Stabbing Set with Sapphires

by L. A. Nisula

  He didn’t seem to know about the murder then, otherwise his nonchalant attitude was very cold. But it was just possible he was involved in the robberies as a way to hurt the store without any real financial loss to them. “I suppose not, if that’s all there was.”

  “Simple robbery. Their insurance will handle the losses for them. Nothing to be concerned about. Here is your receipt.”

  But how would he have known about the new insurance policy? Two robberies by an outsider, both focusing on the newly insured pieces was a bit too much of a coincidence even for me to believe. “Thank you.” I took the receipt and the tea. “Do you know anyone there?” He seemed confused by the question so I added, “I thought if there was someone particularly good to ask for.”

  He shrugged. “Only the owners. I believe the sister is more knowledgeable in mechanical jewelry. The brother works on the gemstones. Good afternoon.”

  I smiled and left before he started thinking I was checking out his store for my next target. It was quite possible I was already too late.

  Back at the shop, I found the front door locked. When I knocked, Miss Henderson let me in. “We didn’t want any customers coming in by accident. We have the sign up, but you know how people are.”

  “I do. How is the questioning going?”

  “He was with Miss Kleinman for quite a while, but I just saw her go through to her office.”

  “And how is Miss Eaton doing?”

  “I think she’s in shock. I’ve heard that can happen, that you can have a delayed reaction like that.”

  “You were surprised when she said they had been engaged for three months.”

  Miss Henderson glanced around then whispered, “I was. I’d heard them talking back in January when I went into Mr. Kleinman’s office―you won’t tell Miss Kleinman, right? I was going to smoke a cigarette. Mr. Kleinman smokes, so no one would notice. I usually sneak out to the back courtyard, but it was much too cold outside, so I can’t be mistaken on the date. It must have been longer. But if it was official three months ago, that explains it.”

  “I suppose it does.”

  “Do you have the tea?”

  I held up my parcel. “I’ll bring it back.”

  As I went to the lounge with my purchase, I was almost knocked down by Miss Eaton running out of Mr. Kleinman’s office, slamming the door behind her. Miss Kleinman hurried out of her office to see what the commotion was. The rest of the staff heard Miss Eaton run past the lounge and came out to see what was happening.

  Miss Kleinman came down the hall. “Miss Eaton, whatever is the matter?”

  Miss Peters flung her arms around Miss Eaton as she passed the lounge door. “Oh, Connie. Don’t cry.”

  I hadn’t noticed her crying until Miss Peters mentioned it, but then she began to sob openly. “That policeman. He’s... He’s...” She pulled herself away from Miss Peters and ran for the street door.

  Miss Kleinman sighed. “Go after her, Miss Peters. See that she gets in a cab home. I’ll deal with the inspector.”

  “Right.”

  Miss Peters had barely made it out the door when Inspector Wainwright came out of the office. “My witness–”

  Miss Kleinman cut him off. “Is on her way home sobbing. Really, Inspector, I would think someone of your experience would know how to question a girl without throwing her into hysterics.”

  Inspector Wainwright turned his most businesslike tone on her. “Miss Kleinman–”

  “Inspector Wainwright, I really did expect better. Now, will you be traumatizing my other employees, or can you be trusted to continue this in a professional manner?”

  Inspector Wainwright turned to me. I was sure he was coming up with some way to make that my fault, but all he said was, “Miss Pengear, office.”

  I winked at Miss Kleinman and followed Inspector Wainwright into the office.

  The office furniture hadn’t been moved. Briefly, I considered sitting in Mr. Kleinman’s chair behind the desk and watching Inspector Wainwright’s reaction, but he was irritated enough as it was. I pretended nonchalance and sat quite demurely in one of the guest chairs. Inspector Wainwright took the chair behind the desk. I gave him enough time to sit, but not enough to start talking. “You could have handled that better.”

