Inez, reading the invoice and checking off the jars, said, According to this, theres nothing inside them.
Garvey picked one up. Could be sand. You know, fill them so they wont break as readily.
Liz, Inez called out.
Liz popped her head into the storage room.
Do you know whats in these jars?
Liz shook her head no, then said, Lets finish up. Tina can open them on Friday. I need to get over to Merrill Lynch for a meeting.
Okay.
Another half hour and all was done. The cardboard had been broken down and folded, and Harry had tied it up with twine, of which the store had plenty. She knew where the dump for businesses was, behind the center.
After everyone had left the store and shed locked the door, Liz said with a shaky voice, Thank you all. Thank you so much.
As Harry drove behind the supermarket with the cardboard, Tucker moaned, Erno was right. We should have broken one of those jars.
Youll get your chance. Mom will be down Friday to check on Tina. Her curiosity will get the better of her, Mrs. Murphy predicted.
On Friday, April 24, Harry and Inez marveled at the east side of the Blue Ridge, which was covered with white from the dogwoods, with flashes of pink in places. All it took was a few consistent days of fifty- to sixty-degree temperatures and the increasing light for the world to truly awaken. The apple groves gave off a wonderful fragrance, as they, too, were in bloom. The world shone white, pink, and magenta from the redbuds. Could there be anything as wondrous in the world as an Appalachian spring?
Harry organized her shopping trips to Charlottesville to one a week, but the last few weeks had upended that schedule. She was burning more gas than she wanted to.
The cats and dogs complained loudly when left in the wagon with the windows cracked open.
Inez walked into Terris store, as Harry dashed into Thompson and Watson for a minute. After a quick visit with Garvey and a look at the wonderful colors of the Fred Perry polo shirts he had, she left. Good as all the other polo shirts were, they were all copies of the original Fred Perry. The French might argue that Rene Lacoste got there first, but no matter.
Wheres Inez? Harry asked as she walked into the store. Sorry. Im Harry Haristeen. You must be Tina Hotchkiss.
The slender woman in her mid-forties smiled. Inez is in the storage room.
Harry called out, Inez, what are you doing in there?
Inez came out. I cant find the little potsthe pint-size and quart-size pots with the beautiful glazes. Tina says she never saw them.
I have the large ones. Arent they beautiful?
They certainly are, Inez agreed. Tina, these had some of the same glazes but were small; you could use them for flower arrangements. And they were heavy. Full of sand, I guess, with big round corks sealed with wax.
Never saw them. Tina shrugged.
Harry changed the subject. Much business?
Yes, Ive been pleasantly surprised.
Harry asked, May I? as she reached for a small notepad on the counter.
Of course.
She scribbled her home number and her cell. If you need anything, Im about a half hour away in Crozetmore when its peak traffic time. But I can get here.
Thank you so much. Garvey offered his services, too.
Did you know Terri? Inez inquired.
Actually, I didnt. I know Liz from our days in Junior League. Course, were too old now. She smiled. But not that old. Anyway, I had an art gallery down on Cary Street in Richmond. Liz and Tim were regulars, and I got to know him a bit, too. I finally gave it up. Id worked around the clock for ten years. That was enough, but now that Im back here, I realize how much I miss retail. The challenge of it.
I dont know how anyone does it. Harry smiled back at her. Were sure glad youre here.
Once Harry was back in the wagon, up went the windows and she cranked the motor.
Can you swing by BB&T? Inez named a regional bank that had bought out many small local banks over the last ten years.
Sure, Inez. Let me think a minute. Our best bet will be over by the university, by the giant clam. Theres one down there on 250. Wont be too crowded.
Isnt that clam the ugliest thing youve ever seen? Inez mentioned the basketball arena.
It is. If you want to make a list of hateful architecture, we could start with Madison Square Garden.
Fortunately, I dont go to New York anymore, so I dont have to see it. To think that Penn Station, one of the most beautiful public buildings in America, was destroyed for that ugly mess.
Was Penn Station a public building? Harry wondered.
You know, Im not sure. Somewhere along the line it was owned by the railroad. Ah, here we are. That didnt take long.
