Lochlan Museum: The Case of the Collectible Killer Read online

  “Oh, okay,” Gina said. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone. Or—were you going to do that, Alec?”

  “Sure. I’ll do it,” he replied.

  “Alright then,” Gina said, and hugged Claire again. “I’m so glad you’re here! We need to get together sometime, outside of work.”

  “Point me in the direction of the next single-girls’ get-together, and I’m there,” Claire replied.

  “Great,” Gina smiled. “I’ll find out, and let you know.”

  Gina went to rejoin Jake, her fiancé, and Alec stood.

  “Shall we? It’s either that, or be interrupted every couple of minutes, as the rest of the group realizes there’s new blood here.”

  “You make it sound so serious,” Claire replied.

  “Incredibly serious. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since we had a new member join?”

  “No,” she replied.

  “Neither do I,” he said, and she laughed. He was probably joking. Although… maybe not. He didn’t look like he was.

  He touched her elbow lightly and guided her from table to table, stopping at each to introduce her to the members of the paired-up group.

  Everyone was incredibly nice, excited to see someone new for a change, and interested in getting to know her.

  They were great, but she wondered how Alec stood being the only single person in the singles group. Was it always that way? How much turnover was there in this group? Or was there any at all? Maybe the paired-up group was fast on its way to becoming another married group. She was a little surprised at the number of engagement rings in evidence. Were engaged people still considered single? That didn’t seem right, but what did she know.

  At least she and Alec had each other. As friends, of course, she sternly reminded herself. Still, that was better than nothing.

  There was one thing to be said for being the only two single people in town… she didn’t have to worry about some other woman stealing her friend. That’s how it felt every time it happened in the past, anyway. It was comforting to know that here, at least for now, the risk of going through that again was minimal.

  Alec led Claire back to their table, and they took their seats. He handed her a menu, and she looked over it.

  “I can’t believe the selection,” she said in amazement.

  “It’s great, isn’t it,” he said.

  “I see why this is the after-church hangout place. I’m amazed Marlena didn’t insist on meeting here.”

  “Have you heard from her?” Alec wondered.

  “Nope. Not a thing.”

  “That’s too bad,” he said sympathetically.

  “Well… you have a brother and sister,” she said, as she contemplated her menu options. “I guess you get along.”

  “Yes. We do,” he acknowledged.

  “I never had siblings. So… maybe the thought of being a permanent only child isn’t as tough a pill to swallow for me, as it is for you.”

  “Maybe so. It’s sad, though. Your sister has no idea what she’s missing out on.”

  “She’s not likely to find out. I wonder if Mrs. Frederick knows anything that will explain why Marlena doesn’t like me.”

  “It can’t be about you, personally,” Alec replied. “She doesn’t even know you. Besides, you’re nice, you’re fun to be around. What’s not to like? Aside from getting creamed at shooting baskets.”

  Claire laughed, and he smiled.

  “Well, I think your problem, is that you’ve spent too much time playing alone.”

  “Is that it?” he asked as seriously as he could.

  “Yes. You need competition. Maybe now that you have it, you’ll improve your game.”

  “Here’s hoping,” he replied. “We should play after work tomorrow, before we get down to listening to that box of CDs. Don’t forget there are movies to watch, too.”

  “As if I could! I’m a lot more interested in seeing what the banker’s boxes hold.”

  The waitress arrived, and they placed their orders. In a satisfyingly short amount of time, she was back again with their coffee drinks and desserts. Rather than scald herself, Claire settled for savoring the aroma of the freshly brewed and prepared latte, as she tried the cheesecake on the plate in front of her.

  “Now, aren’t you glad I convinced you?” Alec smiled, as he tried his own.

  “Yes! This is so much better than pound cake. I guess. This place might do that better than anyone else, too. So who knows.”

  Stars steadily appeared, filling the night sky with glittering light. Claire studied the rest of the paired-up group as she enjoyed her dessert and latte.