  “Miss Pengear, so far I have a dead body, a missing sapphire, two other robberies, and a kidnapping. I am attempting to solve this mess I’ve been thrown into in the most efficient way possible before anything else goes wrong.”

  I knew he wouldn’t tell me if he had anything useful or admit to having nothing at all, but I asked, “What kind of progress have you made?”

  “Why would I share that with you, Miss Pengear?”

  “That much, hmm?”

  “Miss Pengear.” He stood up, and I knew he was about to throw me out.

  “Inspector, you forget. I knew the kidnapped girl. I found her ransacked apartment. I do have a personal interest in this case. And that is why I came back here to tell you that Miss Eaton was the victim’s fiancée. If you’d asked before you questioned her, I would have told you that you needed to be careful with her.”

  “Then all the more reason for her to want to help me find the killer.”

  “And all the more reason for you to go gently.”

  He didn’t answer, which I knew was the closest I would get to him admitting I had a point. I leaned forward in the chair and rested my hands on the desk. “Suppose I describe what I saw when I got here.”

  “That is why I asked you here.”

  Chapter 11

  INSPECTOR WAINWRIGHT DIDN’T SEEM TO MAKE any progress; at least, he was as curt as ever when he told us we could leave just after four. The next morning, I was more than half-dreading my arrival at Kleinman and Co.; dead bodies did have a dampening effect on anyone’s spirits, even if you’ve seen more than your share. So I was dragging my feet trying to waste time as I was approaching the building when I saw a tall young man pacing back and forth in front of the shop. He looked like he wanted to go inside, then changed his mind, then changed it again. I was trying to decide if he was shopping for an engagement ring or casing the joint when I recognized him. The man from the White Oak where Miss Crawford had been the night she disappeared. I hadn’t decided if it would be better to approach him or watch him when he spotted me and waved. Approach it was, then.

  “You’re the one that came to ask me about your friend, aren’t you?”

  “That’s right. Did you remember something?”

  “Not me; one of the barmaids might have. She said something was odd about it, but when I asked her what, she just said odd. I told her to go to that inspector and tell him all about it, but she said she doesn’t want to bother him. Can’t say I blame her; he’s not the sort you want to have a chat with. But I thought, if one of the girl’s friends talked to her, she might see sense.”

  “I’d be happy to talk with her. But I should be honest, we weren’t close friends.”

  “Don’t see that that matters. Someone close might be harder to talk to, if you see what I mean.”

  “I think I do. Where should I meet her?”

  “Name the place.”

  I asked him for the name of a teashop not far from the pub and told him to tell the girl it was my treat. I got a description of who I was looking for and a name, Effie, and promised to be there at four o'clock, giving her plenty of time to tell me what she knew before leaving for her shift at the pub. I watched the man walk to the Underground station more as a way to put off the inevitable than anything else. But eventually I did have to approach the shop.

  The first thing I noticed was that Miss Henderson was not waiting to be let in by the front door. I wasn’t sure when her day off was, so I told myself it was nothing to worry about. Of course, last week she’d been here on a Tuesday, so it was unlikely to be her day off. But she couldn’t be the next victim. Not that there would be a next; that was just me being paranoid. The alley leading to the back door still being blocked of
f by the police didn’t help any.

  I tried the door out of habit. It did nothing for my nerves when the knob turned easily in my hand and the door swung in with the smallest push. I was tempted to leave it open in case I needed to leave quickly, but I’d already told myself not to be such a fool, so I shut it gently and walked further into the store. There was a light on in one of the back rooms. Best to know the worst, I decided, and started for the open door to Miss Kleinman's office.

  “Miss Pengear? Oh good. I was afraid we’d scared you off.” Miss Kleinman was seated at her desk, shuffling papers around with no purpose I could see.

  All in my head. I tried to look like I hadn't been very nearly scared off a moment before. “How much more can go wrong?” I tried to smile as I said it, but I more than most was aware of just how much could still go wrong.

  “I remembered that Mr. Morris was the one who used to come early to let Miss Henderson in, and, well, she was friendly with Miss Crawford too. I didn’t want her to notice the change in routine so much.”

