Seabreeze Christmas by Jan Moran

Author:Jan Moran [Moran, Jan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jan Moran

Chapter 12

“Thanks for calling me, Ari.” Ivy tapped her phone to hang up and turned back to Shelly.

Ahead of them, their new guests were charging along the water’s edge. Ophelia and Molly Ann, who were now sharing a room, were laughing and talking with Rosamie. Nick and Kristy were strolling behind them, their heads bent together, engrossed in conversation.

Even though the guests had just met, friendships were developing. Ivy guessed they ranged between the ages of thirty and seventy, but they’d quickly found common interests.

Shelly gestured ahead. “You called it. This is like winter camp for adults. We should start promoting Valentine’s Day soon. Or a January break. I’ll bet we can make this one hot winter at the inn.” She zipped up her soft yoga jacket and bundled her scarf around her neck. “So, what did Ari have to say? Do we have more stolen property on our hands?”

“I’m not sure,” Ivy replied. “He and his team confirmed what Elena said about that piece. It could be one of the missing Fabergé imperial eggs, or it might have been made for another client. Or it could be a copy. He’s running a check on the FBI and Interpol databases to see if it’s on any stolen property lists.” Ivy paused. “I also called Chief Clarkson to report the found property.”

“That was such a long time ago.” Shelly kicked a toe in the sand. “When do we get to keep some of the loot we find around this place?”

“I don’t know if we ever will. Seems like Amelia Erickson was safeguarding property here. The rest of their collection—which we saw on display in the house in those old photographs—was properly documented and sold as part of the estate that went to charity.”

“Does that mean this would, too?”

Ivy let out a sigh. “I spoke to Imani about that, and she thought the egg could be called mislaid or abandoned property. She’s researching that.” Ivy shivered and brushed wayward strands of hair from her face. “Frankly, that piece probably belongs in a museum.”

Shelly twisted her lips to one side. “Or in a billionaire’s private collection.”

“If it were to go to auction, I suppose that’s possible. But I like to think that people in need would benefit from the sale.”

“You make it sound like it’s not ours to keep.”

“I doubt if it is. It’s one thing for owners to leave behind a valuable chandelier that’s attached to the ceiling—that’s obvious and covered in the sale documents. But a rare jewel hidden away—even if by accident?” Ivy shook her head. “I’m being realistic.”

“Amazing that no one would miss it after all these years,” Shelly said.

“They might not have been around to reclaim it. Many people didn’t make it out of the Second World War alive,” Ivy added quietly. “We should not celebrate their loss.”

Shelly pressed a hand to her mouth. “Oh, my gosh, I hadn’t thought of that. That makes me feel awful.”

“If that were the case, I’d want funds from the sale of that to help others.

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