Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained Page 20

  “Anyway, I turned it on and lo and behold, two figures were sneaking around. Of course, they ran when I shined the light on them.”

  “Could you tell if they were male or female, young or old?” Louise leaned back in her chair.

  “Couldn’t tell male or female and if they were young they weren’t that young. From what I could tell they were full grown. They were almost as tall as the fence.”

  “Guess a phone call to the police is in order.” Louise picked up the phone, then set it back down. “Thank you. I’m glad you took the time to look. I wish we could afford surveillance cameras back there.”

  “Maybe I can help with that. How much would they cost?” Phineas stood and looked at Louise.

  “I’m not sure. I’ll have to get a price from someone.”

  “Let me handle it. I’ll call my guys. They’ll give you a deal.” Phineas started for the door. “Off to work, ladies. We’ve dawdled around long enough.”

  Beatrice Lulu stayed in the office. “Need me in here today?”

  “Yes, these folders have to be filed. Beatrice Lulu, thank you for talking to Russell and asking him to talk to me. He’s conscientious and a hard worker.”

  “I’m glad he came to you. I offered to come with him, but it’s good he came to you himself. Shows responsibility.”

  “Yes, it does. He’s dedicated to these dogs. Poor kid was so upset that he’d made the dogs sick. I think I’ll post something in the kennels so other well-meaning volunteers don’t make the same mistake. Make something up for me, would you please? It doesn’t have to be fancy.”

  “Good idea. I’ll get right on it.” Bea took a sheet of paper, a magic marker, and sat down at the table. Didn’t take but a few minutes to make the sign. She’d make a better one at home on her laptop, print it on cardstock, and laminate it. “Where would you like me to hang it?”

  “I think by the food. Most everyone feeds the dogs at some time or other.” Louise snapped her fingers. “I have to call the police.” She picked up the phone and dialed.

  Beatrice Lulu went out to the kennels, hung the sign, and decided to make a couple of them at home. One for just inside the door. Everyone would see it there. Back in the office, she picked up the folders and started filing them.

  It didn’t take long for Callie to arrive. She looked so much better than last week. More color to her face. She had a glow about her. Beatrice Lulu went into the kennels so Louise could talk privately. Not that it mattered, she knew everything, but just the idea of it. Up ahead, Delores and Phineas were feeding the dogs. She stopped and watched them for a while. Never would have pegged Phineas for an affectionate guy, but he couldn’t keep his hands off Delores. Every time they stopped, he hugged her or leaned over and kissed her. The difference in their height was dramatic. She barely came up to his chest. Delores seemed to be eating up the affection. Poor woman had been alone too long. Beatrice Lulu hoped something more developed from their relationship.

  She’d sure love to know what Mavis thought about it. If Mavis even knew yet. Delores said her furniture and car would be arriving tomorrow. At least then she wouldn’t have to depend on Mavis for anything.

  Ed came in a few minutes later. “Louise needs you.” He gave her a quick kiss. “How’d it go at the newspaper office?”

  “I did an extensive search and couldn’t find anything, so I put the ad in. Got it in just in time for tomorrow’s edition. Let’s hope we don’t get too many crank calls. How’d it go at the bank?”

  “Good, oh you have to go up there tomorrow and sign something so you have access to the box. But it’s all safe and secure.”

  “That’s a relief. I hardly slept a wink last night knowing that much money and all those jewels were in the house. Where’d you end up putting it, by the way?”

  Ed laughed. “I didn’t sleep too well myself, but every time I woke up, you were sawing logs.”

  Bea hit his arm. “I don’t snore and every time I woke up you didn’t look like you were having trouble sleeping.”

  “I dozed from time to time.” Ed leaned over and kissed her cheek.

  “Dozed my eye, you were in a sound sleep. I even bumped you a couple times, and you didn’t budge.”

  “You wanted to wake me up? Why?”

  “Just to talk. But you were in dream land, and I didn’t see any reason to wake you. At least one of us got some sleep.”

