Page 33 of Pepper, the Biker & the Vanishing Body

“You think what happened to your mom has something to do with Willow Mansion?”

“There seems to be an awful lot of interest in the Willow family lately.”

“But what would he want from your mom?”

“I’ve been giving that some thought since my mom reminded me that I still had her keys to the mansion.” A picture of the keys on my kitchen counter popped into my head. “Possibly keys to the mansion. The question is why?”

“Maybe to find what couldn’t be found at the mausoleum,” Amy suggested. “What does your dad think of your theory?”

“I haven’t mentioned it to him yet. I only thought of it after my mom asked me if I had the keys to this place. Though I could shoot a lot of holes in the theory upon giving it further thought. Like why not just break into the mansion, though that would alert attention and how did he know my mom would have keys to the mansion?”

Amy offered another suggestion. “He saw you and your mom enter the place. But then what was the other guy doing there? The one you tried to snap a pic of.” Her eyes turned wide. “Ooh, ooh, I’ve got it. The two were meeting here thinking no one would see them since it was closed that day and were surprised when you and your mom arrived.”

“Somewhere in those ideas hides the truth and I intend to find it,” I said determined.

Edna was about to take a group of tourists on a tour of the place when we entered. She handed out pamphlets and told them she would be right back to start the tour and hurried over to us.

“I was so sorry to hear about your mom, Pepper. I cannot believe that happened outside the mansion. I am so relieved that she is all right, but then nothing can keep your mom down. I wish the historical society had the money to install security cameras outside. We decided to install them inside first since some of the pieces here are extremely valuable.”

“You know my mom well and hopefully, Amy and I can help find funding for such cameras,” I said. “Amy and I would like applications to become members of the Willow Lake Historical Society. Amy is an accountant and would be an asset to the society. My mom also mentioned there was a board seat open and I’d like to find out more about it.”

“I’d love to become a member,” Amy said, glancing around with a delightful smile.

I was sure she would, which is why I tossed her name in with mine. Besides, we always do things together and she would have been disappointed if I left her out.

“I can think of at least a half a dozen ideas for fundraisers,” Amy said full of excitement. “Halloween would be a perfect time for a costumed gala with everyone dressed in costumes from the period, servers and all. A special Christmas celebration with decorations of that period and an exclusive invite for a tidy sum to experience an old-fashioned Willow Mansion Christmas would be sure to attract a crowd. And you definitely should have your tour guides in period costumes. It adds to the authenticity of the experience.”

“Oh, my dear, that does sound wonderful but also expensive,” Edna said.

“Volunteers and costumes will be easy to get with Pepper being such good friends with the models at Willow Lake Lodge and I am sure I can get local eateries to donate food,” Amy said, growing more excited by the minute.

“That sounds wonderful, and I am thrilled you both wish to join. I would love to discuss it with you, but I have a tour waiting. I am going to text Doris in the office and have her give you applications to join. Then we can set up a date to discuss things. We really do need some young blood to keep the society going.”

Doris was just as delighted to hear we wanted to join and had us fill out the application so she could get the process started immediately. She said we would receive a letter in the mail officially welcoming us to the Willow Lake Historical Society.

“Will we be able to have access to the mansion files once we’re members?” Amy asked. “I have some great ideas for fundraisers and the files would help me prepare plans to submit to the board for approval.”

“If you head a committee, then you will have full access,” Doris said.

“Wonderful. Is anyone presently in charge of the fundraising committee?” Amy asked.

Doris smiled and shook her head. “No, dear, and the board will gladly appoint you to take charge of it, though they might request that you also examine the historical society’s finances since you are an accountant and we’ve been struggling financially of late. I don’t know how we got in such dire straits. I thought we were doing well.”

“I wish I was a member, then I could take the files with me now,” Amy said.

Doris whipped up a letter on the computer, printed it out and handed it to Amy. Then she pulled out a folder thick with papers and handed it to Amy. “I trust Pepper’s mom and she told me that I could trust you since she expected you both would be joining together. So, that letter gives you permission to access the society’s computer files and that folder holds the files that have yet to be scanned and added to the computer. I do hope it doesn’t have you changing your mind about joining.”

I laughed. “Amy is a wizard at accounting. She will have you on track in no time.”

Doris smiled. “You both made my day.”

I gave Amy a nudge in the arm when we left the private office. “Way to get access to the files I need to look at.”

“Oh, right,” Amy said, slipping the file into her satchel purse.

“Very funny, like you didn’t know I wanted access to those files.”

“I wasn’t the only helpful one. Your mom helped pave the way for us, and honestly, I think I would really enjoy being a member. But I wouldn’t get too excited about finding the files you want on the computer. A brief look at the folder tells me that they are way behind in getting documents scanned and onto the computer.”

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