Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“I have a few more places I want to look at here, then I’m going to head home and go through the Willow documents we have so far and see if anything jumps out at me.”
“How about the four of us get together for supper at Treetops around seven?” Ian suggested.
“That would be great,” Amy agreed.
I loved the idea myself and with a quick kiss from Ian he left with Amy. I decided to stroll through the garden area which was off limits to all but historical society members. I wanted to walk around it to make sure the grounds were walkable for Charlie Gibbons when I brought him here.
I couldn’t find Edna, but I let Doris know where I was going and left through the kitchen door that led out back and opened on to what once must have been the kitchen garden. It had been left unattended, though an herb or two peeked through the weeds and through the bricks in the walkway. Further along was what probably had been the vegetable garden, and to the right, in front of the dining room windows spread a vast garden that in its prime must have been gorgeous but had since been left to nature to reclaim.
It was a shame. If it was brought back to its heyday, it would be a perfect place to set café tables and chairs around and have a building where beverages and light fare could be purchased. When Amy saw this area, she was going to go crazy with ideas.
I spotted a building at the far end of the garden and wondered if it could be converted into such a place. I made my way to it, stopping often to spot bushes and flowers that refused to stop blooming and had made themselves one with the weeds.
The building was larger than I expected and boarded up. There was some rot in places, but the structure appeared sturdy and was definitely built far after Ignatius’s time. I walked around the back and spotted a loose board. Naturally, my curiosity demanded I explore.
I moved the sheet of plywood that had some rot to it to the side and that allowed the sun to enter. I was shocked at what I found. Someone was camping out there. A sleeping bag and a small cooler with a lantern sitting on top occupied an area that looked to have been cleaned of debris. It could be some homeless person, but the items looked new. I searched around for any evidence that might tell me who was camping out here but found nothing. Whoever it was made certain to be cautious.
A noise outside caught my attention and I hurried out, thinking it wasn’t a great idea to be caught in there alone with the squatter. As soon as I stepped outside, I spotted someone not too far away, a man, his hooded sweatshirt pulled up concealing a good portion of his face.
My immediate thought—the vanishing guy.
“Wait!” I yelled. “I just want to talk.”
He didn’t hear me, or he had no desire to talk with me. He ran.
Of course, I couldn’t let him get away again. I ran after him.
I barely took a few steps when something smacked me hard in the face and sent me tumbling to the ground.
CHAPTER 15
“Arake,” Amy said for what felt like the hundredth time and trying to hide her giggle as she pulled into the Treetop parking lot.
“And you should have seen what I did to it after the first punch.”
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.