Page 40 of Pepper, the Biker & the Vanishing Body

I glanced at the tattoos on his arm and knew he had gotten a temporary one today that covered a good portion of his chest, and I was eager to see it. But first things first. “Later, biker, we have work to do.”

He winked playfully at me. “I can wait, since anticipation makes it that more enjoyable.”

I forced my mind back to the case. “My mom’s keys are no different from the others.”

Ian shook his head. “Why then was there another attempt to steal her purse if it wasn’t the keys they wanted?”

“It doesn’t make sense and, so far, there is nothing in any of the documents on the Willow family that mentions anything close to a treasure or even a mention of a dowry. But someone believes there is something to find sincenot herewas written on that note I found. What’s not where? The mausoleum or the Willow Mansion.”

“Logic might point to the Willow Mansion being the mausoleum was looted and the next incident, your mom being assaulted, took place at the mansion. That would leave one to believe nothing was found at the mausoleum, so the search moved to the mansion.”

“I think there are two separate guys searching for the supposed treasure.”

Ian was quick to agree with me. “I think you’re right. There is the guy you saw running away and then there is the guy you whacked with your mom’s purse and was probably the one who assaulted her.”

I shifted the computer back onto my lap to make some notes. “Do you think they are in competition?”

“Could be. A substantial treasure could easily pit people against each other.”

“Well, if it is a treasure worth hunting, I wonder how it has remained hidden all these years.”

I made more notes as we talked a while longer and we decided our next step was for me to talk with Charlie Gibbons, the elderly man whose family was the groundskeepers for decades as well as Amy continuing to go through the society’s files.

Ian pushed the top of the computer closed. “Enough for tonight. I want some alone time with you.”

I knew what he meant but I teased him anyway. “We are alone.”

Ian pointed to Mo who had sat up from where he was stretched out in front of the television and stared at us. “We are not alone, and you, Mo, are staying put until bedtime is called.”

Mo grumbled a growl and laid back down.

Ian looked around and called out, “You better not be in the bedroom, Roxie.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, especially when Roxie came prancing into the room from the direction of the bedroom and cuddled herself against Mo.

“Now it’s you and me,mo ghràdh.”

I am not the overly romantic kind, but I do enjoy when Ian calls me my love in Scottish Gaelic. It gives me warm fuzzies.

He leaned over to kiss me, and I leaned in eager for his kiss… then my cell rang.

“Your mom,” Ian said, seeing her name come up on my phone.

I hurried to answer it, eager for the night ahead with Ian. “I’m a bit busy, Mom.”

“I won’t keep you. About the keys. I remember your Aunt Effie giving me a key for the Willow Mansion and made me promise not to lose it—strange as it sounds—she told me to keep it for you that you would need it one day.”

I staredat the iron skeleton key my mom handed me the next morning.

“I kept it in my personal drawer all these years and had completely forgotten about it,” my mom said, sitting beside me at the kitchen island.

Ian and I had finished breakfast and were on our second cup of tea when my mom arrived, key in hand.

“I was eager to bring it to you, recalling last night how adamant your aunt had been about me keeping it until you needed it. She reminded me again and again through the years not to lose it.”

“You said that she told you I would need it one day. Did you ask Aunt Effie why I would need it?”

My mom chuckled softly. “Of course I did. I was curious, but your aunt would smile and press her finger to her lips and that made me think it was a secret she wasn’t ready to reveal.”

---