Want to go to the drive-in window?
No. I just want to check my account balance. Tally teases me. She says Im obsessive about my money. I wont repeat what I tell her, but it rhymes with rich witch.
Want me to come with you?
No, Im fine. This way you can turn on the radio. Inez winked as she opened the door, grateful that the station wagon wasnt any lower to the ground.
Harry did turn on the radio, just in time to hear one of her favorite Kenny Chesney songs.
When the sun goes down. Tucker and Erno sang along.
Will you two shut up? the cats instantly complained.
The dogs didnt.
Mrs. Murphy and Pewter hopped over onto the backseats.
Send them to Nashville. I dont want to hear it. Pewters hackles rose to indicate further displeasure.
Jealous, oh, so jealous, Tucker sang to the melody.
That dog is mental. Seriously, Pewter intoned.
Uh-oh. Harry looked at Inezs face as she exited the bank.
Inez got into the vehicle, fished into her purse, and plucked out her cell phone. Somethings not right. I told Liz to sell my Delta Petroleum stocks. She named a company in which she had a small number of stocks. Seems she didnt do it, because the funds were to be transferred into my account. These things are so easy now. When I was young I had to go to my broker in person.
Obviously, she forgot.
Harry, if youre in financial services you dont forget things like that. Not if you want to stay in business.
She dialed the office.
The recording said, Youve reached Filmore Investment Services. This is Tim. Im in Frankfurt this week, but Liz will get back to you. Thank you for calling.
Rats. Inez next dialed Lizs cell.
Again, she heard a recording.
At the beep, Inez spoke in clear tone, Liz, this is Inez. My funds arent in my account at BB&T. Please call me. Also, the lovely little pots are not at the store. Thought youd like to know. You can reach me on my cell. Good-bye. She pressed the end button. I am furious. Flat-out furious. Then she dialed again. Liz, sometimes my cell doesnt work near the mountains. Its eleven. Ill be at Tallys until two.
On the way to Rose Hill, Harry turned her eyes from the road for an instant. Inez, why wouldnt the pots be there?
Dammed if I know.
Because Liz came back and took them. Harry waited a beat, as Inez sharply turned her head. Right. Who else has a key? Maybe Garvey. Hes so close. Its possible Terri trusted him with a key. Worth a call.
Call him. Ill call him. Youre driving. Inez punched in the numbers. Hello, is Garvey Watson there? Pause. Garvey, this is Inez. Fine. How are you? Pause. Say, Garvey, you dont have a key to Terris store, do you? Another pause. Just checking. Hope you sell a lot of good stuff this weekend. Pause. You, too. She rested her chin in her palm.
The minute Harry and Inez got to Aunt Tallys, Inez used the landline to try Lizs cell again, getting the same result.
Damn. She put down the phone, then explained everything to her old friend.
Harry told the two ladies, Im going over to Little Mims. Said Id help her put in her vegetable garden. If I dig in the dirt, it helps clean my mind. Im a little jangled.
Honey, we all are.
Aunt Tally then suggested, Want to leave your critters here? Just in case Tucker decides to dig.
Im not a terrier. Tucker was incensed.
No, youre a bubble butt. Pewter giggled.
As Harry left, Inez counseled Aunt Tally, Why dont you get the balance on your checking and savings accounts?
I didnt sell any stock, Aunt Tally responded. Well, maybe I should.
Does anyone have access to your account?
No. I keep my bank books in the drawer of my desk.
What about Bev? She named Aunt Tallys housekeeper, daughter of Big Mims housekeeper. Where is she, by the way?
Grocery shopping. Fridays are supermarket days. She goes out to the Harris Teeter on 250.
Doodles followed, along with Tucker and Erno, as the two women walked into the den.
Aunt Tally pulled out her bank books and dialed.
After giving her account number, she listened, then looked up at Inez. Im fine.
The two returned to the living room, where light poured in through the triple-sash windows.
You know how I get about money. Im probably being too fussy. Inez then said, Lets take a walk. Ill feel better.
The two went out to enjoy the early blooms in the garden, returning for a cup of tea in forty-five minutes. The air had invigorated them.