  “What are you thinking?” Alec wondered.

  “I’m thinking how depressing it would be to be the only truly single person in this group. What would you do… pull up a chair to one of the couple’s tables? And how would you decide which couple? And how awkward that would be, anyway,” she replied, and shuddered a little. “Did you ever come here alone?”

  The breeze picked up slightly, and in the east, Claire saw a faraway flash of light. She counted the seconds between that, and the faint sound of thunder. It wasn’t close, but that could change.

  “This didn’t start out as a paired-up group,” Alec replied. “So yes. I did at one time, then I stopped. I may start again, as long as you’ll come with me.”

  Claire glanced at him briefly, then reminded herself she was a dunce at reading guys, and focused on finishing her dessert.

  “This is amazing,” she said, pushing aside her empty plate and taking a sip of her latte. “Even if the price was to suffer as the solo member of a group of duos, it might be worth it.”

  “Then I’ll take that as a yes,” he smiled. She gave him another glance.

  “What was the question?”

  The breeze gusted, carrying with it the scent of rain. It gleefully snatched the unattended napkins from the tables. It flung them with reckless abandon, releasing them briefly, then snatching them away again. Thunder rumbled louder, and stars began to fade from sight.

  Claire and Alec hurried to reclaim the napkins carried far and wide by the recalcitrant wind, as did the rest of their group.

  “Bring your drink, and let’s go,” Alec said, raising his voice so he could be heard. Claire nodded and carried her cup in one hand, and tried to keep her hair out of her eyes with the other. The wind was having as much fun with it, as it did the napkins, and she could barely see.

  Everyone else had the same idea as Alec, and headed for the coffee shop door. That’s what she saw, anyway, in the few brief glimpses she caught. Alec guided her along with him, and finally they made it inside. She stood with the other girls as they brushed their hair out of their eyes and exclaimed over the sudden change in the weather, and the guys took care of the bills.

  Out of consideration for Claire, one of the girls was organizing a girls-only get-together. Since she decided to do so after meeting Claire less than an hour ago, those plans were in the infant stage. Everyone was eager to be involved. By the time Alec returned, the only thing Claire was sure of, was that Gina would give her the details at work tomorrow.

  “Ready to go?” he asked. “It isn’t raining. Yet.”

  “There’s no time like the present,” she promptly replied. They said goodbye to Alec’s old friends, and Claire’s new ones, and headed to the parking lot.

  Chapter 9

  The breeze discarded all pretense of playfulness shortly after chasing them inside the coffee shop. Now it whipped and lashed harshly, making conversation impossible. Staying on one’s feet wasn’t all that easy to manage either, Claire thought ruefully. The tree limbs flailed in the indomitable wind, the lit branches now spectral and grotesque, rather than beautiful.

  It was a relief to be back in the truck, with the doors closed.

  She brushed her hair out of her face and wondered if there was any hope of ever untangling it.

  “Do you often have storms come up like this?” she asked, as s
he tried to catch the breath that the wind snatched away.

  “Not by my definition,” Alec replied, as he backed onto the street and turned in the direction of the museum. Lightning split the sky, followed by a deafening blast of thunder. “It’s a great night for that unofficial museum tour.”

  Claire laughed at that.

  “Yeah, well… maybe we’ll hear laughter in the sorting room when no one’s there. That does mean we’ll have to leave first, of course.”

  “Of course,” Alec smiled. He pulled into the empty employee parking lot at the museum, and parked parallel to the door. “Do you suppose I’ll get a ticket for this?”

  “I can guarantee I’ll get you off, if you do,” she replied. He was joking, of course. It was no one’s business, besides the Lochlans, who parked there, or how they parked. “On the count of three, let’s make a run for it.”

  Claire clutched her ID in one hand, and her keys in the other.

  “I’ll come around for you,” he bargained. “Then, we’ll run for it.”

  Claire held up her hands, which were full, and shrugged.

  “Sure. We’ll go with your plan.”