  “That was very thoughtful of you.”

  “You probably want to put that typewriter down. There’s tea and muffins in the lounge if you’d like some.”

  “Thank you.” I tried to get a look at the papers she had out, but they appeared to be the insurance forms we’d already filled out, only now they had been stamped. The copies that had been sent to Mr. Tolland’s office and returned filed, no doubt. I wondered why she was looking through them but realized it was probably just something to do while she was alone in the shop. She was probably as jittery as I was. I slipped out and set up my typewriter in the display room then went to find the tea and muffins.

  I had just gotten my muffin properly buttered and was trying to figure out how to eat it without dripping on anything important when Miss Henderson came in.

  “Butter! That’s just the thing. Everything looks cheerier with butter.”

  “Not easy being around a crime scene,” I said.

  Miss Henderson chuckled. “Not that, or not only that. It’s who I saw coming up the street.” She took a large bite of her muffin, and I had to wait until she’d chewed it sufficiently to swallow before asking,

  “Who?”

  “That Inspector Wainwright. Why would he be here?”

  Butter was definitely needed, then. “He probably has some more questions to ask us. Or he needs to see the scene again. Lots of reasons, I suppose.”

  “I’m hoping for the scene. Then maybe we won’t have to see him. Good morning, Mr. Garver.”

  “Good morning, ladies. Did you see the inspector is in Miss Kleinman’s office? They seem to be having words.” He crossed to the tea service and started fixing himself a cup.

  “What sort of words?” Miss Henderson asked.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t like to linger. Is there any butter for these?”

  I slid the dish over. “I wonder if I should bring him some tea.”

  “Wouldn’t catch me―oh I see. A spy mission. Well, ‘you’re a better man than I, Gunga Din.’ Bring Miss Kleinman some while you’re at it. I suppose it would be rude to bring her a muffin and not him.”

  It turned out I didn’t have enough hands to bring both tea and muffins for two, and as there was no serving tray, tea alone it was.

  I paused outside the office door to listen. I didn’t want to interfere if Miss Kleinman was in the middle of a good rant, but it was Inspector Wainwright’s voice I heard drifting through the wood.

  “I assure you I am doing everything within my power to solve these crimes. Now, if you are unable to account for these irregularities...”

  “And I’ve told you, I don’t know what you mean by irregularities. My brother was doing a favor for a potentially good client. She came to us on the recommendation of one of the employees. There is nothing unusual about that.”

  “Someone has been able to breach your security, security which you said was...”

  I heard Miss Kleinman’s chair slide back and could imagine her getting to her feet. I could also hear Inspector Wainwright snap his notebook closed, a sure sign he was getting ready for an argument. I pushed the door open. “I thought you might want some tea, Miss Kleinman. Oh, Inspector, you’re here. Well, you might as well have mine.”

  Miss Kleinman straightened her spine and reached for the cup I held out. “Thank you, Miss Pengear. That was very thoughtful.”

  I held the other cup out to Inspector Wainwright. He glared at me but took the cup. He examined the rim then took a sip.

  Miss Kleinman ducked around him. “I will go and inform the staff that you are here, Inspector.”

  “And see that Miss Eaton comes through first. I have questions for her.”

  Miss Kleinman paused in the doorway. “Miss Eaton is not here. She was very upset yesterday; I told her to take the day off.” She walked out before Inspector Wainwright could answer.

  I remembered that Tuesday was Miss Eaton’s normal day off, or at least she hadn’t been here my first day, so Miss Kleinman must have wanted to remind Inspector Wainwright of how badly he had already handled Miss Eaton.

  Inspector Wainwright glared at me but didn’t tell me to leave. I wondered if he knew the staff schedule. If so, he’d reach the same conclusion I had. He leaned against the desk and glanced over the papers. I could see now that they were the insurance forms, only they were all stamped filed. All but the one for the Heart of Night. So that’s why she was worried. “What did you come to say?”

