Mysteries of Holt House - A Mystery (5 page)

The second interview for a
housekeeper/cook wasn’t much better.

“I must reside in town,” Ms. Waters
informed me. “I can’t stand all the noise your boarders would make at night.
Also, I don’t wash windows, nor do I want to have anything to do with your
boarders. I don’t wish to be in a social situation. It’s so taxing. I just want
to do my job and go home. And I won’t be arriving until at least ten o’clock in
the morning,” she added.

“I see. However, I need someone here no
later than six-thirty in the morning because of serving breakfast to the
boarders. There will also be tasks which need to be performed, such as windows.
It can’t be avoided. Of course, I’ll get professionals to do the upstairs
windows. In addition to that, there would be contact with the boarders. There’s
no way it can be avoided.”

Her back stiffened. “Impossible. I have to
think of myself and get the proper rest. The doctor said no stress or strain.
I’m too delicate.”

“Well, I’m afraid you’ll have to get your
rest on someone else’s time,” I said. “This is job requiring hard work and
dedication. I’m afraid your delicate sensibilities will have to find work
elsewhere.”

“Well, I never – ”

“You’re absolutely right. You’ll never
work here.”

Ms. Waters slammed the door on her way out
– not too delicately.

The third interview was for a
handyman/gardener, and Mr. Janis made it quite clear that he was looking for
more than gardening and fixing things – he wanted to be my
personal
handyman. That was another very short interview.

I was pacing around the living room,
mumbling to myself, when there was a knock on the door. I struggled to make
myself smile before opening it.

“Good afternoon. I’m Mrs. Daley, but you
can call me Lucy.” She smiled at me like an old friend.

“A pleasure to meet you,” I said. There
was something about Mrs. Daley that grabbed me right off the bat.

I invited her in and we sat on the couch,
facing each other.

“The agency sent me over. They tell me you
need a housekeeper who can cook.”

“I sure do. This may sound a little
abrupt, but you have no idea how this day has gone so far. What
don’t
you
do?”

“I can take care of any reasonable chore,”
she replied, laughing. “There’s very little I can’t do. I have good references,
too.” She reached into her purse and produced some letters. I read them and
smiled. They were personal letters of recommendation from friends and
acquaintances, and they sufficed for my purposes because she was being honest.

“Are you willing to live out here? It
would be room and board plus salary, with Mondays and Tuesdays off.”

“Sure. I’m a widow and I’m looking forward
to living in the country.  I’m from Los Angeles. I haven’t worked as a
housekeeper before, but it can’t be much different from personal housekeeping,
just on a larger scale, and I’m a great cook. I’ve cooked for large groups in
the past.”

We talked about her qualifications a bit
more, and discussed salary. She was so easy to talk to that I felt like I was
visiting with an old friend.

“Lucy, you’re hired. The job will begin in
a month. Does that work for you?”

“Well, would it put you out if I were to
move in now? At no salary of course, and I could pay you for the room. I have
nowhere to stay. I’ve been in a motel since I got to town, and I’m running low
on funds. Those motels can be pretty expensive if you stay too long.”

“That’s fine with me. I can use the company.
No need to pay me for the room though, I’ll just have you start helping me
earlier than I’d planned. The handyman will be starting in a week, maybe less,
and I’d prefer not to be alone in the house with whomever I hire,” I said,
thinking of the lascivious Mr. Janis.

“Great! I’ll pick up my things and be back
this evening.”

I walked her to the door and watched her
drive away.

Lucy was a cute little lady and struck me
as being spunky. She said she was fifty-four years old, and she had a head of thick
mixed gray and white hair, with dark brown eyes. She was about five feet, two
inches tall, my height, and had a slightly stocky build. She had a sense of
humor, one of my favorite traits in a person. I truly hoped that she would work
out. I called the agency and told them the position had been filled.

I was pleased with the next male
applicant, too. David Hyde was your typical tall, dark and handsome handyman.
Typical did I say? He was about six feet, two inches tall and probably in his
mid-thirties. He was husky, a big man, and dark complexioned. He had deep brown
hair and penetrating dark eyes. His personality was another matter. He seemed
to be a man of few words.

“I believe my references speak for
themselves.” That was his opening statement.

“Yes, they do.” I studied his credentials.

“Everything looks good, so let’s give it a
try. Can you move in and begin work this weekend?”

“Sure. I’ve got my own tools. Got my own
truck, too.”

I hadn’t even thought about tools or a
truck. I couldn’t believe those things had slipped my mind.

“Great. I’m sure it will be more
comfortable for you to be using your own equipment, but if you discover you
need anything, let me know.”

We shook hands and he left, and once again
I called the agency and told them the position had been filled.

Sharon called shortly after David left.

“How are the interviews going? Rough,
huh?”

“You can’t even imagine. I’ve had a lech,
a couch potato and a delicate princess come through here this morning. I
finally had two interviews I really feel good about though. I hired both of
them. Wait until you see the gardener I hired.”

“Can’t wait, and I want to hear more about
the ones you didn’t hire.” I could hear mirth in her voice.

“You’re still moving in this weekend,
aren’t you?” I asked.

“I’m planning on it. So is my landlord.
He’s already found a new tenant.”

“Doesn’t waste any time, does he.”

“Yeah. Well, I’ve got to get back to work
before my boss starts yelling. If I don’t see you before, then I’ll see you
this weekend.”

We hung up and I wandered out to the
kitchen to get myself a snack. I munched on a cookie and thought about what a
hectic weekend it was going to be with Sharon and David both moving in, and
people calling about my advertisement. I had a feeling it was going to be fun
though.

