“It’s beautiful.” Monica wasn’t sure she completely believed in the healing properties of crystals, but the stone was lovely. “How much is it?”

  Tempest shook her head. “No, no, it’s my gift to you and little Teddy.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely.” Tempest wrapped the stone in pale pink tissue paper and slipped it into a black bag with Twilight written in fancy white script on the front.

  Monica thanked her and tucked the package into the storage pouch on Teddy’s carriage.

  “Seeing Teddy has been a real treat but is there something else I can help you with?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact. My mother thinks her house is haunted.” Monica made a face.

  “I take it you don’t believe in ghosts?”

  Monica grimaced. “Not really.” She hesitated. “I’m not sure.”

  “But your mother does, I gather.”

  Monica nodded. “And it’s upsetting her. I said I would see what I could do to help.” She bent down and fixed the blanket Teddy had managed to kick off. “Janice thinks the previous owner suffered some sort of trauma that has caused her to come back as a spirit.”

  “That could be. What do you want to do?”

  Monica shrugged. “I thought you might know a way to get rid of it? A crystal perhaps that might banish it or put it to rest?”

  Tempest frowned. “There are several things she could do. One of them is to put a ring of salt around the house. A ghost won’t cross it.”

  Monica laughed. “I can’t see my mother sprinkling salt around her house. The neighbors might think she’d joined a cult or something.”

  Tempest tapped her chin with her index finger. “Let me think.” She pulled a book from beneath the counter and began to page through it. “There are some crystals that might be helpful. For instance, howlite, tourmaline, and agate.”

  “Do you have any of those?”

  “I recently sold the last of my tourmaline and there isn’t much call for howlite, but I should have some agate.” She opened another drawer and took out a green stone with bands of various colors running through it. “Agate is good for changing negative energy into positive. It also enhances mental activity and heals inner anxiety and anger. That might be good for your mother’s ghost.”

  Monica laughed. “And good for my mother.”

  Tempest began to wrap up the stone. “It’s perfect then.”

  As Monica drove back to the farm, she decided she needed a backup plan in case Tempest’s crystals didn’t work to remove the ghost from her mother’s house. Was it possible for a crystal to have a placebo affect? Perhaps her mother would come to her senses and realize that her glasses ended up in her robe pocket because she put them there and something jostled the house and caused the clock to fall off the mantel.

  But if not . . .

  Chapter 8

  As Monica was heading back to the farm, a thought occurred to her. What if her mother’s house had been haunted when Ada Visser lived there? It was possible. Perhaps it would reassure her mother to know that the ghost meant no harm. But Ada Visser was dead, so she could hardly ask her. There was a lawyer who handled the sale of the house for the estate, but he would hardly be the one to ask. There had to be family behind the sale who would have inherited the proceeds. Of course, it would be just her luck that Ada Visser had been a spinster who left all her money to an animal sanctuary or some other charity.

  There was only one way to find out. Monica pulled over to the side of the road and retrieved her cell phone from her purse. She glanced in her rearview mirror. Teddy was fast asleep, his eyelids fluttering as if he was dreaming.

  Monica dialed her mother’s number and after a brief conversation, during which Nancy expressed her gratitude to Monica for her pursuit of information, her mother gave her the name and address of the real estate firm she’d dealt with.

  Ziegler and Ziegler Realty was on Elm Street several blocks away from the Cranberry Cove library. A rutted driveway led to a parking lot just large enough for three cars. Two spaces were already occupied and Monica pulled into the third.

  Teddy hardly stirred as she took him out of his car seat and placed him in a baby sling. She hugged him to her chest as she walked up the cracked cement path leading to the entrance of the building.

  Pictures of houses were displayed in the large plate glass window, many of them yellow and curling. It didn’t look as if Ziegler and Ziegler was a hotbed of activity.

  She was glad she was carrying Teddy and didn’t have to maneuver the stroller up the cracked and uneven cement steps leading to the front door. A bell tinkled as she pushed it open.

