The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The First Collection by Frost, J (i love reading txt) 📗

and the other brother had been killed in the Siege of Fort Stanwix. The remaining brother only lived long enough to carry the news to his father and meet his nephew before he died of his burns. Molly followed Teddy eight years later, carried off by consumption, although most said she died of a broken heart, pining away for her Teddy. Her son inherited the inn after Old Man Roarbach died and his family’s run it ever since. They say that Molly still haunts the inn, cleaning rooms, pacing the widow’s walk, waiting for her Teddy to come home from the war. Late at night, when the house is very quiet, you can hear her whisper her love for Teddy from the shadows.”

Daddy shakes his head, but he’s grinning. “They say all that?”

“They do! Isn’t it a great story? Even if it isn’t true, I mean, a family divided and lovers parted and a maybe-legitimate son? I’m totally writing that into a book, only it’ll be Teddy who returns from the Siege of Fort Stanwix and Molly will nurse him back to health and they’ll live happily ever after.”

“Are you rewriting history, little girl?”

“Absolutely. They have to have a happy ending, Daddy. Isn’t it cool, though? We’re staying in a haunted house.”

“Very cool,” Daddy says, although he doesn’t look so sure. “The ghost doesn’t object to all the kinky stuff that goes on? Even if she and Teddy were kinky, what happens there now must be pretty shocking to someone who was basically a Puritan.”

I giggle. “They say she’s very respectful and never appears during scenes, but the basement rooms are closed at midnight so she can get a good night’s sleep.”

Daddy snorts. “So the innkeepers can get a good night’s sleep is more like. I can’t imagine a ghost suffers from sleep-deprivation, but it is a good story, sweetheart. Are you going ghost-hunting while we’re there?”

“I am! Austin’s bringing his Ouija board and we’re going to try to talk to Molly.”

“All right, my wild beanie, that sounds like it will keep you busy, at least. So no more worrying about Vashi’s meals or Javier’s dry-cleaning. This is your weekend. I want you to enjoy yourself.”

I reach across the table and Daddy immediately closes his big, warm hand around mine.

“I will, Daddy. Promise.”

“That’s my good girl.”

* * *

The descendant of Teddy Roarbach and Molly Pritchard who runs the inn is an elegant man in his early fifties with a trace of Teddy’s famous golden curls around the edge of his bald crown and deep brown eyes that I recognize from the cameo of Molly on the website. He rises from an armchair in the front lounge when Daddy and I return from walking the River Trail after dinner and tugs down the gray waistcoat he’s wearing over a white shirt and black tie. He asked us to call him Martyn when we checked in and gave me such an indulgent smile when he showed us our room that I was left wondering if he might be a daddy.

He’s smiling the same smile now. “Logan, Emily. Good evening. How was dinner?”

“Wonderful,” Daddy says.

“Thank you so much for the recommendation,” I say.

“You’re welcome. The view’s very worthwhile and I’m guessing by your pink cheeks that you walked one of the Glen trails as well?” At our nods, his smile widens. “Any luck with that peregrine?”

When I told him our plans for the evening, he gave me a laminated sheet with birds of the Falls and suggested we look for a peregrine falcon if we took the River Trail.

“No, sir, but we saw tons of ducks and a heron.”

“A blue heron? Those were my favorite birds until one ate all of the koi in my pond,” he says it very seriously, but his eyes are twinkling. “If you’re up early, you might even see him there. I think he’s hoping I’ll restock.”

“Optimistic sod,” Daddy laughs.

“Well, I might be guilty of leaving him a spare anchovy or two when I make Caesar salads. Now, I know you have a busy day tomorrow with your guests arriving, but I hope you’ll make time for breakfast. Continental starts at seven and cooked breakfasts start at eight.”

“Eight-thirty okay?” Daddy asks.

“Perfect. Your table’s the same as your room number. Also, I believe three of your guests have arrived early. I put them in room two across the hall from you. The very tall gentleman asked that I give you an extra room key.” He fishes a key out of his waistcoat pocket and hands it to Daddy. It’s a huge, brass, antique-looking key. I love how they’ve kept so many of the original features of the Inn.

After we say goodnight to Martyn, we take the winding staircase up two floors to our suite. On the inn’s website, it’s the honeymoon suite, but I think Martyn might have redecorated when I told him I’m a little. There’s much more pink in the suite now than there was on the website and there are stuffies on every pillow and chair, including an antique teddy bear with moveable joints and a plaid bow-tie that I fell in love with at first sight and am wondering how I could convince Martyn to let me take him home with me. When Daddy lets us into our suite, I run to the bed and scoop up Professor Teddington and tell him all about our dinner.

“Baby doll, I’m going to pop across the hall. I’m guessing it’s Niall, Shaan and Vashi who have arrived, although Niall didn’t text me. They’re probably worn out from traveling. I’m just going to say hi and then I’ll be back to give you your bath.”

“Okay, Daddy. If they’re here early, can they come sight-seeing with us tomorrow?”

“We’ll see, sweetie. Niall might have other plans.”

I nod contentedly and settle in with my stuffed audience.

Chapter Two Logan

My heart rate quickens as I cross the hall towards room two. There are many people I’m looking forward to seeing