“How true, but it has to lead to the motive, then all questions will be answered.” Aaron yawned, then kissed my forehead. “I’m going to bed. The graveyard shift is enough to do anyone in.”
We went our separate ways. I wondered if it helped or hindered my case to have a fiancé on the police force, because I felt more out of sorts. It didn’t take long before I parked and entered the back door, flipping on the lights. Dorrie was right—the scent of blood was faintly evident.
“Morning, girls! I’ll be out there in a minute-and-a-half,” I called to the dolls.
I definitely was not ready for new customers. I plunked in a CD of Christmas music even though it was still a few weeks away. The first song was White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby. I began humming along as he crooned, “I’m dreaming of a…”, while entering the showroom.
“Look at you, Mrs. Hoover, all dressed up for the inauguration. I bet you’re more comfortable in your outdoor get-up, aren’t you?” I smiled at her then moved on to Mrs. Carter. “You’re lookin’ good, so’s Mr. Carter. Rosalynn and Jimmy, sitting on a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!”
I headed to the computer. While the computer hummed through its login script, I sang White Christmas. I had forgotten some of the words. Wish I could see that bouncing ball like on the Mitch Miller program. Finally, the desktop appeared on the monitor, and I clicked on the Internet browser’s icon. Back to digging into Jackie Newell’s personal life. I googled Jackie and several sites appeared. Perusing the links, eventually I learned that she was a highly requested speaker, mostly on savvy, popular trends and the buying public. At last I found a listing of her speaking engagements over the previous six months. My heart pounded as I stared at the screen. She’d spoken at a convention near the Montpelier Estate the day before the heist.
Why did Jackie Newell steal Dolley’s jewelry?
Next, I searched the web for Elijah Putnam and learned that at one time he’d been a medical doctor and lived near the Madisons. He was younger than Madison, making it highly possible that Putnam had been his doctor. Since money was a grave issue for Dolley, she certainly could have bequeathed the cufflinks to Mr. Putnam upon Mr. Madison’s death as a payment for services rendered.
I was starting to see a beginning, but the trail was mystifying.
As I clicked out of the site, voices from the back of the shop caught my attention.
“Right over here.” Max clopped into the showroom with the security team close behind. “The lady has the check, right?”
“You bet. My bag’s in the back. Hold on a sec.” I jumped up and skirted past the men. I removed the check from my bag and handed it to the man with the outstretched hand. I’d forgotten their names. “Give me the final bill when you’re finished.” They set to work.
Max hadn’t moved. “Well? When’s August coming over to help?”
“Grandpa? Anytime. He was reading the paper and eating when I left home.”
“Ahh—retirement.” He started walking away, then stopped. “I’ll start carrying the houses into the back room, and with any luck we won’t have to carry them all up to the apartment. We’ll see.”
“You’re a treasure, Max. Thanks.” I no sooner responded to another customer requesting a set of Madison dolls, when three people entered the store. I walked over toward them.
“We’re kind of a mess right now to be open for business,” I said. “I do have catalogues if you don’t see what you’d like.”
“I want a Dolley Madison house.”
“I don’t have one on display to show you,” I said. “You’d have to look in the—”
“Right here,” a woman dashed to the vacant area. “Look!” She glanced downward.
The other two women followed right behind.
“Is this where it was?” a woman asked, looking down at the spot.
“How may I help you?” I asked, slightly annoyed.
“I still want a house,” the first woman said.
“Right over here, and I’ll make the sale. Follow me to the counter, please.” I texted Max. “Cash or credit card?” The two women stayed back. “Right over here, please.”
“This is right where she landed. See that? Blood splattered on the table legs.” Two of the three women walked over to the counter, finally.
“How will you pay? Cash or credit?”
My head was spinning as more people entered through the front door. I heard footsteps from the backroom, and was relieved to see Max enter.
Max quickly ushered the spectators out of the store, and turned to the women before me. “You want a Madison house?”
