The Buried Treasure on Route 66: A Nancy Keene Mystery Read online

  “Did he leave his desk?” Nancy asks, with hope.

  “Yes. The sons have dug all through it, leaving papers everywhere.”

  “May we take a look?” Nancy asks.

  “Of course. Follow me.”

  Mrs. Wood leads them to a small room that has oak paneling on its walls. There is a beautiful roll-top desk in one corner and a sitting area with two plaid chairs and an end table in front of a brick fireplace.

  “What a lovely room,” Nancy says, looking around. “It reminds me of a cabin that my family stays at every Fall in the Adirondacks. I love the moose and Christmas tree stencils that run along the edges of the oak beamed ceiling.”

  “Thank you, honey. We tried to make this room look like a cabin when we were decorating it.”

  Nancy notices the pictures along the wall. ‘These are all places along Route 66’, she tells herself. Above Mr. Wood’s desk, there is a picture of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

  “I know that place,” Nancy says. “It’s on Route 66.”

  “Yes,” Mrs. Wood says. “That’s where we spent our honeymoon.”

  “What a beautiful picture. I love the neon. It looks like your ex-husband was a big fan of Route 66.”

  “We both were. We used to take our Airstream out every summer on vacation and drive to all of the sites along the Route. It was ‘our thing’.”

  Nancy says, “Something tells me that his new wife wasn’t into the same things.”

  “No. She was a city girl, all the way. She liked shopping in Chicago and Manhattan. That was ‘her thing’.”

  Nancy thinks, I’ll never marry anyone who doesn’t share my same interests. Why do people marry when they don’t have anything in common? Ned and I are soul mates. I can’t imagine being married to someone who’s different from me.

  “There’s got to be something here that’s a clue to where the second will is,” Nancy tells Mrs. Wood.

  “I’ve looked all through his whole office, and I can’t find anything,” Mrs. Wood says. “It’s very frustrating. It’s probably right here under my nose.”

  “Maybe it is,” Nancy says. “We’re just looking in the wrong places.”

  Just then a kitchen timer goes off. Mrs. Wood says, “Sounds like the chili is ready.”

  “Thank you so much. I’m famished. I could eat a horse,” Nancy says. Ned knows perfectly well that Nancy had just finished a late breakfast, but she is too polite to say otherwise.

  ****

  After a hearty meal, Nancy and Ned say goodbye to Mrs. Wood, telling her not to give up hope of finding the new will. Nancy says, “I’m with you, Mrs. Wood. I just know that there’s another will.” She takes a steno pad and fountain pen out of her purse and jots down her phone number. Handing the number to Mrs. Wood, she says, “Feel free to call me if you can think of any clues. Let me know if those two stepsons give you anymore grief.”

  Mrs. Wood says, “Thank you ever so much, you two. I feel like you’re my only friends.”

  “Don’t lose heart, Mrs. Wood,” Nancy says before they drive away.

  After a few minutes on the road, Nancy asks Ned, “Well, what do you think?”

  “It seems pretty hopeless to me.”

  “We’re just not looking in the right places, Ned. There’s got to be a clue somewhere.”

  ***

  The next morning, Nancy goes to Mass with her father. As they’re leaving church, her father says, “Wow! It sure is a hot one today. I was sweating in there.”

  Nancy says, “Me, too; but I guess we have to accept the fact that we live in the Arizona desert now.”

  Her father says, “Nancy, I’m sorry we had to move away from our home in upstate New York, but it just had too many memories of your mother. I wanted us to have a fresh start after she passed away.”

  “I wish I remembered her. She must have been really terrific or you’d never have married her. Dad, have you ever thought of remarrying? You are going to get very lonely when I go off to college.”

  “I just haven’t found a woman who is as beautiful and fun to be around as she was.”

  “Well, you never know, Dad.”

  They’ve both driven separate cars because Nancy wants to go to Starbucks after church and do some work on her computer.

  Her father complains, “You practically live at that place.”

