Mysteries of Holt House - A Mystery Read online

  I was pleased with the next male applicant, too. David Hyde was your typical tall, dark and handsome handyman. Typical did I say? He was about six feet, two inches tall and probably in his mid-thirties. He was husky, a big man, and dark complexioned. He had deep brown hair and penetrating dark eyes. His personality was another matter. He seemed to be a man of few words.

  “I believe my references speak for themselves.” That was his opening statement.

  “Yes, they do.” I studied his credentials.

  “Everything looks good, so let’s give it a try. Can you move in and begin work this weekend?”

  “Sure. I’ve got my own tools. Got my own truck, too.”

  I hadn’t even thought about tools or a truck. I couldn’t believe those things had slipped my mind.

  “Great. I’m sure it will be more comfortable for you to be using your own equipment, but if you discover you need anything, let me know.”

  We shook hands and he left, and once again I called the agency and told them the position had been filled.

  Sharon called shortly after David left.

  “How are the interviews going? Rough, huh?”

  “You can’t even imagine. I’ve had a lech, a couch potato and a delicate princess come through here this morning. I finally had two interviews I really feel good about though. I hired both of them. Wait until you see the gardener I hired.”

  “Can’t wait, and I want to hear more about the ones you didn’t hire.” I could hear mirth in her voice.

  “You’re still moving in this weekend, aren’t you?” I asked.

  “I’m planning on it. So is my landlord. He’s already found a new tenant.”

  “Doesn’t waste any time, does he.”

  “Yeah. Well, I’ve got to get back to work before my boss starts yelling. If I don’t see you before, then I’ll see you this weekend.”

  We hung up and I wandered out to the kitchen to get myself a snack. I munched on a cookie and thought about what a hectic weekend it was going to be with Sharon and David both moving in, and people calling about my advertisement. I had a feeling it was going to be fun though.

  Later that evening I was eating dinner when the doorbell bonged, startling me. I’d met everyone at the door that day and never heard the loud bing bong sound the bell made. I opened the door and found Lucy standing there with an armload of clothes and a couple of bags sitting on the porch.

  “Here,” I said, taking the clothing from her. “Let me help you.”

  “Thanks.” She set the bags inside the door and turned towards the driveway. “I’ll be back in a minute with the rest of my things. I didn’t really bring too much with me. Just my clothes and a few personal things for my room.”

  Lucy returned with a suitcase and another bag, and I led her through the living room on the way to her bedroom. She stopped short as she noticed the painting over the fireplace.

  “That’s a lovely painting of you,” she commented.

  “It’s not me.”

  “You’re kidding. Huh. At least that explains why it looks so outdated. I wasn’t going to say anything, but as long as I know it’s not you...”

  “You should have seen the looks I got at the auction when I bought it.”

  “Is that your mother?” she asked, staring at the portrait.

  “No. It’s Mrs. Holt, the woman who used to own this house. Believe it or not, it’s just a coincidence. Like I said, I bought it at an auction. It’s also what initially intrigued me about this place.”

  “Understandable, but you have to admit it’s kind of strange.”

  “I try to think of it as a conversation piece.” I smiled at Lucy.

  “Whatever you say.”

  I showed her to her room which was near the kitchen. None of the rooms in the house were plain, not even the old servants’ quarters.

  “Well, will you look at this,” she said. “I’m certainly not going to feel cramped in this room.” She studied the spaciousness of the bedroom.

  “I know. Isn’t it nice? I just love this old house.” And I did, already.

  “I can see why. Oh. I saw that you were eating your supper. Go finish before it gets cold and I’ll start putting my things away.”

  “Okay. Have you eaten yet? There’s plenty if you’re hungry.”

  “I stopped and ate on my way out here, but thanks.”

  After I finished eating, I returned to Lucy’s room.

  “Can I do anything to help, Lucy?”

  “No, but you can keep me company while I finish putting things away. This old place sure makes a lot of creaking noises. If I didn’t know better, I’d think someone was upstairs.”

  “You’ll get used to it. After you left this afternoon I hired the handyman, too,” I said.

  “Good. Now you can concentrate on filling this place with people.”

  I sat on the edge of the bed and watched her hang some slacks in the closet.

  She glanced over her shoulder, hands in midair. “Oh, I talked to a gentleman who’s staying at the motel – he’s just come to town – and he’s going to call you tomorrow about taking a room.”

  “Thanks! You’re an asset already.”

  “That’s me, a real asset,” she said, smiling. “By the way, what’s this handyman like?”

  “Tall, dark and handsome. And very quiet.”

  “Uh huh. Tall, dark and handsome, and quiet. Do you have any family around here?”

  “Come on now, Lucy. He had great references.”

  “Among other things, apparently. I repeat, do you have any family around here?”

  “My parents live in Florida. They’re all the family I have. Well, I have some other relatives, but I don’t really know them. Why?”

  “I can see right now that you’re going to need me. You don’t hire someone because of his looks.”

  “Oh, Lucy. Of course I didn’t hire him for his looks. Just wait and you can judge him for yourself. You’ll like him, I guarantee it.” I was a little put off by her remarks, but at the same time I liked her honesty.

