by Deb Baker
But what about the incriminating note Gretchen found in Ronny’s file? It was addressed to Chiggy from a family member eager for what he saw as his inheritance. Despite its implication that Chiggy was involved in a fraudulent scheme, the old woman suffered too many debilitating medical problems to kill two strong men like Brett and Ronny. From what other members of the Phoenix Dollers said, Chiggy and her oxygen tank could hardly make it across the room.
Tomorrow Gretchen would visit the woman at the nursing home.
Who else should be on her list of suspects?
What about the members of the Boston Kewpie Doll Club?
Eric Huntington had delivered the second package to her. He’d known Percy, and was also a lifelong Bostonian, like Steve. For Nina’s sake, Gretchen hoped Eric wasn’t involved.
Then there was Milt Wood. Something about him gave Gretchen the creeps.
She shook her head, chiding herself, as she drove in circles trying to find her way to Camelback Road.
She couldn’t add Milt Wood to the suspect list just because of a feeling. That was too Nina-like. She’d leave auras and energy fields to her aunt and proceed with hard facts.
Fact one, regarding Milt Wood. He tried to buy two Kewpie dolls from her, becoming increasingly offensive and pushy when he didn’t get his way. He remained persistent even when told that one of the dolls had been extensively repaired and wasn’t worth purchasing. Fact two, Milt had easy access to Percy, just as Steve and Eric had.
Who else? Detective Matt Albright. Not that he was on the suspect list. He certainly had an air of arrogant self-confidence about him, but last she heard, that wasn’t a qualifier for murderous intent. Although the promise of treasure might trip a latent trigger. Who knew what went on inside a killer’s mind?
And Albert had been beaten by a cop. That cop could have been Matt.
Her opinion of the detective was sinking as rapidly as a rock thrown from the summit of Camelback Mountain. He was probably gathering evidence to make his case and earn himself a big promotion, and he had chosen a brutal, cruel avenue to the top. Assaulting helpless indigents was as low as anyone could stoop.
So much for the men in Gretchen’s life. Once this situation was firmly behind her, she vowed to distance herself from the entire male population and focus on her career. Men had already taken up too much of her time and energy, and the only thing she was getting for her efforts was disappointment.
Shouldn’t she be home right this minute, answering business calls and repairing dolls? Piles of unfinished broken dolls didn’t put food on the table, or give her the income necessary to get her own place.
You’re still living with your mother, she reminded herself. Time to grow up and move out.
****
Gretchen entered the Biltmore Fashion Park with Nimrod riding in her purse and walked briskly through the exclusive mall until she found what she was looking for.
Ricardo’s Fine Jewelry.
Young, fashionably bejeweled women helped customers from behind resplendent display cases.
“Nimrod, hide,” she commanded as she entered the store. Nimrod ducked down.
She strode past the glistening cases and toothy sales staff to the back of the store, where an elderly man with coke-bottle eyeglasses sat stooped over a cluttered worktable. “Can I help you?” he said, reluctantly glancing up from a Rolex watch he was repairing.
“I have a hypothetical question,” Gretchen said, wondering how best to approach the subject. The truth would take too long to explain, and besides, he would write her off as a kook. She almost didn’t believe what she was thinking. Okay, so a small fib was the best tactic. “A bet I have going with a friend.”
He looked at her questioningly.
“If a little doll, a hollow doll, about this big,” said Gretchen, holding her forefinger and thumb apart to approximate three inches, “was filled with diamonds, would it be heavy enough to alert anyone who handled it that something was inside?”
The jeweler frowned. At first, Gretchen thought he might dismiss her as crazy, or - worse - a potential thief. Maybe he had an alarm button under the table like a bank teller and was alerting the police at this very moment.
After a long pause to size her up, the jeweler said, “Not necessarily. It would be relatively light, hard to detect by a casual observer. Even one who might hold it. That is, as long as the diamonds were secured so they weren’t rattling around inside.” He rose from the table. “Not a likely scenario though.”
