Maggie returned about an hour later and asked her if she’d found anything important in the condominium. Alyx showed her the silver object I’d found that Alyx had now wrapped in a tissue.
“Murfy dug up something very interesting.”
“That’s a nitroglycerine pill case, isn’t it? Where did he find it?” asked Maggie.
“I saw him digging at the base of the stairs where I’d found Althea’s body. He alternately tried to dig it out with his paws and pick it up with his teeth. I’m afraid he probably wiped off any prints, or at least smudged them pretty good.”
“It’s still a clue, one that would have been overlooked otherwise.” said Maggie, examining the case closer, without touching it. “It looks like this was attached to something.”
“It’s like the one Al Jacobs clips to his belt loop,” said Alyx, “It might belong to whoever killed Althea.”
“Which means the killer would be someone with a heart condition.”
“In other words, someone with a bad heart and a motive––no pun intended,” joked Alyx.
“Are you going to turn it over to Detective Smarts?”
“Eventually.”
“Won’t you get in legal trouble if you don’t? You should call David and ask him what to do.”
Alyx’s emotions flared. “I can’t ask David.…”
With that, Alyx told her all about David’s visit, and Maggie put her arm around her shoulders. “David will work it out with his ex, honey. You’ll see.”
“I’m not so sure he can,” said Alyx. “He said he’s doing this...this business of allowing himself to be intimidated into seeing his ex-wife for me, but I can’t help but think it’s because he hasn’t disconnected from her yet. She’s manipulating him, Maggie. I can’t help wondering what else she’ll coerce him into doing next. Don’t you see where this is going?”
Maggie tried to calm her down. It was apparent Alyx was in no mood for logical arguments; she was hurt, and, yes, she admitted, she was jealous.
“I want him to be free of his ex-wife, not to get more entangled.”
She walked out of the workroom and stopped to listen when she overheard a customer ask Bernice what she found most enjoyable about working at Antiques & Designs.
“That’s easy. It’s the people who walk through the front door,” Bernice answered. “I’ve watched people come and go through that door and wondered about their lives just by the look on their faces. Couples come in sometimes so in tune with each other that they don’t even have to speak, and you say to yourself, ‘that’s how I want my marriage to be. What can I do to make it like that?’ I see single women obviously starting over––not sure that they can make it on their own, going forward anyway, and you have to admire their strength and be inspired to get over any little setback you might be experiencing. Then there are the older couples who look so much alike you think they’re genetically related; their hair is cut in the same style, and you know they must use the same hair color.”
The customer laughed at that. “You should write a book; you certainly have an endless source of material.”
“Maybe one of these days,” said Bernice, “when I have more time to play.”
A wistful smile whispered over Alyx’s lips. Was she wondering what her customers saw when she came into view? Did they see a strong, successful woman, or the one scared to take a chance on love? I wondered that myself.
At home that night, I told my housemates about the day’s events. They understood that whoever had dropped that pill case must be frantic to get it back, and that meant vigilance on all of our parts. The plan was as before; Pooky, would be in charge of security at home, while Misty and I had the store.
“Cats are glorious creatures––who must on no accounts be underestimated. Their eyes are fathomless depths of cat-world mysteries.”
––Lesley Anne Ivory (from Glorious Cats: The
Paintings of Lesley Anne Ivory)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: Far Away Places Not Far from Home
Mornings at Antiques & Designs are usually slow, and everyone is relaxed, enjoying their morning coffee. Customers trickle in until lunchtime when it starts to get busy. I monitor what goes on whether there is one customer in the store or twenty.
A young couple walked in that I’d never seen before and Alyx greeted them warmly.
“Hi, Alyx, remember us … Melissa and Sean?”
“Of course, I do. We sat at the same table at the masked ball. I’m so glad you decided to stop in.”
Melissa looked over at Sean, “We’re ready to start looking to buy. I wanted to see those items you told me about, so that when we look for a place to live, we’ll know approximately what size and room configuration to look for.”
“That’s very smart of you.”
Melissa put her arm around Sean’s waist, her eyes bright with adoration. “It was Sean’s idea.”
The first item Alyx wanted to show them was Althea’s bed. She never made it to the rear of the store, however, as Melissa spotted the slant-front desk, and Alyx knew she wasn’t going to be interested in looking at anything else.
“Oh…honey, isn’t it beautiful!” I’ve always wanted a desk like this. I love all the little pigeon holes, and the leather top. And look at the inlaid work, Sean.”
“It’s really not my style, a little too delicate for my taste,” he said, and then seeing the disappointment on her face, he quickly added, “It’s perfect for you, though. If you like it, let’s get it. How much is it?”
“I’m sorry; this desk isn’t for sale right now. I promise I’ll let you know if I decide to sell it. I have some other pieces from the same estate that you might like though,” she said pointing them to the rest of the items from Althea’s condominium.
Later on, Bernice was back from lunch in a happier mood than the day called for, and in a singsong voice announced, “I know who’s opening shop in the old lamp store, and you’ll never guess.”
“Well, if I’ll never guess, you’d better tell me,” teased Alyx.
“You’re no fun,” said Bernice and proceeded to tell her.
“Did you ever watch that travel show where the host traveled to out-of the-way places rather than the more common tourist places in the world?”
“Yes, the show was on TV a couple of years ago on the PBS station, right?” guessed Maggie. “I was sorry to see it go off the air.”
Bernice nodded, “The host of that show is the owner of Far Away Places, the new shop where the old lamp store used to be.”
“Really?” mused Maggie. “I wonder why he picked this city to open such a store. You’d think after all his travels, he’d want a more sophisticated place than Beachside.”
“His father lives here,” explained Bernice. “I had lunch with my parents, and it so happens that they live in the same condominium building as his father. They wanted to see his new store, so we stopped in for a few minutes.”
“Did you meet him?” asked Alyx, excited.
“Yes. The handsome and charming Jonathan Steele––and he has excellent taste. He has some very unusual items in the store. You should stop in, Alyx. I’m sure you’ll find the perfect item for that housewarming gift you mentioned you needed.”
“Good idea,” replied Maggie. “Thanks, Bernice. I’ll do that, and it’ll give me the opportunity to solicit his support to save the Blue Heron Yacht Clubhouse. I think it might interest a world traveler, someone who must have an appreciation for history.”
“What’s the latest on that, anyway?” asked Maggie.
“Can you imagine the oldest clubhouse on the east coast to operate continuously at its original location since it was built in 1897, and efforts to save it have gone nowhere? The only interested developer suggested relocating it via barge, and as he had trouble renting one, he dropped the idea. The contractor of the new building has made another suggestion. He wants to take apart the building, pack up the planks, and reassemble them in replica form next to some other historic buildings he’s rescued. Everyone was hoping to see it moved––but this is the next best thing.”