  “I brought tea.”

  “You knew I was here. Oh, don’t pretend. I’m a detective, remember? This wasn’t yours. It has sugar in it, and you don’t take sugar. And I’m sure you know I don’t either, so you’re annoyed with me. Any particular reason why or just a general grudge?”

  “I could ask you the same thing.” Something Miss Kleinman had said just now nagged at me, “But really, I do have a suggestion.”

  When I didn’t plunge in, he sighed and put the cup down on the stack of forms. “Do I need to put my nightstick on the table out of reach?”

  So he did have a sense of humor. At least I thought it was a joke. “You haven’t gone about questioning the people here in the best way. Most especially Miss Eaton. I think you should find someone to help you with her.”

  Inspector Wainwright stared at me. I noticed his left hand squeezing at the edge of the desk like he meant to break the wood. “I assure you, Miss Pengear, I am quite capable of interviewing a witness. I have done it before. Just as I have solved cases without your interference or the help of other detectives. This is my case, and my decision on how to handle my witnesses.”

  “I’m not trying to tell you to give up your case, but face it. You got off on the wrong foot with Miss Eaton, and she is your most important witness. Why not ask somebody else to question her?”

  “And I suppose you’re volunteering.”

  “I’m not, actually; she doesn’t say much to me. She seems to think it’s none of my business.”

  I’d known that would get a smile out of him, even if he was smiling at his shoes and not me. He did stop trying to break the desk, though and switched to arranging Miss Kleinman’s desk set.

  “Constable Edwards and Constable Kittering are used to interviewing people. I assume you’ve sent them?”

  “And had them turned away at her flat.”

  “So I was thinking you could try another inspector. It would make it seem less connected to you. Inspector Burrows is a very good detective and can be quite kind. And Inspector Hamilton is very good at interviewing hysterical women.”

  He snorted and rubbed at a spot of tarnish on the handle of the pen.

  “There’s a reason I’m suggesting this. I think there’s more there that we’re not seeing because it’s so easy to believe she’d refuse to see you.”

  Inspector Wainwright’s head snapped up, and I wondered if I had actually hurt his feelings.

  “You made her cry yesterday. Now it’s easy for everyone to say �
�oh look, she’s refusing to see the big bad policeman.’ But what I want to know is, what if you hadn’t made her cry? Would she still be refusing to see you? That would be very suggestive. That’s why I suggested someone else, especially if they spoke to the others first, established themselves as someone to be trusted.”

  “Not volunteering yourself?”

  “I told you, she won’t talk to me.”

  “And that’s why you find this suspicious. She won’t succumb to your investigating skills.” He dropped the pen in its silver holder rather like he was throwing a dart, and I could almost imagine the red pattern of vines on the handle were blood. Probably mine, if he had his way.

  “Fine, don’t listen to me. I’m just trying to help you find a kidnapper and a killer.” I grabbed the teacup and stormed out of the office. Inspector Wainwright was examining the desk set and pretended not to notice.

  Miss Kleinman came out of her brother’s office and caught me as I was storming back to the lounge. “I’m afraid we’ve wasted your time today. Mr. Tolland just telephoned. He has decided not to come.”

  I wondered if that was related to the forms she was looking at. “Did he say why not?”

  “The lock. He doesn’t trust the security of the lock, so he wants to have it tested before we continue with the policy.”

  “Then I’ll get in touch with my tinkerer friend and see how soon she can come.”

  “Thank you. And we won’t be needing any typing until that’s settled. I’m afraid I’m rather selfishly glad you are here today, though. It’s nice to have someone willing to back me up when the inspector is a bit...” She shrugged to show how she felt about Inspector Wainwright.

  “Well, I’ll admit to being more than a little curious about the whole affair.”

  Miss Kleinman nodded. “I just hope Miss Crawford is all right. I contacted what little family I know she has, but the inspector had already done that, and she isn’t with any of them.”