The Ghost and The Haunted Mansion: A Haunted Bookshop Mystery

and I bumped into each other at the bakery and caught up.”
    I sighed with that exchange. “Another lead bites the dust,” I told Jack. “Mrs. Fromsette is just an old neighbor, and A. Briggs is her daughter. No mystery there.”
    Maybe she’s more than a neighbor. Maybe she’s the sister, too. Get her maiden name.
    Dean Pepper brought the older woman over to Seymour.
    “Ah, Mrs. Fromsette,” Seymour said. “Did you find the restroom then?”
    “Yes, dear boy. It’s been a long time, but I still remember where it is.”
    “Can I take your wrap?” he asked.
    Mrs. Fromsette shook her head vigorously. “No!” She pulled the black shawl around her more tightly, her blue eyes suddenly looking like a wounded animal’s.
    Everyone around the older woman froze, Seymour included. His mouth went slack and he didn’t appear to know what to do or say. Nobody did.
    After a moment of silence, Mrs. Fromsette obviously realized her inappropriate reaction and shook her head. Her fingers twitching nervously, she forced a smile and changed the subject, gesturing broadly to the silver-framed photograph of Miss Todd.
    “It’s good to see this place so full of life again,” she said with exaggerated cheerfulness—as if trying to will normalcy back into the moment. “Miss Todd was so reclusive.”
    “You knew her well?” I asked, stepping up. I quickly introduced myself.
    “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. McClure. No, I didn’t know her that well,” Mrs. Fromsette replied. “She was always a very aloof, standoffish neighbor.”
    “Did you know she had a sister?”
    “Yes, I did,” the woman replied with a nod. “I never met her, but Timothea once mentioned her to me. She said they had a falling-out many decades ago.”
    Listen up, doll. Could be the lead you’re looking for.
    I leaned closer. “Do you know her name?”
    Mrs. Fromsette shook her head. “I’m sorry, dear. I’m sure it was Todd at one time. But Timothea said her sister married and moved to Newport. Mr. Stoddard must know more. Emory Stoddard is the lawyer who handled all of Miss Todd’s affairs. He had an office in Newport until recently. Now I believe he’s working out of Millstone.”
    “I know Mr. Stoddard. We’ve met,” I said aloud, and to Jack, I silently said—
    “Did you hear that? Stoddard had an office in Newport. That confirms what I already suspected.”
    Yeah, it’s a big step down for lawyer boy, all right, baby. Sounds like the man’s in dire straights.
    “Dire enough to maybe arrange the death of his client? You heard Mrs. Fromsette. She believes Miss Todd’s sister resides in Newport. I’ll bet the sister’s the one who hooked up Miss Todd with Stoddard’s firm in the first place.”
    Mrs. Fromsette was still speaking to me. “. . . and I did want to meet Mr. Tarnish. I understand he was very kind to Miss Todd in her last days.”
    “She was a nice lady.”
    “And you’re a very nice man,” April said, still clinging to Seymour’s arm.
    Seymour blushed at the attention. Dean Pepper blinked in surprise. Brainert’s Spock eyebrow rose.
    “Is she flirting with him?” I whispered.
    “Undoubtedly,” Brainert replied. “Can’t imagine why.”
    New money’s the oldest aphrodisiac. Seymour’s grown real attractive since he’s become landed gentry.
    Meanwhile, Dean Pepper glanced at his watch. “I’m sorry to say I have to go. I’m giving a lecture about John Milton at the Episcopal Church tomorrow afternoon, and I haven’t even written it yet.”
    “Thanks for coming, Wendell,” Seymour said.
    April smiled and leaned closer to the mailman. “Would you mind showing me around?”
    Seymour nodded like crazy. “Sure.”
    She pointed. “How about telling me about that poster above the mantel?”
    “Love to!” Seymour grinned. “The actor is Pierce Arm-strong. I actually met the gentleman . . .”
    I have to admit, I was pretty surprised to see a woman like April looking up at Seymour Tarnish with flirty female interest—then again, I probably would have been surprised to see any woman doing the same. On the other hand, the mailman had transformed himself, and it wasn’t just the smoking jacket and Ralph Lauren Purple Label. Cranky Seymour was virtually bubbling over with good cheer and masculine confidence. It was sort of attractive.
    “You know, Jack, for the first time I can actually see marriage in Seymour’s future.”
    What the hell are you doing just standing there?!
    I jumped at the chill