  “No matter. The money’s safe now and all we have to do is wait.”

  Chapter 18

  The green numbers on the clock illuminated the table next to the bed. Bea stared at it, willing it to change to an hour she could reasonably get up. Only five o’clock. She’d been awake off and on for the last three hours. She turned over, away from the blinking green lights that separated the hour from the minutes.

  She closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep. Why did she even bother? No way was she falling back to sleep. If she could only stop her stomach from churning and get rid of this feeling of helplessness. She fluffed the pillow, punched it down, turned it over, and puffed it back up again. Her legs shook so badly the whole bed felt like a vibrator.

  This was too much, she’d be waking Ed if she continued to lay here like this. Trying to fall back to sleep was pointless. She flung the covers off, sat up and swung her legs around, searching for her slippers in the dark room. Just because their ad would be in the local paper today didn’t mean they’d get any calls. For that matter, the rightful owner might never call. Who knew if he or she was even still alive.

  Being especially quiet, Bea slipped out of the room and closed the door while holding the knob so it wouldn’t click. Ed usually slept pretty sound, but any unusual noise woke him immediately. She’d hate to disturb his sleep.

  After she set up the coffee maker, she brought out her laptop and typed vintage emerald necklace into the search engine. Too bad she hadn’t thought of that before. More than fifty images popped up. Some were close, none exact. The prices on the similar ones astounded her. No doubt about it, the jewelry in that box belonged to a very wealthy person. Where did Elmer get it? Obviously, he didn’t inherit it or he’d never have written that note or hid it in a workbench of all places.

  “Trouble sleeping?” Ed yawned and stretched.

  “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

  “No, I smelled the coffee. Looks like you had a rough night.” He opened the cupboard and took out two coffee cups.

  “I couldn’t put the ad out of my mind, not the picture of that necklace. Do you have any idea how much it’s worth?”

  “None. Do you?”

  “Look.” Bea turned the lap toward Ed.

  He let out a low whistle. “You’ve got to be kidding. Would anyone around here even own something like that, let alone wear it? Hell, where would you even wear something that fancy?”

  Bea laughed. “No one we know, but I’m sure some of the high society matrons would flaunt something that exquisite.”

  “Hell, those diamonds alone are probably worth a small fortune.”

  “Probably. Since you’re awake, I’m going to take my shower. Maybe by then the paper will be here.”

  Bea finished blow drying her hair, applied a coat of lipstick, and looked in the mirror. Her hair wasn’t quite the way she wanted it, but it would have to do. She came into the kitchen just in time to see Ed pour batter into the waffle iron. Waffles, one of her favorite meals. God, she loved this man. He always knew just the right thing to put her mind at ease, calm her down, or just make her feel good.

  “Are the boys up yet?” Bea picked up the paper from the counter and looked at the ad. The picture didn’t do the necklace justice, but that might be a good thing. Harder for someone who didn’t own it to describe it.

  Of course, they had a back-up plan. Not only did they need to describe the necklace, especially the clasp, which didn’t show in the picture, they needed to reveal their relationship to Elmer Ludwig. If they couldn’t do that, they weren’t releasing the necklace or anything
else in the box.

  She no more sat down and the phone rang. Not Ethel, she hoped. She was the last person she wanted to talk to today. More than likely she saw the ad and wanted to know what was going on, where she got it, and what was she going to do with it. None of which, Bea chose to discuss right now.

  “Hello.”

  “Yes, I’m calling about the necklace in today’s paper. That necklace was my mother’s, where did you find it?”

  Bea couldn’t hold back a laugh. Like she was going to answer questions. “That’s not quite how it works. Tell me about the necklace.”

  “What do you want to know? My father gave it to my mother for their anniversary. She lost it.”

  “I see, can you describe it to me?”

  “Yeah, it’s got a bunch of emeralds and diamonds.”

  “You can tell that from the picture. Tell me more about it. What kind of clasp does it have?”

