But these numbers did not reflect the chemical composition of a ruby. It might seem insignificant to some, but tenths and hundredths were critically important in gemstones. Genuine natural rubies’ specific gravity was slightly higher at 3.99 to 4.0, and the refractive index was also higher by hundredths. Had her father jotted these figures here as a context for the difference between a natural ruby and a spinel? Or was this the actual makeup of the dragon’s existing ruby eye? She had to show Micah.
The doorbell rang at the same time Avery’s phone did, making her jump and Halston bark, though he did it from his lounging position on his new dog bed rather than trying to get to the door. She patted his head to reassure him. The phone call was Art telling her he was at the door. She led him through to the kitchen, part of an open floor plan and separated from the cozy family room by the island counter top and stools. Halston watched them warily for a bit and then settled his head on his bed.
While Avery made tea, Art sat at the kitchen counter and opened a notebook in front of him, pulling out an iPad as well. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Like someone in one of Tilly’s Sherlock Holmes mysteries. And not one of the cool, in-the-know characters. More like the clueless neighbor who keeps stumbling onto bits of information too late to do much about it. I’m so frustrated and angry about all of this!” She set the tea down in front of him and leaned on her elbows on the counter top.
“That’s fair,” Art said. “How about your cuts?” He pointed to her arm.
Oy. When the detective had asked how are you feeling, he’d clearly meant physically—how was she recovering after the break-in and trip to the hospital. “Not too bad. They sting, but as long as I stay busy, I don’t think about them. Art, am I going to be in trouble? For leaving after I found Renell?”
“I took care of it.”
“What does that mean?”
Art took a sip of his tea, cocking his head sideways at her. “Just that you don’t have anything to worry about. Though you should probably avoid Beckworth Suites for a while. They do have you on camera, Zoey Stone.” His expression remained deadpan as he slid her fake ID across the counter top to her.
“Listen, all I wanted to do was meet him. I just . . . a little part of me wanted to believe it was possible he wasn’t really Oliver Renell. I know it’s crazy to even entertain the idea that my dad is still alive.”
“I talked to a friend of mine who’s part of the investigation into Renell’s murder. It was obvious the poor guy had been dead for a while before you discovered him. I don’t think they plan to pursue the mystery woman who found the body. If he has questions, I’ll deal with him—but seriously, Avery, at least involve me before you devise your next elaborate plan.”
“How were you even there? Does your friend have any leads?”
“I told you I’ve been keeping tabs on you,” the detective said, as if Avery should just get past it. “And I’m not sure yet about the direction of the investigation. They’ll get into any points of contact he’s had recently, to begin with. The scene didn’t give them anything.”
Avery’s spinning thoughts quieted, images of the hotel room playing in her mind. “Renell’s hotel room was definitely neat. Everything was in its place, even after someone came into his room and shot him. There was no struggle. What does that mean? Maybe that he knew his killer?”
Art raised his eyebrows. “Not bad. No struggle at all. You’re good at this, but let’s hope you don’t have to play again.”
“What does that mean? Should I warn my colleagues? Are we all in danger?”
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t assume that. I’ll keep you updated if I hear anything you should know, okay? And we’re going to keep an officer parked out front until there’s some progress on Renell’s case.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m glad to see your friend is feeling better,” he said, moving to Halston’s area and tentatively offering a hand for the dog to sniff. Smith’s gaze moved to the cluttered coffee table while he was stooped down, petting Halston. “What’s all this?”
Avery joined him. “That’s all that’s left of my parents’ things that we were going through before the break-in.” She moved a few of the items around. “There’s just so much I don’t understand. Like, what are these keys to? Why are they in with all of these notes and articles? And there are notations from my dad that I need to show my partner, suggesting that the ruby they were working with may have been a spinel—a synthetic ruby. But I don’t see how that’s possible, with the medallion on display at MOA and my mother having signed off on the certificate of authenticity.”
Art nodded, looking over the items and notes. “You’re sure she signed off on it?”
“Yes. Tilly and I both saw the yellow carbon copy of the form, before it was all stolen. Mom’s signature is very faint, understandably. It’s dated two days prior to the paperwork being submitted to MOA and countersigned by MOA’s curator. We thought her signing early was a little odd, but she was very busy this time last year. Tilly and I figure she signed in advance just to be sure it got taken care of. She was very organized. Anyway, the original copy stays on file at MOA. We would have gotten the yellow copy filed back in with our records as soon as Goldie signed, and then our inactive case records were eventually collected from the Manhattan office to be stored here.”
“That might be something I could help with,” the detective said. “We could at least request a viewing of the original document to make sure it jibes with what you and Tilly both saw before the break-in.”
Avery stood at the front door and watched Art Smith stop and speak with the officer in the patrol car before he got in his own car and left. Something about his serious, calm demeanor made her feel less worried, more relaxed. He listened, he didn’t minimize any of her concerns, but somehow he was able to put her mind at ease over them. Avery finally felt like she wasn’t alone in this race to uncover what had really happened to her parents.
