The Buried Treasure on Route 66: A Nancy Keene Mystery by Louise Hathaway

were the meanest
men I’ve ever met. Plus, they are criminals. I got a phone call
when I was in Holbrook at the Wigwams that their mother had died.
That’s when it hit me that I needed to change my will.
    I sent you that postcard
with our secret code about “remember the swallow”. I knew that if
those brothers happened to steal that postcard from you, you’d
still know where I meant.
    Let me make this clear to
anyone reading this letter. These are my wishes: If I die, I want
my entire estate to be left to my wife, Mrs. Phyllis Wood. Only
her. No one else. Just my dear Phyllis.
    Even though I haven’t felt
well on this trip, I knew that I needed to go back to the Blue
Swallow Motel to make sure to bury this letter and this will in our
special place. This will is valid. I had some of the guests at the
Blue Swallow Motel witness, sign and date it. The owner’s wife is a
notary and she took the necessary finger print and driver’s license
information to make it valid. I buried it with our bride and groom
from our wedding cake. I knew you’d find it. I’m on my way back to
Scottsdale and plan to sit down with my attorney there to make sure
he changes it, too. But, rest assured, this will is valid and it
supersedes any previous will. I love you, my dear and look forward
to seeing you again soon. Love, James.”
    Phyllis is overwhelmed. “I
can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!” she keeps
repeating.
    “It’s true, Phyllis. It’s
really true.”
    Ned is reading the will and
notices the date.
    “Phyllis,” he asks. “What
day did Mr. Wood pass away.”
    It was May 15, 2013. I’ll
never forget it.”
    Ned says, “Look; he wrote
this will two days before he died. He was on his way home to
you.”
    “Oh, Lord!” Phyllis says.
She feels she’s lost so much. “Things could have been so different.
We could have gotten remarried. I would have found it in my heart
to forgive him for the divorce. I never stopped wanting him back in
my life. Ever. Now, it’s too late for us.”
    Phyllis is crying and
overwrought. Nancy says, “This has all been overwhelming for you.”
Nancy helps Phyllis back to her room, lays her on the bed, turns
the fan on, and dims the light. “I’ll be right here with you if you
need anything at all. I’ll sit over in the corner in that rocking
chair resting my eyes.”
    Drew says, “Wait, Phyllis,
before you go rest, I’d like to ask you if you know the name of Mr.
Wood’s attorney. I want to get in touch with him right away and
forward this new will to him.”
    “The attorney’s name is
Oliver Brown and his office is in Scottsdale. Drew, before you do
that I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me on this
trip. How can I ever repay what you’ve given to me
today?”
    “Phyllis,” he says, “You’ve
taught me a lot of valuable life lessons on this trip. The first
and foremost one is that you’ve taught me is how to let my beloved
daughter grow up to become an adult. You’ve taught me that it’s
okay if she has a boyfriend who loves her.”
    “Oh, Drew. Thank you.” They
both embrace each other.
     
     
    ****
     
     
    The next morning, Nancy and
Ned have a chance to be alone together before everyone’s ready to
go back to Phoenix. Nancy asks, “Ned, have you thought of something
that you and I can bury here, where we’ve been so happy? Wouldn’t
it be fun to come back here years later and dig it up?”
    “Funny you should say that,
Nancy. As usual, our minds are sharing the same
wavelength.”
    “Well, what do you think we
should bury?”
    “First, I want you to drive
into town and buy yourself a new dress.”
    “You’re kidding
me.”
    “No, I’m not.”
    “Are we going to be burying
my dress?”
    “No, silly. Do you know
where the center of town is?”
    “I think I can manage, Ned.
What are you up to?”
    “You’ll see when you come
back.”
    “You are a man of mystery
today.”
    “Isn’t mystery your ‘thing’?
Take your time,