The Key in the Attic(65)

Sanders’s eyes started to burn. STONY POINT WOMAN FINDS ANTIQUE TREASURE. And there was a picture of that Brock woman standing there holding a fortune in diamonds and pearls and rubies with that miserable clock on the mantel behind her. He scanned the article.

Mary Beth Brock of Stony Point never knew there was a fortune in the family … hidden in the clock for over 150 years … clues were hidden in various antique items passed down from her great-great-grandmother Angeline… solved with the help of her friends Annie Dawson and Alice MacFarlane … jewels were appraised at more than a half-million dollars.

More than a half-million dollars.

Sanders closed his eyes, wondering if he was going to burst out laughing or just be sick. He’d had it in his hands. Over half a million bucks right in his hands, and he’d let a bunch of old women con him out of it. Of all the—

He wiped the cold sweat off his upper lip and realized he still had that last card crumpled in his fist. Finally, he looked at it. Nine of hearts. A useless old nine of hearts.

Murphy elbowed him. “Hey, you gonna play or meditate?”

Sanders threw his hand onto the table. “I fold.”

“Come to papa,” Dave crowed, raking in his winnings.

Eric started shuffling the deck. “Must be all kinds of stuff squirreled away in clocks and tins and things all over the country. Old furniture sometimes has a lot of hidey-holes. You see much of that in your business, Frank? … Frank?”

Sanders tossed in his ante. “Shut up and deal.”

****

“You’re all still here!”

Mary Beth hurried into A Stitch in Time carrying a large white envelope with the name of a local title company blazoned in red across it. It was fairly bursting with papers. So much had happened in the weeks since Annie had found that first little key.

Annie pulled her over into the circle of chairs where she and the other members of the Hook and Needle Club had been packing up their things.

“We weren’t about to leave until you got back. How did it go?”

Before Mary Beth could answer, the bell on the front door jingled, and Ian Butler hurried in.

“I hope I’m not interrupting your meeting, but I saw you were back, and I thought I’d come over and congratulate you. Everything go as planned?”

Mary Beth patted the bulging envelope. “It’s all legal. I own the shop, Melanie owns the theater, and I have no more money troubles.” She grinned. “If I’m careful. Oh, and Mr. Huggins said his wife is doing really well now. She had her surgery two weeks ago, and rehab is going great. He looked a lot less worried than I’ve seen him in a long, long time.”

“Poor old Frank Sanders. He had the treasure in his hands all along.” Ian chuckled as he sat down on the arm of one of the overstuffed chairs. “If he could only see you now.”

“He should be in jail,” Peggy grumbled, but Mary Beth only smiled.

“He really didn’t do anybody much harm but himself, and I probably would never have found the jewels if not for him. And Mandy’s little acting job more than repaid me for that broken window. It seems like everything that was meant to hurt me turned out to be for my good. I can’t complain about that.”

“And I can’t complain about the nice little chat I had with the corporate planner of SLR & FFH, Ms. McMillan.” Ian winked at Annie. “I did have a chance to let her know Mr. Huggins and Stony Point regret that there will not be a new Burly Boy’s Burger Barn on Main Street.”

Alice giggled. “I suppose she wasn’t too happy about that.”

“I think she was more astonished than anything,” Ian said. “She made it pretty clear that she’s used to getting her own way. I guess she’ll get over it.”

Annie smiled at him. “I’m so glad. I love Stony Point just as it is.”

“Me too!” Mary Beth felt like throwing a party or tap-dancing across the front counter of the store. She contented herself with giving Annie a hug. “Me too!” she exclaimed again for emphasis.

Annie returned the hug and then hesitated. “And how was Melanie?”

Mary Beth couldn’t help beaming at her. “We had a nice talk after all the paperwork was done. She and Amy are going to meet me for lunch next week when they’re in Portland. Melanie and I are not best friends yet, but I think we’re heading in the right direction.”

“It’s a miracle.”

Mary Beth gave her friend another big hug. “A miracle that started with a little key in Annie’s attic.”