Chapter 8
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Meanwhile Scott quickly did a pass through each of the nine guest bedrooms and rejoined them in the master suite, shaking his head.
“I don’t think anything in those nine bedrooms falls into the secret drawer category—not like your grandmother’s antiques, where hidden compartments were more the norm. ”
“Probably not,” she replied, “but, as paranoid as Mathew was …”
“I understand fully,” Scott confirmed. “I get it, and your request will not be an issue. They are moving things as we speak. The sooner we can get all the bedroom furniture moved, the better. Because of the value involved, everything will be taken apart to move, wrapped in protective coverings, and then reassembled. We can’t take a chance of damaging anything. ”
Mugs came up to Scott, expecting a hug or a pat on the head or the scrub of an ear. Scott smiled and was more than happy to give some attention to Mugs. Doreen smiled at their interplay.
“In other words, they’ll be at this for days,” Doreen noted.
He laughed and nodded. “Sadly they may well be at this for days. So, you have time to go through anything else.”
“Good enough,” she replied. Then her phone rang. It was Nan.
“How is it going?” she cried out in a cheery tone. “I’ve got you on Speaker because I have the whole gang here. We’re all eager to hear what’s going on down there.”
“You won’t believe it,” Doreen began and described what had happened since they had arrived.
After a moment of shock and then absolute cries of joy, Nan exclaimed to all, “Oh my gosh, how could that be? Trust Doreen to find a dead body.”
She sighed. “Honestly, I didn’t do anything. You know that, … right?”
“Of course not,” Maisie stated. “But, my, you do find trouble, don’t you?”
“Unfortunately I find it everywhere apparently,” Doreen acknowledged, “and here I sit, going through Mathew’s things. We’ve definitely found some hidden treasure here too.”
“I’m taking it off Speakerphone,” Nan announced, and her voice dropped into a half whisper. “Is there treasure, real treasure, child?”
“Yes,” she whispered right back, “treasure, real treasure.”
“Oh my.” Then she chortled. “I think you should enjoy spending every penny that comes from that house,” she told her granddaughter, with glee.
“I was thinking about giving most of it away.”
First came silence, then her grandmother sighed. “As much as I approve of that sentiment, I think you should take time to do something you will absolutely love, knowing Mathew’s precious money bought you some happiness. Too bad he didn’t make you happy while you were married to him.”
Doreen chuckled. “You just want me to have revenge on him.”
“You don’t need any revenge. He’s dead, child, but thankfully you’re the one who’s still kicking.”
“I am,” she said, “and it’s a … strange feeling in a way.”
“Of course it is, in many ways, no doubt. He was all you knew for a long time. Just let Mack know that you love him, that the life you had with Mathew was a very unhappy time for you.”
“I have. Yet with each find of more treasure here, he seems to need further reassurance. Yet I’m not trying to make him feel insecure.”
“Not sure you can. Mack’s a pretty stable guy, you know?” Nan replied.
“He usually is, but an awful lot of money is involved here, which seems to be multiplying by the millions,” she shared.
Nan laughed as if it were the best joke ever. “You know that I didn’t like Mathew,” she began, “but this really is a nice send-off.”
“He didn’t need to die though,” Doreen added.
“And you think and say these things because you’re such a lovely, sweet girl,” Nan replied. “For all his abuse and greed and hate, Mathew couldn’t kill off the real Doreen in hiding. … Enough about that. We can talk about options for the money when you get home.”
“Yes, and that won’t be right away because this will take a bit longer than I thought. Oh, I didn’t tell you about the local detective on the case.”
“Oh my,” And then she muttered, “Daniel, Daniel. Someone you knew when married to Mathew?”
“Yeah, except he is now Detective Daniel Sherwood.”
Nan snorted. “If he knows Mathew, he shouldn’t be on the case.”
“I asked Mack about that, and he explained how definitely it is allowed under some circumstances, just like me with the cold cases, working that one with his mother and the jewels,” she pointed out. “At times information from somebody who knows them can be very helpful.”
“And Daniel’s there now?”
“Yeah, he’s here now.”
“Is he with … a whole team?”
“No.” She frowned as she thought about that. “He’s always alone, unless forensics is here or the coroner. He doesn’t seem to have a partner who he works with on this investigation. I guess that’s a problem too, isn’t it?”
“Don’t know how you might take this, but I wouldn’t let that man run loose anywhere.”
“He’s supposed to only be in the greenhouse, but you’re right. I don’t know where he is.” She turned and looked around. “I was looking for Mack too.”