  “Oh, Dad; I’m just taking advantage of their free Wi-Fi.”

  “But you can look at the Internet at home.”

  “Dad. You are really going to be lost without me around. You’d better start looking for your dream woman.”

  He makes a face at her.

  “See you later,” she says, as she gets into her Prius.

  Starbucks is very busy this time of day, but she’s able to find her own table and sets up shop. She buys a latte and a New York Times and says to herself, ‘There’s nothing like doing the Sunday crossword the old-fashioned way.’ She finishes the crossword 20 minutes later, looks up, and recognizes the two stepsons standing in line. She tells herself, ‘Oh, I hope they didn’t see my face when they almost ran me off the road; I’d like to eavesdrop on them.’

  ‘What luck!’ she thinks, when they sit at a table in back of her. They complain about the heat, just like everybody else is doing. “I’m hoping to get back to Vegas next weekend,” one of them says.

  “Me, too,” says the other one. I was hoping to get all of this estate stuff finished earlier than we have.”

  His brother says, “That Mrs. Wood is sure making things difficult for us. She argues with us about everything.”

  “Do you believe what she’s saying about another will?”

  “I’m not sure. Mom was very jealous of her. She was afraid that the old man wanted to reunite with his ex.”

  “Who’d want that fat old cow?”

  Nancy is tempted to get up out of her chair and pour their coffees over their heads. ‘These are some really ugly guys,’ she tells herself. She finds it interesting that they are afraid that there may be another will. ‘Mrs. Wood was probably right,’ she thinks. ‘I have got to find that later will before Mr. Wood’s estate finishes going through probate. Where did he put it?’

  The other brother complains that he needs some money because he has to pay off some gambling debts. His brother says, “I told you not to mess with those guys; they are like the mafia.”

  “Yeah, and they’ve been leaving threatening messages on my cell phone.”

  “You’d better watch your step.”

  “So what do you plan to do with your share of the inheritance, if you ever get it?”

  “I have bills to pay, too. But I’d also like to have some spending money to buy some coke. My new girlfriend just loves it. She claims that sex is better when you’re high.”

  “What do you think?”

  Nancy is thinking, ‘Too much information!!’

  The other brother says, “I wouldn’t know; I’ve never touched the stuff. You’d better watch yourself with that Las Vegas showgirl or she’ll drain your bank account and leave you high and dry.”

  “Well, I’m going back to my room at the Camelback Inn and enjoy the air-conditioning and pay-per-view,” his brother says.

  “Have you been watching any porno movies there?”

  “What do you think?”

  Nancy thinks, ‘Ewww... these guys are creepy.’

  “Okay, bro. Enjoy yourself. I’m off to play a round of golf, even if it’s too hot, since I’m being charged for it anyway.”

  Nancy almost wishes that he’d get overheated on the golf course and keel over and die. Then she chastises herself saying, ‘What a thing for me to say, and right after I’ve been to church! These guys are getting under my skin.’

  ****

  After the brothers leave, Nancy takes her laptop out of its bag and fires it up. Now that she knows that the brothers are from Las Vegas, she goes to the Clark County Superior Court website to see if they have criminal records. Then, she rea
lizes that she doesn’t even know their names yet.

  ‘Duh, Nancy,’ she says aloud, while people look over at her.

  She calls up Mrs. Wood to ask her what their names are.

  Mrs. Wood tells Nancy the names of the two stepsons and says, “Do you have any new information for me, dear?”

  “I think I’ve found some leads, but I’ll get back to you later if they pan out.”

  “I’m so happy to have you helping me with this.”

  “Glad to help, Mrs. Wood. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Bye.”

  Now that Nancy knows the brothers’ names, she searches for them on the “case record link” of the Superior Court’s website. She isn’t surprised when she discovers that the brothers have been in trouble with the law. Their case records show that they both have been convicted of fraud.

  ‘Oh, my God!’ she thinks. ‘Wait until I tell Dad.’

  She packs up her laptop and hurries out to her Prius.