* * *
Early-morning and late-evening runs were the best for clearing Avery’s mind, and she got a long one in at the crack of dawn Friday morning after going to bed at an unprecedented nine PM. Her four loops through town that day constituted the first time she’d ever run twelve miles with the police tailing her, an odd sensation. On her fourth trek down Lilac Grove’s Main Street, most of the storefronts still darkened and sleepy, she spotted her friend Rachel sweeping the sidewalk in front of her eclectic secondhand shop, Mixed Bag. Forcing herself out of her comfort zone, Avery broke her own rules and slowed, jogging in place so she could say hello. Dr. Singh’s words from the last therapy session played loudly in her head. They’d touched on why Avery hadn’t seen anyone besides Hank and her coworkers since coming home a year ago. Her therapist’s insights were quite often spot-on. Reconnecting with friends here doesn’t have to signal backward progress; you could view it as a step toward committing to a new life in Lilac Grove.
Rachel graced Avery with a tentative smile. Avery didn’t blame her for her hesitance. Her best friend from high school had sent her friendly little messages several times this past year since she’d been back, suggesting a quick lunch or coffee to catch up, and Avery hadn’t even replied to most of them. It was about more than committing to Lilac Grove, she realized. Committing to a new life here would mean admitting her parents were really gone.
“Good morning, Rachel. Wow, you sure get started early, huh?” What a dumb way to begin such a long-overdue conversation. “I’m so sorry I’ve been out of touch.” There. Better.
Rachel’s folded-down apron layered over jeans and a loose, ruffly blouse lent padding to her already generous curves. She stood a few inches shorter than Avery. Her red hair was piled into a wild bun atop her head, tendrils escaping everywhere. She stopped sweeping and came to stand on the grassy strip between the sidewalk and Main Street. “It’s okay. I understand, really.” The woman shifted her grip on her broom. Her face was painted with thinly veiled concern. “
How are you?”
“Doing better, I think.” She smiled. “Maybe we could plan lunch sometime next week?”
Rachel’s face lit up, and she bounced on the balls of her feet. “I’d love that.”
Avery impulsively stepped in and hugged her friend. “Me too.”
She felt lighter than she had in months on the drive into Manhattan later that morning. She should do that more often—push herself outside her comfort zone. Dr. Singh had better not be too smug when Avery filled her in at their next session. Avery had even invited Rachel to their barbecue tomorrow, and she couldn’t wait to catch up with her friend.
She was relieved Aunt Midge and Tilly would be back that afternoon. They’d have to hustle to get everything ready for their annual summer party Saturday, but Avery had a grocery order coming later that day and was ready for the distraction of the party. The yard was freshly mowed and the patio just needed a little attention—cleaning up flowerpots and putting out all the new, brightly colored furniture cushions Midge had purchased for the occasion. She and Tilly and Midge would be busy that night making homemade potato salad and coleslaw, seven-layer dessert bars, and Aunt Midge’s famous raspberry lemonade and marinating the chicken and ribs. It was exactly the kind of busy Avery needed right now.
Avery arrived in front of the Museum of Antiquities Friday morning to find it bustling with people—and not museum patrons. Several news media outlets and police officers were milling about in clusters. Another large group of people, some in varying stages of being costumed in spandex superhero garb and makeup, had gathered, and a pair of detectives were speaking with them. Strips of yellow police tape covered every one of the entry doors at the top of the wide concrete steps. A police radio crackled nearby, and Avery heard the words security breach in the north wing.
Chapter Fourteen
Micah picked up on the first ring. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the front entrance—well, as close as I can get. Where are you?”
“On my way.” Micah hung up and spotted her a few minutes later, Sir Robert with him. They stood side by side, staring up the steps at the police tape behind the crowd.
Sir Robert spoke first. “A friend of mine at News Four says there’s been some kind of possible break-in in the north wing. That’s all I know.”
“Goldie Brennan’s office is in the north wing,” Micah said.
“So is Acquisitions Pending,” Avery added. Both men looked at her. “What if they took the ruby?”
Micah closed his eyes and shook his head. “No. I don’t even want to think about that.”
“The Xiang exhibit is in the east wing,” Avery mused. “Yesterday, after we examined the medallion, they put it back in the exhibit, right? We shouldn’t worry it was locked away into the pending area, right?”
Micah stared at her. “No! Why would you even say that?” He looked up toward the sky. “For the love of Pete, Avery. Take it back.”
“Okay!” She laughed nervously. “I take it back. Of course the medallion’s fine. I hope the ruby is fine.”
“Okay, gang,” Sir Robert said, standing between them. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. This could have absolutely nothing to do with our MOA assignment. Francesca says there are always items coming and going here. We really know nothing at this point.”
“Call Francesca,” Avery said, looking at Sir Robert. “She’ll know something.”
He looked taken aback. “I can’t just call her and ask her that. Our relationship is about so much more than our mutual interest in artifacts and antiques.” His tone indicated hurt, as if her simple suggestion had insulted him.
“I’m sorry, Sir Robert,” Avery said. She slipped her hand through the crook of his elbow and patted his arm. “Of course it is. I only meant it as a way for us to learn if we should make other plans for the day. She might know how long the museum’s expected to be closed.”
