The morning after Mel left for Bridgeport, I found Maureen in the now empty nursery, packing away the last of Colt's baby things. I know she wants another baby, but I've been putting her off due to the whole Mel and El situation. Maybe it's time to change that.
"I'll only be gone a week, I'll be back before you know it. I wish you could come to France with me, but the doctor says you shouldn't travel in your condition."
"I know, I'll just miss you, that's all."
She looked so dejected, I almost felt bad about leaving.
"It's an important client, it'll be a huge career boost if I can find this information. I"ll be back as soon as I can."
"I love you, babe. I'll call you when I get there."
Now to break the news to Colt. I found him in Maureen's art studio. He is so much like his mom, we can't keep him away from that easel.
"I have to go to France for a few days. You be good for your mom, hear me?"
"I wanna come with you!"
"Not this time, champ. You mom needs you here. I'll be back before you know it."
I was pleasantly surprised when my contact in Champs Les Sims turned out to be the extremely alluring young woman who ran the local bookstore.
"Ah, Monsieur Greenbow, yes, I am Brigitte Girard. I have been expecting you."
She winked at me as she pulled out a few dusty volumes from under the counter.
"I think these may be what you are looking for."
I flipped quickly through the brittle pages. Yep, the dates and locations look right, but I'll need to study them to be sure. Suddenly, on a hunch, I turned back to Brigitte.
"Say, would you mind taking a look at this?"
I pulled the faded parchment I'd found in Gustave's book out of my wallet. It looked to be from the same time period as the book I was examining. She barely glanced at it the diagram before handing it back to me, her hand shaking slightly.
"No...no, this is.. nothing I would be familiar with."
I knew in an instant she was hiding something, but I nonchalantly took a seat at one of the tables, and quickly located the information I was seeking. I sat a little longer, watching her out of the corner of my eye. I could swear she was doing the same to me. After a while, I casually stood and brought the books back to the counter.
"Thank you so much, Mademoiselle Girard, you have been a great help. I am staying at the cottage near the old nectary, if you find anything else that might be of interest. Anything at all."
I met and held her gaze for a few seconds, and she nodded almost imperceptibly.
Sure enough, who should show up on my doorstep late that night but Mademoiselle Brigitte. She swept past me into the sitting room without a word.
"Sooo... I take it you have new information for me? About the old diagram, I hope?"
I tried for a business-like tone, but it was hard, with her... ah... assets drawing my glance.
"All in good time, mi amour, all in good time."
Hmmm, so this is how it's going to be....
I tried not to stare too hard at her ...uh.. assets.
She smiled seductively.
"I was not completely truthful today..regarding your drawing. I... could be convinced to divulge a secret... in exchange for a small favor."
"What did you have in mind?"
"Surely a handsome and exotic man such as yourself knows how to please a woman."
For just a second my thoughts turned to Maureen, but I stubbornly shoved her to the back of my mind. If this is what it takes to restore our family inheritance, then so be it.
Evidently Brigitte decided I was taking too long, as she leaned in for a kiss. As our lips touched, all thoughts of Maureen flew straight out of my head, and I was consumed with desire.
"So," I began later, "time to enlighten me as to this secret of yours."
"First, tell me how you came to have the drawing."
"I found it, stuck in a book written by my great-grandfather. He was from here, maybe you've heard of him - Gustave Delven."
Her eyes widened.
"I should not be telling you this, mi amour. But you have convinced me. Let me see your parchment again. See here? This small design at the top of the paper? It is the old Landgraab coat of arms. And see the outline of a nectar bottle in the center of it? This design was used only for the short time they lived at the nectary. I believe this points to a secret cache somewhere inside the old house. Now, enough talk, come kiss me again."
"I do not know why you want to try this, mi amour. I have told you, no one is able to enter this place, and believe me, many have tried. Legend has that it is haunted, and the ghosts do not allow entry."
I shrugged and pulled out my lock picking set.
"We'll see about that. I haven't found a lock yet I couldn't handle."
I could see the expression on her face vacillate between fear and curiosity as I worked on the lock.
Finally the old wooden door creaked open, and we stepped inside.
"See? No ghosts, nothing to be afraid of here. It's just an old house. Well kept up, too by the looks of it."
"But, mi amour," she whispered, a trace of fear still in her eyes, "there is no caretaker. As I said, no one has been inside since before anyone can remember. I still do not understand how we are standing here this moment."
"Nonsense," I replied, taking her hand. "Come on, let's see what we can find."
The whole place was totally devoid of furniture, or any hint of a secret panel or door, until we reached the third floor. How odd, one bookcase in the corner of the third floor bedroom. And what an odd arrangement of books on the middle shelf. Suddenly the dots connected in my head and I pulled out the parchment. Okay, pull this book, push that one in - yes! A hidden panel slowly slid back, revealing a set of dials.
I checked the parchment again, and set the dials using the list of numbers. Success! I surreptitiously slipped the legal papers that were lying in the wall safe, into my jacket, then called to Brigitte.
"Look here! Quite a treasure trove. Gems, ancient coins, and some old daguerreotypes of the mansion. They must have been in a real hurry, to leave all this behind. You wanna split it with me, since you helped me find it?"
She shook her head.
"I do not wish to anger the spirits that haunt this place. They do not seem to to bother you, perhaps since you are Delven's blood? But I will not risk it."
I shrugged and planted a small kiss on her face.
"Okay then, if that's what you want. I still think you're over reacting to old legends, but I do appreciate all your help."
While Brigitte headed to her shop, I raced back to the cottage to check out the papers I had found - several old legal documents, and one scrap of dogeared paper with a scrawled note: They made me sign, but I'll have the last laugh. This document will never see the light of ........at this point the scrawl became illegible and it looked as if the pen was dragged heavily across the thin parchment until it ripped through.
I set it aside for now, and spent a long two days pouring over the documents, and researching online. I know, boring stuff, but hey, detective work can't always be glamorous and exciting.
Finally when I was certain I had all my ducks in a row, I packed it all up and headed to the town registrar of deeds, who as it turned out also happened to own the general store. Go figure.
"Excuse me, Monseuir, I believe I have some documents here that prove that I am the rightful owner of the abandoned nectary."
"Impossible! I stand by my records. We do not need foreigners coming 'round to stir up trouble. You are meddling in affairs you do not understand."
Hmm, what is this guy's problem? He won't even look at my stuff? And what's with the veiled threat? Well, two can play this game.
I pulled out my magnifying glass for effect and pretended to inspect one of the gnomes in the window.
"It would really be too bad if people were to find out your garden gnomes were cheap imitations now, wouldn't it? And that awful dried food you sell here, I think I will just send a sample away for analysis. I'm sure everyone would love to know exactly what's in it."
He came around real fast after that.
"You do not play fair, Monsieur Greenbow."
I just grinned and presented the quit claim deed signed by old Landgraab himself, and my proof as next of kin. And after another boring morning of paperwork, I am now the proud owner of the no-longer-abandoned nectary.
It was my last day in France, and I did something I hadn't done since I was a kid. I'd forgotten how relaxing fishing can be. My thoughts wandered far and wide that afternoon.
Maureen would be so excited about the estate, I hoped. No need for her to ever find out about Brigitte. I only did what was necessary. I wonder who made old Landgraab sign the quit claim deed. And what if this place is really haunted. I wish mom were still alive, she'd be able to tell.
I wonder what my pendant thinks of this place. Yup, I thought so, glowing ever so slightly, even in the sun.
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