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 found one body, before this one, and it was Mo who found the bones,” I corrected. “And since this body vanished there’s a good chance that he’s still alive. An even better reason to find out that he actually is alive and what he was doing in the looted Willow Mausoleum.”
“You said the mausoleum had been found opened twice?”
“That was what Dan said. But there was no damage or looting the first time.”
“Maybe there is something of value there that we don’t know about,” Amy said. “I’ll search the town’s old newspapers and some of the books written about the town’s history and see if anything was mentioned in them of what may have been buried with any of the Willows.”
“Good idea, but what other reason besides theft would someone have for breaking into a mausoleum?”
“Maybe the mausoleum had already been broken into, and the guy ran in there to get away from someone, was caught, and is the reason for the bruise,” Amy said.
“That’s a thought and that would make two mysteries to solve… who broke in and what was the guy running from? Unless they are somehow connected.”
Once parked by the mausoleum, I opened the back door and gave Mo instructions. “No relieving yourself on anything here. Private property.” He tilted his head as if he was trying to make sense of what I said, so I made it clearer for him. “No pooping or peeing here. Got it?”
He barked and jumped out of the truck.
“And stay close to me,” I called out as he ran toward the mausoleum, and I took chase after him.
Amy followed behind us laughing.
Mo wandered around sniffing anything that caught his interest while keeping me in sight. I got busy taking photos of the fence that surrounded the mausoleum, particularly the gate. I zoomed in to get what photos I could of the mausoleum door and the building itself.
Amy explored around the outside of the fence, snapping photos now and again and sending them to my phone.
Dan kept the cemetery spotless so there was no debris around that might offer a clue. I continued to snap photos, stopping often to examine certain areas, but there was nothing that stood out, nothing out of the ordinary to find.
Mo plopped himself under a nearby tree to rest and Amy and I went over some of the photos.
“I thought we’d at least find something,” I said, our heads bent together as we looked at photo after photo.
“There’s not even a noticeable footprint,” Amy said disappointed.
“This can only mean one thing.”
Amy scrunched her brow. “What?”
“The guy had to have left through a secret passageway,” I said.
Amy cast a quick glance at the mausoleum. “That’s spooky to think there is a way in and out of there without being seen.”
“I wonder where we can get a blueprint for the maso— huh oh,” I said, spotting Dan’s truck pull up behind mine and getting out. “No doubt he’s going to tell me Mo can’t be here.” That couldn’t have been further from the truth.
As soon as Dan got out of the truck, Mo ran to him wagging his tail and the usual grumpy Dan called him by his name as he gave him a good rubbing behind the ears, then pulled a dog biscuit out of his jacket pocket and gave it to Mo.
“My mom’s brought Mo here, hasn’t she?” I asked, though I knew I was right.
“She brings him now and again when she comes here to discuss flowers and plants with me. He’s a well-behaved dog, not like some who come here,” Dan complained. “Running all over, doing their duty wherever they please, and not everyone cleaning up after them even though I have poop bags and disposal bins placed around the cemetery.” He pointed to one not far from the mausoleum. “But I can’t argue with the dogs being here, after all they’ve come to visit their deceased owners.”
“You’re on the Main Street Beautification Project?” I asked, recalling my mom telling me about it.
“Your mom asked me to be on it and I was happy to accept,” Dan said proudly.
Leave it to my mom to invite the grumpy cemetery caretaker to be on the project that was comprised of mostly women. I wondered who she intended to fix him up with.
I decided to give it a shot and asked, “Is there any chance of getting inside the Willow Mausoleum to have a quick look.”
“Sorry, Pepper, it’s private property. I can’t let you in.” He gave a nod to my phone. “Especially if you intend to take photos.”
“I understand,” I said, though didn’t give up. “Who is on record for holding the deed to the mausoleum?”
“You would have to ask Reverend Herbert about that. The Willow Mausoleum was here long before the rest of the cemetery, so its record remains with the church. I have a key so I can maintain it and strict rules to follow. Only the Willow family is allowed inside.”