  “What ya mean what kind of clasp? It’s a normal clasp just like on all necklaces. It had a ring and a spring thingy that you open and you put it on the ring and let it go and it locks in place.”

  “Sorry, no. Goodbye.”

  No sooner did Bea hang up and the phone rang again. Bea answered. “Hello.”

  “Yeah…uh…um…I’m calling about this here necklace in the paper.”

  “Yes, what about it?”

  “It was my old lady’s.”

  “Really? What can you tell me about it?”

  “It’s green stones with lots of rhinestones around it.”

  “Sorry, that’s not it. Goodbye.”

  “Bea come and eat before your waffles get cold. If the phone rings again, let the machine get it.” Ed set her plate on the table. “You better call the boys, they’re going to be late.”

  Before Bea got the words out of her mouth, Mark bounded into the kitchen.

  “What smells good? Waffles, yay.” He took his plate from Uncle Ed and sat down next to Bea. “Any calls on the necklace yet?”

  “A couple scams.” Bea took a bite of waffles. Nothing better than Ed’s waffles, she thought she’d died and went to heaven. She didn’t know what Ed put in them, but hers never tasted this good. “Where’s your brother?”

  “He’s coming. When do you think our rooms are going to be ready?”

  “Not for a few more weeks. These things take time.” Ed set Stanley’s plate on the table. “Stanley, you’d better get in here before Mark eats your breakfast.”

  Stanley raced into the room, slid across the floor, and stopped just past the table. “He’d better not. Waffles are my favorite.”

  “So, whose room will be done first, mine or Stanley’s?”

  Ed winked at Bea. “Probably Stanley’s.”

  “Hey, no fair, why his?”

  “Why not?”

  Mark shrugged. “I’m the youngest?”

  Bea laughed. “Both rooms will be done at the same time.”

  “How can that be? One has to be done before the other.”

  “Why?” Ed poured syrup over his waffles and licked his fingers. “One thing I hate about waffles and pancakes. They’re so sticky.”

  “Well, you can’t work in both rooms at the same time, so one would have to be done before the other.” Mark finished his waffles, carried his dish to the sink, rinsed it, and washed his hands. “You’re right, they sure are sticky.”

  “I’ll work on both rooms equally. When they’re ready for paint, we’ll paint them at the same time. You and I will work on your room, Stanley and Bea will work on his. They’ll be done at the same time.”

  “I bet we finish painting before them.” Mark sat back down.

  Ed laughed. “It’s not a competition. They’ll be done when they’re done.”

  “Are you ready? We’re going to be late.” Stanley picked up Mark’s back pack and tossed it to him. “Let’s go, squirt.”

  The phone rang again. “You get it this time, Ed.”

  “I don’t know what to ask.”

  “Fine. I’ll get it.” She looked at the caller ID if it was Ethel, she wouldn’t answer. Good, it wasn’t her. “Hello.”

  “Yes, I’m calling regarding your photo of the necklace in the Post. I believe that’s my necklace.” The soft voice held a sophisticated quality about it. Almost as if she’d heard it before. Breathless, little girlish. Innocent. Jackie Kennedy, that’s who it reminded her of. Yet familiar.

  “Okay, can you describe the necklace to me?”

  “It has five large oval emeralds and ten smaller ones. Diamonds surround each emerald. It’s made of white gold.”

  “That’s all information you could get from the photo. Tell me more about it. What kind of clasp does it have?”

  “A fish hook clasp.”

  Why did that voice sound so familiar?

  “Who are you talking to?” a voice in the background came through loud and clear. Delores?

  “I’m sorry, that’s not correct. Is this Mavis?”

  Click, the line went dead. Bea stood with the phone in her hand. Was it Mavis? That little girl voice sounded like her. Whoever it was knew a little about antique jewelry. Good thing she picked the wrong clasp.

  ***

  “Who were you talking to?” Delores glanced at the ad in the paper. “Don’t tell me you were calling about this necklace and trying to pass yourself off as the owner? Please tell me you weren’t.”

