The Resort Mysteries. Uncle Jack Book 1

The Resort Mysteries

A continuing series of stories of mystery and romance

UNCLE JACK

Book 1

Robbie McCauley

Copyright © 2018 Robbie McCauley

For Cazzie

My best friend

Disclaimer

The Resort Mysteries are set in Australia on Queensland’s imaginary Silver Coast. The areas of The Havens are also fictitious, as are the characters. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is unintentional, and purely coincidental.

1

They drove in convoy.

Jimmy took the lead; he had driven this road to Queensland several times, so Cazzie followed in her car. It seemed best to take both cars. They knew they might not be coming back for some time. Hands-free phone systems in their cars kept them chatting often on the very long journey. Australia is vast, and Sydney to Queensland’s Silver Coast is a long drive, too much for any safety-conscious person to do in one hit. They chose to do a long hop on the first day, driving well into the night before stopping to sleep in a motel, hoping this would allow them to be fresh and alert when they arrived at their mysterious destination. They started out early on the second day for the relatively short distance still ahead. Short, that is, by Australian standards.

Watching the scenery change as the weather warmed outside, Cazzie’s thoughts tumbled on. What an adventure; what an amazing turn of unexpected events. Potentially life changing! A bequest, a new home perhaps and a whole new way of life. She was excited—a little apprehensive—but mostly excited. She was so glad her faithful best friend Jimmy had agreed to come with her to help her through whatever decisions may be ahead of her.

Wow, look at the colour of the water, Jimmy phoned to her, as they first entered the Silver Coast.

Yes, amazing! What a beautiful colour. But I’m tired Jimmy. Still, at least we’re in Queensland—I can tell by my car’s outside temperature reading.

We’re nearly there, Cazzie, hang on. You’ll soon be able to feel that beautiful warmth. About another ten or fifteen minutes, that’s all. Nearly there. Thinking back much later, they each wondered, if they’d known what lay ahead for them, would they have turned back?

As Jimmy had predicted, a short time later they passed the sign ‘Welcome to The Havens’, with a directions guide to the various ‘Havens’. Their destination Shore Haven, was almost in the centre, on the Coast.

Nice looking little town, so far, Jimmy phoned to her, as they came into Shore Haven. I’ll just drive straight through for now, Caz. By my calculations if we head for the water, we’ll see your place up on the headland on the right.

And soon an excited Cazzie called, There it is, Jimmy, look at it. There it is, my Resort. How fantastic! My very own Resort! Wow! What a perfect spot. Oh, Jimmy, already I love it. The position is wonderful. How lucky am I? My very own resort. I can hardly believe it, she said as they drove closer, and began to climb the hill.

You sure are a lucky one, Cazzie. Your Uncle Jack must have really loved you to leave it to you.

However, when they emerged from their cars, the close up view wasn’t quite as amazing. It had obviously been abandoned. It was clearly neglected and rundown. And it was apparent that nobody had lived here for years now, except possibly they guessed, for the occasional visiting backpacker looking for free accommodation, or squatters doing the same. There were some broken windows, so perhaps some vandals enjoyed themselves there too.

Needs work, Jimmy said because he couldn’t think of anything else.

Yes, Cazzie said slowly, big job, I think. She walked toward the buildings. There was a central main building apparently once used as office, lounge, restaurant, library, and so on, for The Resort. Then there was a house of normal size, with another next door that was smaller, but slightly bigger than any of the others. They both guessed that the house was Uncle Jack’s and next door was possibly a manager’s home. Then the rest were cottages, free standing and arranged more or less in two U-shapes. One U was facing out to sea. Then there was another ring of cottages that faced back the other way. They had mountain views and greenery, lots of trees—perhaps it was actually backing onto a forest.

As they walked around to the back cottages, There’ll be wildlife, Jimmy warned.

Birds? Cazzie said hopefully.

Yes. Birds. And other things …

OK, Jimmy, Cazzie said quickly and turned back towards the sea again. It was the view, the position that made her smile and raised her hopes.

It’s beautiful here. And listen! You can’t hear anything but birds.

