The Ghost and The Haunted Mansion: A Haunted Bookshop Mystery

and Chez Finch just got that rave review in the Providence paper.”
    “How did Miss Todd respond to this offer?” Seymour asked.
    “As you know, Timothea was getting on in years and was not in the best of health. I tried to convince her to take the deal, move to a beautiful seaside retirement home in Newport, but she refused.”
    Stoddard placed his palms down on the desk and leaned forward. “In fact, it was shortly after this letter arrived that Miss Todd altered the will in your favor.”
    “Who was to inherit the house before the amendment?” I asked.
    Mr. Stoddard’s gaze shifted to me. “Miss Todd has a surviving sister, who was originally named in the will.”
    “A sister?” I said. I turned to my aunt. “Did you know Miss Todd had a living sister?”
    Aunt Sadie shook her head. “She never mentioned one.”
    I recalled the well-dressed older woman we’d passed on our way into Stoddard’s office—the one with the Mercedes, the chauffeur, and the chilly attitude. I leaned toward the lawyer.
    “Who is this sister? What’s her name? Was it the older woman who had the appointment before ours?”
    Mr. Stoddard frowned. “For now, at her request, the identity of Miss Todd’s sister is to remain a private matter.” He turned to Seymour. “Of course, the terms of Miss Todd’s will are quite restrictive, and quite clear. You are not to sell or lease the house, lest you risk losing the monies from the trust fund. However . . .” The lawyer paused. “If you actually did wish to sell the property for the million-dollar offer, the money from the trust fund would become moot, anyway. Clearly, you would no longer need it.”
    “Yeah,” Seymour said, nodding. “I understand.”
    “So, although Miss Todd wanted you to keep the house, it’s really up to you, Mr. Tarnish. Once the title is legally transferred—as I mentioned, in six to eight weeks—you are free to ignore Miss Todd’s wishes and dispose of the property in any way you see fit. And, of course, I’m in a position to expedite the tangle of legal issues and paperwork. I am at your service.”
    “Thanks, Mr. Stoddard,” Seymour said. “I mean, if I decide to sell, you’ll be the guy I call—seeing as how you’re the only lawyer I know!” He laughed. “But like I said, there’s no way I’m going to pass up this chance to be part of the Larchmont set.”
    A gust of chilly air tickled the nape of my neck.
    Just like a slip-and-fall school graduate to talk out of both sides of his mouth.
    “It does sound like Mr. Stoddard is pushing Seymour to sell,” I quietly told the ghost. “And with Seymour knowing nothing about how to broker a sale, he’d obviously hire Stoddard to handle the Lindsey-Tilton bunch—for a sizeable commission.”
    Didn’t I warn you? Lawyers are always figuring the angles. And by the look of this dump, I’d say Mr. Stoddard isn’t exactly prosperous, which probably rankles him plenty, seeing as how he’s dressed for success.
    “I think he was at one time. Successful, I mean. Look at the expensive leather chairs in this room, the framed paintings. He obviously brought these from another location. And did you notice there isn’t any signage with his name on it? The building is just marked with a numbered street address. I’m sure this is some sort of hastily thrown-together office.”
    I think you’re on to something there, honey. I mean, Girl in Black out front—does she strike you as your average legal secretary?
    “Not even close.”
    Well, his downgrade in digs was pretty recent. That’s clear.
    “What’s not so clear is whether the man was desperate enough for money to commit murder.”
    Keep your peepers open, doll. And find out one more thing.
    “What?”
    If Seymour’s getting the property, then someone else is getting the shaft.
    My eyes opened wider at that. “Of course—Miss Todd’s sister.”
    I cleared my throat. “Mr. Stoddard, I have a question. Isn’t Miss Todd’s sister upset about not being left the Larchmont property? I mean, can’t she contest the will?”
    Stoddard nodded. “The woman could take legal action, but I doubt she will. You see, Miss Todd and her sister were estranged for decades—and the sister has told me she wants nothing to do with the house. Although if Seymour were to die before the title is legally transferred, the property would automatically revert to Miss Todd’s closest living relative, which would be her sister.”
    “Why doesn’t the