“Whatever they were looking for was once wrapped in this old tissue paper,” Brenda said.

  The women looked at one another, each knowing it had held the old artifact. It was perfectly sized to hold a small, polished shell bead. Phyllis started to pick up the crumpled paper.

  “Don’t touch anything, Phyllis. I’m going to get pictures of it and the part of the attic that has been disturbed.”

  Brenda concentrated mainly on the small antique wooden chest from every angle. After snapping photos with her phone she called Mac.

  Chapter 3

  Guests Whereabouts

  Detectives Mac Rivers and Bryce Jones arrived at the bed and breakfast within ten minutes. Brenda waited for them in the attic. Phyllis left to assist in the dining room with arriving dinner guests while Brenda waited and tried to ignore the pit of dismay in her stomach.

  Arriving upstairs, Mac stood in the doorway and surveyed everything. He told Bryce to start retrieving possible evidence. He called for one more officer with instructions to enter through the back door of the establishment and come up the service stairwell to avoid scrutiny.

  When asked, Brenda told her husband she had never seen this particular chest before. She recognized a few items left in it that Uncle Randolph showed her during her childhood visit—an antique glass marble, a miniature pewter toy soldier. She realized this must be where he stored little treasures uncovered during the process of restoring the Queen Anne era structure.

  “I’m sure this is where the thief found the missing artifact. I know there’s no proof right now but someone took it. That I feel certain of.”

  Mac did not question his wife about that part of the situation. He knew her well enough by now to know her instincts never failed her. Not to mention the attic seemed to bear signs of a hasty ransacking.

  “We’ll have to figure a discreet way to question every guest and employee, Brenda. I don’t want anyone to suspect anything has gone wrong until we can confirm something. Can we find a way to do it without raising suspicion?”

  “I’ll think of something,” Brenda said. “They’ll all be at dinner right now. They’ll be expecting me. I think I’ll go down and join them.”

  When she went downstairs, she first entered the kitchen from the back service hallway. Phyllis replenished iced tea. Brenda pulled her aside and Phyllis assured her she had not mentioned the ransacked attic to anyone. Brenda told her the plan and then joined her guests.

  Lisa and Edward Grantham sat near the head of the table. Andrew Masterson was absent. Jane explained he could not break away from the show.

  “He said he already indicated on his form that he wouldn’t be here for dinner,” she said.

  “I hope he is enjoying the show,” Brenda said. “Has he been down there the entire time since it opened?”

  Jane Higgerson sighed. “I don’t understand it either, Brenda. He has been there talking to various people and can’t seem to break away.”

  Brenda smiled, trying to forget her true purpose and act natural. “Did he go down there early?”

  “He stuck with Lisa and me until we got to the coffee shop. He wanted no part of our shopping and was itching to get to the antiques as early as they would let him. He’s allergic to shopping with one woman, much less two of us.”

  Lisa agreed that he was not enjoying their company. She turned to Jane to continue a conversation about Lisa’s work as a university president and Brenda did not get a chance to inquire further, but then Edward turned to speak with her eagerly.

  “Did I tell you that I knew your uncle, Brenda?” Dr. Edward Grantham grabbed Brenda’s attention. “Oh, of course, I told you that when we first arrived.”

  “I’m curious how you knew him.”

  “I first met him at a fundraising event down in New York. He knew the couple who organized it to raise funds for restoration of historic structures. It must have been around the time he was preparing to purchase this Queen Anne. I recall he mentioned he hoped to find interesting relics in these walls when he started renovation. Is that where he found the wampum bead you’ve talked about?”

  Brenda kept her demeanor in control. “Actually, I believe he bought it from a roofer who descended from the Algonquian Tribe. I’m not sure of all the details. What did he tell you about the renovation?”

  Edward shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing, really. We tended to talk about large-scale restoration projects and history, not this sort of backyard, amateur archaeology, if you take my meaning. Honestly, the best sort of antiques come from reputable sellers who can prove that the item is real, you see. This is the first I heard he possessed a wampum bead. He had to have been proud to purchase such a rare dark one. It’s the most valued. I would love to have one in my collection. I think I’ve just about convinced one of the vendors at the show to give me a fair price on a wampum belt that has some of the darker purple beads in it. He’s reluctant to let it go so I’ll probably have to pay up.”

  “Were you one of those avid collectors waiting at the door for the opening?”

  “No, I waited for the initial crowds to subside. I don’t like standing in long lines. Besides, there is a wide array of choices. I’ve never seen so many Algonquian artifacts in one place. Of course, there are items from other tribes as well.”

  Lisa Grantham put her fork down on her plate louder than necessary. “Edward, can we please talk about something else? I’m sure others here have more interests than relics.”

  Edward dabbed his thin lips with his napkin and apologized. “Lisa is right. I do get carried away. Tell me, has anyone had a chance to visit the marina in town? I hear there are some beautiful yachts anchored there.”

  Brenda could find no way to return to the previous subject without upsetting her guest or making it obvious to the others. They finished the meal discussing other topics and then moved to the sitting room, where Phyllis and two servers placed after-dinner drinks and desserts. Brenda excused herself.