“Yes. I’m paying for one,” the woman pushed her glasses further on her nose.
“Where are you parked?”
“Right out the door.”
“I’ll carry the boxes out.”
After taking care of the sale and Max finished, I glanced at my inbox once again, and there were already five more orders for a Madison house. People also wanted to know if Jackie’s brain gushed out all over. I deleted the gruesome messages.
I presumed Max planned to make room across the workbench and countertops for the houses, but didn’t think they’d all fit. The houses were large. In its early years, the White House was smaller simply because the additions hadn’t happened. In the newer dollhouse styles, features were added such as the Rose Garden, which is always a beautiful attraction and selling point.
Supervising the shifting of the dollhouses shot my sorting project for the day, but I was close to being done, and my assigned investigation was completed. Grandma’s job was to locate the floor crew. I heard Grandpa’s voice in the back of the shop, so I went to meet them.
“You came, too?” I asked. Grandma stood to the right of Grandpa. “Great.”
“Just wanted to check things out and make sure that my granddaughter doesn’t need any help.” She glanced at the shelves and noticed that the boxes were stacked, labeled neatly, and trimmed. “You’re all caught up.”
“Pretty much. I haven’t sewn the Dolley dresses, though. I thought since you were coming, that I’d leave you to mind the store while I go to a fabric store to purchase what I needed to sew the dresses. Sometimes I’m lucky and find the buff colored material in town, otherwise I have to order it. I have several orders waiting to fill at the moment. Do you mind?”
“No. I’ll stay for the rest of the day. Go ahead.”
“Thanks. Have you contacted the floor crew?”
“Yes, dear.” Grandma eyes blinked, I knew she had something up her sleeve. “One of the book club ladies knows someone who refinishes floors. All of my lady friends from the book club are trustworthy, so I’m sure the two men she referred me to will be perfect.”
Grandma’s explanation left me a little edgy. “What’s the name?”
“Name of what?” Grandma giggled.
My gut flip-flopped. “The work crew.”
She inhaled deeply. “The Two Jims.”
“Two Jims?” There’s nothing wrong with two men named Jim, I told myself. “Why are you giggling?”
“They’ll be fine. Remember now, they were recommended by the book clubbers.”
“Oh my stars. What are their last names?” Max asked.
“One Jim is a Tew.” Grandma looked me straight in the eye. “The other is Flowers.”
“This is beginning to sound like that Abbott and Costello skit, ‘Who’s on first?’” Max winked at me and nodded to Grandpa. “Well, ladies, August and I have plenty to do if you want to get the tables and houses out of the showroom before they arrive.”
“See you back home.” I grabbed my coat and bag. While climbing into my car, my thoughts went to the hotel. It was now or never to get the dolls. I needed a disguise.
Perfect timing. The store isn’t open for business and I’m unneeded. I reflected as I crossed the bridge over the Mississippi and drove into the downtown shopping district. Before long I was turning into a small parking lot.
I raced across the street to the fiv
e-and-dime store and found a brown, long straight-haired wig. I thought it best to look for a different top. I chose a frilly one that sparkled with sequins, making me feel like a dancer. The bright red color went with my white jeans. Now all I was needed were some dangly earrings, which I purchased with the other items.
Now I had my happy hour costume.
I found the bathroom at the five and dime, and slipped into my new outfit.
Back in the car, I used a marker to draw a tiny heart on my ankle to finish the costume, then I shut off my phone before climbing out of the car. A noisy phone while stealing back my dolls from a killer would not be smart.
Out on the street, I decided to stand to the side and watch and wait, and hope that a cleaning lady or two dressed in uniform would walk past so that I could follow them inside. I glanced at my watch. Another five minutes went by, and I watched two women wearing Twin City Motel uniforms stomp out their cigarettes.
“Hey there! When’s happy hour?” I rushed up and started talking. I hadn’t wanted to enter alone. “Heard that Brad Pitt’s here.”
