I thanked him and hung up. Exactly twelve minutes later my phone exploded with an incoming call from Lauren.
Her voice sounded frantic. “Abigail what did you do. The power just went out and there is no water.”
I kept my voice calm. “What do you mean.”
“Do not pretend you do not know. Bradley called the utility company and they said the account holder requested a service suspension.”
“I am the account holder,” I replied. “Since I am not using the property this weekend I decided there was no reason to pay for electricity and water that strangers are using.”
There was a long silence. “You cannot do this,” Lauren said finally. “There are fifteen people here.”
“They are welcome to leave at any time.”
She lowered her voice. “Mom and Dad will hear about this.”
“Good. Tell them everything. Especially the part where Bradley screamed at me to get out of my own house.”
A few minutes later Bradley called. “You vindictive woman,” he shouted. “My parents are elderly and they cannot stay here without air conditioning.”
“Then perhaps you should take them to a hotel.”
“This is your fault.”
“No Bradley. You chose to occupy property that does not belong to you.”
He threatened lawsuits and insults until I finally hung up. Later that afternoon I drove back toward the beach house and parked down the street. Cars were already leaving the driveway. People looked angry and overheated as they loaded bags into vehicles.
At six o’clock a sheriff’s deputy arrived and politely instructed the remaining guests to leave the property. Within minutes the house was empty. I waited until the last car disappeared down the road before walking up the driveway and unlocking the front door.
Inside the house I found chaos. There were stains on the carpet and empty bottles everywhere. The kitchen was covered with dirty dishes and leftover seafood shells.
When I walked upstairs my anger grew stronger. Someone had been inside my bedroom. The bed sheets were twisted and my closet door hung open. My jewelry box sat on the dresser with the lid lifted. My grandmother’s pearl necklace was gone.
The necklace had been the last gift she gave me before she passed away and I kept it safely in that box.
I called Lauren immediately. “My grandmother’s necklace is missing,” I said.
“That is ridiculous,” she replied. “Nobody stole anything.”
“It was here yesterday. Who went into my room.”
“I do not know. Maybe you misplaced it.”