  Rain pelted the windshield as Alec flung open the door, jumped out, and ran to the passenger’s side. He threw open Claire’s door, and they made a mad dash for the building as the rain came down in earnest. With a swipe of her ID and a turn of the key, the door opened, and they escaped inside.

  They stood in the dark, breathing hard, as Claire felt alongside the doorframe for the switch.

  The high windows lit brilliantly, casting an eerie flickering light over the contents of the room, as a deafening blast of thunder rattled the windows.

  “What—was that?” Alec exclaimed quietly, as the room was plunged into darkness once more.

  “I suppose you’re referring to the Egyptian sarcophagus? It’s probably a replica, if that’s what has you concerned. It probably isn’t occupied… although… who can say for sure? I didn’t have time to check earlier, and Mr. Edwards is said to be eccentric…”

  “How gruesome. There is electric lighting in this place… isn’t there?” Alec asked, feeling of the wall.

  “There was,” Claire replied ominously. “I thought the switch was here by the door…”

  “Did I say you were kind, earlier?” he asked wryly, as he located the switch, and the sorting room was filled with light. They both squinted and shielded their eyes. “If so, I take it back.”

  “No, I believe you said I was nice. And fun to be around.”

  “Let me amend that, and add cruel sense of humor,” he retorted, and she laughed. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he looked at the sarcophagus. And everything else piled on that side of the sorting room. “What—where did all this come from?”

  A large wardrobe, an antique four poster bed with matching dresser, chest of drawers, and nightstands, along with a dining room table and chairs, china cabinet, and a houseful of other furniture, stood beside a mountain of boxes, the sarcophagus, and several large statues from multiple time periods.

  “It came in the semi that delivered here late this afternoon,” Claire replied, following his gaze. “I haven’t had time to look it over. I have a feeling this is going to be a gold mine for the museum, though. I suspect most of it will go to the antique store.”

  “This—is crazy,” he said in amazement. “How in the world are you supposed to go through all this? Plus, you’ve got the rest of the sorting room to do.”

  Claire looked at the tables, which were pushed together and piled high to make room for Mr. Edwards’ estate.

  “I admit, this daunts even me. And I love this sort of thing. But help is on the way. The new guy starts Saturday, and Mr. Lochlan did say they may hire a couple of additional helpers.”

  “That’s right, you’re working Saturday… so am I. Are you taking comp time?”

  “I have no idea,” Claire replied, leading the way to the crammed sorting tables. “Why do you ask?”

  “Because we’ve got the residents of Primrose Lane to question about the remains of their community-wide garage sale. Your schedule is flexible, right?”

  “Yes… my hours don’t have to match the museum’s.”

  “Then take off tomorrow. At least part of the day. We’ll talk to people and see what we can find out. We’ll get as much done as we can before you have to leave for Mrs. Frederick’s.”

  “Okay… Unless we find what the searcher is searching for, tonight. See any banker’s boxes?”

  “No,” Alec replied. He looked a little overwhelmed.

  “Yes, it’s a mountain,” Claire conceded. “But we’re not hunting a needle. Pick a place, and start looking. Here, you take that side of the table, and I’ll take this.”

  Claire’s eyes scanned the items in front of her, and underneath the table, as she rearranged just enough to be certain the banker’s boxes weren’t lurking out of sight. She moved slowly from one end to the other, and Alec followed her lead.

  “Even if we find out what the residents of Primrose Lane donated… is there any chance we’ll find it all, without searching the entire place?” he questioned.

  “No,” Claire promptly replied. “Not anymore. Not with the way everything got jumbled together, today, to make room for Mr. Edwards’ estate. Still, it will give us specific items to focus on, as we find them.”

  Rain battered against the roof and lashed in waves at the windows and large, rolling door. Lightning flashed, thunder following on its heels.

  “That was close,” Alec said, speaking loudly to be heard over the storm. Claire nodded, and wondered how long it would last. It couldn’t be safe to drive in this. Sight would be useless.