“Really?” The gal wearing tattoos for sleeves looked at me. “I ain’t seen him.” They went into the elevator and I kept going toward the bar.
The clinking of glass plus murmuring voices propelled me further until at last coming to the dark room. Several individuals lined the bar while couples sat side by side around tables. On top of tables were candles, some lit. I looked around the room, but didn’t see the two I searched for. I decided to order from the bartender and sit in a far off corner to wait and see if they’d arrive or not.
As I sipped my drink, I wish I knew if Wanda Brown and the bodyguard, Stone Rogers, were still in their rooms, and if they were together. The wig made me warm, and sweat beads dotted my forehead and brow. Where were they? My heart skipped a beat as I watched the couple enter and stop near the bar. There they were.
Keeping my eye on them, I moved slightly closer without them noticing. Eventually, they moved to a table nearby, their voices rising. The way she clutched the purse so close to her chest, led me to believe that the dolls were locked inside of it.
“I tell you, we have to leave this town. The police are getting closer,” Stone said.
“Those dolls. They keep asking about them. I can’t afford to leave them in the hotel room anymore. What if they get a search warrant,” Wanda said.
“That damn shopkeeper, Liv. Whatever her name is. Where are they now?” Stone asked.
“Right in my purse. Then I’ll always know where they are,” Wanda said.
“Let me look at them again. Maybe there’s something we’re missing,” he said.
“You never know,” she said, taking them out. “Here.” She grabbed her purse, and said, “I’ll be right back.”
Yes! They are in her purse.
It was my cue. I waited a moment, knowing full well that she’d go to the bathroom. It didn’t take long before I was right beside Stone. As I tried to figure out how to get my hands on the dolls, an opportunity arose. The waitress carried a tray with two drinks on top started in our direction. When she was close by, I slid my chair out as she reached over to set the drinks down. Instantly, the drink tipped over and Stone was covered with the beverage.
“Stupid woman,” he said, standing up.
“Sorry,” she replied.
“Here’s my napkin,” I said, handing it over. In the confusion I hid the two dolls within my palm and hurried out the room. As I walked, the voices behind me rose. In the hallway, Wanda approached, causing me to avert my eyes.
As soon as she turned into the room, I stuffed the dolls into my bag. I took the back way, exiting out the side door and racing to my car.
Once inside the car, I hadn’t realized that my heart was racing and my fingers shaking as I stuck the key into the ignition. I opened the bag and peered at the dolls. Mr. and Mrs. Madison looked brand new. I stuck the key in the engine and began my drive home.
Chapter Eight
The house was empty. As I leaned against the closed kitchen door, my heart was still beating like a drum. I shut my eyes as my mind replayed the last hour. When I’d come to grips with the situation, I went straight to the office and turned on the light over Grandpa’s desk, before plunking down on the chair. I pulled the dolls out of my bag, setting them carefully on the desk.
“Well, little Dolley and James, I aim to get to the bottom of this little escapade of yours, even if it’s the last thing that I do!” I removed the magnifying glass from the desk drawer and picked up the James doll. A framed picture of my grandparents on their anniversary was on the desk. I zeroed in on Grandpa’s cufflinks. I picked up the doll and inspected it with the magnifying glass before setting it down.
I was positive they were a match.
A gold gadroon encircled all three, the two cufflinks and Dolley’s brooch. The cufflinks set had sapphires, diamonds, and rubies, set to look like a waving flag exactly like the pictured brooch. Unfortunately, the gadroon imprint was too tiny to read.
Leaning back in the chair, the word “coincidence” went through my mind. Another one. There were so many. I slid the picture back inside the frame and put the magnifier back in the drawer. The dolls needed to be hidden, but where? And the next question begged for asking. Are the cufflinks still in the little pocket like Grandpa said?
