A Groom wirh a View

was still a lot more that went missing somewhere.“
    “Half the families in probate court believe the same thing, Jane,“ Mel said.
    “But in this case, it seems like it could be possible,“ she replied. “And as Shelley has pointed out, it would have been likely that he was the sort of person who was clever enough to hide money away for his family to keep it from being taxed. Lots of very wealthy people are wary of giving the government more than their fair share of an estate. At least, that’s what I hear.”
    Mel looked rather blank. “Interesting, I guess, but what has it got to do with anything?“
    “I think that’s why shadowy figures were creeping around in the dark last night. The night Mrs. Crossthwait died,“ Jane said. “I feel pretty sure one or both of the aunts took down some of those pictures in the main room and took them apart to see if there might be valuable documents hidden in them.“
    “And accidentally knocked Mrs. Crossthwait down the stairs?“
    “Or purposely, maybe,“ Jane said. “When I was in the main room, someone shined a flashlight in my eyes for a second, then wouldn’t respond when I called out. And as I made my way back tomy room, somebody brushed by me going in the opposite direction. So there were at least two people roaming around to no good purpose. Maybe more.“
    “And you think this has to do with the hidden treasure,“ Mel said. Then he sighed. “Well, I’d feel pretty much of a fool if I ignored this nonsense and it turned out to be relevant. I think I’ll drive into town and talk to the local officials again. Yes, in fact, that’s a good idea. Cops always know where to get a good meal.“
    “Oh, Mel. There’s something else. Dwayne Hessling’s room was trashed this afternoon.”
    “Trashed?“
    “Everything dumped out of his suitcase, clothes deliberately rumpled up, Dwayne’s foul aftershave poured all over the bed and toiletries assigned to the toilet.“
    “Probably his friends’ idea of a practical joke.“
    “We don’t think so,“ Shelley put in. “We think they’re ambitious young men who have their imaginations fired up by Dwayne’s financial/marital success. They’d be fools not to be on their best behavior while they’re here. And Dwayne was furious about it. If he were part of a crowd that ran to that kind of ‘joke,’ I don’t think he’d have been so angry.
    Mel had listened seriously. “Okay. You two could be right. But what do you figure the real point was?“
    “It looked to me like a threat of some kind. A warning, I think,“ Jane said. “Do such-and-such and worse things will happen to you. There was a very destructive, nasty feeling in that room.“
    “And do you figure this has something to do with Mrs. Crossthwait’s death, the silly treasure story, or Uncle Joe’s birth circumstances as well?“
    “You’re verging on sarcasm, aren’t you?“ Jane said.
    “Not verging. Wading right in,“ Mel said.
    Jane was tired and cranky. But she knew better than to say anything she’d later regret. “We’re just telling you what we know and think that the local police might not have come across. If you want to pass it along, fine. If you don’t, that’s okay, too.”
    Mel was more chastised by this approach than he would have been if she’d been nasty. “Okay. I see your point. I’ll go hunt down Officer Smith and pass this along while I try to find out what else he might know. Sure you don’t want to come along?“
    “No, I like prissy chicken salad. The prissier the better,“ Jane said.

Thirteen

    Mel ended up having dinner with officer John Smith at an old roadhouse that didn’t even have a sign in front. It was strictly a neighborhood male hangout and specialized in excellent chicken fried steak and mediocre beer.
    “I’d be glad for the company,“ Smith said when Mel offered to treat him to dinner. “My wife’s visiting her mother with the kids and I’m a lousy cook. Listen, if you’d like, let me invite somebody else along, too.“
    “Sure,“ Mel had said.
    Smith made a phone call and they set out for the roadhouse. “I’ve asked Gus Ambler to meet us. He’s a good man who was county sheriff for a dog’s age. If there’s any background on the lodge that would help us, Ambler’ll know all about it.”
    Gus Ambler looked like a tough, fat little fighting cock. What little hair he still had was short and white, but he had the coloring of a once-redhead. Mel knew from what Smith