“Why not?” She felt Nimrod stirring in the bottom of the purse. He liked the game of hide, but he was easily distracted. Gretchen dug a liver snap out of one of her pockets and casually dropped it into the purse.
The jeweler looked through his magnification glasses at the purse, then over the top of the frames at her.
“Why isn’t it likely?” she asked again.
“A doll filled with diamonds would be worth an immense fortune. Who would own that many diamonds?”
“How many diamonds could a doll that size hold? Hypothetically.”
“Ten or twelve fine diamonds could fit easily into a doll that size and could be worth a million dollars or more, depending on their size, brilliancy, and clarity.”
“So a doll filled with diamonds could be worth multi-millions.”
“Correct. Hypothetically, as you say.”
“Thank you, you’ve been a big help.”
Gretchen smiled at him broadly to express her gratitude.
“Well?” he said.
“Well, what?”
“Who won?”
For a moment, Gretchen didn’t understand his question. Then she remembered the imaginary bet.
“I did,” she said. “I won.”
A million dollars or more. A fine, sparkling jewel of a motive. A million plausible reasons for murder.
Like winning the lottery.
Gretchen thought back on all the things that had happened to her in the last few days: the scorpion, the killer’s use of her hobby knife, the messages that continued to arrive addressed to her. She sincerely hoped she would win. It was apparent that the killer thought she was close to either the diamonds or the truth- or both - and he was taking steps to stop her.
She had to win. Or at the very least, come out of this alive.
As she stepped out into the warm desert night, Gretchen opened her purse and praised Nimrod for remaining out of sight. His furry body bounced to the top of the purse, and Gretchen fed him another treat.
All she wanted to do was walk away. But how? She hadn’t asked for any part of this, but she was into it up to her neck, like quicksand, and she was sinking fast.
The truth, and that alone, would save her.
****
“I don’t know what you’re doing here,” Nina said through clenched teeth. “Can’t you see this is a private dining room? And look at the way you’re dressed.”
“I’m not staying long,” Gretchen said, extremely conscious of her wrinkled shorts and inappropriate footwear. Flip-flops were acceptable nearly everywhere these days, but as Gretchen looked around her at the opulence of the Praying Monk, the Phoenician’s finest private dining room, she could think of one exception. She sat down and buried her feet under the table, sliding the tapestry-covered chair Eric provided closer to the table.
Nina gasped when she noticed Gretchen’s purse. “Please don’t tell me Nimrod’s in there.” She clutched her heart.
“All right, Nina. I won’t. You look lovely.”
Nina shot her a look. “You could have left him at home with Daisy.”
The entrée dishes had been quickly removed, and coffee and dessert arrived with an extra spoon for Gretchen. Eric pointed up at the barrel-vaulted ceiling. “Wonderful design, isn’t it?” he said.
“I don’t mean to interrupt your evening,” Gretchen said, after agreeing with him, “but I hope you don’t mind answering a few questions.”
Nina snorted. “Couldn’t you wait until tomorrow?
”
“I don’t mind.” Eric patted Nina’s hand comfortingly.
“Tell me about Percy’s history,” Gretchen said. “Where did his family’s fortune come from?”
“Ah, you’ve heard the rumors.”
Gretchen nodded.
“The story goes that his father made his fortune as a profiteer during the war. That part of the O’Connor past has been confirmed by local historians, an indisputable fact, and was the main reason why Percy could never be accepted in certain Boston social circles. Black marketeering was an unsavory profession, at best, when the country was working together to ration scarce supplies. Whether his father really converted his wealth into diamonds is strictly hearsay, and a bit unrealistic, I imagine.”
“One report suggested that the O’Connors hid diamonds inside of Kewpie dolls.”
Eric laughed. “Nonsense. What report was that?”
“She doesn’t remember off-hand,” Nina said. “Do you, Gretchen?”