  The small office held three desks. A stocky blond woman was standing at the one in front talking on the telephone. She motioned for Monica to wait and quickly ended the call.

  “Welcome.” She gestured at the telephone. “I apologize. Our receptionist is out sick today and Bethany is having her lunch. I’m Sandra Ziegler.” Her numerous gold bracelets jangled as she held out her hand. “How can I help you? Buying or selling?”

  “Neither, actually.” Monica took a seat in front of the desk. Teddy gave a little sigh but mercifully didn’t wake up. “This is going to sound ridiculous.” Monica suddenly realized just how absurd the whole thing sounded.

  Sandra laughed. “You wouldn’t believe what we hear in this business.” She smoothed the front of her taupe jacquard jacket. “Try me.”

  Here goes nothing. Monica took a deep breath. “You handled the sale of the house my mother purchased.”

  Sandra raised her eyebrows. “Does she want to sell?”

  “No. Nothing like that. She . . . she thinks the house is haunted. That there’s a ghost playing tricks on her.”

  “That’s the first time I’ve heard that one. Does she want to move?”

  “No, not at all. She loves the house but she wants to get rid of the ghost.”

  Sandra chuckled. “I’m afraid that’s a bit beyond my area of expertise. I don’t see how I can help you.”

  “I only want some information about the house.”

  Sandra pursed her lips. “My daughter Bethany handled that sale, I believe.” She turned around and yelled toward the open door. “Bethany. Come out here.”

  A younger woman appeared in the doorway. Unlike her mother, she was tall and slim to the point of being gaunt. She was wearing a navy-blue suit, had light brown hair scraped back into a ponytail and was holding half a sandwich in one hand and a pair of earbuds in the other.

  When she saw Monica, she quickly ducked back into the interior room and reemerged without the sandwich. She brushed some crumbs off her jacket and held out her hand.

  “Bethany Gage.” She motioned toward the window. “The other Ziegler was my father.”

  “I have a question about the sale of the property my mother now owns.” Monica gave her the address. “I discovered that the house was owned by someone named Ada Visser. What I’m hoping to find out is the name of her next of kin. The sale was handled by a lawyer and none of the relatives was involved.”

  Bethany was looking confused when her mother cut in.

  “I’m afraid we can’t give out that information. The next of kin wanted to remain anonymous. I’m sorry.”

  Monica was disappointed but she suspected that was going to be the case. She thanked them and began to walk toward her car when Sandra came out of the building and got into a late-model BMW.

  Monica pretended to fuss with Teddy while Sandra drove out of the parking lot, then she walked back up the path to the entrance of Ziegler and Ziegler. She peered through the window and saw that the main office was empty. Bethany must have gone back to eating her sandwich.

  Monica had noticed an old-fashioned Rolodex on the reception desk. If she could sneak a peek at that . . .

  Monica eased open the door and winced when the bell tinkled. She paused, trying to think of a reasonable story for her return. She quickly pulled off one of Teddy’s socks and stuffed it in her pocket. She could pretend she dropped it in the office and was looking for it if Bethany appeared. Hopefully she’d plugged in her earbuds again and wouldn’t hear anything.

  She quickly spun the Rolodex wheel until she came to the letter V and Ada Visser’s card. The address of the house was listed along with information about the lawyer who had handled the estate sale. The lawyer was likely to be as close-lipped as Sandra Ziegler, but she thought it was worth giving it a try.

  Teddy whimpered and Monica swayed back and forth praying for him to go back to sleep. She held her breath for a moment but the only sound was his even breathing.

  She pulled her phone from her purse and snapped a picture of the card. She was putting her phone away when Bethany appeared in the doorway. She didn’t know which of them was more startled.

  “Oh,” Bethany said.

  “Teddy lost his sock,” Monica rushed to explain, gesturing at Teddy’s bare foot. “I thought he might have kicked it off in here, but I guess not.”

  She began backing toward the door. “Thanks, for everything.” She waved a hand at Bethany.

