Josiah Reynolds Box Set 4
Page 34
Asa was frantically whispering to June, but June was having none of it. Asa turned and looked helplessly at me. I knew she had been advising June to quit bidding.
“Thirty.”
“Forty!” June countered.
“Fifty!” Gage shouted smugly.
“Sixty!”
“Seventy-five thousand dollars!” Gage cried out.
Lady Elsmere, aka June Webster from Monkey’s Eyebrow, grinned and said, “Too rich for my blood. You win, Gage. Congratulations.”
“Madame, have you stopped bidding?” asked the auctioneer.
“Yes.”
“Sir, your last bid was seventy-five thousand dollars.”
Someone from the crowd yelled, “What’s the matter, Gage? You look a little pale.”
People twittered.
I had to admit the bidding war over those chairs was the high point of the night so far. My blood was up like everyone else’s, and Gage did look like a deer caught in a headlight. His color was off, and he weaved a bit on his feet before he steadied himself by grabbing the back of the chair in front of him.
The auctioneer ordered, “Quiet. Quiet. The bid stands at seventy-five thousand dollars. Are there any other bids?” The auctioneer scanned the room, which had now become deathly quiet. “Going once. Twice,” he paused, “three times.” He banged his gavel. “Sold for seventy-five thousand dollars. Congratulations, Mr. Cagle.”
Everyone clapped while many raced over to shake Gage’s hand.
The auctioneer announced, “This concludes the auction portion of our evening. Y’all are invited to the ball. For those of you who purchased items, my staff will assist you. Please see them before you proceed to the dance area. Thank you.”
In other words, pay before you play.
12
Hunter helped me out of my chair. Oh, great, my right leg was asleep.
“I didn’t know Gage Cagle is a collector. Those chairs are not worth seventy-five thousand. Not even close.”
“Nicely put, Hunter,” Asa said, coming up to us. “If they were made by Porter Clay, they would have some historical significance, but not seventy-five thousand dollars’ worth. If I were Gage Cagle, I would have the insignia tested.”
“You can test for that?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said, signaling to Boris.
He immediately trotted over.
“I’m going to the dance. Are you two coming?” Asa asked.
I looked at Hunter.
He wrapped my arm around him as we followed Asa and Boris into the ballroom.
Spying June sitting at a table with ladies of her own age, I pulled Hunter along toward her table.
She looked at me with eyes twinkling like the diamonds she was wearing.
I bent over and asked very softly, “Did you set Gage up?”
June turned away from her friends so they could not hear her answer. “I knew as soon as Gage said he wanted those chairs, something was wrong, so I turned the tables on him, or should I say chairs. I knew I’d get him. Gage was always a lousy poker player.”
“Do you think he did it to get back at you for interfering with Rosie?”
June shrugged. “Makes no never mind to me, but if that odious man thought he could take advantage of me, he’s certainly learned his lesson, don’t you think?”
“Seventy-five thousand dollars’ worth.”
June threw back her head and crowed, sounding like a rooster relishing a juicy bug before she swirled around in her seat to join her friends.
Hunter escorted me to a table where Charles and Rosie sat. Charles was eating, and Rosie was nervously fiddling with an empty champagne glass.
Hunter asked, “Rosie, can I get you anything from the buffet?”
“No, thank you.”
“Charles?”
Charles shook his head while slathering cream cheese on smoked salmon. “No, Hunter. I’m fine. Thanks.”
“Josiah?”
“As long as you’re offering, load a plate up for me. I’m starving.”
“I’m off.”
I watched Hunter weave through the dance floor, only to be sidetracked by a woman he knew. They chatted while dancing couples zigzagged and bobbed around them. I saw Hunter give the woman his card before excusing himself. When I turned to ask Rosie if she knew the woman, she was gone.
“Charles, where did Rosie go?”
Charles looked up from his plate and scanned the room. “I didn’t notice her leaving. She probably went to the ladies’ room. You want me to look for her?”
“No. You’re probably right. She’s in the powder room or she’s visiting at another table.”
“What’s the problem?” Hunter asked as he placed a plate laden with food in front of me. Franklin brought up the rear with drinks.
“Nothing. Rosie left, and I don’t see her.”
Franklin sat down beside me, pinching food from my plate. “She probably has an illicit romantic interlude somewhere.”
“I wish you were having an illicit romantic interlude somewhere.” I moved my plate out of Franklin’s reach.
He immediately snatched goodies from Hunter’s plate.
Irritated, Hunter said, “Franklin, get your own food.”
“Don’t I get a reward for carrying your drinks?”
Charles wiped his mouth with a heavily starched linen napkin before saying, “Franklin, don’t forget to return Lady Elsmere’s bracelet before we leave.”
“What bracelet?”
“The one you’re wearing on your ankle.”
Franklin glanced down and looked back up at us with his best how-did-that-get-there expression.
Hunter nudged Franklin. “Give it to Charles now. He’s responsible for all of June’s jewels. You don’t want the insurance company to cancel June’s policy.”
Franklin argued, “They wouldn’t cancel because I’m wearing a bracelet.”