Gretchen felt a sharp heel grinding into the top of her foot, warning her that Nina had reached the end of her patience. Gretchen felt a stab of shame that she was about to bring Nina’s evening to an abrupt closure.
“Pretty quiet in that purse,” Nina observed. “If he wakes up and causes a ruckus, I’ll never live down the embarrassment.”
“You could never embarrass me,” Eric said to her with a warm smile. “You are the epitome of grace and charm.”
Gretchen took a sip of coffee.
“You know,” Eric said, rubbing his plump chin in thought, “I recall hearing once of documents hidden in dolls. A United States citizen spying for the Japanese sent damaging information regarding our ships at Pearl Harbor via messages inside of dolls. The FBI finally caught on, and she was arrested.”
“How does Percy fit into that?” Nina said.
“He doesn’t.” Eric sipped his coffee. “I’m simply saying it’s been done, and there’s a certain fascination among the general populace regarding that whole subject of dolls and hidden secrets. Your suggestion might not be as far-fetched as I originally thought.” His eyes widened. “Oh. I see where this is going. A smashed Kewpie doll was found in the study along with Percy’s body. Do you suppose the doll contained diamonds? The police didn’t find anything missing. Perhaps that was the motive.”
“That’s my best guess,” Gretchen said. “Only the killer didn’t actually find any diamonds.”
“What makes you think that?” Eric rearranged his chair and crossed his legs.
“Because I think he’s in Phoenix, which can only mean he’s still looking for the treasure. Why else would he risk exposing himself? If he had the diamonds, he’d be long gone.”
“Or she,” Nina said, drawn into the intrigue in spite of herself. “You can’t automatically assume the killer is a man. I’m a woman’s libber from way back.” She grinned broadly at Eric. “I believe in total equality.”
They gazed into each other’s eyes for a while, and Gretchen used the time to check on Nimrod, lying next to her feet. Still curled in the bottom of the purse, sound asleep.
Finally Gretchen said. “He - or she- arrived just in time for Chiggy’s auction and the doll show. Don’t you see?”
“I’m afraid I don’t.” Eric’s voice turned icy, and he uncrossed his legs and leaned toward her. “You aren’t implying that one of my club members is responsible for the demise of that abrasive reporter and the poor auctioneer’s assistant, are you? Our group was established years ago. Every single member is like family to me.”
“That’s quite a leap in logic, Eric. You’re implying that Brett and Ronny were killed by the same person who murdered Percy O’Connor. Interesting.” Gretchen firmly met his eyes and didn’t waver. “I didn’t think of that. You arrived at that conclusion seconds after hearing the facts, whereas I…well…it wasn’t obvious to me until you said it now.” Gretchen smiled sweetly.
“I…I…” Eric blustered, thrown off guard. “I merely stated the obvious.”
“Still, it’s simply speculation, and I’m sure the police will think of every angle.” She didn’t believe that for a minute. “You’re very good at analysis.”
“I read extensively.” Eric’s face was unfathomable. “Law enforcement and the criminal mind have always fascinated me. But I don’t appreciate your implications. You may pretend you aren’t suggesting a Bostonian mass murderer in our midst all you want, but I know you are. I suggest, Ms. Birch, that you allow the police to handle murder cases. Stick to doll repair.”
“Let’s go, Nina,” Gretchen said, her eyes still locked on Eric.
“Wha….Why?”
“I stopped by to check on Tutu earlier, and she must have eaten something that disagreed with her. She’s lying on her little bed, moaning horribly, and she can’t get up.”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Nina almost tipped over the chair when she rose.
Gretchen hadn’t crashed Nina’s party just to quiz Eric on Percy’s history, although the information she gleaned had been worth the trip. The real reason stood in front of her, impatiently waiting for Gretchen to gather up Nimrod and race home.
If diamonds were the killer’s motive, the stakes were higher than Gretchen ever imagined.
Until the murderer was exposed, she couldn’t leave her aunt alone with anyone, even with her new friend, Eric Huntington.