  She didn’t take a full breath until she had Teddy tucked into his car seat and she was on her way out of the Ziegler and Ziegler parking lot.

  • • •

  Monica had invited Gina, Jeff and Lauren over for dinner. She wanted to hear all about their honeymoon, brief though it had been. Jeff needed to get back to the farm, where they were right in the middle of harvesting the cranberries. Despite having an excellent and seasoned crew, Jeff wasn’t comfortable being away for too long.

  Monica was roasting a chicken that she would glaze with cranberry preserves and honey. Teddy was momentarily content in his baby seat and in the process of discovering his own hands.

  She heard the crunch of gravel on the driveway. She wiped her hands on her apron and peeked out the window. Gina was getting out of her Mercedes, holding a bottle of wine in each hand. She used her hip to bump the driver’s-side door closed.

  Monica had the door open before Gina reached it. “Do you want me to take one of those?” She gestured at the bottles Gina was clasping by the neck.

  Gina handed her one and they placed them on the counter.

  “I didn’t know what you were making so I brought one white and one red.” Gina pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down with a grunt.

  “I haven’t seen Jeff and Lauren since they got back from their honeymoon. I’m anxious to hear all about the trip.”

  “I’m sure they had a wonderful time, but their real honeymoon will be in February.”

  “Oh?”

  “They’re going to Snowmass in Colorado to go skiing. And sit by the fire sipping hot toddies and nibbling on charcuterie. They’ll have more time then.”

  “That’s true.” Monica began snapping the ends off a pile of green beans. “There’s less to do around the farm in winter. Jeff spends most of his time maintaining and repairing the equipment then.”

  The door opened and a gust of wind blew several leaves across the kitchen floor. Greg greeted Gina and kissed Monica on the cheek.

  Monica shivered. “It must be getting colder.”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised if we had a freeze tonight.” Greg bent and ruffled Hercule’s fur. Mittens had appeared to say hello but was keeping her distance.

  Greg had barely finished hanging up his coat when Jeff and Lauren arrived.

  They were both glowing, although Monica couldn’t tell whether that was from the cold or happiness or possibly both.

  “Something smells delicious,” Lauren said.

  “It does. I hope you’ve made a lot. I was out at the bogs all day and I’m starved.” Jeff took their coats and hung them in the closet.

  “I think a five-pound chicken along with green beans almondine, mashed potatoes and a cranberry Bundt cake with vanilla ice cream should be enough to fill you up.”

  “Stop.” Jeff laughed. “You’re making me drool. Not to rush you or anything, but how long until dinner?”

  “Almost ready.”

  “Is Teddy sleeping?” Lauren peeked through the oven door.

  “He is. But he’ll probably be waking up shortly to be fed.”

  “I can’t wait to see him. I imagine he’s grown.”

  Lauren sounded wistful and Monica wondered when she and Jeff were going to start their family. They’d probably want to enjoy being newlyweds for a bit longer first.

  The oven timer dinged. Monica donned oven mitts and opened the door. The initial blast of heat made her take a step back before lifting the roasting pan from the rack.

  A chorus of ooohs and aaahs greeted the bird, which was roasted to golden perfection and filled the kitchen with its delicious aroma. Monica moved the chicken to a large platter and placed it in the center of the table with a dramatic flourish.

  Greg did the honors of carving the bird and the green beans and potatoes were passed around the table. Soon everyone’s plate was full and the conversation dwindled to an occasional word here and there as they ate.

  Jeff was the first to push his plate away and lean back in his chair with his hands on his stomach. “That was delicious.”

  Lauren helped clear the table and pass out dessert plates and forks as Monica cut the cranberry Bundt cake and Greg scooped vanilla ice cream on top of each slice.

  “Mauricio told me that there was some sort of drama at the wedding after we left?” Jeff spooned up another piece of cake. “Someone died?”

  Monica hesitated. She’d hoped Jolie’s murder wouldn’t taint the memory of the wedding in Jeff and Lauren’s minds.