  When she enters her house, she calls out her Dad’s name.

  He comes out of his office and says, “Honey, your face is as red as a beet. Let me get you a glass of water. What’s going on?”

  After Nancy sits down and has some water, she tells her father about the conversation she’s just overheard.

  He tells her, “Listen to me, honey. These are some dangerous characters. I don’t want you getting anywhere near them.”

  “I’m not afraid of them!”

  “Honey, I know you’re trying to help Mrs. Wood, and you’ve been very sweet about everything, but I want you to stop getting involved in this right now! You mean too much to me.”

  “Oh, Dad. But I have to! Mrs. Wood is counting on me!”

  “Stay away from those stepsons. If you see them anywhere, grab your stuff and get away from them immediately. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes, Dad,” Nancy says, dejectedly.

  ****

  Nancy can’t fall asleep that night, so she gets out of her bed and goes downstairs to the kitchen to make herself some cocoa and cinnamon toast. ‘Why am I obsessing about this?’ she asks herself. ‘I barely know Mrs. Wood. I just feel like what’s happening is so unfair. It’s just not right. Nobody deserves to be treated like this, especially sweet little old ladies. What those brothers are doing is elder abuse!’

  Nancy has always had a soft spot for the elderly and often visits nursing homes to play the piano and encourage the patients to sing songs like, “You Are My Sunshine,” along with her. It’s amazing to her that even the patients with Alzheimer’s, who can barely speak a sentence, know the lyrics to many of the popular songs of their era. ‘Music is the last thing to go for these poor souls,’ she thinks.

  She has taken some aesthetician and massage therapy classes, so she always likes to give her friends facials and massages. Whenever she goes to the nursing home, she brings along her massage table and helps the little ladies lie on it to get a nice massage. They also love it when she gives them facials. Many of these patients are dying for some kind of human touch, and they always feel better after her visits.

  She decides that she’s going to go over to Mrs. Wood’s house and give her a “spa day.” If anyone needs some stress reduction right now, it’s Mrs. Wood, with all she’s had go to through with those stepsons. She telephones Mrs. Wood to see if she’s home and the elderly lady says that she’d be delighted to see her.

  Nancy loads her Prius up with her massage table; wireless speakers for her iPhone ; a scented candle; and her kit containing exfoliants, facial masques, and moisturizers.

  Mrs. Wood has been watching out her window for Nancy to drive up and she greets her at the door when Nancy arrives. She and Nancy hug each other and Nancy starts unpacking her car, taking out her massage table, speakers and other supplies.

  “What’s all this, honey?”

  “I’m here to give you a massage and facial.”

  “Mercy me! I’ve never had either.”

  “Well, this is your lucky day!”

  “I’ll say!”

  “Where would you like me to set up, Mrs. Wood? How about we go to your cozy den, like we did the other day. We’ll pretend that we are in a mountain cabin. Shall we?”

  “Oh, honey. How sweet of you to do all of this. You are such a blessing!”

  “It’s my pleasure,” Nancy says as she is setting up the massage table. She tells Mrs. Wood to go and put her bathrobe on.

  “Do I leave my clothes on under the robe?”

  “Only your panties,” Nancy says.

  “You mean I have to be practically naked?”

  “You’ll be covered under a blanket to respect your modesty.”

  Mrs. Wood says, “Oh, what does it matter: we’re both girls.”

  Nancy smiles and says, “Yes, we are.”

  After Mrs. Wood leaves to put her robe on, Nancy sets up the wireless speakers for her iPhone so they can listen to her favorite relaxation music. She lights a scented candle and dims the lights.

  Mrs. Wood shyly comes into the room. She looks around and says, “Oh, this is all so fancy.”

  Nancy says, “Do you think you’ll be able to climb up on the massage table by yourself?”

  Mrs. Wood assures her that she’s able to. Nancy says, “Okay, I’m going to step out of the room and let you take your robe off and get under the blanket.”

  Nancy closes the door and waits about three minutes, and then knocks.