“They might,” Asa said, sitting down, “if your name is not on the policy entitling you to wear her jewels. They might renege if you were responsible for losing the bracelet. It’s a clause in many policies as a way to escape paying if something is stolen. They certainly would run a background check on you. You’ve had your run-in with the law, Franklin. You’re not in the market for more, buddy.”
Franklin gulped and quickly took off the “bangle”, handing it to Charles who slipped it in his inside coat pocket.
Boris wandered over to the table with several tall drinks in his hands.
“Vodka?” I asked.
“Water.”
I gave Boris a look that questioned his honesty.
He smirked while handing Asa one of the glasses.
I think Boris liked teasing me.
Asa said, “This has been some night. I’m relieved June quit bidding on those chairs.”
I inquired, “What is their real worth?”
“If the documentation is correct, perhaps nine thousand apiece at an important antique auction in New York or Boston with serious collectors attending.”
Hunter whistled. “Wow, and your neighbor paid seventy-five thousand.”
I fumed, “Gage is no neighbor of mine.”
Asa nudged me. “Look over there.”
I turned to where Asa indicated and saw Gage in a heated discussion with two men. One was Eli Owsley, who was jabbing Gage in the chest with his finger. Beside him stood the peculiar man in the rumpled suit slapping his program against the palm of his hand. If I read humans well, and I do, I would say those two men were quite angry with Gage.
Why would Eli Owsley be irate with Gage who just purchased his chairs for seventy-five thousand dollars? Especially since he would be getting a fat commission. And who was the elf with the rumpled suit?
Asa motioned to Deliah and pointed to the three men.
Deliah nodded and sauntered over to them. “Gentlemen, smile,” she said.
The three men looked up just as Deliah snapped a shot.
The man in the shabby suit
stepped forward, making an aggressive move toward Deliah, but was pulled back by Eli Owsley. All three men quickly moved outside into the garden.
Deliah glanced at Asa before moving to the other side of the ballroom.
Asa muttered, “That was odd behavior.”
“Yes, wasn’t it,” Hunter drawled. “The only thing I can think to elicit such a response is that Gage just informed the antique owner that he doesn’t have the money.”
“I wonder who the other man is.”
“Doesn’t matter,” said Hunter, sweeping me out of my chair. “We’re here to have fun. Let’s dance.”
Hunter hustled me over to the dance floor before I could protest. While doing the foxtrot, I scanned for the three men over Hunter’s shoulder. I didn’t see them, but spotted Asa making the rounds chatting people up. I knew she was probing for information.
Ah, like mother like daughter. Nosey.
13
When tango music started, I begged off and sat down in the nearest chair.
Hunter disappeared into the crowd and brought back two plates of various desserts. I was in chocolate heaven, but before I could shove some deliciousness into my piehole, Charles tracked me down.
“Miss June is tired and wishes to leave.”
“I’ll take Josiah home, Charles.”
“What about Miss Asa and Whatshisface?”
I surveyed the room. “I’m sure Asa wants to stay, but Rosie probably will want to go home.”
“I haven’t seen her for a while.”
“I haven’t either, Charles. Let me check the powder room.”
“That would be nice. I’m getting a little sleepy-eyed myself.”
Reluctantly leaving my edible delights behind, I ventured to the ladies’ lounge, calling out Rosie’s name.
No reply. I asked the ladies washing their hands if they had seen Rosie, but they replied, “no.”
“Maybe she’s outside having a smoke,” one of them suggested.
Rosie didn’t smoke, but I thanked them and hurried over to the patio garden where several gentlemen were puffing on their cigars.
“Have any of you seen Rosamond Rose?”
They either shook their heads or muttered, “No, Josiah.”
“If you see her, please direct her to Lady Elsmere’s table. Her Ladyship is wanting to go home, and Miss Rose came with her.”
“Will do.”
“No problem.”
“She might have gone back into the auction room to get away from Gage,” one of them suggested.
Everyone knew of Gage bullying Rosie.
I asked, “Has he been bothering Miss Rosie tonight?”
“Didn’t see anything, but Rosie has seemed skittish all night,” the man replied.
“I’ll check there. Thanks, fellows,” I replied, trying not to show I was miffed when none of them offered to check for me. My leg was killing me, and I wished I had asked Hunter to look for Rosie, but I proceeded to the auction room.
It was empty.
Drats!
Where was that woman?
Knowing Asa and Boris were on the dance floor, I decided to recruit them in my search for Rosie. As I turned to leave the room, I heard a loud thump behind the stage.
“Hello? Rosie, is that you? Hello?”
Hearing a muffled whimper, I hurried up the stage steps and pushed aside the thick curtain that separated the stage from the back room where the antiques were stored, waiting to be carted off by their new owners.
I saw a flash of yellow behind an armoire and said, “Rosie, I’ve been looking for you all over,” while making my way to her around some heavy furniture. “June wants to leave, honey.”
She turned to face me. Her beautiful yellow dress was smeared with blood, and she was clutching a knife in her hand.
“Oh, my God! Are you hurt?” I asked, rushing over to her.