Yes, Jimmy too was smiling. But listen closer! I can hear the waves on the shore.

Oh, Jimmy! excitement was beginning to bubble up. She was a smart woman and she knew she should contain her excitement, until they had examined the site more carefully. But still . . . Jimmy it will be lovely to go to sleep to the sound of the waves, won’t it?

Let’s look inside the main buildings.

There was damage, but mainly what was needed was basic restoration. The pool had obviously been empty for a long time and had filled with litter of all sorts and the tennis courts would need a lot of work.

They moved on then to look at the house, which they guessed had been Uncle Jack’s. It had been damaged and neglected, but like the main building mostly all it really seemed to need was reasonably basic, nothing too major. It was nice, Cazzie thought, she liked its layout. It had lots of light with large windows front and back taking in both views. And it was furnished with what would have once been tasteful expensive furniture. It was now neglected and some of it damaged, but all restorable, Cazzie thought.

I love it, Jimmy. I think a good clean and paint will bring it back to life pretty quickly.

They sat outside on the verandah.

"Well? Jimmy! What do you think? Say honestly Jimmy, remember that’s why you came with me as my honest friend to help me to decide what to do here. So, really, really honestly, Jimmy, what do you think so far?

Well, it’s early days. We’ve only just got here. And we’re tired, Cazzie. We’ve just driven from Sydney to these Havens in Queensland. It’s been a long tiring trip.

Yes, and … she pestered.

Honestly?

Yes, honestly, please, but your first instinct answer.

I think it is wonderful. If it were mine, I’d have no hesitation. I’d move in and restore it and live here.

Cazzie jumped up and down in excitement. Oh, Jimmy, my lovely friend, I love you. That’s just what I wanted to hear, she walked over and kissed him on the top of the head, and hugged him around the neck, then sat back down beside him.

Well, that alone was worth coming all this way for, Jimmy smiled at her.

She ignored him with a grin. So you won’t think I’m mad if I decide to stay?

Absolutely not. It’s a beautiful place and I can’t think of a better place for a writer. Well, the sleepy little towns might not provide much inspiration in the way of crime and mystery, but gazing out to sea and to the mountains, and the quiet here will surely bring on inspiration and creative ideas. But … he paused.

But? What’s the but, Jimmy?

A couple of things, Cazzie. It needs a lot of work. Admittedly most of it isn’t major, but there’s a lot of it. And you’d need to decide what you want to do with it—what you want to use it for, he paused and looked at her lovely, hopeful face. There’s that, and the other thing is, it’s isolated. You don’t know anyone here, and you’d be here, up on this cliff all alone—at least in the beginning. I’d worry about that.

Well, not if you stayed, she smiled.

In hope, he looked back at her for understanding, but he knew deep down that friendship was all she was offering.

Cazzie realised and didn’t want to hurt him. She knew that she did really love Jimmy, in a way, but not in that way. Well, at least, not so far, and although she though it could develop, she knew that for now she had to be clear.

Jimmy, why not stay? Why go back? You’re retired, and you’re on your own now since your Pam died. Back there her memory is all around you. Even though it’s been a while, I know it still hurts you. What’s to go back for?

She paused and looked at his now sad face.

Sometimes a complete change is a good way of healing, Jimmy. And you said you love it, she went on quickly, stressing the good points. And you’re my best friend. And you’re a builder, she laughed, what a wonderful coincidence.

Retired builder!

Well, yes, but still absolutely capable. I’ll hire people to restore the place. I’ve got the money. Uncle Jack left me everything. But you could oversee it for me, and you could start work on this house for me, and we could stay there, it’s big enough, she put in quickly, until you restore a cottage for yourself. You can take your pick—any one you like. You can have a sea view or a mountain view, or there’s the one next door that I suspect from its position, has both. So, what do you think? Won’t you stay, Jimmy?

I do love it, and I think I could be very happy here, but there are other considerations, Cazzie. There’s a lot to leave behind. Memories, family, things!

Cazzie knew his situation well. She knew better than to question his thinking now.

