Page 81 of Pepper, the Biker & the Vanishing Body

“So do dead bodies and mysteries,” I whispered back.

Ian chuckled. “Touche.”

Winifred led us to a room that once must have been Waters’ library the shelves now bare and only a folding table and two folding chairs occupying the space. Two open boxes sat on top of the table.

“Those are all the papers Waters had. If you find any belonging to the Willow Lake Historical Society, please put them aside and I will review them quickly and approve you to take receipt of them,” Winifred instructed, then turned a smile on Ian. “If you would come with me.”

“Of course,” Ian said and cast a glance my way. “I’ll catch up with you all later.”

Winifred reached in her suit jacket pocket and pulled out several lanyards the plastic card attached at the end reading guest. She handed one to Ian, then handed Amy three to pass out. “These will allow you to preview the items if you’d like.”

“Thank you. That is very generous of you,” Amy said and turned and handed one each to Beau and me as Ian and the woman left the room. “She’s a fan and probably wants to get plenty of pictures to share with her reader group.”

“I’ve gotten used to the attention he gets… mostly,” I admitted. “Let’s get to work.”

With the three of us we got through the files quickly and came across several papers that belonged to the historical society. Many were financial papers while others were receipts of purchases by the historical society for various items from paintings to antique pieces.

“It worries me that Waters kept these receipts when they should be on file at the historical society. It could mean he bought the items and kept them for himself. We need to reference these receipts with the items being offered here. Several of the items could very well belong to the historical society,” Amy said.

“Why don’t you go and talk with Winifred about this, and Pep and I will split the receipts and see if we can locate the items,” Beau said.

The house was filling fast with people eager to preview the auction items. Beau went one way, and I went the other way. Of course, I couldn’t help spotting some items that would work well in my cabin and several that would look perfect in the lodge. I also saw some things I knew Amy would love and made a mental note to tell Beau though he probably already spotted them.

I shouldn’t have been surprised when I came across an item that I had a receipt for, an antique writing box. I did a quick search on my phone and discovered the writing box, depending on condition, and this box was in excellent condition, was well worth over a thousand dollars. I also came across a French walnut armchair Waters had a receipt for stating it was for the historical society and was given a discount for that reason. I continued through the rooms and was stopped short by what I could have sworn was a familiar voice. I listened for a moment, trying to recall where I had heard it.

Then I caught the word broad and knew where I heard it. It was the voice of the guy Stone had been talking to in the stairwell at the hospital.

I turned casually to get a good look at him and maybe snap a quick pic when I was caught off guard. Professor Anderson was talking with him. Could Anderson be involved with this whole mess?

There was only one way to find out. I followed them as they left the room together.

CHAPTER 23

Beau spotted me as he came around the corner and was about to call out to me and I shook my head. He held his tongue and hurried over to me.

“What’s up?” he whispered and followed alongside me toward the open French doors.

“That guy with Professor Anderson,” I said with a nod toward the man as the two disappeared out the French doors. “I recognize his voice. He was the one in the hospital stairwell talking with Stone.”

“So, we’re following them?” Beau asked with the excitement of a child eager to open an unexpected gift.

“We need to get close enough to hear what they are saying but keep from being spotted.”

“Maybe we should separate,” Beau suggested. “This way if one of us is spotted the other can continue to follow them.”

“Good idea,” I said and quickly devised a plan and then we split.

The backyard was massive with paths that led to various gardens that appeared to extend back to the woods that bordered Waters’ property. Cats lazed among the plants, and one was spread out on a weathered skateboard. I took a path parallel to the one Professor Anderson and the man walked down and figured Beau did the same on the opposite side.

I ducked behind a large, blooming rhododendron bush, it’s purple flowers almost matching my jacket when the pair stopped not far from it.

“You better deliver Anderson, or this isn’t going to work out the way you want it to,” the man warned.

“I’m trying, but the death of that man rattled me.”

“Now that you see the unexpected can happen at any time, I’d advise you to move your ass. Get me that information.”

“It’s not that easy,” Anderson protested.

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