Later that evening I was eating dinner
when the doorbell
bonged
, startling me. I’d met everyone at the door
that day and never heard the loud
bing bong
sound the bell made. I
opened the door and found Lucy standing there with an armload of clothes and a
couple of bags sitting on the porch.

“Here,” I said, taking the clothing from
her. “Let me help you.”

“Thanks.” She set the bags inside the door
and turned towards the driveway. “I’ll be back in a minute with the rest of my
things. I didn’t really bring too much with me. Just my clothes and a few
personal things for my room.”

Lucy returned with a suitcase and another
bag, and I led her through the living room on the way to her bedroom. She
stopped short as she noticed the painting over the fireplace.

“That’s a lovely painting of you,” she
commented.

“It’s not me.”

“You’re kidding. Huh. At least that
explains why it looks so outdated. I wasn’t going to say anything, but as long
as I know it’s not you...”

“You should have seen the looks I got at
the auction when I bought it.”

“Is that your mother?” she asked, staring
at the portrait.

“No. It’s Mrs. Holt, the woman who used to
own this house. Believe it or not, it’s just a coincidence. Like I said, I bought
it at an auction. It’s also what initially intrigued me about this place.”

“Understandable, but you have to admit
it’s kind of strange.”

“I try to think of it as a conversation
piece.” I smiled at Lucy.

“Whatever you say.”

I showed her to her room which was near
the kitchen. None of the rooms in the house were plain, not even the old
servants’ quarters.

“Well, will you look at this,” she said.
“I’m certainly not going to feel cramped in this room.” She studied the
spaciousness of the bedroom.

“I know. Isn’t it nice? I just love this
old house.” And I did, already.

“I can see why. Oh. I saw that you were
eating your supper. Go finish before it gets cold and I’ll start putting my
things away.”

“Okay. Have you eaten yet? There’s plenty
if you’re hungry.”

“I stopped and ate on my way out here, but
thanks.”

After I finished eating, I returned to
Lucy’s room.

“Can I do anything to help, Lucy?”

“No, but you can keep me company while I
finish putting things away. This old place sure makes a lot of creaking noises.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think someone was upstairs.”

“You’ll get used to it. After you left
this afternoon I hired the handyman, too,” I said.

“Good. Now you can concentrate on filling
this place with people.”

I sat on the edge of the bed and watched
her hang some slacks in the closet.

She glanced over her shoulder, hands in
midair. “Oh, I talked to a gentleman who’s staying at the motel – he’s just
come to town – and he’s going to call you tomorrow about taking a room.”

“Thanks! You’re an asset already.”

“That’s me, a real asset,” she said,
smiling. “By the way, what’s this handyman like?”

“Tall, dark and handsome. And very quiet.”

“Uh huh. Tall, dark and handsome, and
quiet. Do you have any family around here?”

“Come on now, Lucy. He had great references.”

“Among other things, apparently. I repeat,
do you have any family around here?”

“My parents live in Florida. They’re all
the family I have. Well, I have some other relatives, but I don’t really know
them. Why?”

“I can see right now that you’re going to
need me. You don’t hire someone because of his looks.”

“Oh, Lucy. Of course I didn’t hire him for
his looks. Just wait and you can judge him for yourself. You’ll like him, I
guarantee it.” I was a little put off by her remarks, but at the same time I
liked her honesty.

“We’ll see. You’re young, and you don’t
seem particularly worldly. Could it be you’re just the teeniest bit naïve?”

“No. I’m not naive.” Her honestly was
suddenly beginning to annoy me.

“Oh, come on, Kelly. With what you’re taking
on, your age, and what I’ve seen of you so far, you’re going to need a big
sister around here. Forget my age. I only seem old because you’re so young.
Actually, fifty-four
is
still young. Anyway, I refuse to be a surrogate
mother, so I’ll fill in as a big sister.”

I decided she probably needed a good
friend more than I needed a big sister. She was a widow living in a new place,
and she didn’t know anyone yet. By living in the country, she probably wouldn’t
have the chance to meet too many people, other than the boarders.

“Okay. I give up. You can offer your
opinion any time you like – well, almost any time – but in the end I’ll
probably do whatever I want.”

“Maybe you’re not so naive after all.
Actually, you sort of remind me of myself about twenty years ago.”

She took a framed picture out of her bag
and set it on the dresser.

“Is that your husband?” I asked.

“Yes, that’s my Frankie. He was, is, the
best thing to ever happen to me. There aren’t too many like him around. He was
my best friend.” I noticed her eyes tearing up. She shook her head and smiled,
wiping the tears away. “I still miss him, but I don’t usually cry anymore. I
guess I’m more tired than I realized. Have you got some coffee handy?”

“Sure. Come on and we’ll talk for a
while.”

We returned to the kitchen and I poured
two cups of coffee. She seemed to take to me, just like I’d had taken to her.
We started gabbing and never ran out of things to say, which was the way Sharon
and I were.

I learned that she lost her husband to a
heart attack two years earlier, and they’d never had children. She was alone,
with no relatives. She was glad I hired her and was looking forward to being in
a house full of people.

“Well, Lucy, things are going to get busy
around here tomorrow, so I’d better get some sleep. I have to admit that
between moving in and all the interviews today, I’m tired, too. I’ve got to get
up early tomorrow morning to start getting estimates on some construction I
want done.”

“Oh? What kind of construction?” she
asked.

“I’m going to have a pool and tennis court
installed, and I want to have the patio enlarged to accommodate the guests.
I’ve got a couple of other things in mind, too.”