dawn an envelope. “Here’s the information we found on the hotel.”
“Thank you,” Dawn said, taking and starting to feel exhausted by her niece, who was bouncing around like Tigger.
“I’m all packed,” Harper said, patting her tote bag as a knock resounded on the door. “That will be Sam.”
She rushed to the door, Dawn chasing after her. Harper pulled the door open and stopped short.
“You’re not Sam,” Harper said, her voice laced with disappointment. “Who are you?”
“Harper!” Dawn said, walking to the door to find Daniel Peters. “Oh, hello.”
“Hi,” Daniel greeted as another man walked up behind him.
“Hi,” Sam greeted, looking around Daniel. “Is this a bad time?”
“No,” Harper said, looking at Sam. “I think this is the horrible man that threw Tiger out his car window.”
“Harper!” Dawn hissed and looked at Daniel. “Sorry about my blunt niece.”
“I understand she’s just being protective over Tiger,” Daniel said, smiling, but Dawn felt a cold chill creep up her spine at the look that flashed in his eyes. He addressed Harper. “But I didn’t throw Tiger out the car window. He jumped, and I only noticed when I reached Boston.”
“Sure,” Harper said, not convinced, and turned to Dawn.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Peters?” Dawn asked, glad that Sam and Harper didn’t leave her alone with the man.
“I’ve come to find out if Tiger is ready to come home?” Daniel looked at her and smiled politely. “My sister and I are keen to get back to Boston. My father is still grieving the loss of my grandmother, and we know Tiger will cheer him up as a reminder of her.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Peters,” Dawn said.
“It’s Daniel,” Daniel corrected her. “Mr. Peters is my father.” He laughed.
“Daniel,” Dawn said, “Tiger’s vet hasn’t authorized me to hand Tiger to you just yet.”
“Is that so?” That look of what Dawn could only describe as malice flashed in Daniel’s eyes. “I’ll have to pay Chris Nicol’s a visit in the morning and find out when I can take my cat home.”
“You do that, lad.” Sam stepped protectively toward Dawn. “Then ask the vet to give Dawn a call to confirm.”
“Yes, of course,” Daniel said, turning to Dawn and giving her a polite nod. “Thank you for your time and looking after Tiger.”
“No problem,” Dawn said, relief flooding her when Daniel turned and left.
Sam stood waiting for Daniel to get in the lift and leave before turning to Dawn.
“Are you going to be alright here on your own?” Sam asked worriedly.
“Yes, I’ll be fine,” Dawn hoped her voice sounded more confident than she felt.
There was just something about Daniel Peters that did not sit well with her and gave her a creepy feeling.
After bidding farewell to Sam and Harper, the quiet of the suite seemed to envelop Dawn, wrapping her in a cloak of solitude that was unnerving. The stillness was abruptly broken by the ring of the hotel suite phone, a sound that seemed louder in the empty room, making her jump. Dawn walked over and answered it, surprised to hear Liam’s voice on the other end.
“I’ve been trying your mobile,” Liam’s voice came through, laced with concern.
“Oh, I haven’t even noticed it ringing. I must have left it somewhere around here,” Dawn replied, frowning as she tried to remember when last she’d had her phone. “Harper just left with Sam after a disturbing visit from Daniel Peters.”
“Are you alright?” Liam’s tone was protective, his words prompting Dawn to relay the phone call from Chris about twenty minutes before Daniel arrived at her door.
“I’m fine, really. Sam was here and stayed until Daniel left,” Dawn assured Liam.
“Do you still want to come over for pizza and to go over what Harper and Lila found now that my aunt has hijacked the girls for the night?” Liam asked.
“I was looking forward to pizza,” Dawn said.
“Great, because I have a lot of pizza here and was worried that Hicks, Ritz, and I were going to get sick trying to eat it all on our own,” Liam joked.
“Can Ritz eat pizza?” Dawn asked.
“Trust me, Ritz will eat anything as long as it’s food,” Liam assured her. “She can get quite aggressive if you don’t give her some pizza.”
“I hope you discourage that.” Dawn laughed. “Or you’re not going to be too popular with Finn’s family when he gets back to find a sick iguana.”