He nodded. “Yes. That’s true. All right.” He pulled out his phone, going to his contacts. Hesitating, he separated himself from Avery and walked up the sidewalk away from them to make the call.
She shook her head, looking at Micah. “He’s so easily offended when it comes to her,” she murmured.
“I noticed that too,” Micah said. “They’ve been together a little over a year. I’d think that would be improving by now.”
“Seems like he’d be more confident after a whole year,” she agreed. “But you have to admit, there’s kind of an odd dynamic there.”
Francesca appeared and greeted Sir Robert with a quick kiss, the two of them rejoining Avery and Micah. She was quite obviously in conversation via her Bluetooth earpiece, simultaneously texting something on her phone screen as she shifted her purse from her elbow to her shoulder. “I believe that’s it, yes. Please keep me updated. Kisses!” She yanked the earpiece out and dropped it into her Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag. “Ugh! Can you believe this? That was Goldie just now. I told her not to bother coming in; this will just upset her.”
“What happened? Do you know anything?” Avery asked.
“Nate’s the one who discovered it. You know the whole lower level at the north end of the building, where we have Acquisitions Pending, transfer items awaiting shipping, the shipping and receiving docks? It’s just below Goldie’s office.”
The three of them nodded. Avery held her breath.
“Nate was down there and found a heating duct panel broken off. He thought it was suspicious, so he showed one of the guards, who called Goldie. She called in the calvary, I suppose just to be prudent.” Francesca’s tone and expression told them what she thought about the hullabaloo taking place on the front steps of MOA.
“Oh. Well, I guess it’s lucky it wasn’t anything serious,” Avery said. “We can finally get caught up on some research for that coin collection we just got. Are you heading to the shop?” She looked from Micah to Sir Robert.
Micah nodded. “I’ll walk with you.”
“Great,” Avery said. “I’ve got a couple things to run by you both, about the medallion,” she said.
“I’m afraid I’m out for the day,” Sir Robert said, looking over his shoulder now at Francesca, who’d wandered away to speak with one of the museum guards. “Francesca says it’s the perfect time to do the botanical gardens tour, and I have to agree. But we’ll see you tomorrow!”
Avery set out beside Micah, hoping he’d speak first. He didn’t. “If Francesca said it’s the perfect time to get hit by a bus, Sir Robert would gladly jump in front of one.”
Micah laughed, looking at her in surprise. “That might be going a bit far. He’s smitten, not suicidal.”
“I’ve seen smitten.” Wilder popped into Avery’s head. “That’s not smitten. I’m sorry, but that’s a little beyond what I’d call a healthy balance in a relationship.”
Micah tipped his head to one side and then the other. “Yeah. Well. You’re not wrong. Though watching them makes me miss Cicely something fierce. I hope Noah eventually begins socializing in college, maybe goes on a few dates with someone nice. So far, he’s so focused on his studies, he’s never really dated.”
“Aw. Give him time. The first couple years of college are a big adjustment. It sounds like he’s doing amazing. He’s such a kind, respectful kid, Micah. You and Cicely did a wonderful job.” She started to say something about Tilly’s crush but thought better of it. She’d hate for Noah to hear something Micah might accidentally let slip. If anything ever came of it, best for it to happen naturally. “I’m sorry you’re missing her. Now, that was a relationship to aspire to,” she said, giving him a small smile. Micah and his wife had been that couple, the kind who truly enjoyed each other’s company. Avery hated that he now had to live without her.
“I appreciate that.” He spoke for a bit about Noah’s upcoming internship, and Avery reminded him of their shopping date on Sunday.
They were a block away from the shop. Avery dug around in her purse. “I’d hoped to get the three of us together to go over wha
t I found in Mom and Dad’s things, from when you all worked on the Emperor’s Twins. Dad has some interesting notes; I brought them to show you. Where is it?” She frowned and peered into her purse.
“I meant to tell you, I did find my old answering machine, and the message from your dad is still on there. Remember, he’d left me a message a day or two before the accident?”
“Yes. What did he say?”
“It was nothing, just him reminding me about the medallion paperwork. I brought the machine in to give you.” He patted his messenger bag. “Maybe you’d like to hear his voice again. Or maybe not. If that’s a terrible idea, then please just get rid of it.” His eyebrows were furrowed with worry.
“It’s a sweet idea, Micah. I’d love to hear his voice.”
Micah unlocked the front door of Antiquities and Artifacts Appraised and held the door open for Avery.
She filled him in on what she’d found in the archive boxes, pulling out the sheet of note paper with her dad’s handwriting and numbers jotted here and there. “Were you in the lab together when he wrote down these figures? What do you think this is?” she asked.
“Let me see.” He took it from her and moved to his desk, setting the answering machine out on an uneven stack of papers piled on his calendar.
Avery started the coffee and pulled her chair over to Micah’s desk. She didn’t know how he was ever able to find anything at all in this mess. He studied the slip of paper with William’s handwriting on it while Avery searched for an outlet to plug in the answering machine.
Ruby Red Herring Page 17