Trudy dropped me off at Miss Mildred’s house. A large group of cars, even a few limousines, were parked up and down the road. Plenty of people were interested in the auction. What Chuck had said was true—land was at a premium in Duck. It had to be because there was so little of it between the Atlantic and the sound.
“Looks like they have a good crowd,” Trudy observed. “Good luck convincing them not to auction everything.”
“Thanks. Say, would you do me a favor and check for UPS packages? You still have a key to Missing Pieces, right? Maybe you could throw them inside if there’s anything there.”
“You got it.” She revved the scooter engine. “See you later!”
I tugged my shirt down and wished I’d worn some kind of official-looking jacket. There was a police car in the driveway to ensure that everyone else parked in the street. Not only would I have to argue with Chuck and Jerry, but I’d also have to argue with police officers. But that was okay. I was ready to take on whoever needed taking on.
As I started up the drive, a well-dressed older couple got out of their Cadillac and walked up with me. The woman was dripping with large diamonds, and the man was wearing a big cowboy hat. We see them all in Duck, from the rich to the poor, from the cowboys to the slick city people. I guess they all want to live here, at least part-time.
Officer Scott Randall was at the front door, his police uniform freshly cleaned and pressed. He looked kind of stiff standing there, nodding to everyone who came in. I paused when I saw him, wondering if I should enlist his help in what I wanted to do. Then I considered what would happen if he said no and changed my mind.
“Mayor O’Donnell.” He nodded to me without a smile, obviously taking his duties very seriously.
“Officer Randall.” I nodded back. “Fine day for an auction.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I mingled with all the other people there for the auction. As Chuck had predicted, the champagne was flowing freely and the brie on the sideboard was plentiful. I didn’t see a single face that I recognized, except Scott. How had all these people even heard about the property being auctioned? Sometimes I was amazed at how many people were interested in our little town.
Chuck and Jerry were in the living room where the furniture had been moved aside to make way for at least fifty folding chairs. They were chatting and laughing like two hyenas. It was going to give me great personal pleasure to put an end to their partnership.
Chuck rang a bell, and people started moving into the living room. Apparently that signaled the beginning of the auction. I kept my spot against the wall rather than take a chair. I needed to be in position to go up and question the legitimacy of the auction in light of recent developments. I didn’t know how long I could hold them off, but I was hoping that no one would bid on the properties if they knew there was a question of legality.
When everyone was seated, except for a dozen or so still standing in the back of the room by Miss Mildred’s armoire, Chuck cleared his throat and welcomed them all to the proceedings. “As you can see, this is a classic older home right in the heart of Duck within walking or golf-cart distance to shopping and restaurants. The second home, which we’ll be travelling to for the next auction, is very much like this one. The two together represent a terrific value for anyone interested in property here.”
He nodded to a white-haired man who I thought must be the auctioneer since he came prepared with his own gavel. “We’ll start the bidding at two million dollars for this home and land. Do I hear two million?”
I took a deep breath, calmed my frantically beating heart, pasted on my big mayor smile and sailed to the front of the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, could I have your attention? I think you should know that the owner of these properties is going to be released from the hospital and will be back to claim them. Jerry Richards is not the rightful owner and can’t legally sell this or the other house.”
The people in the room began talking amongst themselves while Jerry and Chuck glared at me. Jerry recovered first. “I’m afraid sentiment over these properties runs very high here in Duck, but believe me, I have every right to auction them today. My grandfather is the sole beneficiary of the properties, and I have his power of attorney to dispose of them.”
“Officer!” Chuck called and beckoned Scott. “Please remove this woman from the premises.”
Scott looked at me and looked back at Chuck. “That’s the mayor, sir.”
I heard a faint siren sound coming from Duck Road, but I ignored it as I stood my ground. “Believe me, Jerry, you don’t want to continue. This is only going to cause you more trouble.”
The siren was getting louder, and I wondered if there was a fire close by. With the winds sweeping across town each day, fire was a frightening thought even with all the water so close by.
“Officer,” Jerry responded. “Do your duty. This woman is disrupting our legal auction.”
Scott looked at me again. “Excuse me, sir, but that is not a woman. That’s Mayor O’Donnell. I can’t throw her out. Maybe you should reconsider the auction.”
“What?” Jerry was livid, veins popping out in his temples and neck. “Never mind them. Go ahead and proceed, auctioneer.”
By now the siren was its own distraction. It sounded as if it were right outside. I couldn’t smell any smoke, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a fire. Scott and I stood between the crowd and the auctioneer. I could see they were confused and unsure what to do next. I was glad that Scott had taken my side, and I vowed that I would trust him with information if I was ever in a similar situation again. But in the meantime, the people in the crowd were looking at the auctioneer. I didn’t know what else I could do to stop the proceedings.
“What in the world is going on here?” demanded a voice I’d feared I’d never hear again in this house.
I looked toward the open front door as did everyone else in the room. Nestled between Chief Michaels and Gramps, Miss Mildred was furious. “Why are all of you people here? I can’t believe I’m gone for a few days and strangers enter my house and leave the door wide open.” She turned to Chief Michaels. “Doesn’t the town pay you to keep order in Duck anymore? This is totally unacceptable. And where is my furniture?”
Chief Michaels smiled, a really nasty smile that I loved. “I’m afraid this auction is over. The judge dropped the charges against Millie this morning. All of you are trespassing. Officer Randall, please show these people out.”
“Not before they move my furniture back and get these ugly chairs out of there,” Miss Mildred protested.
Scott smiled at me and nodded before he began herding people out the door. The expressions on Chuck’s and Jerry’s faces were comical. Jerry even took out his official power of attorney and waved it in the chief’s face. “I have a right to be here. She can’t waltz back in and screw everything up. My grandfather has some say over this.”
Miss Mildred grabbed the paper from him and ripped it in two. “I’m embarrassed to call you my grandnephew. I’m going to talk to Silas about this. And I never really liked you on the news either. You’re too tall, for one thing. And you have an annoying voice.”
And just like that, things were set right for the most part in Duck. Of course, what had happened could never be completely forgotten, but the guilty had been punished and the people who wanted to take advantage of a bad situation were put in their places.
There was a memorial service for Miss Elizabeth at Duck Cemetery three days later. Everyone turned out for it, almost overwhelming the small graveyard. The minister from the Duck Presbyterian Church talked about life and death and the love that abides among those who are left behind.