  Just as she started for the stairs, Andrew Masterson came through the front door. She smiled at him and asked how the Native American Market Show was going.

  “I could hardly tear myself away, Brenda. I decided if I wanted to keep on Jane’s good side I’d better head on back. I did get a chance to look over tomorrow’s auction items and I plan to bid on an authentic treaty signed in the seventeen-hundreds.”

  “You and my uncle would have had many interests in common. It’s too bad you didn’t know him.”

  The shockingly dark haired man tilted his head. “Oh, but I did meet him. I attended a play he starred in quite a while back. I believe it was his first leading role. That night there was a talk with the director immediately following the performance, and afterward a tour backstage where we were lucky enough to meet the performers. Randolph Sheffield was very personable. We somehow got into a discussion about Native American artifacts, in fact. As I recall, the play itself had something to do with a treaty, so I had all kinds of questions about that.”

  Brenda’s interest was piqued. “I think he had a leading role only once and that was just before the renovation on this place took over his life. I’d like to hear more about that conversation.”

  “I found him very intelligent. Some of us from the tour ended up at a bar that night and he told me about the project on this Queen Anne. I admired him for taking it on. He was just in the process of planning the renovation at that point, so he was studying the history. He even told me about the tribal descendent who would help with the roofing. I believe that’s where he got the wampum bead, correct? I was more than a little interested to hear about that purchase. I suspected he was after some kind of purchase, working with that tribal fellow. He must have paid a pretty penny, too. They don’t come cheap.” He winked at Brenda. “I’d sure like to have one.”

  Jane came from the sitting room. “I thought I heard your voice, Andrew. I see you finally tore yourself away from your beloved relics.” She turned to Brenda. “I heard part of the conversation about Randolph. I met him as well.”

  Brenda’s curiosity heightened.

  “I was very young at the time. I’m thirty-nine now and it must have been in my early teens or so. Anyway, I convinced my parents to let me try out for a minor part in a play he was in. I must have impressed the director, because I was cast as an understudy for a very minor role. Randolph didn’t have a leading role in the play but my part would have been in a scene with him. I never had the chance to take over the part. That one experience was enough to tell me I didn’t want to be an actress after all.” She smoothed a wisp of hair back. “Randolph kept in touch with me for a couple of years after that. He was like a mentor, always interested in what I would choose for a career. He always took an interest in the children in theater. I later heard he never had children of his own and I guess that explains it a little.”

  “Did you know of his interest in old relics?” Brenda asked.

  “As a matter of fact, the last letter I received from him contained a little bit of detail about this renovation and how he hoped to find treasure hidden in the walls. It must have been around the time my studies before college were getting busy—I didn’t keep up with him after that.”

  Brenda decided she had gathered all she could from her guests. Mac had returned to their apartment by then so she took a plate of food up to him. Bryce departed for the police station to analyze what little evidence they had gathered so far. Brenda told Mac what she learned.

  “I didn’t see Carolyn and Jason Pyles at all tonight. They both declined dinner here so I suppose they are still out somewhere around Sweetfern Harbor.”

  Brenda provided all guests with keys to the front door in case they returned late at night, when the front desk was not staffed. She footed the extra expense of changing the locks if a guest neglected to return the keys. She often mentioned to Mac he should come up with a different method for her to use but for now that was her procedure.

  “What did you find in the attic?” Brenda asked.

  Mac shook his head. “Bryce and one of my men went over it carefully. We’ll have to wait and see if anything turns up after testing evidence Bryce took down to the police station. You’ll have to gather your staff tomorrow morning first thing, Brenda. I want to find out their whereabouts for the past twenty-four hours.”

  Brenda knew he was right about the process. She could not think of one employee who would be brazen enough to go to the top floor of her bed and breakfast and rifle through everything like that. She recalled the footsteps heard during the night. Mac sensed her mind was spinning.

  When asked, she said, “I heard footsteps in the middle of the night but didn’t hear the attic door squeak. It had to have been a guest going down for a middle of the night snack.” Both were silent for a few minutes. “I’m sure no one went into the attic last night. I’m a light sleeper and I listened carefully when I heard the footsteps. Whoever went down for a snack or something to drink wore shoes. If they had gone barefoot or worn soft slippers I wouldn’t have heard them. That attic door has a distinct sound when opened. I would have heard it since it’s only a couple of doors down from our apartment.”

  “You’re probably right about whoever it was. They didn’t go up to the attic.” Mac agreed someone must have gone to the attic much later, knowing Brenda and Phyllis were out for the day. Most guests were in town or headed for the Native American Market Show. The bed and breakfast would have been quiet.

  “Besides the guests, can you think of anyone else interested in artifacts like a wampum bead?” Mac asked.

  Brenda thought for a few minutes. She shifted Mac’s plate to the side after he took his last bite.

