Chapter 3
The aroma of coffee and the sweet allure of donuts from the local bakery was too much to resist. She was hungry. She casually snatched one, tearing off a piece, and looked at him.
“First, I want to ask you a question,” James said.
Clara rolled her eyes. “I’m not interested in answering your questions.”
“Are you looking for the necklace?” he asked despite her irritation.
Clara”s eyes widened in shock. How did he know about the necklace? She hesitated before responding, “How do you know about it?”
James took a deep breath. “My grandfather is the brother of Eleanor – the one who disappeared with Samuel.”
Her mind was reeling. There was no way he would have known those names unless he had intimate knowledge of the story. She wasn’t ready to admit how much or little she knew. “Go on,” she nodded.
“My grandfather always talked about his missing sister, Eleanor. There have been rumors and speculation about what happened to her and Samuel. The family has their own ideas, but no one knows for sure.”
Clara absorbed the revelation, the pieces of the puzzle beginning to align. “Who is Victoria to you?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” he hesitated. “She’s related to Samuel. I guess that’s my connection.”
“Which is no connection.”
He cracked a smile. “Maybe. But she’s a connection to my great aunt. So, there is somewhat of a connection. Victoria is the last person who knows anything about Samuel and Eleanor. There is no way there weren’t family secrets passed down.
“You think Victoria knew what happened?”
James nodded. “Victoria was a descendant on Samuel”s side. She married into another wealthy family, changed her name, and cut all ties. My grandfather believed she held the answers to Eleanor”s disappearance and that’s why she cut ties. She didn’t want to be linked to whatever crime was committed.”
“You think there was a crime?”
“Two people didn’t fall off the face of the earth,” he replied matter of fact. “Something happened to them… period. My grandfather has always believed that, as did his family. They looked, but they were met with dead ends. People were very tightlipped, and they protected that family.”
The shock of the revelation left Clara speechless. Victoria”s connection to the mysterious couple was deeper than she had ever imagined. She suspected there was something, but the journals were where the secrets were hidden.
“Why did you ask me about a necklace?” she asked carefully, not wanting to reveal too much.
“Because I know that’s supposedly the key to unlocking this whole thing. Clearly, you know about it.”
She once again debated how much she should say. “I read about it in the journal.”
James studied Clara”s reaction, waiting for her to process the newfound information. “Why were you there?” he asked gently.
Sipping her coffee. “I was hoping to find more journals, more pieces of the story,” she explained. “I read about Samuel and Eleanor and was captivated by their love story, but it was unfinished. I was hoping to read more about what happened. I guess I was hoping to read Victoria found them and they got to have their happily ever after.
James, taking a bite of his donut, considered her words. “Unfortunately, I don’t believe that’s the case. Eleanor would have contacted her family. My grandfather is adamant about that.”
“That’s too bad.”
“What if we work together?” James proposed, his eyes sincere. “We both want answers. Maybe we can piece together the puzzle and find out what really happened to Samuel and Eleanor.”
Clara hesitated, grappling with the idea of collaboration. The wounds from their earlier confrontation still lingered, but the prospect of solving the mystery that had captivated her intrigued her. Even if it meant working with the enemy.
“I don”t know,” Clara admitted. “I can’t trust you.”
James reached across the table, taking her hand. She flinched but didn’t pull her hand away. “Clara, we share a connection to this story. We owe it to Samuel, Eleanor, and even Victoria to uncover the truth. Together, we might find answers neither of us could find alone. If Victoria did solve it, maybe she took the secret to her grave. Or maybe she wrote about it in one of those journals you’re talking about.”
The sincerity in James”s eyes softened Clara”s resistance. “I don’t know.”
“I’m doing this for my grandfather,” he said. “He’s not long for this world. I want to give him closure. This thing with his sister has haunted him his whole life.”
Her gut told her to be cautious. Her heart told her to give him a chance. Neither had been very reliable in her experience. She was a single forty-five-year-old woman because both failed her. She didn”t know her husband was cheating on her all those years.
“I need time to think about this,” she finally said.
With a nod, James released her hand and leaned back in his chair. “I understand,” he replied with an understanding tone. “But Clara, the clock is ticking for some of us. My grandfather doesn”t have the luxury of time.”
She watched him stand up without her asking him to go. She appreciated that. He said his piece and now he was leaving. She rose from her chair and walked him to the door.
“Think about what we could find out,” he said. “This isn”t just for my grandfather, but for history. For truth.”
“It”s not that I”m opposed to finding out the truth,” she spoke softly. “I”m saying I don”t know if I”m interested in trying to find out the truth with you.”
The words caused him to visibly flinch. Clara immediately felt guilty for being so harsh. If she believed his story, she should have some pity.
“I see. I get it, but just know, I”m going to keep digging.”
“You mean you”re going to break into the house again?” she quipped.
He looked her dead in the eyes. “If that”s what it takes, yes. You?”
“Maybe we should coordinate our break-ins to avoid running into each other,” Clara suggested, half-joking, but half-serious.
“Working together would move things along much faster.”
“Possibly. I”m still not convinced you”re not one of those people who scans the obituaries and looks for a target. Everyone knows Victoria had money. You probably assume her house was filled with treasures.”
“I made no such assumptions,” he shrugged.
“But you admit you were looking for the necklace,” Clara countered.
“Because I know the story goes, wherever the necklace is it will lead to answers. I don”t need money, Clara. I live a comfortable life. Money is not a motivator. Is the necklace and its value what”s motivating you to find the truth?”
“No!” She gasped, horrified by the insinuation. “I may not be well off, but I would never want to profit from someone”s tragedy.”
James held her gaze for a long, silent moment before breaking into a small, almost imperceptible smile. “Good,” he said softly. “Because I believe you. And I hope you can find it in you to believe me.”
Clara watched him slip out the door, her thoughts a whirlwind of doubt and intrigue. As she stood there, the room seemed to tighten around her with the gravity of what waited ahead. Could she trust James? Was she willing to risk diving into this mystery with him?
She wanted to believe him, but she had told herself long ago she had to be more discerning. Clara was the type of person who trusted most people. She wanted to see the good in others. James seemed to have some pieces of the puzzle. If she could just get her hands on more journals. The pictures that she had found but was unable to get a really good look at might also hold some clues. Getting back into the house was an option, but she certainly didn”t want to get caught by James again.
That would be awkward.
Clara decided to go back to the source. She pulled out Victoria”s journal and started to scan the pages once again. The woman had been meticulous in her notes, detailing every account, every whispered rumor that arose throughout her very long life. But there were gaps, missing pieces that Clara couldn”t fill in, which infuriated her. She needed the other journals. There had to be more.
Their contents could hold the key to understanding Victoria”s life and why she chose to shun her family. Clara knew she had to return to the house. But this time, she would plan her entry more carefully, with the cover of night to aid her. It would be nice to have a partner. Even if he was just the lookout when she went back into the house.
“Oh, you are so going to regret this,” she groaned aloud.