The Murders of Cozy Hollow

Chapter 1 - Welcome to Cozy Hollow

It took five days, but the Stone men somehow completed the drive from Redondo Beach, California to Cozy Hollow, Massachusetts. At seventeen, Kurt was the oldest and most pissed off about the move. He'd left his bikini clad girlfriend, Makayla Olsen, behind in tears. Kurt drove his father's Ford F-250 pickup truck with his fifteen-year-old brother, Rex, riding shotgun. For almost 3,000 miles across America, Kurt and Rex followed their dad and two younger brothers, Joe and Will, who drove in the family's Chevy Suburban. Joe was twelve and Will was about to turn ten. Will and the family dog, a 190-pound Newfoundland named Tank, were the only ones who actually seemed excited about their new adventure.

Both the F-250 and Suburban were loaded up with everything Ed could fit. The moving truck that carried the rest of their belongings and furniture would meet them the next day at their new house. Ed had thought about renting but when the 5,000 square foot house came available at such a great price, the virtual tour on the internet was enough to convince him to make an offer. It had an acre of property and six bedrooms. His boys and dog would have plenty of space. Even better, the house was within walking distance to the historic downtown and all the schools.

When the Stones drove through Cozy Hollow for the first time, it was as if they'd gone back in time. The small picturesque New England town looked like what you'd see in a painting. The white steeple of Saint Mary's Catholic Church was the centerpiece. Most of the buildings were white with colonial architecture. Across from the church sat the Cozy Hollow Cemetery. At least the boys felt better after they spotted a Starbucks. As Ed drove down Main Street he felt conflicted. While the town was beautiful, had he made the right choice for his sons? Before he knew it, they'd passed through town and arrived at the very end of Main Street. At the corner of Main and Stagecoach Road, stood 7 Main Street. The bright white colonial home had a manicured lawn and the big black numbers 1732 nailed above the frontdoor.

"This entire house is ours?" asked Kurt.

"Yes it is," said Ed.

"It's huge."

"It looks old," said Rex.

"See the numbers above the door? It was built in 1732."

"That's really old."

At that, a thirty-something smartly dressed female realtor walked out the oversized front door from inside the house. Amy Small was an attractive single mother trying to make her way and sell her first house. When Amy took over the listing, it was her idea to drastically slash the asking price. Ed had yet to sign the papers but his verbal offer had been accepted. He simply wanted to see the house first with his own eyes before he signed.

"Mister Stone!" said Amy. "Welcome to Cozy Hollow. These must be your boys."

"It's a pleasure to finally meet in person, Ms. Small," said Ed. "These are my two oldest, Kurt and Rex. My little guys over there are Joe and Will. That's our dog, Tank, who's relieving himself on our new front lawn. It was a long drive."

"You boys are quite handsome. I predict a lot of girls in Cozy Hollow with broken hearts. It's a small town."

"We're excited to see the house."

"Well then, let me give you the grand tour."

Ed and the boys followed Amy up onto the wraparound porch and into the foyer. Rex took control of Tank and marched him up the stairs. Tank was a big all black fluffy goofball without a mean bone in his body. Before Rex entered the house behind his brothers, he turned around and caught a glimpse of the neighbor girl across the street. Willow Arnold lived at 6 Main Street. Sixteen and cute as a puppy, Willow washed her car in the driveway in a bikini that would be considered skimpy even in California. It was mid-August, 101 degrees and as humid as a jungle. Willow smiled and Rex returned the gesture. He liked her tan body and long sandy brown hair. Maybe Cozy Hollow would not be so bad after all.

The Stones gathered in the large foyer at the base of the grand staircase. Amy's smile turned serious.

"This is quite a house," said Ed. "The craftsmanship is incredible."

"Most of what you see is original or refurbished to its original look. The kitchen and all five bathrooms have been updated. But, before I show you around and before you sign any paperwork, I'm required to disclose some facts about the house."

"What kinda facts?" asked Kurt.

"Bad ones, I'm guessing," said Ed.

"I'm afraid so," said Amy. "Did you do any internet searches on the house?"

"No, just what's on your website and Zillow."

"Have you heard of the name Beaumont?"

"I saw a sign driving into town that said Beaumont Park," said Joe.

"That's the family," said Amy. "This house was built in the early 1700s by Benjamin Beaumont, one of the founders of Cozy Hollow. The house stayed within the Beaumont family until the mid-1970s. There's no easy way to say this..."

"Somebody died here, right?" said Will.

"You're right."

"Tell us the story," said Ed.

Ed kicked himself, he should have known the price was too good to be true.

"In 1971, the last Beaumont family to live here was that of Thaddeus Beaumont. Thaddeus had a wife and four young daughters. People will tell you they were the most beautiful girls in all of Cozy Hollow. No one knows why, but one night Mister Beaumont killed his wife and all four daughters in this house. He buried them under the cellar floor. Thaddeus himself was never found. So in short, five people were killed in this house fifty years ago. That's what I am required to disclose."

Ed and his boys all looked at each other. While his sons looked thoroughly creeped out, Ed was not deterred. He'd seen many crime scenes over the years. He wanted a big house for the boys with space to breathe and he could not afford any other home close to its size.

"Do you still want to see the house?" continued Amy, nervous for the answer.

"Absolutely," said Ed. "This house has the space we need and great bones. Pardon the pun."