  “William knows a lot about Randolph’s relic and Phyllis is very interested but we both know it wasn’t either of them. Jon Wright mentioned his interest.” Brenda related the conversation at Morning Sun Coffee. “I’m sure he was kept busy down at his boat rental place on the water. I can’t imagine him coming out here and slipping in unseen. Allie was in the front area most of the day. But she takes breaks in the kitchen so could have missed someone coming in.”

  “I think I’ll talk with Allie first. She may have heard something and figured it was a guest moving around,” Mac said. “I’ll take anything she says even if it appeared to be normal activity.”

  “I do know that Lisa Grantham and Jane Higgerson have little to no interest in any of it. The only ones I haven’t gotten to know as well are Carolyn and Jason Pyles. I’ve seen very little of them but will try and catch them tomorrow before they get away for the day.

  “Let’s sleep on it for tonight. Maybe our heads will be clearer tomorrow,” Mac said. “In the meantime, don’t put the attic back in order and we’ll continue to pretend nothing is amiss.”

  Brenda agreed with Mac. They had a lot more to do before releasing any information.

  It was five in the morning when Mac’s cell phone rang. He answered sleepily and then sat up. “I’ll be right there,” he said to the caller. Brenda rolled over and asked what was going on. “Some valuable artifacts have been stolen from the Market Show. I have to get down there right away.”

  While Mac showered Brenda put on a fresh pot of coffee. A steaming cup and a heated sweet roll waited for him. He sat down for a few minutes to eat, having a feeling it would be the first of several sporadic meals of the day.

  “Keep me posted on what was taken and the value,” Brenda said. “They have a lot of security down there. It’s hard to believe anything got stolen at all.”

  “That was my first thought.” Mac stood and kissed his wife. “I’ll call you the first chance I get. In the meantime, will you start with your employees and find out all you can?”

  Brenda thrived best when action fed her energies. When she met with Phyllis she told her in low tones what had transpired. Brenda told her friend she had the feeling the looted attic somehow connected to the theft at the show. If so, she doubted any of her employees were involved.

  She started to approach Allie when she heard voices from the stairs. Carolyn Pyles walked next to her husband. Her short figure contrasted with his six foot stature. They talked of the day to come.

  “I want to make sure I get to a few of the shops today. Jane Higgerson showed me some of her finds a little while ago when I saw her in the hallway.”

  “That’s a good idea. You should enjoy yourself while you’re here, Carolyn.” Jason smiled down at his wife. At the bottom of the stairs they greeted Brenda.

  The guests went into the dining room for breakfast and Brenda found Allie. She asked her if she had noticed any unusual movement in the bed and breakfast the day before.

  “I know the place got quiet once everyone went about their day,” Brenda said, “but did you hear anything unusual from upstairs?”

  “I didn’t hear any sounds that were different while I was in front,” Allie said. “What’s going on?”

  Brenda decided that from past experience she could trust her young reservationist and explained what was going on. She cautioned her to keep everything a secret and make no indications of anything amiss. Allie recalled who came and went that she was aware of.

  “Carolyn Pyles came in from downtown and said she wanted to pick up a different bag. I didn’t see her husband at all so I guess he was still downtown or at the show.”

  “How long was she here?”

  “I went to the kitchen and talked with Anna for a while. I had iced tea and then Hope Williams delivered éclairs for dinner from Sweet Treats. We talked a few minutes and then I came back out here. I didn’t see Carolyn again. I presumed she left while I was in the kitchen.” Allie’s forehead wrinkled. “Wait, I remember Andrew Masterson came in. He was in their room for perhaps a half hour or more. He told me he couldn’t wait to get back to the show and left.”

  Andrew had enough time to make his way to the attic and search. If he found the wampum bead in a short half hour he must have somehow known where it was or sheer luck was on his side. Brenda tucked the information in her mind to later relate to Mac.

  She went upstairs to talk with the three housekeepers who were tidying up rooms. Andrew, Edward and two other guests had left for the show by then. Lisa and Jane were ready to go back downtown and Brenda asked if they had eaten breakfast. Both had, which meant no more questioning of guests until later. She asked the housekeepers for their previous day’s routines. None said anything that drew suspicion. They admitted they were not interested in the Market Show or any kinds of old things, when asked. The youngest and newest employee stated she loved Sheffield Bed and Breakfast but was not interested in old tools or other items some were drawn to. The others agreed.

  By late morning, Brenda was convinced everyone who worked at the bed and breakfast proved themselves innocent. She looked at her watch and realized lunch time neared. Her cell rang and she answered to Mac.

  “We are going through security footage right now, Brenda. So far, no one stands out. A few of our guests can be seen wandering around and talking with vendors. Andrew Masterson may be of interest. He appeared skittish at times and looked over his shoulder more than once. We’ll keep at it.” Brenda told him all she knew after speaking with guests and employees. “This won’t be an easy case, Brenda.”

  Chapter 4

  Following Instincts

  Lisa Grantham proved a tiresome companion, in Jane Higgerson’s opinion, after spending so much time together. The flawless complexion of the university president was enough to cause jealousy but it was the way she critiqued everything Jane picked up that annoyed her most. The other woman’s reaction when Jane mentioned going to the Native American Market Show proved just how irritating her companion had become.

 

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