Page 22 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“Because they weren’t finished robbing the place?” Liam guessed, his eyes sifting through the pile of jewelry, and he frowned. “I don’t see Lila’s locket.” He looked at Dawn and then moved closer, careful not to touch anything. “Do you see your watch?”
“No!” Dawn frowned. “Maybe it’s behind the cloak or somewhere else in the room.” She looked around.
“We’ll have to wait for the police,” Liam said, feeling frustrated.
CHAPTER 5
The Plum Island Library was a quaint, if somewhat old-fashioned, treasure trove of local history, its shelves and archives brimming with tales and records of the community’s past. The musty smell of old books and the quiet hum of the air conditioning added to the library’s charm as Lila and Harper navigated through rows of archives and ancient microfilm machines.
“Can you believe people used to use these regularly?” Harper whispered, her fingers tracing the contours of the bulky microfilm reader they had just fired up. The machine hummed to life, projecting images of old newspaper clippings onto the dusty screen.
Lila chuckled softly, loading the microfilm reel with a practiced motion she’d learned from a quick tutorial by the librarian. “It’slike stepping back in time. Makes our phones seem like magic wands.”
As the old gears of the microfilm reader whirred, images began to flicker on the screen. The girls leaned in, their eyes scanning the faded texts for any mention of the Summer Inn. Every so often, Lila or Harper would let out a soft, “Here’s something!” prompting the other to peek excitedly at the screen.
They found an intriguing article from the late 1800s detailing a grand celebration at the Summer Inn, complete with a mention of mysterious disappearances even then. Snapping photos with their phones, they captured every piece of information that could hint at a long history of the inn’s rumored hauntings and thefts.
“These will be perfect for showing Liam and Aunt Dawn,” Harper murmured, her phone camera clicking softly as she took another picture of the glowing screen.
After they felt confident they had enough material, they packed up and headed to a local print shop. The shop was a small, family-run business that smelled strongly of fresh ink and paper. Here, they transferred their digital finds onto a USB drive and handed it over to the shop owner, an older man with a kind smile, who promised high-quality prints of their archive photos.
“Make sure the images are clear,” Lila instructed, her tone serious despite the excitement bubbling inside her. “We need every detail visible.”
“Of course, young lady,” the man assured her with a nod, his glasses perched precariously on the tip of his nose.
With their mission at the print shop complete, the girls discussed their next steps as they walked to the bus stop, their steps light with anticipation.
“We need to get Liam and Dawn together tonight to go over these,” Harper said as they boarded the bus back to the hotel. “How about we suggest a pizza night? Casual, but perfect for a planning session.”
Lila grinned, her mind racing with possibilities. “And then we can have Aunt Betty call during the dinner. She’ll invite us over for a movie night—make it sound spontaneous. That way, they’ll be alone to discuss everything.”
“Perfect!” Harper agreed, her eyes sparkling. “It’s like setting the stage for a detective show, but in real life.”
As the bus hummed along, Lila took out her phone and dialed Aunt Betty. After a brief exchange of greetings, she laid out their plan, explaining how it would help Liam and Dawn concentrate better on the hotel issues if they knew the girls were safe and occupied.
Aunt Betty was silent for a few seconds. “Yes, I agree. With all that’s happening at the hotel, you girls and Tiger will be better here with me.” She paused. “Alright, I’ll call in two hours and set your plan into motion.”
Hanging up, Lila turned to Harper, a triumphant smile on her face. “It’s all set. Tonight’s going to be interesting.”
With their plan in place and their spirits high, the girls leaned back in their seats as the bus carried them closer to the unfolding drama at the Summer Inn. They were unwitting catalysts in a story that was as much about uncovering the past as it was about navigating the complexities of the present.
As the last of the police officers stepped out of the hotel, the bustle finally settled, leaving a quieter, almost contemplative atmosphere behind. Dawn watched them load the last of the tagged evidence into their vehicle, a mixture of relief and frustration swirling inside her. Despite the recovery of many stolen items, the absence of Lila’s locket and her vintage watch hung heavily in the air, like a melody paused mid-note.
Carl, the head of the security detail hired by Dawn’s brother, approached her and Liam as the police cars pulled away. “I’ll keep an eye out for the missing items,” he promised with a reassuring nod. “And I’ll let you know immediately if anything turns up.” After receiving a call, he excused himself swiftly, leaving Dawn and Liam alone in the quiet aftermath.
Glancing at her watch, Dawn was startled to see it was nearly 5:30 PM, and the day had slipped by in a cascade of interviews, searches, and reports—a whirlwind of activity that left little room for anything else. “Looks like the day’s gotten away from us,” she remarked to Liam, who looked equally surprised by the hour.
“Yeah, time flies when you’re in the middle of a mystery,” Liam replied with a weary smile. “I suggest we pick this up in the morning. I’ve got to go feed all the animals I’m looking after.” He began to lock up the office, his movements slow and tired.
“Whose animals?” Dawn inquired, her interest piqued. The idea of doing something normal, like caring for animals, suddenly seemed appealing after the chaos of the day.
“I’m taking care of Finn’s dog and cat while he’s away. And while Aunt Betty and Sam handle Caroline’s menagerie, I need to take more food out to the lighthouse,” Liam explained as they walked toward the hotel’s exit.
As they stepped outside, the crisp evening air was a welcome relief from the stuffy indoors. At that moment, Lila and Harper arrived, looking excited and slightly out of breath.
“Hey, where are you guys going?” Lila asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.
“We’re just heading out to feed Finn’s animals over at mine and Lila’s house. Then heading to the lighthouse to drop off more food for Caroline’s animals,” Liam answered, unlocking his SUV. “What about you two? How was your day?”