It was then I saw Gage Cagle lying on the floor. I pushed Rosie out of the way and bent over to check for a pulse.
“He’s still alive. Call an ambulance. ROSIE! GET HELP!”
Rosie gave a terrified wail before she dropped the knife and fled.
I grabbed some packing material lying on the floor and tried to staunch the bleeding, but blood was everywhere. “HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME! HELP!”
I screamed for a long time before help came.
It was Agnes Bledsoe who finally heard me.
14
I was wearing an orange paper jumpsuit, fearing that if I moved suddenly, the paper would tear. Where would I be then? I guess begging for some tape.
A plainclothes detective walked into the room holding a file and shut the door.
“Where is Detective Kelly?”
The man replied, “My name is Detective Norbet Drake. Can you answer some questions for me?” He eased into a chair.
“Are you the lead detective?”
“I am.”
“What happened to Detective Kelly?”
Drake ignored my question. “You are Josiah Louise Reynolds?”
“I am.”
Drake leaned back in his chair. “Are you the same Josiah Reynolds I read about in the newspaper all the time? You like solving murders?”
“No one likes murder cases because murder is a nasty business, but I have helped solve several cases by working with the police.”
Drake perused the file he was holding. “More than just several. According to your record, Josiah, you have stumbled over twelve murdered bodies in a relatively short time.”
“So, Gage is dead.”
“Bled out before the ambulance got there. Arrived at the hospital DOA.”
“I didn’t think he was going to make it.”
“Why is that?”
“There was so much blood. I couldn’t hold back the flow.”
“Can you tell me what happened? Did he attack you and you stabbed him in self-defense?”
“What? You think I stabbed him?” I drew back in my chair astonished.
“If you confess, the DA can give you a plea deal.”
I jumped up. Riiippp! Great! I tore the backside of my paper jumpsuit, and now my bare fanny was hanging out. “You got this all wrong. I didn’t do anything to that man but try to help him.”
“Please sit down, Josiah.” Drake studied the police report. “You were discovered with Gage Cagle, covered in his blood.”
“Look, Norbet.”
“It’s Detective Drake.”
“Then it’s Mrs. Reynolds. I had to lean over him to staunch the bleeding. Of course, I got his blood on my hands and my dress. It doesn’t mean I killed him. I found Gage prostrate on the floor, already injured.”
The door to the interrogation room burst open and in stormed Shaneika Mary Todd—my hero and my lawyer. She gave Drake a menacing look. “Don’t say another word, Josiah.”
“You’re interrupting my interrogation, Shaneika.”
“Ah, blow it out you know where,” Shaneika said. “Is my client under arrest?”
“No.”
“Then I’m calling a halt to your questions, and my client is leaving with me. If at any time you wish to question Mrs. Reynolds again, you will have to do it with me present. In other words, this dame has lawyered up.”
Shaneika tossed a bag at me, glimpsing my backside. “I brought some clothes for you, and not a moment too soon.”
“There’s a bathroom down the hall where you can change,” Drake said, picking up his file. “Make sure your client doesn’t leave town.”
“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Shaneika said.
As soon as Drake closed the door, Shaneika turned her ire on me. “Haven’t I told you not to talk to cops without a lawyer present?”
“Drake thinks I killed Gage Cagle.”
“No, he doesn’t. He’s just trying to rattle you.”
“He did a good job.”
“Let’s get out of here so we can talk. Get dressed first. I see that it must be a little drafty for you.”
15
Shaneika, Asa, and I settled into a booth near the back of Al’s Bar.
The clack of billiard balls striking one another masked our conversation.
We quickly gave our orders to the waitress, who yelled, “Two cheese and drag ’em through the garden.” After she lumbered back to the kitchen, we got back to the business of talking, whispering quietly.
“You’re going to have to tell the police what you saw or you could be charged with hampering an investigation,” Shaneika said.
“Do you think the police are trying to pin the murder on me?”
“No. Other attendees at the ball have told the police they witnessed Rosamond Rose running away with blood on her dress.”
“Where is Rosie now?”
“I don’t know.”
Asa and I glanced at each other. We both had the sneaky suspicion Shaneika was lying.
“Did you touch the knife, Josiah?”
“I don’t think so, but there is a possibility I pushed it out of the way when I was trying to find something to press on the wound.”
“Mom, can you tell us what happened with as much detail as possible?”
“Charles said June wanted to leave. I told him that I wanted to stay and Hunter would take me home. I also stated you probably wanted to stay, too. I offered to look for Rosie as I thought she might be in the ladies’ room, but she wasn’t there. I asked around, and everyone said they hadn’t seen her. I went out onto the patio where several men were smoking cigars. They said they hadn’t seen her, but suggested I look in the auction room.”
“Let me stop you. I will need the names of those ladies and gents you talked with concerning Ms. Rose.”
“No problem.”
Shaneika shoved her yellow legal pad at me.
I quickly wrote down the names.
Shaneika grabbed the pad. “Did you at any time follow Gage into the auction docking area behind the stage?”
“No.”
“Let me ask you again. Did you at any time follow Gage into any part of the facility?”