They had no sooner sat down, with Aunt Tally leaning her gold-headed cane against the table, than the three dogs barked.
Intruder! Intruder!
A knock on the door got them both up.
Inez reached the door first and opened it. Liz.
Come in, Aunt Tally said, as she rested her right hand on her cane.
I am so sorry. I did sell the stock, but I forgot to transfer the money. I just called the office, but our secretary is out to lunch and Tim is in Frankfurt. Liz was wearing a lime-colored blazer, which she didnt take off.
Whats he doing there? Inezs voice sounded cool.
Its the finance capital of Germany. We do some business there. Tim calls it Mainhattan. She laughed at her jokeFrankfurt was on the Main River.
That smell. Tucker sniffed Lizs ankles.
Liz, whats going on? The little jars arent in Terris shop. You were the only person who could have taken them. And youve certainly been in Charlottesville a lot.
Lizs face darkened. I have business there, and Terri needed me.
Id like one of those jars. Aunt Tally acted as though nothing was amiss.
I can get you one. Just let me clean them up.
I dont mind doing that.
Liz, Im entertaining unhappy thoughts. Inez moved toward the living room.
The dogs followed, as did the cats, who promptly jumped up on the back of the sofa.
Whatever about? Lizs voice rose.
Well. Inez didnt sit down, nor did Aunt Tally or Liz. You were at the celebration in Fulton. After Mariah disappeared, we all assumed when the weather cleared you flew home to Richmond. Were you still in Missouri when Flo was killed? I wish I had called you when I got home but why would I? I never once thought to check up on you. You seemed so distressed when Flo was killed. And then these last days youve been with Terri. Now, I cant prove where you were at any given moment, but its becoming peculiar. My bank account is also peculiar. You dont make mistakes like that, Liz. You dont sell stocks and forget to wire the money into an account.
I was terribly upset by Terris death. Youve been overwrought at times in your life, Inez. People can make mistakes or be forgetful.
I think not. Wheres my money?
Tucker edged over right behind Liz, sensing the younger woman tensing up.
Ill get it put in before two-thirty. Lizs voice rose another notch.
You did a lot of business with Flo and sometimes with Mariah. Whats going on?
I know nothing. Lizs voice was angry now.
Its occurring to me even as I stand here that if others could work a Ponzi scheme, so could you.
Liz stuttered, then rage took over. She shoved Inez, who fell backward, fortunately onto a chair.
Erno bit Lizs calf as Tucker bit her ankle. She shook the dogs off.
Bite deeper, Tucker commanded the vizsla.
Liz pulled a snub-nosed .38 from inside her jacket. She hit Erno over the head, stunning him, then took aim at Tucker, who sank her fangs deep into Lizs ankle.
She struck down at the dog, missed. Tucker let go but circled to get her again.
Doodles, on Lizs left, grabbed her forearm. Liz clubbed the Gordon setter with the butt of her gun. As she was harried by Tucker she couldnt focus on Doodles, but she managed to hit the dog hard enough to stun the beautiful animal.
As Inez stood up, Aunt Tally moved toward Liz. The cats flew off the sofa to help Tucker, but Liz fired, hitting Inez in the leg. The old lady fell down on one knee.
Ill kill you! Aunt Tally screamed.
You old bitch. You arent killing anybody.
Liz aimed at Aunt Tally, who didnt flinch. Mrs. Murphy leapt straight at Liz, deflecting her aim just enough that the bullet lodged in the wall.
Inez, in pain but a fighter, crawled toward Liz.
Aunt Tally pulled her sword out of the cane. Before Liz could take another shot at Tally, Tucker sank her teeth deep into Lizs calf, throwing her off again.
The centenarian struck in that split second. Old but strong enough, she ran the sword right through Lizs throat.
Blood spurted straight out, showering Aunt Tally.
Perfect! Inez said through gritted teeth.
As another gusher shot forth, Lizs knees buckled, but she got off one more shot. The bullet narrowly missed Aunt Tally, who was preparing to ram the bloody sword through Lizs belly.