Well, can you think about it, Jimmy? Please, for me? I’d love to have you here, not just to help me restore it. But, as my friend! We’ve been good friends for a long while now and I know we always will be, but I’d rather not have to leave you behind back there.

Let’s just give ourselves a bit of time. After all, we’ve only just got here. But if you’re staying, then I’ll definitely stay for a while at least and help you with what’s ahead. And, I can’t leave you up here on this cliff all alone, now can I?

Thank you, my lovely friend. And you know what? I’m already thinking I don’t want it to be a holiday resort. I don’t want it to be a commercial thing. I think I‘d like to offer the cottages to friends who might love to live here, especially some who might be in need of a home or a change for whatever reason.

Yes, good one. I like that, if you can afford not to run it as a commercial holiday resort.

I can. Uncle Jack’s looked after me well. He left me everything and he was a wealthy man, and I do very well myself these days from my books. I may not be a top-of-the-charts author, but I’ve got quite a following and I’m doing very nicely now financially.

And, well, how about a Writers’ Retreat, or something like that? You could invite other writers to live here for inspiration.

Great thinking, Jimmy. Oh, yes, I like that one. That could be such fun.

They took another tour of the whole property and with every step Cazzie was more convinced. They found a winding path that led from the top of the cliff to the beach below.

I think it’s the prettiest little beach I’ve ever seen, Jimmy said, It’s hard to see why anyone would not love this place. Let’s go back and go into town and get some food and some cleaning gear and get to work on your house. We can at least clean it up for the moment, and you’ll need to get the power on and all that kind of thing.

In town for supplies, they noticed the cold stares. They didn’t see any welcoming smiles. This dampened their joyful spirits, somewhat.

As they drove back, Jimmy said, How odd! Why would people living in such a beautiful place be so sullen and unfriendly? Jimmy seemed puzzled.

Mmm, I wonder? Was there a little grey cloud in their new sky, she thought? "Anyway, let’s get back. I have some paperwork we need to go over.

2

Back at the house, Cazzie brought out a large envelope given to her by Uncle Jack’s solicitors. They had asked her to wait until she was at The Resort before she opened it.

Not now. First things first, the ever sensible Jimmy said. Let’s get this place into some sort of order first, do what we have to do while there’s still light, and then we can eat and drink and be merry on our first night and open your folder. Ok, Cazzie? To work! Let’s go.

She was glad to have his calm commonsense. She began to clean the kitchen and lounge room, while he made the necessary calls to have power and gas connected. The power couldn’t be connected until tomorrow, but they’d bought candles and kerosene lanterns so they’d be right. Jimmy raked around outside and found firewood. The living room had a large stone open fireplace, and he’d done his homework enough to know that it was still cool at night here. It was winter after all, well nearly Spring but Winter nevertheless, even though daytime temperatures felt like mid summer to them. He laid the fire and had it ready to go. They had thought ahead well. They had sheets, blankets, towels and so on, and a couple of Eskies and a small portable barbecue, so all was well.

While Cazzie prepared two of the bedrooms and made the beds, Jimmy cleaned the bathrooms and then set up the barbecue, chilled the beer and wine in the Eskies, made the salad, prepared the local strawberries and mangoes for desert, and a cheese plate. The kitchen was still equipped, but of course, everything they needed to use had to be washed.

They worked quickly. When all was done, they stood back and looked and smiled. It all looked good and it already began to look like a home, as long as you didn’t look too closely at the corners or the other rooms. But work was underway. They’d made a start and they’d made themselves comfortable for the time being. They were tired, but pleased with themselves.

Now, Jimmy put his arm around her shoulder, go and get that big envelope. I’ve got beers and cheese and things out on the porch for us. Let’s read it before it gets dark, and we can talk then.

The envelope contained her copies of the documents she had signed in the solicitor’s office; the deeds to The Resort, the Council rates and water documents, and other legal papers giving her full ownership of the whole property and all that her Uncle had owned.

Inside was another envelope. It contained her Uncle Jack’s Will, and a typewritten account of his ownership of The Resort and the need for his Will to be read.

