Crumb Cake, Corpses and the Run of the Mill Read online

  Crumb Cake, Corpses and the

  Run-of-the-Mill

  Haunted House Flippers Inc.

  Rachael Stapleton

  ______________________________

  Copyright © 2018 Rachael Stapleton

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, places, or events is coincidental.

  The Time Traveling Bibliophile Series

  Book 1: The Temple of Indra’s Jewel

  Book 2: The Temple of Indra’s Curse

  Book 3: The Temple of Indra’s Lies

  Book 4: The Temple of Indra’s Witch

  Also by Rachael Stapleton:

  Bohemian Lake Cozy Mysteries

  Penning Trouble Mystery Book 1: Murder, She Floats

  Penning Trouble Mystery Book 2: Murder, She Slopes

  Penning Trouble Mystery Book 2: Murder, Ye Bones

  Haunted House Flippers: Cookies, Corpses & the Deadly Haunt

  Haunted House Flippers: Candy Canes, Corpses & the Gothic Haunt

  Haunted House Flippers: Crumb Cake, Corpses & the Run of the Mill

  Bohemian Murder Manor Series: Gypsies, Traps & Thieves

  Bohemian Murder Manor Series: Make-Believes & Lost Memories

  Read all about Rachael Stapleton and her books at www.RachaelStapleton.com

  Chapter One

  J uniper Palmer felt a flurry of excitement as she grabbed the thick roll of blueprints from the backseat of the truck. Spirited Construction specialized in historic home renovation and rehab but this would be her and Jack’s first mill conversion. She slammed the door shut and marched down the overgrown stone path.

  “There it is!” Pike Hart said, her voice quivering with emotion as she pointed in the direction they were walking.

  “It’s gorgeous, Pike. Congratulations!”

  Pike sniffled a thanks and continued walking.

  What was going on with her?

  “Are you okay?” Juniper caught up and squeezed her shoulder. She’d never known Pike to be overemotional but lately she’d been a water faucet.

  “Yes, of course.” Pike said and wiped a tear from her cheek. “I’m just so happy. Can’t you tell?”

  Juniper smiled, thinking back to the day she and Jack had bought their first home. She could remember the excitement and the happiness but she couldn’t remember crying. Then again, she was a house flipper; being detached was kind of mandatory. They’d sold that first house six months later and made a tidy profit. She turned her attention back to Pike and followed her to where they could see the old mill with its enormous wooden water wheel through the iron bars of the gate. The morning sun illuminated the building’s dirt, decaying cobwebs, and chipped stone. The paint on the exterior walls and hanging shutters was peeling badly. Plenty of work to be done before they could start scraping, sanding, and painting but still, this derelict old mill would make a grand home and Juniper couldn’t wait to get inside. This was her favorite part of the house flipping process—taking the before pictures, assessing the potential and envisioning the new layout. It was like shining up an old penny—well, if that penny needed to be broken down and put back together. Regardless, this was the part right before the transformation, when she imagined just how shiny she could make it. And this project was extra special because it was for her very best friend.

  “Look at that original stonework,” Pike said as she stood on her tiptoes and peered through the bars of the iron gate.

  Juniper tugged at the padlock and yelled over her shoulder. “Hey Eve, you got any bolt cutters in that all-purpose purse of yours?”

  “Why yes, I… oh sorry I forgot… I took them out to make room for my umbrella,” Eve Banter said, coming up behind them. “It looked like rain yesterday. I do have a stick of dynamite if that would help.”

  Juniper and Pike both glanced back at Eve, who was completely straight faced. The thing with Eve was, you could never tell if she was joking—most likely, she wasn’t.

  Juniper shook her head. “I think we’ll just wait then. I like my fingers fully intact.”

  “Gah, you’re so vain!” Eve shot back and turned to Pike, “You know, Hart, most people would run the other way at the idea of inheriting a house full of ghosts.”

  “I’m not most people. Besides, not every old house is haunted.”

