The Lush Life (Samantha Jamison Mystery Book 8) (10 page)

Chapter 27

Mensa Meeting Of The Minds

Definition of Mensa: an organization of people with high IQ’s of 130 and up. It includes members of all ages.

We had our own little group going. We all had pretty sharp IQ’s and our ages varied quite a bit. So I guess this was the perfect time for another meeting of our minds.

Every chair in Alicia’s office was occupied. Phones and
iPads
were out as well as my laptop, open and ready with my fingers hovering over the keyboard. Everyone gave their opinion on what had happened over the last couple of days as the others took note. It was pretty much just like I had portrayed to Clay. Then the subject of Tony came up.

They knew they’d find out more if he thought we two were alone, so they scrambled up the office back stairs to the Master and snuck along the upper hallway, hidden to watch us from above. Tony didn’t have a clue as his eyes were glued to me. I knew they were there, but Tony didn’t.

“So what do we do about Rhett’s sister?” asked Betty.

“Who’s Rhett? Am I missing something?” Clay asked.

Several minutes later he had the Gone-With-The-Wind explanation and just shook his head.

“Sam, you and I should sit down and to talk to Scarlett.”

“I agree. We all can’t be there for it. She tends to drink when nervous. And we’re about out of Southern Comfort.”

“Obviously, she got a bogus email too,” said Martha.

“And I fell for it hook, line, and sinker,” I said, annoyed with myself.

“Just like I did mine,” said Mona. “What about Teddy?”

“As Martha found out,” said Clay. “He was duped too.”

“I don’t think we should let Scarlett or Teddy in on what is really going on just yet until we figure this out,” I said.

“Which is what?” Martha asked.

“A potential book theft, by who or which book we’re not so sure yet.”

“Martha, why don’t you, Hazel and Betty stay here with Sam and keep going through the books,” Clay suggested.

Martha nodded. “Good idea.”

I turned to face Mona. “You keep Teddy medicated and Scarlett far from thirsty so you can keep tabs on them. Hopefully, they’ll stay in their rooms and away from the rest of the house and us.”

She agreed. “I’ll check out Scarlett’s profile online too.”

“I’ll travel to the sanatorium for some leads,” said Clay.

I didn’t like that one bit. “You’re leaving again?”

“Hey, it’s only for an afternoon. I’m taking Tony too.”

He was right. We agreed earlier to go for the other fee.

“We’ll hold off talking to Scarlett until you return.”

Clay laughed. “What could possibly happen until then?”

None of us females said anything for a full minute. We all stared at Clay like he was an alien. After all he’d heard?

Maybe he didn’t qualify for this Menstrual meeting...

Chapter 28

Stacking Up Books & Possibilities

Martha, Hazel, Betty, and I searched through the family room books and were now in the great room. I placed a cotton tablecloth on the long dining table there so when we sifted through the books, it was the perfect place to inspect each one carefully and big enough to handle the four of us simultaneously. We began grabbing a few books to inspect when we heard someone clear their throat behind us.

We all turned. It was Lucas, wearing his usual smile and holding a bucket with cleaners, cloths, and paper towels.

What was he doing inside the house and here now?

“Good morning, ladies,” he said. “What are you doing?”

I smiled back. “Funny, I was about to ask you that.”

“I always make time to help clean the house too.”

Was that true? Alicia wasn’t here to confirm that.

Hazel dropped her hand from a book. “How nice.”

Martha eyed his bucket. “You’re a real
multitasker
.”

Betty got right to it. “You clean
all
the rooms?”

“It’s less time the cleaning service needs to be here.”

Suddenly the four of us were on the same wavelength.

We had another possible suspect on our hands.

Maybe Lucas wasn’t as innocent and harmless as he appeared. If he had access to this house then he was a potential suspect for us to watch closely. He might have previously overheard about that valuable book.

Possible motive? Payback for having been let go before.

After having stayed in his apartment over the garages myself with Clay previously, I knew that it was attached to the house via the back stairway. It had Internet access and a land-line phone. I was also quite familiar with being able to hear sounds coming from the main house from there.

By him being attached by a back staircase, he also had total access via a no-lock door that led to the guest bedroom hallway on the second floor. I hadn’t considered Lucas’s complete and total access to the rest of the
Worths
’ house and all those books before.

Had he tapped into the
Worths
’ phones and Internet? I was already lining up my next conversation with him. For now, we had to get rid of him, like immediately, before he got nosy as to what we were really up to with these books.

“Hey, Lucas, I’ve been meaning to ask for your help.”

The others looked at me like I was out of my mind.

“Sure, are you looking for something special in here?”