  “We’ll see. You’re young, and you don’t seem particularly worldly. Could it be you’re just the teeniest bit naïve?”

  “No. I’m not naive.” Her honestly was suddenly beginning to annoy me.

  “Oh, come on, Kelly. With what you’re taking on, your age, and what I’ve seen of you so far, you’re going to need a big sister around here. Forget my age. I only seem old because you’re so young. Actually, fifty-four is still young. Anyway, I refuse to be a surrogate mother, so I’ll fill in as a big sister.”

  I decided she probably needed a good friend more than I needed a big sister. She was a widow living in a new place, and she didn’t know anyone yet. By living in the country, she probably wouldn’t have the chance to meet too many people, other than the boarders.

  “Okay. I give up. You can offer your opinion any time you like – well, almost any time – but in the end I’ll probably do whatever I want.”

  “Maybe you’re not so naive after all. Actually, you sort of remind me of myself about twenty years ago.”

  She took a framed picture out of her bag and set it on the dresser.

  “Is that your husband?” I asked.

  “Yes, that’s my Frankie. He was, is, the best thing to ever happen to me. There aren’t too many like him around. He was my best friend.” I noticed her eyes tearing up. She shook her head and smiled, wiping the tears away. “I still miss him, but I don’t usually cry anymore. I guess I’m more tired than I realized. Have you got some coffee handy?”

  “Sure. Come on and we’ll talk for a while.”

  We returned to the kitchen and I poured two cups of coffee. She seemed to take to me, just like I’d had taken to her. We started gabbing and never ran out of things to say, which was the way Sharon and I were.

  I learned that she lost her husband to a heart attack two years earlier, and they’d never had children. She was alone, with no relatives. She was glad I hired her and was
looking forward to being in a house full of people.

  “Well, Lucy, things are going to get busy around here tomorrow, so I’d better get some sleep. I have to admit that between moving in and all the interviews today, I’m tired, too. I’ve got to get up early tomorrow morning to start getting estimates on some construction I want done.”

  “Oh? What kind of construction?” she asked.

  “I’m going to have a pool and tennis court installed, and I want to have the patio enlarged to accommodate the guests. I’ve got a couple of other things in mind, too.”

  “Well, you could end up with a real nice little hotel here.”

  “I wouldn’t call it a hotel, exactly. I also have to pick up my business license, I have an appointment with the health inspector, and... There’s so much more involved than I realized.”

  “I can imagine. Go ahead and go to bed. I’ll clean up the cups and things.”

  “Thanks, Lucy. See you in the morning.”

  I changed into my nightgown and climbed into bed, and my last thought as I drifted off to sleep was that I was glad to have found Lucy. I wouldn’t have to stay in this big old house alone again.

  Chapter Seven

  On Tuesday I called a few pool companies and they said they’d have sales representatives out on Wednesday to give me estimates. I also called some construction companies, two of which would send someone out right away. They could handle both the tennis court and the patio.

  I met with an agent from the County Health Department, ran errands in town and arrived home about ten minutes before the construction company people began showing up.

  By dinnertime I was famished and not looking forward to cooking. I was surprised to hear the clank of pots and pans when I neared the kitchen. The smell of food wafting out the window made my stomach growl, and I found Lucy in the kitchen fixing dinner. She stood at the stove, stirring something in a pot.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  “You’ve had a busy day, so I went to the store and picked up a few things for your dinner. I figured you’d be too pooped to cook.”

  “Lucy, you’re a lifesaver. But you shouldn’t feel you have to start helping already, and I’ll write you a check for what you spent at the store.”

  “Forget it. I have to eat too, so I figured I’d make enough for both of us. It’s just spaghetti, and it should hold us for a couple of days with leftovers and all.”

  “Just spaghetti? That’s my favorite.”

  “Good.” She grinned.

  After the garlic bread was toasted we sat down to eat.

  “Did you get all your errands done?” Lucy twisted spaghetti around her fork.

  “Amazingly enough, I did. I’m not sure about these construction estimates though.” I tapped the papers lying on the table. “I honestly don’t know that much building and renovations. I feel like I’m in over my head.”

  “Let me take a look at them. My husband was in construction and I learned a few things from him.” She set her fork on the edge of her plate and dabbed at her mouth with a napkin before picking up the papers.

  “Here’s your best bet,” she said, placing her choice on the top of the stack. “You can’t go wrong with this company.”

  “How can you tell?” I asked.

  “Blake Construction Company will give you the best deal and they’ll use better materials. They’ll get the work done in a hurry, and it will be done right.” She looked very pleased with herself.

  “How do you know so much about them?” I asked.

  “My husband worked for this company at one time and I know their work. We used to live around here. Guess I forgot to tell you that little detail. Maybe that’s why I came back. I never really wanted to leave this area in the first place.”

  “I can’t say I blame you. I love it here.”

  Lucy and I worked together and cleaned the kitchen. When we were done we walked out and sat on the front porch.

  “It feels so good to put my feet up,” I said, settling into a chair and propping my feet on the railing.

  “I wish those crickets would pipe down,” Lucy said irritably.