Liz dropped the gun and grabbed her throat, as blood flowed between her fingers. She died choking on her own blood.
Aunt Tally calmly placed her sword on the coffee table, then bent down to lift up Inez as best she could.
Doodles shook her head and took a few wobbly steps to help Aunt Tally, but had to sit back down to recover.
Let me get you on the sofa.
Im all right, Blossom. Let me see to my dog.
You cant be all right with a bullet in your leg.
Its a long way from my heart. Inez dragged her one leg as she reached Erno, then knelt down. Concussion. Get me some ice. It will take the swelling down.
Aunt Tally put the sword back in the sheath and used her cane to hurry toward the kitchen.
Tucker licked Erno. The cats sat by the dog.
No one gave a thought to Liz or the blood staining the carpet.
The front door burst open. Harry and Little Mim, whod heard the shots, ran in, froze for a second, then flew to Inez.
Little Mim stared in horror at Liz. My God, what happened?
Well explain later. Erno needs help. Inez, in her element as a vet, took charge.
Noticing the thin but steady stream of blood from Inezs calf, Harry said, Inez, youre hit.
Came through the other side. Itll heal up fast enough. Help me with my dog, will you?
Is Liz dead? Little Mims teeth chattered from fear.
If she isnt, Ill finish her off. Aunt Tally came back with a bag of ice in one hand, her cane in the other.
Harry hurried toward Tally, took the ice, and came back to Inez, who placed the ice on the dog. She lifted up Ernos eyelids, noticed some pupil movement. She checked his gums.
Here, I can hold the ice, Harry volunteered.
Well, dont just stand there as useless as tits on a boar hog. Call the sheriff! Aunt Tally directed her shaken grandniece.
Little Mim pulled out her cell phone and did just that.
Pewter walked over to sniff Liz. Notice the scratch on her right leg? I did that.
Mighty puss. Mrs. Murphy, half in jest, meant it.
She must have been crazy. Having made the brief call, Little Mim knelt next to Harry by Erno.
Greedy. Inez then turned again to her dog. Erno, Erno, come on, sweet boy.
His eyelids flutt
ered and he opened his eyes.
Tucker licked the side of his face.
Whats that cold stuff on my head? He staggered up, shook his head, and seemed none the worse for wear.
Harry, go out and check her car, will you? Aunt Tally, mind always clicking along, commanded.
Harry returned within minutes, carrying a jar. Theyre in the trunk. Obviously the meeting with Merrill Lynch was a ruse, or if it wasnt, she came back for them.
Lets just see what this is all about, Aunt Tally ordered. Into the kitchen.
They walked into the kitchen. Inez limped in, keeping an eye on Erno.
Harry plucked a paring knife out of the drawer, ran it around the wax, then carefully lifted out the large cork.
Oh, boy!
The three other women peered in as Harry plucked out bag after bag of cocaine.
Smells awful. Little Mim crinkled up her nose.
Sooner or later well figure this out. Inez leaned against the kitchen counter, because her calf stung.
Lets get you to the ER, Harry said.
Wait for the sheriff, Inez commanded.
Little Mim, not wanting to face the truth, said wishfully, Could be sugar.
Sharply, Aunt Tally said, Dont be a ninny. Who smuggles sugar in jars?
A siren in the distance told them they wouldnt have to wait long.
When Tim Filmore disembarked from his transatlantic flight, the authorities were waiting for him. He remained silent until he was taken to the downtown Richmond police station, where he was informed that his wife was dead as well as the circumstances leading to her death. He collapsed, then spilled everything they needed to know. He and Liz had created a fairly sophisticated Ponzi scheme, which ran like a top for four years. Liz took special pride in fooling Flo Langston. Then again, when the profits roll in, folks tend not to be suspicious or ask too many questions.
As with so many things in life, a small event had begun the fall of the carefully constructed house of cards. Mariah DAngelo became nervous when a steady customer told her she had been contacted by a representative of Patek Philippe doing a survey. Mariah, in the business for years, had never heard of an elite chronography company doing satisfaction research. It was a grand watch, not a Frigidaire, was Mariahs response. Of course, in a sense, it was a Frigidaire.
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