by Lee Strauss
“Felicia, can you please take Boss inside with you, and ring the Metropolitan Police to let them know what we’ve discovered? It would be best to speak to Inspector Sanders if he is available. Perhaps, when they search Lady Hastings’ home we will have our missing stole. I will be in in a moment.”
She crossed the street to the taxicab and said, “Is there a problem?”
“Mrs. Reed!” Betsy’s eyes were wet with tears.
“Beggin’ your pardon, madam,” the taxi driver said as he took off his hat. “No problem ’ere, only the young lady ’asn’t got near enough money to pay ’er fare.”
“It’s so embarrassing,” Betsy said. “I should’ve checked that Miss Maxwell had given me enough money to cover things.”
“It happens,” Ginger said gently. To the taxicab driver, she said, “I will pay her fare.” Ginger retrieved enough coins to cover the fare, along with a tip, and handed them to the cabbie. “For your trouble.”
“Oh thank you, Mrs Reed,” Betsy said as the cab pulled away. She was drying her tears with her handkerchief. “I get so upset when these things happen. Miss Maxwell sends me on errands sometimes without enough money and I don’t quite know what to do. She insists I take a taxi instead of the underground because she has little patience once she decides she wants something. She likes a certain brand of biscuit that this particular shop across from Feathers & Flair sells, and also their imported cheese. She has a charge account here and at various markets. She likes expensive brands but I’m afraid she hasn’t the money to suit her tastes anymore.”
“It’s quite alright,” Ginger said. “You must find a way to tell her that she must pay the taxicab driver before you take the taxi, and to make sure you have enough to get back with.”
“It is getting more difficult to work for her…” Betsy stopped suddenly, as if remembering her place.
“Whatever do you mean?” Ginger asked. She was not interested in gossip but her heart went out to the young lady.
“It’s nothing, madam.”
“Please,” Ginger insisted. “Perhaps I can help.”
Betsy relented. “Most of the servants have been let go and so I end up having to do most of the work. And Miss Maxwell is behaving more and more strangely as time goes on too. She spends so much time just standing in front of her mirrors trying on different ensembles over and over again. She has more mirrors than anyone should want to have.” Her hand flew to her mouth. “I am sorry, I don’t mean to speak ill of my mistress.”
“I can assure you, this won’t be spoken about any further by me.” Ginger paused, a thought popping into her head.
“Have you by chance noticed Miss Maxwell wearing anything new lately? Perhaps some accessory that you haven’t seen before?”
A few days later, the staff of Feathers & Flair were busy preparing for the frock giveaway. Though the promotion had originally been conceived as a ruse to sniff out the thief, Ginger recognised it as a good marketing opportunity and had decided to go ahead with it.
Ginger and Boss arrived just at the close of the business day, with Ginger carrying a large bag. She called everyone to the back room, opened the bag, and with a certain amount of flourish, pulled out a fabulously red, silky fox stole.
“I will let Madame Roux do the honours of placing it back on the fashion dummy.” Everyone applauded politely and smiled as Madame Roux accepted the stole from Ginger.
“I have just returned from the offices of the Metropolitan Police where I spoke directly with our friend Inspector Sanders,” Ginger said. “He asked me to thank you all for your co-operation and help in solving both their case and ours, which, as it turns out, were two separate cases after all.”
“Is Lady Hastings in jail?” Dorothy asked.
“Yes, they arrested her soon after Felicia rang them. The bag was conclusively identified as the stolen article. It turns out that Lady Hastings has had quite an appetite for expensive and exotic apparel, but no inclination to pay for it. For some people, even though they can afford to buy the articles, the excitement of actually stealing something and getting away with it can become an addiction. I fear in Lady Hastings’ case this was further exacerbated by her propensity for excessive alcohol. Members of her staff reported her coming home frequently with articles of clothing of surprising variety.
“Of course they had no idea the items were all stolen, since Lady Hastings has always been an avid shopper. The police found numerous articles that had been reported missing, including a very large tapestry bag which must have been used to stuff the Rafaelio into. Quite a daring theft when you think about it. I think the alcohol was making her bolder.”
“How sad,” Felicia said.
Ginger nodded in sympathy. “Yes, I feel sorry for her too. She’s a lonely lady who still grieves the loss of a good husband. Unfortunately she has turned to alcohol with disastrous result. The stealing madness probably started a while ago and worsened over time with the help of a lot of sherry.”
“And Miss Maxwell?” Emma asked.