For the time being, I wrapped the dolls in tissue, and shoved aside the cigar box, which covered the carved rose wood block on the desktop. I pressed into it and waited for the latch to pop before lifting the rose plate out. I peered inside. A small jewelry box lay at the bottom of the compartment and I pulled it out. Upon opening it, I gasped and dropped into the chair. The cufflinks had been secreted away all these years right under my nose, and never knew it until a few days ago.
Is my life in danger because of the cufflinks?
The barely readable gadroon read: Polly. For the life of me, I couldn’t make sense of it. Who was Polly?
After quite awhile of trying to make sense out of the find, I set the dolls plus the cufflinks back down into the hidden pocket, closing it up.
I went to the refrigerator, took out two small sodas, then headed out the door. I crossed over the snow-dusted yard, climbed Aaron’s back steps, and knocked on his back door. When he didn’t answer, I yanked out my keys and unlocked it.
“Honey?” I called while entering. I hated waking him, but we needed to discuss the cufflinks. I found him sleeping and whispered in his ear. I glanced at the clock. Since it was mid-afternoon, I knew that he’d soon awaken without my help. I kissed his cheek and tickled his ear causing him to open an eye.
“Hmm.” He grabbed me.
“I, ahh, have some exciting news to tell you.” He began kissing me all over, and we spent time reacquainting ourselves.
A while later, we were out in the kitchen where I had left the sodas. Aaron popped open the cans, handing mine over. “Well, so what news do you have to tell me?”
“It’s like this… There’s another huge coincidence,” I said, looking closely at him.
“Tell me. Speak up.” He took a gulp from his can. “I know. You saw the two somewhere, dressed like bums. They spotted you and chased you down the street—and you barely got away.”
“Hush now!” Aaron always made me giggle. “Almost. I put on a wig, changing my looks.” I cleared my throat, “I went to the bar lounge in the hotel to wait for Stone and Wanda. Would you believe they entered? The waitress spilled drinks on Stone who had been holding the dolls. You won’t believe this, but—.”
“You took them? I never believed that you’d do that. We have to call the detectives right now.” He gave me a concerned look.
“You’re right. I will.” I sipped my soda and took a moment to piece my thoughts together. I left a message on Erlandsen’s phone, relaying to him about the dolls. Afterwards, I told Aaron about the remarkable resemblance between Grandpa’s cufflinks and the painted ones on the doll. “They were right where he said they’d be
. In the desk pocket.”
“I know they want me to wear them for our wedding too.”
“It seems likely.” I thought for a moment. “Also, there’s the gadroon that says ‘Polly’, which we need to find out about. I found out that Grandpa’s great-grandpa was named Elijah Putnam. More coincidences that circle the Madisons.” I shook my head. “It’s mind boggling.”
“Who are we going to share this information with—or will we keep it between us?” Aaron said. “It’s soon time for our afternoon meeting, hon.”
“Let’s keep it between us.” I stood, picked up the empty cans, and threw them in Aaron’s recycling bin. “I’m not sure if we should let anyone in on the dolls’ matching cufflinks. What’s there to tell, anyway? We don’t have any clues or facts that lead to Wanda or the bodyguard.”
“Which leads us nowhere.” Aaron reached for his keys. “Let’s get over there. August and Marie are waiting.”
“You’re right. Grandpa and Grandma are holding their breath waiting for us.” I ran down Aaron’s back steps before zipping back across the yards. When I entered the house, I immediately went downstairs to bring up laundry, walking right beside the wine cellar, which gave me the creeps.
The meeting lasted only a few minutes between us since Grandma and Grandpa had plans for the evening. Aaron had a late shift, so I stayed in my own bed. I was ready to face the day when morning came, and hurried to work.
One of my tasks for the day was to supervise the Two Jims. I’d picked up the downtown newspaper when I stopped for coffee and a roll.
“It’s so empty in the showroom.” I thought of my mother. She’d always told me to keep my chin up and all would be well with the world. I missed her something fierce. I pasted on a smile.
The Blood Spangled Banner: A First Ladies Mystery Page 8