The only way to safely and quietly remove her from his company was by duping Nina into believing that something was wrong with her beloved dog. Nina would be incredibly angry in a few minutes when she found out the truth.
Most likely Eric had nothing to do with the recent deaths. There certainly were enough other suspects running around loose, including her own ex-boyfriend, who seemed to have more than a few secrets. Perhaps Gretchen had ruined Nina’s first real date in years over unfounded fears.
But Gretchen would rather have an angry aunt than a dead one.
From now one, they were sticking close together.
Chapter 30
Tuesday morning Gretchen sipped coffee and watched the sunrise from a window in the doll repair shop. On a regular day not marred by recent dead and disturbing occurrences, dawn brought a vibrant energy to the start of her day. This morning she’d risen earlier than usual after a fitful night’s sleep interrupted by murky dreams. Murky because the dreams hovered on a fragile line close to horrifying blackness. They weren’t certifiable nightmares, but close enough to force Gretchen out of bed before daylight rather than risk having another one if she dozed off again.
Dark and foreboding thoughts continued to run through her head as she sat at the window.
Why had Steve followed her to Arizona in the first place? It was out of character for him to seek reconciliation. He had always left that to her. Steve, staunchly cautious and emotionless when dealing with their conflicts, had paid a heavy price for finally allowing real human emotions to surface.
But he was too late. Gretchen had seen other relationships crumble because one of the partners refused to acknowledge the other’s discontent. It seemed as though change was usually offered after the door to reconciliation had already closed. If only Steve had been a little more attentive to her and a little less so to other women, she probably would have stayed with him forever.
He’d reacted too late to save their relationship, way too late. But Gretchen couldn’t bear to see him destroyed. He’d lost his chance for partnership at the law firm in Boston as well as her. She hoped, for his sake, he’d manage to prove his innocence, keep his freedom, and move on with his life.
Like she was trying to do.
After seven years of couplehood, she was struggling through a vast and complex desert of singleness and today, another perpetually sunny Arizona day, Gretchen felt totally alone in the world. But aloneness, as she was finding out, wasn’t synonymous with loneliness.
In fact, it felt good, sort of renewing.
Gretchen selected a doll from a repair bin. She applied a line
of glue around the edge of a kid leather patch she had made before the doll show, worked the glue around with her fingers, and placed the patch over a hole in a French fashion doll’s leather body. She used a doll hook to secure it against the doll’s body.
Nina had been furious when she learned that Tutu was fine and that Gretchen had used the dog as an excuse to wrench her away from that intriguing man. “Jealous,” Nina had snarled, “jealous that I might find a shred of happiness.”
Nina, the drama queen, had made it very clear that Gretchen should stay out of her path until she cooled down.
Whenever that might be.
The phone rang, and her mother’s cell number appeared on the caller ID.
“Hey,” Gretchen said.
“What’s new,” her mother asked.
What’s new? Why did her mother have to ask that every time she called? Gretchen wasn’t about to spoil her trip, but her cover-ups were quickly becoming full-blown lies.
“New? Not much. I’m working on the dolls from the show.”
“Is Steve still in Phoenix?”
Oh, yes, he is. “Unfortunately.”
“He has a lot of pride. It’ll take him some time to come to grips with your decision.”
“I have a few repair questions for you,” Gretchen said, steering the conversation to safer topics.
They spent a few minutes talking about some of Gretchen’s more complex doll repair problems before disconnecting.
Dolls. Her eyes swept the shop’s wide assortment of dolls and doll parts. How could something created with such loving hands, that invoked memories of warmth and comfort in adults as well as children, become a tool of greed and destruction?
Gretchen laid the doll aside, rose from the worktable, and wandered to the kitchen.
She found the note from Daisy right after she poured a cup of coffee. “Gone to an audition. Be back later. Don’t let anyone go into my room.” Gretchen wondered how the woman managed to disappear without a trace. Did she have an invisible cloak? Gretchen grinned. An audition. Daisy, always waiting for her star.