“Trust me, Finn will understand,” Liam said. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” Dawn said. “I’ll meet you in the lobby?”
“We’re actually stepping into the elevator on our way to your suite,” Liam admitted. “Hicks and I were out for a quick walk when I phoned you.”
“Oh, okay,” Dawn said. “I’ll grab my phone and a sweater.”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Liam told her. They said goodbye and hung up.
The idea of leaving the hotel, even for an evening, seemed more appealing by the second, especially with the disturbing feelings Daniel had stirred in her.
Dawn rushed to the bathroom, where she realized she’d had her phone last. As she walked back into the main room, flipping through the missed messages and calls, she was so engrossed in catching up on what she had missed that she misjudged her steps toward the closet. Her shoulder bumped sharply against the long mirror attached to the wall beside her closet, jarring her from her thoughts and making her drop her phone.
“Shoot,” she muttered, bending to pick up her phone from where it had skittered across the floor. As she straightened, she noticed that the mirror was slightly ajar, revealing a sliver of space behind it. Frowning, Dawn pulled at the mirror, and it swung open. Her eyes widened in astonishment at what she saw, but before she could investigate further, a knock at the door pulled her attention away.
Dawn hurried to the door and opened it to find Liam standing there, smiling, with Hicks, whose tail wagged enthusiastically at the sight of her.
“Hi.” Dawn scratched Hicks’s ears as she looked at Liam. “You have to see what I just found,” she said without preamble, grabbing his hand and leading him back to the mirror. She pulled it open again, showing him the unexpected discovery.
Liam stepped closer, peering into the darkened space behind the mirror. “Is that a passage?” he asked, astonished.
“It looks like it might be,” Dawn replied, her earlier anxieties temporarily forgotten in the face of this new mystery.
“We should see where it leads,” Liam suggested, pulling out his phone and switching on its flashlight.
Hicks was already sniffing the ground as he stepped into the small dark area first.
“Really?” Dawn hesitated, the reality of exploring an unknown, hidden passage suddenly daunting. “Maybe we should wait until the morning and let someone else, like maybe Carl, know about it. Just in case we’re walking into some weird alternate reality or some other weird portal or a trap set by the phantom thief?”
Liam stared at her for a few seconds. “We need to know. This wing is part of the original hotel that the Peters renovated before I bought it.” He shone his light into the passage. “There could be a whole lot of these secret passageways which could explain how someone has been moving around the hotel undetected,” he reasoned and glanced at Hicks. “Besides, we have Hicks with us. And trust me, no one is going to mess with us, not even a phantom with him around. He may seem like a big softy to people he likes, but Hicks becomes totally opposite when people he likes are threatened.”
Nodding, Dawn allowed the thrill of adventure to overtake her nerves. Together, they stepped into the passage, the beam from Liam’s flashlight cutting through the darkness ahead. Dawn turned on her phone’s flashlight to further illuminate the passage. The walls were close and lined with old wood, the floor dusty as they moved slowly, the light revealing a narrow, winding path that sloped gently downward.
As they progressed, the air grew cooler, and the passage widened into a small chamber. The beam of the flashlight swept across the walls, revealing faded wallpaper and a heavy, musty scent that spoke of decades, if not centuries, of concealment. At the far end of the chamber, they found an old wooden desk. As they turned to look around the room, their eyes widened as they noted three other doors labeled ground, first floor, second floor, and basement.
But what caught their attention was the old wooden door behind the desk with a rusty handle.
“I wonder where that door leads to?” Dawn whispered.
“Let’s find out,” Liam suggested, handing Dawn Hicks’s leash. “Can you hold him while I try to open the door?”
“Sure,” Dawn said, feeling a lot safer when she took Hicks’s leash.
As if feeling her fear, Hicks sat close beside her as they watched Liam test the door handle. It moved, and Liam pushed the creaky door open. Dawn stepped up beside him with Hicks by her side as the three of them peered into the room. They shone their flashlights around the room and found shelves lined with old journals and another old dusty desk in the middle of the room.
“This must be the original phantom thieves hideout,” Dawn found herself whispering once again.