  “Oh, but this one is,” Eve mumbled.

  “Where did you hear that? The Mabels?”

  “No, the Vianus. Oh, that reminds me. Nana gave me this key the last time I saw her. She told me you would need it soon. It’s worth a shot, don’t you think?”

  Pike threw Juniper a knowing glance. Perhaps Eve was right about this one—the key and the ghost. The Vianus were a family of gifted Roma women. They could divine fortunes and see ghosts and had very rarely been wrong.

  “Why not?” Pike said, letting go of the gate and settling back down on the balls of her feet.

  “Hand it over.”

  Juniper stared up at the house as Eve handed the key to Pike. The history of old homes always fascinated her— knowing who had tread the floors so many years before was amazing. But this was especially interesting since it was connected to the family that lived and died in her own home.

  “What do you want to bet there are bats?” Eve said.

  “Oh, Eve. You’re the only old bat I’m worried about,” Pike said with a grin.

  Eve pinched Pike’s arm, “Did Penny tell you to say that? Your turns a comin’.”

  “So, this is the same mill that the Doctor once owned?” Juniper commented, ignoring Eve’s attempt to bait Pike further.

  “You bet,” Pike said, jamming the key into the padlock on the gate and twisting.

  “When do you think it was built?” Juniper asked.

  “I’m pretty sure it was built the same time the town was founded. It belonged to the Fox family.” Pike grew frustrated with the lock and handed Juniper the key.

  Juniper unlocked it on the third try. “The Fox family? I thought it was owned by Albert Downey, the same doctor who owned my place and murdered his wife?”

  “Yes, Dr. Albert and his brother-in-law Almer were partners. They became owners because of their wives. Victoria and Marjorie Fox. After the doctor killed Victoria and shot himself, the mill went to Almer, but he hanged himself after the mill caught fire.”

  The ladies navigated around the broken spots in the stone pathway as they neared the place. Birds chirped overhead, but otherwise silence surrounded them. Dew covered the grass and the crisp air carried the scent of damp earth. The place definitely had that old haunted-house look.

  “I mean, it doesn’t look particularly good, but it doesn’t look like the fire itself did much damage.” Eve stated. “I wonder why the brother-in-law was devastated enough to hang himself.”

  Leaves and twigs crunched beneath their feet as they climbed the porch steps to the front door. “I think it was rebuilt after the fire. After Marjorie died, her daughters sold it off, and it was used as a grist mill, then someone attempted to turn it into a house but ran out of money and that’s when Rory Salazar, scooped the property up.

  “Who’s Rory Salazar again?” Juniper asked.

  “Oh, right. I always forget you haven’t lived here your whole life like the rest of us.” Pike laughed, “Get thi
s, Rory is actually Helen Patone’s brother.”

  The Patones—Helen and her husband Frank, Bohemian Lake’s ex-mayor were one of the ruling families of Bohemian Lake or at least they thought they were until Juniper exposed their scandal.

  “I guess the mill would have gone to Rory if Marjorie’s daughters hadn’t sold it off.” Pike said, almost as an afterthought, “Although, as far as I know he never did anything with it. I don’t think he even visited.”

  “Well, that’s strange that he bought it and never used it,” Juniper said, turning to Pike, “and why did he leave it to you and not his own family? Did you know Rory, Pike?”

  Pike shook her head. “No more or less than anyone else in town. He used to come into the café. He really hated Helen and Frank, so perhaps it was to spite them.”

  Eve cleared her throat. “Well, who doesn’t hate them. Actually, I heard that’s exactly why he bought it — so Frank couldn’t get his hands on it. You know who else wanted this place? One of the Stone boys, Bruce, I think, he actually tried to buy it at one point. Being descendants of Almer and Marjorie, I guess he wanted a piece of his history, but old Rory was adamant that no amount of money could make him sell.”