“Go find Mack,” Nan stated, “and keep an eye on that detective.”
“Just because we don’t necessarily like detectives?” she asked her grandmother, eyeing Nick who rolled his eyes at her.
“True, we don’t like them,” Nan declared. “Only the ones we know and trust. This Daniel is guilty by association with Mathew. Too bad I’m not up on the art scene down there, but I still have quite a few friends there.”
That came as a surprise to Doreen. “You do?” she asked.
“Yes, I was big in the art scene down there for a long time, remember?”
“Yes, of course,” Doreen muttered, “but I hadn’t realized you might still be in touch with people.”
“Of course I am,” she snapped, with a certain amount of indignation. “You certainly haven’t seen the last of me in all of this.”
“Of course not,” Doreen murmured, ending the call. She turned to Nick and whispered, “Nan doesn’t like anything about Daniel.”
“I thought you knew him.”
“I met him through Mathew.” Nick frowned at her, and she nodded. “So, I knew his name, and face as an acquaintance but certainly not as a close friend. Honestly, I can’t place when and how I even first knew him.”
“So him as part of this investigation may not be completely legit?”
“Right, and I asked Mack about that, but he told me that it can happen. It’s just—” She asked him, “When you took Daniel to the greenhouse, where did he go?”
“He went over to where the body was found.”
“And you left him there?”
“I did leave him there,” he confirmed, “but now you’re making me question my judgment.”
“None of us have answers to that just yet. Nan remembers him somehow too. She’s digging deeper and will get back to me. It’s just a little …” She frowned and continued, “It feels a little suspicious.”
Nick nodded, glancing down the hallway at the movers. “Maybe we should go find Daniel.”
“That’s a good idea,” she agreed.
The two of them walked back down to the kitchen, where they saw Mack talking to the detective.
Mack smiled at her and asked, “How is the visit with the antiquities people going?”
She replied, “Fine. The movers are already emptying bedrooms, as we speak.”
“That’s good.” Mack motioned to Daniel. “He’s finished here for the day, so he’ll head back.”
She nodded at Daniel. “Thanks.”
“For what?” he asked, staring at her.
She shrugged. “Just thanks. I’m glad to see that you’re getting somewhere.”
“But I’m not getting anywhere,” he pointed out. “So far, there hasn’t been any place to get.”
Not knowing what to say, she turned to Mack. “If you’re done here, I have a couple things I want to show you.”
“Sure enough.”
She looked over at Nick, who nodded back at her. Nick swung out an arm and told Daniel, “I’ll escort you to the front door.”
“I really don’t need an escort.” Daniel snorted. “Seems you’re just trying to get rid of me.”
“We have work to do,” Doreen added in exasperation. “I can’t leave what I’m doing to babysit you all day.”
Mack stiffened. Daniel glared at her.
Obviously that was the wrong thing to say. She shrugged. “If you’re done here, you’re done. So thank you, Detective Daniel Sherwood,” she said primly. “If you’re not done here, tell us what else you need.”
“I’m done,” he snapped. And, with that, he turned and stormed off, the front door slamming behind him.
Doreen couldn’t help herself as she walked to the window and watched as he drove away.
Mack came up behind her. “So, does that mean things are not going well?”
“Things are going just fine,” she declared, with a scoff, “but he’s getting on my nerves.”
“Apparently,” Mack noted. “Still, you must remember that he’s a cop and is just doing his job.”
She shook her head. “Is he though? He just told us that he isn’t getting anywhere.
How come we don’t have copies of those neighbor reports of trespassers on this property days before we arrived?
Did he ever tell you that he has confirmed each of our alibis?
Because he sure hasn’t told me anything about anything.
Has he shared anything about our dead body from the greenhouse?
Even given us some background on Pete Singer?
Also, we asked for a list of Mathew’s former employees, which is a pretty basic element of a murder investigation.
But, for whatever reason, he’s not telling us squat.
I am the legal owner of this property. Aren’t I entitled to findings from his supposed investigation?
His attitude toward me and this investigation triggers something in me.
Yet his failure to conduct a proper investigation really angers me. I’m so on edge around him.”
Mack nodded. “I’ve seen you edgy but never quite like this.” He watched as Mugs and Goliath circled around her, aware that she was upset. “I’ll call my captain and see if Daniel touched base with him.”
Doreen muttered, “That would at least be something we learn.”
Mack raised one finger and stepped out of the room, already making the call.