How do you know she was behind it? It could have been her partners.
Well, Fletcher died in 1984, so its only Maitland, who is older than dirt. Sure, he could have been in on it for all this time, but our Mariah is a clever girl. If she wanted to keep the old fogey in the dark, I know she could.
What provoked youwait, let me amend that. What led you to investigate the products?
When I went to buy Dick a watch for his fifty-seventh birthday last year, I called her store and got their prices, which were whispered to me by a clerk who said they were available only to William Woods graduates. I dont believe that, but thats neither here nor there. Then I checked Tourneau in New York, and I called Keller and George. Had a lovely chat with Bill, then Howard, both of the store. They told me what to look for initially.
Which is?
Weight. Most fakes are lighter than the genuine article. I had lunch with one of my friends who crowed about the great deal she got on a
Schaffhausen two years ago, and I asked if I could try on her watch. Shes one of our social leaders, and her signature, if you will, is to wear a mans Schaffhausen and a beautiful silk scarf. I tried it on and it was light. Also, the crystal isnt good on a fake. For instance, the crystal on a Rolex Submariner is thick but quite clear. Crystal isnt cheap, so youll get more distortion in a fake.
And have you informed the alumnae whose watches were appraised?
Bill, the appraiser, told each individual he would write up the resale valuehigh and low, since theres always a fluctuationand mail them the results. He lied, as I told you, giving them a higher value than their true value. Nor did he identify which were fake. He will mail out the appraisals the Friday after our alumnae meeting. Im sure most of them will arrive at their destinations once mail service resumes.
Jahnae was quiet for a moment, then switched gears. And I assume she will be voted off the board at the summer meeting? You will make that motion?
Of course. Flo glowed inside.
As I recall, one of the founding principles of our great nation is innocent until proven guilty. If you offer up your findings to the Kansas City police, thats one course of action. But someone will sue her. She will have her day in court. You only know the products are inauthentic. You dont know that Mariah is behind it. Jahnae felt supremely uneasy. Flos gloating made Mariahs absence all the more sinister.
Jahnae, she had to know. If I can now spot a fake, so can she. Shes made a fortune charging thousands and thousands for reasonably good fakes. Why else would she go on the lam?
I dont know, but I repeat, Jahnaes voice had a cool note, innocent until proven guilty.
Flo, quick to hear the drop in vocal temperature, countered, Youre upset. You have every reason to be upset. A graduate is a crook. That wont reflect well upon the school we both love.
Compared to Harvard and Yale, our criminal output is thankfully low. I dont think the bad apples that have graduated from those two universities or any other have dimmed admissions.
Uh, yes.
Thank you for informing me, Flo. This is deeply disturbing news. Good-bye.
What truly disturbed Jahnae was that Flo relentlessly worked to destroy Mariah over what seemed to Jahnae a petty personality conflict that had started when they were freshmen. Then she remembered that both had been in love with Dick Langston. She sighed deeply. When sex and love entered the mix, brains flew right out the window.
She wasnt a drinking woman, but at that moment the slightly numbing effects of a cocktail held an allure. She quickly dismissed the thought and called Inez instead.
Inez was appalled and furious, because shed spoken to Flo just before Flos call to Jahnae. Not a word.
Inez then said, I guess she wanted to start at the top.
The problem is, Inez, Jahnae drew a deep breath, who else is going to hear her crow?
Liz Filmore, for one, and she hung up her phone, shaken.
T
he weather remained cold but clear on Wednesday, April 1. Even the sky was icy blue.
Come on, Tomahawk, pick up your foot. Harry bent over and picked up the old Thoroughbreds hind hoof.
Inez, visiting Harry, chuckled at Tomahawks intransigence then leaned over to look at the hoof. Good.
Hes a tough boy. He can even be cooperative.
Are you finished with my hoof?
Tomahawk was not feeling cooperative.
Tucker, sitting in the center aisle, advised,
Just do what she wants. In the long run, its easier.
The two cats had chosen to remain in the tack room/office, where it was warmer.
Sure you dont want to go into the tack room? Harry worried about Inez in the sharp cold.
In a minute. I miss practicing. I never really wanted to retire, but theres a point where a horse leans over on you and you cant help but fall over. She smiled. So now I check X rays if Blanca asks. Stuff like that.
She mentioned Blanca Drabek, D.V.M., who rented her clinic.
Harry put down Tomahawks hind hoof and looked directly at Inez. I dont know if Ill take it with as much good grace as you have when I have to take a backseat. Farming is hard physical labor.
Harry, youll do what you have to do, and you have too much sense to become bitter or bitchy.
Thanks.
Inezs cell phone rang.
She fished it out of her front parka pocket. Hello, Flo.
She wondered how shed ever lived without caller ID.
Inez, I apologize for not telling you about the scandal involving Mariahs business. I felt the president had to hear it first.
Wait a minute. Im in Harrys center aisle in the barn. Inez walked to the tack room, opened the door, and gratefully sank into the desk chair.
I suppose she did, but it seemed a little shifty, Flo. Im disappointed in you.
I should think youd be disappointed in Mariah. Flos voice rose.
I am. Desperately, desperately disappointed.
Pete blames me. He swears he knows nothing. Of course he knew about the scam. Hes been married to her for over twenty-five years!
Flo, how do you know that? You and Pete arent on conversational, friendly terms any more than you were with Mariah.
He called me to cuss me out. Flo flicked a cigarette ash into her large crystal ashtray on her desk. He also says money is tight in her business, less in his, but they have huge expenses. Says Im a nosy bitch.
Inez sighed, then added, Flo, Im staying with Tally, but Im at Fairs a lot or in the truck, visiting cases. If its an emergency, call on my cell. Im not going home for a while. She paused. You hated Mariah. I know that, but, Flo, your delight in uncovering her possible criminal behavior upsets me.
Inez, you want someone on the board who cheats people? Whats wrong with you? I did the right thing.
You did the right thing for you. Inez pressed the end button on her cell.
Inez zipped up her parka, went back into the aisle, and noticed Simon, the opossum, peering over the side of the hayloft. Harryvarmint. She pointed up.
Oh, thats Simon. Hes a little shy, but he wants his molasses and maple-syrup icicles. I make them for him.
Inez gave Harry the details of Flos call.
Its ugly no matter how you look at it. Harry shook her head. Im pretty much done. Ill carry you over to Tallys. First let me climb into the hayloft and give these treats to Simon.
Inez put her hand on her hip. You spoil your animals.
And you dont?
Within fifteen minutes they all piled into the Volvo. While the three animals gossiped in the back, Harry carefully negotiated the treacherous roads. The intense cold meant that where there was runoff, there was also black ice, which could land you in a ditch faster than you could blink.