Page 12 of Easton Island: Old-Fashioned Christmas
“The one that held the secret to the Shifting Sands Medallion?” Morgan nodded. “It is. The clue was hidden in the back of the frame.”
“The story is fascinating. Would it be possible to show me where you found it?”
“I told Harlow all about the medallion, how you gave me a tour and showed me the room,” David said. “Hopefully, we aren’t putting you on the spot.”
“Not at all. As you know, the only access is through the main suite. As luck would have it, no one is staying there right now.” Morgan excused herself to track down the key. She caught up with them in the hall and led the way to the second floor. “Before I forget, how are your rooms?”
“One hundred percent on point,” David said. “Not to brag, but I have an eye for detail. You haven’t missed a beat, right down to the upscale toiletries in the bathroom.”
“Dad’s right. The amenities are exactly what I expect from a high-end bed-and-breakfast.”
“I appreciate the feedback. Our social hour starts soon. I hope you’ll join the other Locke Pointe guests. Tina, my cook, is top notch, the best in the business. We’ll have a variety of tasty comfort food.”
“Comfort food is right up my alley,” Harlow joked. “Dad and I packed in a hurry and barely had time to grab a quick bite to eat on our way out.”
“Then you’ll be glad you saved your appetite.” Morgan reached the end of the hall. She gave the door a light rap. Easing it open, she peeked inside to confirm it was empty. “The coast is clear.”
Cutting through the bedroom, the trio entered the primary bathroom and crossed over to the walk-in shower.
David followed Morgan in. Harlow hesitated. “The shower?”
“Believe it or not, yes, the shower,” Morgan laughed.
Chester scooted past them and plopped down in front of the secret entrance.
“Chester knows where we’re going,” David chuckled.
“He loves the attic.” Morgan scooped her pup up and slid the star-shaped key into the cutout, giving it a light twist. The door slowly opened, revealing a narrow set of stairs.
“This is James Bond 007 level awesomeness,” Harlow gasped. “A secret door.”
“Lead the way, buddy.” Morgan gave Chester a gentle nudge, following her pup to the top of the stairs.
Harlow and her father were close behind. They crossed the catwalk and took a quick look inside the room currently being used for storage.
“I noticed the half-moon windows when we pulled up. They give the house a kind of spooky yet mysterious vibe.”
“They were the key to solving the mystery.” Morgan backtracked, leading them into the room at the other end of the catwalk. “Over here. This is the spot.”
Harlow scooched in next to her father. “The medallion was hidden beneath the floor.”
Morgan tapped the floorboard with the tip of her shoe. “We found it under these.”
“But how…” Harlow shook her head.
“The note behind the painting was the clue. My boyfriend Wyatt helped me figure it out. On a specific day in December, the full moon shines down through the window, creating a pattern and casting a shadow on the floor.”
Harlow picked up. “Pointing you to the location of the medallion.”
“Correct.”
“This would make a great movie. Drama, adventure, beautiful scenery.”
“Maybe you could pitch it to your producer-friends,” David suggested.
“Maybe I should. Morgan could take up acting.”
“Oh, no.” She began shaking her head. “I have enough on my plate. Besides, I’ve already had my moment of fame with thedocumentary, speaking of which, Brett is trying to get his hands on a copy.”
