Chapter 5

As soon as Wyatt dropped Morgan off at home, she tracked down her computer and began an internet search for Gabe and Ruby from Easton Island. She tried several searches, each time coming up empty-handed.

She thought about phoning Grace and Ronni. But it was getting late, and she didn't want to bother them.

Calling it quits for the day, Morgan set the box aside and began working on balancing her checkbook. She had just finished when the back door opened, and Quinn appeared. "Hey, Morgan."

"Hey, Quinn." She spun around, giving her friend her full attention. "How was date night?"

"Great. Port Huron's harbor area has some cool bars with live music. You and Wyatt should go with us next time."

"Maybe we will. Although you know how crazy Wyatt's schedule can be."

Quinn hung her jacket on the hook by the door and dropped her purse on the counter. She pointed to the ring box. "What is that?"

"Remember me mentioning the curious little keyhole Steve found below the carriage house's half-moon windows?" Morgan didn't wait for her to reply. "This was inside."

"A ring box?"

Morgan opened the box and removed the ring. "This ring, along with a wooden heart. Ruby is etched on one side and Gabe is on the other."

"A romantic mystery." Quinn's eyes widened. "Let me guess…you're trying to figure out who it belongs to."

"Bingo. I called Grandmother. She suggested I check with Ronni or Grace."

"Good idea."

"I'm going to try to track down the owners and return it."

Quinn wrinkled her nose. "I'm not sure it's worth much."

"Maybe not in dollars, but in sentimental value." Morgan changed the subject. "How is Brett?"

"He has his moments. Sometimes I think he's overdoing it."

"I mean, about the Wynn deal."

"Oh. That. He's still kind of bummed." Quinn scooched past Morgan on her way to the fridge. She poured a glass of milk and took a sip. "He never came right out and said it, but I think he believes your grandmother is making a mistake."

"Did he say how Mr. Wynn reacted?"

"According to Brett, he took it rather well and then he asked about you."

"About me?" Morgan echoed.

Quinn nodded. "He wanted to know if this was your decision, too."

"That was an interesting question."

Her friend shrugged. "You think so? I mean, Mr. Wynn seemed to really like you."

"And I liked him." Morgan gathered up her things and shut her laptop. "Who knows? Maybe Grandmother will change her mind, although I doubt it."

The friends chatted for a few more minutes. Wyatt called to wish Morgan a goodnight, and she headed outside with Chester for a final bathroom break.

After finishing, she followed her pup into the house. Quinn had already headed upstairs, and Morgan could hear the old floorboards creak as she moved around.

She did a perimeter patrol, turning the lights off and checking to make sure the doors were locked. During her nightly bathroom routine, she ticked off her mental to-do list for the next day.

Finishing up, she plodded into her bedroom and found Chester sprawled out in his favorite spot smack dab in the center of the bed. Morgan didn't bother scooching him over to his side. Even if she did, he would end up back in the same spot before the night was over.

She lay there for long hours, wondering about Gabe, Ruby, and the ring. Hopefully, she could track down the owner or owners and return it to them.

She thought about David Wynn and how he'd asked Brett about her. Had it been up to Morgan, she would've already signed on the dotted line.

Despite her thoughts on the matter, deferring to her grandmother's wishes was the right decision. If she didn't want Easton Holdings' money invested in what she considered a contentious venture, then wisdom trumped risk and gambling all day long.

Finally, Morgan drifted off to sleep. She woke later than usual to the sound of pots and pans banging. She rolled over and opened her eyes. The bedroom door was ajar, which meant Chester had already slipped out.

With a quick trip to the bathroom, she traipsed into the kitchen.

Quinn stood at the counter, dropping chunks of chopped fruit into the blender. "Hey, sleepyhead."

Morgan stifled a yawn and hopped onto a barstool. "I guess I was a little more tired than I thought. What are you making?"

"A banana peach smoothie with a handful of strawberries thrown in for good measure. Would you like one?"

"Sure." Morgan offered to help.

"Thanks for the offer." Quinn insisted she had it under control. "What's on your schedule today?"

"I'm going to help Greg move some of the smaller stuff into his apartment. I thought I would swing by Grace's place to ask her about the ring."

"Now I know why you're tired. The mysterious jewelry box kept you awake," Quinn teased.