Cazzie hadn’t asked how he died. She had got close to asking with the solicitors, but they had always steered her away from the question. She was requested not to ask any questions until she got to The Resort and opened the envelope.

Uncle Jack wasn’t dead!

At least, he had just disappeared, apparently with no clues, nearly ten years ago. He had now been declared officially dead. But it appeared that nobody had any idea what had happened to him.

With his Will was a note from Jack to his niece stating that as she was the only living relative he felt anything for, when he died everything he owned would go to her. He said he loved The Resort and he hoped she would learn to love it too. He said his Law firm in Shore Haven was doing very well, and if anything happened to him, someone from there would take over and hopefully keep it going. But she would still own the business and as such, share in the income.

Uncle Jack went on to say that there were problems in The Havens, which he was trying to overcome, so he hoped he wasn’t passing on any nasty issues to her. But, he said he felt sure they would have been sorted long before his passing. He said his health was pretty good for his age; there were a few problems, but he thought he would go on for quite a long time yet. He hoped she would decide to live in Shore Haven, perhaps even at The Resort, but of course, the decision was hers. He wished her well in her future life, and there was a PS. He said perhaps his own legal files, the cases and the clients he had, might provide some grist for the content of future mystery novels.

He disappeared, Jimmy said, that’s very interesting. He’s been declared dead, but I wonder.

You’re going to turn into a mystery writer, Cazzie smiled at him. I wonder too. It starts a whole line of thinking doesn’t it? Why would he disappear? Did he choose to? If so, why? And if he is still alive, where is he? He’d have no money, would he? He appears to have given everything to me.

He was apparently an astute businessman from what you’ve known about him before. He could have had other investments. He could have been stashing money away offshore somewhere; in some tax haven somewhere, or something like that.

Yes. Or he could have died. If he died, then where, and why? Why is there no body? What killed him? He said his health was pretty good, but that was when the Will was written. Maybe later he got sick and died, but then there would be a body.

Maybe he got very sick and knew he was dying and went somewhere and took his own life.

Yes, that’s a possibility. But you’d still think there’d be a body. Although he was smart, I guess he could have set it up as a mystery, and arranged his death so that nobody would ever know. But that wouldn’t be easy.

And why? Why would he do it that way? The only reason I can think of is to avoid pain for somebody else. For instance, if he had a terminal illness, and he knew he would need to be cared for, he might take himself away to protect a loved one from that. But by all accounts, there was no loved one, was there?

Not that I know of.

Maybe he was murdered. I think that’s the most likely explanation.

"I agree. But again, the ‘why’s’ start. Murdered by whom? Why would someone murder him? And why has his body never turned up?

There could be lots of reasons for that.

Yes, that’s true. Tell me some!

"Taken to sea, weighted and dumped. Eaten by sharks. Burned. Dissolved in acid.

Cazzie grinned at him, but then she frowned. They’re all possibilities and you’ve got a good imagination, Jimmy, but I hope my poor Uncle Jack didn’t end like that. I have to find out.

Yes, I know. I know you too well. You’ll never let it go until you do.

Maybe they know something in town.

They were definitely not friendly. I suspect they guessed who you were. If they know you’re his niece, they might be frightened of what you’ll do.

I need to look at his files. There’s a hint there in his letter. I have to go through his old case files.

Yep, a good place to start.

The sun was setting. It was going below the mountains behind them. The glow over the sea caught Jimmy’s eye and he took photos. He went inside and lit the candles and lamps and brought a lamp to the verandah. His instinct told him to leave Cazzie quietly for a while.

Inside he started the fire in the beautiful fireplace. As it sputtered into life, the house became more friendly. He moved the kitchen table to the front of the fire and laid out all he had prepared. Back outside a large golden moon was beginning to rise above the water. Cazzie was smiling.

Jimmy barbecued their steak, and brought it and Cazzie inside.

Jimmy, this is just lovely. What would I have done here tonight without you?

I’m sure I don’t know. But I’m here, he said as he uncorked the wine.

They talked and talked. They talked about possible future plans for The Resort, and they talked in some more detail about the restoration work they needed. And they talked about Uncle Jack.

It has been a very long day and they