“I decided not to press charges against Miss Maxwell. I paid her an unexpected visit this morning with the purpose of claiming the stole. When she answered the door I simply asked her to return the stole. She was surprised, aghast, and repentant almost all at the same time. To her credit, she didn’t attempt to deny it, but was quite adamant that it was her first—and last—offence.
“I told her that I had pressed Betsy for the information and that it was not the maid’s fault that I’d found her out. I also made her promise that if she returned the stole at once and did not force any repercussions on Betsy, I would not press charges nor make the incident public.”
“Why did you not want to press charges?” Emma asked.
Ginger let out a long breath. “I know I sound altruistic in wanting to spare the famous film star her reputation, but the truth is, I’m equally concerned about the reputation of this shop. I didn’t want it—or us—getting bad publicity.”
“Did she say why she did it?” Dorothy asked.
“The motive is hard to pinpoint exactly, but I know she is a lady whose days of fame are behind her. For some people, the fading of the applause is more cruel than the fading of the money that goes along with it. It’s as if you are trying to keep your slowly vanishing fame a secret somehow and so you keep your private life ever more hidden.
“For example, at our interview, when I realised Betsy was Lizzie’s sister, it was clear to me that Miss Maxwell became agitated, though she hid it well. She was uncomfortable with any close connection I might have to her private life. In any case, I think the stole represented something new, exotic, and flamboyant, as a reminder of a time in her life when she was constantly in the spotlight. When she saw it on display here she simply couldn’t help herself, and yet she knew she could not afford it.”
“But will she do it again?” Madame Roux said.
“That’s unknown, of course. However, even though I did not bring charges against her, I did tell Inspector Sanders about it all,” Ginger said. “He promised to be discreet, but if anything else is reported missing in the future you can be sure he will be checking up on Miss Maxwell first.”
“Speaking of zee handsome inspector,” Madame Roux said, “I must bid you all adieu.” Everyone looked at her in surprise.
“Whatever do you mean?” Dorothy asked
“Zee inspector has offered to take me to zee cinema tonight. We are going to see Zee Phantom of zee Opera.”
The four ladies just stared at her in astonishment. “I ’ave heard zees is a very frightening film so I intend to be truly ’orrified. Zee inspector will ’ave no choice but to comfort me.” She paused. “Why are you looking at me in zees way?”
After a moment of speechlessness, Ginger and the other three ladies broke out in laughter.
* * *
Want more Ginger Gold?
Get Lady Gold Investigates Volume 2 - The Case of the Recipe Robbery and The Case of the Museum Heist.
; MURDER ON EATON SQUARE
The Ginger Gold Mysteries Book # 10
Murder’s Bad Karma. . .
Life couldn’t be better on Eaton Square Gardens where the most prestigious families lived, until one of their own dies and it’s murder.
Ginger and Basil are on the case, but it’s not a simple glass of bubbly fizz. The more the clues present themselves, the trickier the puzzle gets, and Ginger feels she’s on a wild goose chase.
But as someone close to the victim so aptly quips, “One shouldn’t commit murder. It’s bad karma.”
Reaping what one sows is hardly a great cup of tea.
On Amazon!
* * *
It’s never too early to think about Christmas!
Ginger Gold’s Murder by Plum Pudding is part of this multi-author boxed set releasing in October. Preorders are available on Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo and Amazon. Get your preorder copy for only .99.
MURDER BY PLUM PUDDING
There's nothing more fun than a festive holiday dinner party and Ginger Reed, the former Lady Gold, has Hartigan House decorated and the gramophone playing. Dressed in her finest Parisian low-waisted gown, feather-topped tiara, and T-strapped Italian leather shoes, Ginger is ready to host the delectable event.
It's a jolly good time, until someone chokes on the pudding.
Is it an accident or is it murder? And can Ginger unravel the mystery before the church bells ring and the New Year’s day dawns?
* * *
Did you know that Ginger kept a Journal?
Sign up for Lee’s newsletter to get access to this exclusive content. Find out about Ginger’s Life before the SS Rosa and how she became the woman she has. This is a fluid document that will cover her romance with her late husband Daniel, her time serving in the British secret service during World War One, and beyond. Includes a recipe for Dark Dutch Chocolate Cake!
Read on to learn more!
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Ginger Gold’s Journal
Sign up for Lee’s readers list and gain access to Ginger Gold’s private Journal. Find out about Ginger’s Life before the SS Rosa and how she became the woman she has. This is a fluid document that will cover her romance with her late husband Daniel, her time serving in the British secret service during World War One, and beyond. Includes a recipe for Dark Dutch Chocolate Cake!