"Maybe a little," Morgan admitted. "It seems like such an odd place to hide it. At the very least, I would like to return it."

Quinn finished whipping up their healthy smoothies, and they wandered out onto the front porch, chatting about the week's upcoming schedule.

By the time Morgan finished and headed over to Locke Pointe, it was all hands on deck…Jax, Ben, Greg, even Ronni, was helping unload the van. She sprang into action, grabbing an armful of clothes still on the hangers and carried them across the yard.

Working as a team, the small army of workers finished in no time. The furniture Greg had previously picked out, items that had been stored away in Locke Pointe's basement, fit perfectly in his new home.

After unloading and setting everything up, Greg insisted everyone stay long enough for a snack. Tina arrived with a batch of fresh-from-the-oven cookies along with tall glasses of lemonade for the volunteers.

Jax and Ben gobbled up the goodies and grabbed the hand trolleys they'd brought with them.

"I really appreciate the help." Greg followed them to the door, thanking them several times for helping him move before they left.

Morgan and Ronni weren't far behind, making their way to the office.

"I think I'm getting old." Morgan sank down in the chair and let out a groan.

Ronni chuckled. "You have a couple more decades before you're allowed to call yourself old."

"Tell that to my sore knees. I would help Greg move a dozen more times just to see the look on his face." Morgan, who had brought the jewelry box with her, removed it from her jacket pocket and placed it on the desk. "Remember the little keyhole Steve found above the carriage house doors?"

"Yes. You thought you had keys, but somehow misplaced them."

"Chester hid them under my hutch. Wyatt found them last night. My hunch was right. One of them unlocked the wooden compartment. This was inside."

Ronni opened the box. "It's a ring."

"There was a wooden medallion heart beneath the ring holder."

Ronni removed the holder and plucked the miniature heart from the bottom of the box. She flipped it over. "Ruby and Gabe."

"Do either of those names ring a bell?"

"Gabe Locke was once employed by your grandparents."

"Locke," Morgan repeated. "He was part of the family?"

"Yes, although I believe he was a distant relative," Ronni said. "He worked as a gardener and handyman. In fact, he lived in the servants' quarters upstairs."

Morgan shivered involuntarily. "The place gives me sad vibes every time I'm in there."

"It does seem a sort of sad and forlorn part of the house," Ronni agreed. "Gabe was pretty young. Maybe close to twenty. My recollection might be a little off. I know he left the island abruptly, and it may not have been under the best circumstances. I don't think he was a fan of your grandparents when he quit."

"Any idea why?"

"No. Ruby worked at the Lilac Inn for the Coates' family. I can't recall their last name." Ronni's brows furrowed. "You know what? I think her father may have worked over at the Lilac Inn as well."

"Interesting. I guess Grace would be the next person to ask." Morgan chatted for a few more minutes and then told Ronni she was heading over to Lilac Inn to find out if Grace had more information.

Cutting through the backyard, Morgan trekked to the inn's rear entrance, the one leading to the kitchen.

Familiar voices echoed from beyond the screen door. Morgan gave it a light rap and let herself in. She found Grace and her kitchen cook, Jessica, standing at the counter.

Grace did a double take. "Good morning, Morgan."

"Hey, Grace. I hope I'm not bothering you."

"No bother at all. I see Greg is moving into his new place."

"Lock, stock and barrel," Morgan quipped. "He's over the moon."

"I bet he is. What brings you by so early?"

"A mini mystery." Morgan briefly explained the situation. When she got to the part about the heart with the name Gabe and Ruby on it, she knew she was onto something, judging by the expression on Grace's face. "You know something about it."

"It involves my distant relative, Bruce. I always called him Uncle Bruce, but I'm not sure exactly how I'm related to him. His daughter's name is Ruby. Gabe was Gabe Locke."

"Ronni mentioned Gabe worked for my grandparents and left the island abruptly."

"He did. There was some sort of drama, an issue involving Ruby and Gabe."

"The story doesn't have a happy ending," Morgan guessed.

"No. Unfortunately, it doesn't. Well…I take that back. It was a happy story that had the potential for a happy ending until the very last day." Grace wiped her hands on her apron. "Are you in a hurry? Because it's going to take a few minutes for me to tell you what happened."