  “Don’t be absurd, Mother. Why would I do something like that?”

  “I don’t know. But I don’t know you any more either. You’re not the woman I raised. What happened to you? Look at you!” Delores turned Mavis toward the mirror. Mirrors, she personally, hated. Why anyone would want a wall full of mirror tiles was beyond her. If she wasn’t mistaken, that fad went out in the 80s. Only a narcissist would want that. What had her daughter turned into and how or why?

  Mavis pushed Delores’s hand away.

  “Look at you, Mavis. Look at your clothes, your hair style, even your jewelry. You weren’t raised that way. You’re putting on airs and for whom? Do you really think people care?”

  “You don’t know anything about me anymore. I’m not plain Mavis Schmidt from down the street.” Mavis brushed her mother’s hand off her shoulder, puffed up her hair, and turned away. “The last one picked for any team sport, last one chosen for academic groups. No one noticed me before. Now they do. Harry changed all that.”

  “Really? How did he change anything? He keeps you home like some prize. A trophy wife, that’s all you are. He won’t let you work. Tell me, do you have any friends?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Mavis’s eyes narrowed, her tone took on a sarcastic edge. “You have no idea what a trophy wife even is, and we have lots of friends.”

  “You’re considerably younger than Harry, that makes you a trophy wife, and I asked if you had friends. You, personally. Not you and Harry.”

  “I don’t care to continue this discussion. Harry and I talked about it last night, and we’ve decided to take up your offer to buy us out. He found a condominium, and as soon as you transfer the money, we’ll be moving.”

  “Strange. I don’t recall making you an offer.”

  “Of course, you did. The last discussion we had, you said if we couldn’t come to an agreement on guidelines, you’d buy us out. We accept. I should have listened to Harry when he said this was never going to work.”

  The irony of the whole thing amazed her. She’d dreaded telling Mavis they’d have to move. Now she didn’t have to. Her daughter had no idea the favor she was doing. Too bad it was under strained circumstances. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

  “Yes, I never should have agreed to this arrangement to begin with.”

  “Okay, I’ll transfer the money this afternoon. You may not believe it, but I really am sorry this didn’t work out. I looked forward to doing things with you again, like we used to. But you’ve changed, Mavis, and not for the better. I hope you and Harry will find happiness wherever you go.”
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br />   “The movers will be here first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “Fine, oh, I won’t be home for dinner. Not that you care. Don’t wait up.” Delores grabbed her purse and jacket and hurried next door. This worked out quite well for her. Her furniture, what little of it she’d saved, would be here tomorrow and so would her car. Perfect timing.

  ***

  Phineas paced back and forth, as he waited for Ed to park. Beatrice Lulu had never seen him like this He looked like a caged lion. Something was up, but what? He didn’t look angry or unhappy, just impatient.

  “Look at this!” He tapped the newspaper with his finger. “This was Emma’s necklace. Well, it was mine, but I gave it to her. It’s been passed down through generations. I didn’t have any sisters, so Mother gave it to us. I called the number but no one answered.”

  Delores looked at Bea and back at Phineas. “You’re sure it was this necklace?”

  “Yes, there’s a pair of matching earrings that go with it. It was in my wall safe. I looked after I saw this photo. They’re gone along with some other jewelry. I don’t know what happened to them. I’m sure Emma didn’t sell them or give them away. She never wore it. Too glitzy for her.”

  “What other jewelry is missing?” Bea spoke up.

  “I can’t be sure of everything that’s missing but there was a pearl necklace, a diamond ring, ruby bracelet and necklace. I don’t know what else. Emma kept track of that stuff. I remember those pieces because they were gifts for each wedding anniversary until Mother passed away. Everything else we inherited. I still have most of it. Why would only these pieces be missing? Where did this person get the necklace?”

  “Phineas, do you or did you know Elmer Ludwig?” Bea could hardly keep the excitement from her voice.