  Pike attempted to open the front door with the same key Eve had given her but it wouldn’t work. “No dice,” She said and kicked at the solid wood. “When is your father-in-law going to get here with the key, Juniper?” Pike glanced back at the dirt road that led from town. “I can’t wait to see inside.”

  “Jack Sr. isn’t my father-in-law just yet. Hopefully soon —if we ever have time to plan a wedding.” Juniper pulled a cellphone from her back pocket and looked at the time. “Hmm. You’re right. He should’ve been here by now.” She walked back down the porch steps to survey the place. Pike followed her.

  “Do you think we could put in more windows? I love the stone but it looks like it could be dark and cold inside or would that cost a fortune? Tell me if I’m breaking the bank when I suggest these things. I have no real point of reference here other than watching you work.”

  Juniper laughed. “We could very easily add more windows and we will. I have a few different ideas—it will depend on your preference though, and of course I’ll price the options out for you.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, I’ll have a better idea once we go inside but we could put in multiple skylights or add a wall of retractable glass doors.

  “As long as…”

  “As long as what?”

  “Just give me a second,” Juniper took a quick walk back down the steps and around the side of the house where she sketched out the idea of a solarium. Might as well be productive as long as they were locked out.

  Past the ideal solarium location was the root cellar with its thick wooden door, detached, deteriorating, and leaning against the side of the house. She backed up all the way to the riverbank to get the full view and frowned when something in one of the second-floor windows caught her eye.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” Pike asked, coming up beside her.

  “Wait for me” Eve called, catching up.

  Juniper pointed to one of the top windows. “I don’t know. I thought I saw something but it must have been a trick of the light.”

  Pike glanced upward and Eve chuckled. “Leave it to you Pike Hart, to inherit a haunted house.”

  “Well, Junie can’t be the only girl in town with one,” Pike retorted.

  Pike had been the one to introduce Juniper and Jack to their current residence: a haunted Victorian located across from Pike’s café, known originally as the Doctor’s house. They’d planned to flip the Victorian, but they’d fallen in love with the house and each other and turned it into the Gothic Inn instead. Now they ran the Inn along with their renovation business.

  “There!” Juniper pointed, “There it is again!”

  Narrowing her green eyes, Pike studied the window. “I’m sorry, but I don’t see anything.”

  “I might have seen something,” Eve hedged “…like a dark shadow passing by.”

  “It was your imagination. I didn’t see anything.”

  “I guess you’re right.” Juniper shrugged then glanced over the yard. “I wonder if that wheel still works.” She silently thought of all the gears and cranks that might be seized up. “It would be beautiful to relax by trickling water if it did.”

  They heard a rumbling off in the distance and returned to the front of the property just in time to see a white Lincoln pull up.

  “Pike?” the driver called out as she stepped from her vehicle carrying a manila envelope. The young woman slammed the car door shut and walked directly to Pike, who offered her hand in greeting.

  “Meg?” Pike said in confusion.

  “It’s nice to see you again,” Meghan Patone said as she shook Pike’s hand. “Congrats on the mill. I’m sure it’s going to make a lovely home.”

  “Yes. Thank you. What are you doing here? Are you taking your Uncle Rory’s place as the family lawyer?”

  Meg laughed, “Soon. I’m still just the law clerk for now. I’m actually just doing a favor for Jack Sr. He was on his way here but I needed him to wrap up the paperwork on my Uncle’s other place. So, we traded off. I hope that’s okay.”

  “Definitely. You remember my friend, Juniper Palmer?”

  “The contractor.” Meg replied.

  “And, of course, you know me, dear,” Eve interjected.

  “Of course.” Eve pulled her in for a hug, then Meg quickly shook Juniper’s outstretched hand and turned her attention back to Pike. None of them mentioned the last time they’d seen Meg, which had been a most unfortunate situation for all parties. “So, back to business.” Meg handed the manila envelope to Juniper. “You’ll find the keys inside, along with all the necessary papers. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me.”

  “Is there any chance someone’s inside the mill right now?” Juniper asked.

