Page 54 of Pepper, the Biker & the Vanishing Body

Her giggle grew. “The rake hit you more than once?”

I nodded. “I was disoriented from the first blow and when I got to my feet, I stepped on it again and WHAM!”

Amy couldn’t contain her laughter. “I am so sorry, Pepper. I shouldn’t be laughing seeing you with black eyes and a slightly swollen nose.”

“That’s okay. The staff and doctor at the urgent care I went to couldn’t contain their laughter either. Dr. Wagner told me he always enjoys seeing me and hearing what happened. It makes his day.”

Amy was still trying not to laugh and failing. “So, you told your dad about the squatter so he could check it out but not about your confrontation with the rake.”

“I wanted the swelling to go down and I was hoping my eye?—”

“Eyes,” Amy quickly corrected.

“Thanks for reminding me that I have two black eyes. Can you imagine what my dad would say if he saw me?”

“Wait until Ian sees you. I can’t believe you didn’t tell him what happened.”

“He had a busy schedule, and I didn’t want to bother him.”

Amy shook her head, laughter mingling with her grin. “You didn’t want to tell him who gave you the black eyes and swollen nose.”

“The swelling has gone down some,” I said, not wanting to admit she was right.

“Right,” Amy said, “you keep telling yourself that.”

Thinking how often I was going to have explain to people what happened to me, I said, “I need a drink.”

The Treetop was the perfect name for the place that appeared nestled in the treetops of the surrounding forest. There was an inside and outside area. Spring and autumn saw the outside area, a large upper deck, packed while the inside was the place to be in the winter with its numerous fireplaces.

Amy spoke with Tabby McGuire, the hostess, while I wandered to the outside deck trying to ignore the endless stares when I spotted Professors Anderson and Swatcher at a table. I was not about to lose a chance to talk with both and made a beeline to them.

“Good, Lord, Pepper, what happened to you?” Professor Anderson asked when I reached their table.

I kept it short and sweet. “A rake.” The two men looked at me puzzled and I realized I should have been more specific. “A garden rake.” I quickly moved the conversation along. “I really enjoyed your lecture, Professor Swatcher.”

“I’m glad to hear that and I thank you and your boyfriend for participating,” he said with a pleasant smile.

“I learned that you both are avid treasure hunters. That must be exciting.”

“Professor Swatcher more so than me,” Professor Anderson clarified.

“He’s lost the thrill of it,” Swatcher said with a chuckle.

Anderson defended himself. “It takes time and money, neither of which I have.”

“He won’t be able to stay away. When the treasure-hunting bug hits, it doesn’t let go. Whether small or large, it’s the thrill of the hunt that is addictive,” Swatcher said.

He left it wide open for me, so I dove right in. “The Willow family treasure being one of them. I noticed the three-strand pearl necklace with the pearl teardrop Claire Willow wore in the portrait at the Willow Mansion. I couldn’t help but wonder what happened to it.”

“A good point,” Swatcher said, casting an inquisitive eye at Anderson. “A treasure right in your backyard. How could you ignore it?”

“It’s long gone or sealed away with Verbena in her tomb that Ignatius Willow made sure couldn’t be opened without destroying the tomb, or the jewels were sold through the years to keep the mansion afloat,” Anderson said, offering different explanations.

Swatcher offered a different opinion. “Or Ignatius was wise enough to hide them away somewhere and never told anyone about the secret hiding place.”

An image of the skeleton key blazed in my mind. Did it unlock a treasure?

“The search is just as exciting as the find,” Swatcher said, a gleam in his eyes. “You really should join me on the next hunt, Anderson. It’s a dive and I know how much you enjoy diving and the lovely warm weather in the winter.”

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