  They reached the end of the first table, and moved to the next. Several exciting finds caught her eye, but she reigned in her enthusiasm and focused on the task at hand.

  There was no shortage of boxes. Cardboard, music, recipe, cigar, and hat, to name but a few. The space between the tables grew narrow, until it was impossible to search both sides at once. Alec shoved the tables together one at a time, and he and Claire started at each end and met in the middle.

  As they focused on the monumental task at hand, the wind began to quiet and the lightning to fade, along with the thunder. The rain beat steadily on the roof, but the violence of the storm was passed.

  Claire brushed her hair out of her eyes with the back of her hand, and looked around.

  “What?” Alec wondered, noticing her studious expression.

  “I’m thinking… if I was Mr. Lochlan… and I found a desk chair with a couple of boxes in it, parked by the door… I’d wheel it in, and…”

  She left the table they were searching, and went to the area where furniture waited to be sorted.

  “You’d wheel it over here, then move the boxes to a table,” Alec said, catching on. He followed her, and they scanned the jam-packed furniture.

  “There!” she said, pointing to a desk chair. On the table beside it, a corner of a banker’s box was visible underneath a pile of clothing.

  “Good job, Nancy,” Alec grinned, giving her a high five. “Now to tunnel over there…”

  He made a careful path between the home furnishings and home goods, and they edged closer to their destination.

  “There’s the second box,” he said, pointing in the direction of the furniture.

  “Where?” she asked, trying to see around him.

  “On the floor, it’s on the furniture side. Now, let’s hope these are the only two banker’s boxes in the room,” he said. He reached the table, and gave Claire as much room as he could so she could squeeze past. While she uncovered the first box, he maneuvered the second out from under a rickety desk. “It’s not all that heavy. How about yours?”

  “I can manage,” she replied.

  She lifted the first box, which wasn’t too bad, really… and maneuvered back through the narrow path, to the small amount of open floor space left in the large room. Alec followed, with the second
. They set both boxes down, then knelt beside them. He watched, while Claire lifted out the contents.

  “Two three ring binders… both empty. A penholder, pens, and pencils… a watch… no engraving. Nice watch, though. A stress ball…”

  “What’s the logo?” Alec asked, as he held out his hand. She handed it to him, and he read. “Variant Research Laboratories, a division of Intersect.”

  “Variant Research?” Claire made a face. “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “Maybe it was the only name they could come up with that wasn’t already taken,” he suggested.

  “I can see why!” she laughed a little, then returned to taking inventory. “Look, there’s a stapler. A really ancient-looking one.”

  “That, penholders, pens, and pencils, were all taken from people’s homes,” Alec pointed out.

  “They were, and so were clock radios. There’s one right here. There’s also a mug.”

  “It has feet,” Alec commented. “Really big feet.”

  “You’re right, most mugs have smaller feet than this.”

  “Have they? I hadn’t noticed,” he said dryly. “This could classify as a collectible ceramic.”

  “It could. Good point,” she replied. “Check out this mousepad.”

  “Variant Research Laboratories,” he read.

  “I’m sensing a theme.”

  “It’s promotional material,” Alec noted. “So is this pen, and… this is a paper coaster from a restaurant in Ashland.”

  “There’s also a package of matches advertising Rudy’s Pub, a package of Command adhesive strips, an open package of licorice, orange Tic Tacs, and… change.”

  “Change?” he asked, his eyebrows knitting.

  “That’s right. Quarters, nickels, dimes, and a whole lot of pennies.”

  Alec frowned a little as he studied the handfuls of change she lifted out, and set on the floor.

  “Claire… why would someone put money in a box of items they planned to donate?” he wondered.

  “Why would someone donate licorice or Tic Tacs?” Claire countered.

  “Exactly, why would anyone do that? Why not toss these open packages? Why not pocket the change? At least the quarters. Why not use this claim ticket, and pick up the dry cleaning?” he persisted, lifting one out of the box.