  “Inside the mill? Heaven’s no. Not unless there’s been a break in. Why? Have you seen something suspicious? These gates should have been locked. I’d better call Cody,” Meg said, marching toward the mill.

  Juniper and Pike exchanged a knowing glance, then chased after her. “Actually, we opened the gate.” Pike cleared her throat, “Eve mysteriously found the key.”

  Meg laughed as she came to a stop in front of the door. Everyone in Bohemian Lake was used to Eve’s antics and spare keys were as common as spare change to her. “Alright. Well, why did you ask if it was occupied then?”

  “Oh, these two nut balls thought they saw something in the window but I didn’t see anything,” Pike said.

  “The front door appears to be sturdy and I see no one’s mysteriously found a key for it yet,” Meg noted as she attempted to open it.

  “It’s sturdy, alright.” Juniper said, knocking on the Colonial Revival raised-panel doors. “You can’t beat real wood.”

  Meg nodded. “If you find some broken windows, let me know, but I can’t recall any break-ins on this property for as long as I’ve worked for my uncle.”

  “Great.” Pike opened the envelope and tucked her hand inside, searching for the keys.

  “I’m afraid I’m running a little late. I should get going; I’ve another appointment. Things are a little upside down at the office, with my uncle’s death.”

  “Of course.” Pike smiled, now holding a key ring in her hand.

  Meg waved and headed back up the uneven pathway to her vehicle.

  “I still can’t believe her uncle just left this place untouched. Are you excited?” Juniper asked as she watched Pike sort through the key ring, looking for the key to the front door.

  “Excited… a little nervous.” Pike grinned as she slipped a key into the vintage lock. “Who knows what we’ll find inside?”

  “That’s the understatement of the year,” Eve said as she knocked a cobweb out of her way.

  Juniper squeezed past Pike and peered up at the oak-beamed ceiling that dominat
ed the expansive front room. The air was stuffy and smelled of old wood, mold and rotting linens, and something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Their footsteps echoed, filling the mill with noise. Light from the uncovered windows highlighted the scratched floor while dust motes floated in the air. From here they could see into the main house. The peeling paint on one of the only finished walls stood out. The warm summer breeze rushed in and stirred the staleness that encircled the room.

  Juniper knocked the wall and chuckled. “The bones are good. It’ll make a solid house.”

  Pike stood in what would eventually be the foyer with her mouth agape. “But it’s a mess.”

  “Actually, this is perfect. They’ve saved us the demo work. I most likely would have had to tear everything back to the studs anyway,” Juniper said.

  “I wonder why they never finished,” Eve commented. “I bet the ghost spooked them. Ghosts hate construction, isn’t that right, Junie?”

  “Button it, Eve,” Pike said. “Junie’s doing her thing. Look at that concentrated gaze. She grinds her teeth when she’s in the zone.”

  On one side of the building was a factory style set up that had once been a sawmill and then a gristmill. A conveyer ran through the space. On the other half through a double doorway was the house. At some point in time, the two buildings had been connected.

  In the house part of the mill, the ceilings of all the first-floor rooms were twelve feet tall with ten-inch-wide crown molding, a picture rail below that, and carved plaster medallions in the centers of the ceilings that created a base for hanging chandeliers. In addition, the dining room had twelve-inch-high baseboards and a chair rail. Even though some of the crown molding, the leaf-patterned cornices, and the stone corbels were crumbling with age, the rooms had maintained their elegance. And they could easily replicate and replace the damaged embellishments.

  “Pike, what do you think of a staircase over here, leading up to a loft?” Juniper called out, envisioning the mill as a finished product. “We could put your kitchen over here at the back so that you’d have this gorgeous view of the river to soak in with your morning coffee.” Juniper marched around the large open space with an electrifying zest. “And over here, a wall of windows flanking French doors for plenty of good light or we could do the retractable glass wall like I mentioned. It could open out onto a deck. You could grab a blanket, spread it out, and nap by the river.”