  “Jolie Spencer was found dead in one of the porta-potties.” The scene flashed through Monica’s mind.

  Lauren’s hand flew to her mouth. “How dreadful. What happened?”

  “It seems she’d been suffocated. The police are investigating the death.”

  Lauren gasped.

  Jeff frowned. “Who is Jolie Spencer?”

  “Mick Amentas’s plus one. Apparently, they were quietly married without anyone knowing about it.”

  “Jolie’s an unusual name.” Lauren dabbed her lips with her napkin. “If I remember my high school French, it means pretty. Oddly enough, I knew a girl whose mother’s name was Jolie. Jolie Clawson. Candi Clawson was at our wedding.”

  “Jolie Clawson remarried. After she was widowed, she married Mick Amentas.”

  “Seriously?”

  Monica nodded. “How do you know Candi?” She knew the expression about it being a small world and all that, but Lauren knowing Mick’s new wife and her daughter seemed incredible.

  “I’m her son’s godmother.”

  “Candi’s?”

  “We knew each other when I was in college. We were both working at the Belly Up Bar off campus. I was part-time and Candi was full-time. We had each other’s backs while we were working in that place. The bartenders were a bunch of lechers. And the customers.” Lauren rolled her eyes.

  Jeff was lounging in his seat and Monica noticed him suddenly sit bolt upright, a distressed look on his face and his fists clenched. “If I’d been there, I would have . . .”

  “Don’t worry. I knew how to handle it.” Lauren licked some ice cream off her finger. “I felt sorry for Candi. There’s not much of a future waiting tables in a bar. I felt a bit guilty knowing that I was only going to be working there until I graduated college.”

  “What about the baby?” Greg got up and began to carry the dessert plates to the sink.

  “Candi had it rough. She wasn’t married and the father went to jail shortly before the baby was born. Candi said he was picking her up after work when the police showed up and arrested him.”

  “What’d he do?” Jeff reached out and took Lauren’s hand.

  “Something having to do with drugs, I think.” Lauren squeezed Jeff’s hand. “And get this, it was Candi’s mother, Jolie, who turned her boyfriend in to the police.”

  “What?” Monica nearly dropped the glass she was holding.

  Lauren nodded. “Jolie had her eye on someone else for Candi. Candi was pretty and she had a nice figure. Her mother felt she could do better—marry a doctor or a lawyer or some other professional. She was trying to get Candi together with her podiatrist who’d recently divorced his first wife. She told her to put the baby up for adoption when it came.”

  Lauren got up from her seat and began to help Monica load the dishwasher.

  “Candi was furious, of course. She said her mother had ruined her life and there was no way she was giving up her baby. It was really rough for her. She didn’t have a lot of friends so she asked me to be Timothy’s godmother.”

  An alarm sounded and everyone jumped.

  “Sorry.” Jeff pulled his cell phone from his pocket and glanced at it. “I’ve got to go.” He pushed his chair back and it scraped against the floor. “Mauricio says the temperature is dropping and we’re close to having a frost. I’ve got to be ready to flood the bogs if that happens. The ice will protect the berries.”

  He kissed Lauren on the cheek. “I shouldn’t be too long.” He turned to Monica. “Thanks for a delicious dinner, sis.” He waved and was out the door.

  Later, as Monica was feeding Teddy, she thought about what Lauren had said. Had it been a surprise when Jolie and Candi encountered each other at Jeff and Lauren’s wedding? They’d looked to have been arguing when she saw them.

  And was it a coincidence that the baby was named Timothy, or had Candi named him after his father?

  She thought about Timmy who had delivered the porta-potties. Was Candi the girl Gina had seen in the truck with him? And was Timothy his son?

  No matter what, it sounded as if Candi and her boyfriend both had a strong reason for resenting Jolie. Had they been resentful enough to resort to murder?

  Chapter 9

  Monica was toasting a piece of cranberry bread when her cell phone rang.

  “Hello?”