It begins: July 31, 1912
How fabulous that I found this Journal today, hidden in the bottom of my wardrobe. Good old Pippins, our English butler in London, gave it to me as a parting gift when Father whisked me away on our American adventure so he could marry Sally. Pips said it was for me to record my new adventures. I’m ashamed I never even penned one word before today. I think I was just too sad.
This old leather-bound journal takes me back to that emotional time. I had shed enough tears to fill the ocean and I remember telling Father dramatically that I was certain to cause flooding to match God’s. At eight years old I was well-trained in my biblical studies, though, in retro-spect, I would say that I had probably bordered on heresy with my little tantrum.
The first week of my “adventure” was spent with a tummy ache and a number of embarrassing sessions that involved a bucket and Father holding back my long hair so I wouldn’t soil it with vomit.
I certainly felt that I was being punished for some reason. Hartigan House—though large and sometimes lonely—was my home and Pips was my good friend. He often helped me to pass the time with games of I Spy and Xs and Os.
“Very good, Little Miss,” he’d say with a twinkle in his blue eyes when I won, which I did often. I suspect now that our good butler wasn’t beyond letting me win even when unmerited.
Father had got it into his silly head that I needed a mother, but I think the truth was he wanted a wife. Sally, a woman half my father’s age, turned out to be a sufficient wife in the end, but I could never claim her as a mother.
Well, Pips, I’m sure you’d be happy to know that things turned out all right here in America.
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About the Authors
Lee Strauss is the bestselling author of The Ginger Gold Mysteries series, The Higgins & Hawke Mystery series (cozy historical mysteries), A Nursery Rhyme Mystery series (mystery suspense), The Perception series (young adult dystopian), The Light & Love series (sweet romance), and young adult historical fiction with over a million books read. She has titles published in German, Spanish and Korean, and a growing audio library. She also writes younger YA fantasy as Elle Lee Strauss.
Norm Strauss is a singer-songwriter and performing artist who's seen the stage of The Voice of Germany. Short story writing is a new passion he shares with his wife Lee Strauss.
For more info on books by Lee Strauss and her social media links, visit leestraussbooks.com. To make sure you don’t miss the next new release, be sure to sign up for her readers’ list!
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Books by Lee Strauss
On AMAZON
Ginger Gold Mysteries (cozy 1920s historical)
Cozy. Charming. Filled with Bright Young Things. This Jazz Age murder mystery will entertain and delight you with its 1920s flair and pizzazz!
Murder on the SS Rosa
Murder at Hartigan House
Murder at Bray Manor
Murder at Feathers & Flair
Murder at the Mortuary
Murder at Kensington Gardens
Murder at St. Georges Church
Murder Aboard the Flying Scotsman
Murder at the Boat Club
Murder on Eaton Square
Murder by Plum Pudding
Lady Gold Investigates (Ginger Gold companion short stories)
Volume 1
Volume 2
Higgins & Hawke Mysteries (cozy 1930s historical)
The 1930s meets Rizzoli & Isles in this friendship depression era cozy mystery series.
Death at the Tavern
Death on the Tower
A Nursery Rhyme Mystery (mystery/sci fi)
Marlow finds himself teamed up with intelligent and savvy Sage Farrell, a girl so far out of his league he feels blinded in her presence - literally - damned glasses! Together they work to find the identity of @gingerbreadman. Can they stop the killer before he strikes again?
Gingerbread Man
Life Is but a Dream
Hickory Dickory Dock
Twinkle Little Star
The Perception Trilogy (YA dystopian mystery)
Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans. Her brother Liam is missing. Noah Brody, a boy on the outside, is the only one who can help ~ but can she trust him?
Perception
Volition
Contrition
Light & Love (sweet romance)
Set in the dazzling charm of Europe, follow Katja, Gabriella, Eva, Anna and Belle as they find strength, hope and love.
Sing me a Love Song
Your Love is Sweet
In Light of Us
Lying in Starlight
Playing with Matches (WW2 history/romance)
A sobering but hopeful journey about how one young Germany boy c
opes with the war and propaganda. Based on true events.
As Elle Lee Strauss
The Clockwise Collection (YA time travel romance)
Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this ~ she's accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.
Clockwise
Clockwiser
Like Clockwork
Counter Clockwise
Clockwork Crazy
Standalones
Seaweed
Love, Tink
Copyright © 2019 by Lee Strauss
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.