  “You’ll have to get used to them. They’re not gonna go away.”

  “I know.” She sighed and settled deeper into her chair.

  I shrugged my shoulders and leaned back. Lucy was chatting nonstop and the next thing I knew she was shaking my shoulder.

  “If you’re going to sleep, you might as well go inside and go to bed, Kelly.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

  “Don’t fret about it. I know you’ve had a busy day. I’m just going to stay out here a bit longer. Then I’ll come inside, too. I’ll lock up for you.”

  “Nobody locks their doors out here,” I said, yawning.

  “I do. Earlier today I kept feeling like someone was watching me. I guess I lived in the city too long. Paranoia, you know? Who on earth would be watching us out here? There’s no one else around.”

  “Right,” I said. “You won’t need to worry out here. Well, I guess I’ll see you in the morning.” It was interesting that Sharon and I had both had that same feeling, but I knew there was nothing to it. It was probably just a matter of living in such an old house and being alone until people started moving in. Still, it bothered me that we’d all had the same feeling.

  There’s an old saying about burying your head in the sand, and that was the evening my head began its descent toward the sand.

  I overslept on Wednesday and Lucy had to wake me. “The pool man is here. Hurry and get up. Come on now.”

  I yawned and stretched, feeling groggy, but after glancing at the clock I leapt out of bed. “Good grief! It’s after eight o’clock. I guess I forgot to set my alarm.”

  “I guess so,” Lucy said. “I’ll keep him busy while you get dressed. And breakfast is waiting. I’ll keep it warm for you.”

  “Thanks!”

  I took a quick shower and brushed my teeth, threw on my jeans and shirt, pulled on my shoes and ran a brush through my hair. I wouldn’t have time to put on any make-up, although I did take the time to put on some lipstick and a touch of mascara.

  So began another day of business, business and more business. I talked to all the pool people who showed up that morning, and sat down with Lucy to get her now valued opinion.

  By then it was past time for lunch. I’d missed breakfast and Lucy made a point of reminding me about the food she’d had to throw away. I fixed myself a jelly sandwich, turning down her offer of a hot lunch, and sat down by the telephone to call the construction company. I spoke to the young Mr. Blake, son of the owner, and it turned out they had a crew that had just finished a job and could begin my work on Monday.

  “We were going to start another job,” he explained, “but the people who needed the work had a death in the family so they’re going to wait a few months. We can get to your job first. In fact, I’ll be working with the crew. I need to get out of the office for a while.”

  “Spring fever?” I asked.

  “Something like that,” he replied.

  “Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you on Monday.”

  “If you’re going to be home, I’ll come by on Friday with the contract and we can finalize things.” He seemed to want everything in place before they began the work. I did, too.

  “That’ll be fine. I’ll be here all day.”

  We hung up and I called the pool company I’d decided on, appropriately named Waterman’s Pools, and made arrangements with them. It would be two to three weeks before they could begin work, but that was okay with me. I had so many other things going on that it would actually make things easier. I called the other companies and let them know their services wouldn’t be needed.

  The rest of the day passed quietly, much to my relief. I was beginning to wonder if I’d bitten off more than I could chew. It was the second time I’d had thoughts like that in two days.

  Sharon called that evening and I whined about all th
e things I hadn’t thought of when I put my plan together. She convinced me that once I got through these beginning details, it would all be downhill.

  I told her about Lucy’s expertise and she was delighted. “I’m glad you’ve got someone there who’s familiar with construction. That in itself should make things easier.”

  “I guess it will. I’m just down in the dumps because I’m tired. It seems like until today, all I’ve done for weeks is run in circles. And you have to bear in mind that this is all new to me.”

  Sharon took a moment before she replied. “Don’t forget, we did a lot of talking before you moved out there, and basically you knew what you were getting into.”

  “True. It’ll be okay. It’s just going to take time to get things running smoothly. They’re going to start work on the tennis court and patio on Monday. A guy named Blake is coming over on Friday for me to sign the contract.”

  “See? You’ve got it more under control than you realize.”

  “I guess so.”

  “I’ll be moving in on Saturday, so maybe I can help with everything.”

  “Good. I can use all the help I can get. I have to admit I’m really glad Lucy showed up when she did. She’s already been pretty handy to have around.”

  “I’m glad she’s there, too. I can’t wait to meet her.”

  We talked a while longer before hanging up.

  Lucy had gone to her room to write a couple of letters to friends. I took a book to my room where I read until I fell asleep. It took a while because I was reading a good mystery.

  Sometime during the early morning hours I woke up, startled by a noise. I couldn’t pinpoint what I’d heard or where the noise came from. After listening for a couple of minutes, I turned over and went back to sleep.

  It had probably just been the old house settling.

  Chapter Eight

  On Thursday Lucy and I spent most of the morning making out lists of things we’d need to buy before the guests actually began moving in, including everything from bed linens to food. With Sharon and David coming on Saturday, we decided food was first on the list.

  After lunch Lucy drove into the city with some of the lists to pick up as much as she could. There were some white sales going on, so our timing was good. She said she’d go grocery shopping on Friday.