  “Okay to come in now?” she asks.

  “Yes. I’m nice and comfy.”

  “Great. We’ll start with you on your back, okay?”

  Mrs. Wood says, “Just tell me what I should do.”

  “You don’t have to do a thing. I’ll be taking care of you. If you want, you can close your eyes. We won’t speak until your massage and facial are finished, okay?”

  Mrs. Wood’s facial and massage last an hour and a half. When Nancy finishes, she asks Mrs. Wood, “Well, how do you feel?”

  “I’ve never felt so delightful in all of my life. That was wonderful!”

  “Well, you deserve it!”

  “Dear Nancy, let me go make us some tea. You just sit in this chair by the fireplace and put your legs up on the ottoman. I’ll be your French maid for a change.”

  Nancy laughs at Mrs. Wood’s little joke.

  ****

  When Mrs. Wood leaves for the kitchen, Nancy can’t resist the urge to snoop around. She opens the drawers of Mr. Wood’s roll top desk, and starts rifling through his papers. She turns the lamp upside down to see if anything is hidden in its base. She opens the closet doors and sticks her hand into coat pockets. Mrs. Wood walks in holding the tea tray saying, “Here we are,” just as Nancy is closing the closet door.

  Nancy jumps and says, “You startled me.”

  “Honey,” Mrs. Wood says, “I don’t mind if you look into the closet here. You were probably trying to find that will, weren’t you?”

  “Well, it had crossed my mind.”

  “Feel free to look all you want.”

  Nancy says, “First, I’ll have some of your delicious tea.”

  ****

  The two “girls” have settled into their cozy chairs by the fireplace. Mrs. Wood says, “It’s too bad it’s so hot outside or we could have a fire. You’ll have to come back here in the winter.”

  “I’d love to. Thanks for the invitation.”

  “Well, maybe you can teach me how to give a massage and I’ll return the favor by giving you one.”

  “That would be lovely, Mrs. Wood. I’ve been racking my brain thinking about where that will is. It must not be in here, since neither those brothers, nor I, could find it.”

  Mrs. Wood says, “Are you sure you’re finished searching this room? I kind of interrupted you.”

  “I’m might search a little more in this room later. I was wondering: how often did you and Mr. Wood talk to each other prior to his death?”

  “After our divorce, he used to send me postcards each time h
e took a solo vacation on Route 66. I think he sent them because he was lonely and missed me, since his new wife didn’t want to go with him.”

  “Why did he ever marry her in the first place?”

  “She was his ‘trophy wife’. You know the type: young, blonde, sexy.”

  Nancy, sounding worldly, says, “Men!”

  “I know. I know. I took it pretty hard.”

  “I’m so sorry for how he treated you.”

  “Well, at least we kept being friends. In some of the postcards, he even hinted that he wanted to get back together with me.”

  “Really? So he was thinking of leaving his wife for you?”

  “Maybe.”

  “I’m so very sorry for your loss, Mrs. Wood.”

  Both are quiet and deep in thought as they sip their tea. Nancy tells Mrs. Wood that she’d like to see the postcards he sent. “Maybe there’s a clue in them,” she says.

  “Okay, honey,” Mrs. Wood says. “I’ll go get them and put on some clothes so I can look decent.”

  “You look perfectly decent to me.”

  “What a sweetie you are.”

  ****

  After Mrs. Wood leaves the room, Nancy gets up and looks around some more for clues. She takes the pictures off the walls to see if a will might be taped to their backs; she takes the drawers out of the desk to feel if there might be anything taped beneath them; she runs her fingers under the surface of the desk to see if anything may be taped underneath. She finds nothing.

  Mrs. Wood comes back into the room several minutes later and is “dressed to the nines”: she’s wearing a flattering blue sheathe with matching shoes and has on her pearl necklace and earrings.

  Nancy says, “Holy cow! You look gorgeous! You look like you’re ready to go and spend a night out on the town.”

  “Well, I always feel better when I get dressed up and try to look my best.”