“Just some favorite mystery authors, but that’s not why I need help. Can you check the right rear tire on the Jeep? The air’s low. It might be as simple as a leak from a nail.”

Martha grabbed her cell from her pocket. “Oh, my! I must take this call. Excuse me.” She dashed from the room.

“I didn’t hear her cell ring,” said Lucas, staring after her.

“Oh,” said Hazel. “She always keeps it on vibrate.”

Betty chimed in with, “She is so considerate that way.”

We all knew she’d be letting air out of the Jeep’s tire.

Chapter 29

To Die For

Several minutes later Lucas finally left us for the garage.

“That was close. He could be a possible suspect,” I said.

“We’ve learned that the hard way in the past on other cases, haven’t we?” said Betty, still staring at the doorway.

“Too many times, I’m afraid,” said Hazel.

“We must remember to think out of the box,” I warned.

“...And off the cuff,” gasped Martha, rushing in.

“Did he see you coming from the garage?” Betty asked.

“No! I took the back steps two at a time when I saw him exit the great room after I let air out of the Jeep’s back tire. Then I snuck down the foyer stairs and back in here.”

“I sure hope he’s not a part of this,” said Hazel.

“Would be a shame, but we must be careful,” said Betty.

Martha agreed. “With another potential male biting the dust, pickings would be slim. I loved that smile of his, but we can’t take that chance. It’s the quiet ones you’ve got to watch out for. He has motive: being let go
and
has access.”

“Let’s get back to work,” I suggested.

We all began working methodically, side by side, using Martha’s digital tablet, choosing books at random because of the collection’s sheer size. Each time we thought we had a book with potential, she hit antique book sites to verify. She also crosschecked past and present book auctions. But no book seemed to approach that high-end value worth someone bothering to go out of their way to orchestrate possible Internet and phone hacking.

Martha discovered that Amazon’s website had over a million rare, first edition, signed, out-of-print collectable books. She also flipped to their sister site,
AbeBooks
, which had an assortment of antique book categories:

Signed Books

First Editions

Book Appraisers

Rare Book Seller Directory...

Additional categories with photos plus double-checking against those lists made verifying more efficient. Martha kept busy researching then periodically read aloud to us.

“Get this. According to
AbeBooks
, ‘a book is considered rare when demand is greater than supply. Collectors and dealers also consider factors like the condition of the book, the importance of it and the demand for it.’”

“Then it’s subjective,” I said. “There’s no exact formula. Market demand plays a huge roll. That means we shouldn’t solely be focusing on the age of the books. It doesn’t mean they aren’t valuable, but let’s find one that stands out as far as being rare because it’s demand dwarfs all the others.”

“Exactly!” agreed Martha, looking down to read again. “Wow!
AbeBooks
has antique books ranging in price from $1.00 to $10,000,000.00!”

We all stood there openmouthed.

“Oh, my!” said a shocked Betty.

Hazel glanced around at the
Worths
’ vast collection.

“Who knew?”

No one said anything, digesting that tidbit.

I scanned the sheer volume of books surrounding us.

“I’d say that’s even worth killing over.”

“Keep moving folks,” ordered Martha.

The incentive to find it first and protect it was on...

Chapter 30

Loose Lips
Ain’t
Sinking This Ship

It was a balmy evening. A few kitchen windows were open to a gentle temperate breeze that billowed the curtains every so often. The long French rectangular table was set for nine. It would be an odd assortment assembled: Martha, Hazel, Betty, Yours Truly, Clay, Mona, Teddy, Scarlett, and finally, Tony, at Clay’s insistence.

Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, Clay said.

I don’t know exactly what Clay thought he was going to achieve, but I finally agreed after he remarked it was the perfect opportunity to try to observe everyone’s interaction toward each other. And once wine and conversation began flowing, we might pick up possible traces of deception.

Martha’s take? Loose lips sunk ships, so drink up.

The buffet was a favorite: Glazed duck in orange sauce, salad, almond string beans, scalloped potatoes, and a French baguette. White and red wine would be served: Santa Rita
Reserva
Sauvignon Blanc: Chile and Campo Viejo Rioja
Reserva
: California, but first
Veuve
Clicquot
Champagne.

Hazel lit the tall candles, Betty dimmed the lights, and Clay turned on some soft jazz. I motioned to him to turn it low so the music wouldn’t interfere with the conversation. I wanted to hear what everyone had to say.

Apparently, not much.

Over
hors d'oeuvres of shrimp, mini teriyaki meatballs and almonds, I noticed uneasiness among the group. With the exception of our crew, the others were mostly silent, concentrating on the food, giving one-syllable yes or no answers. I was hoping that by the time we sat for dinner maybe they’d be more relaxed. They weren’t.

So far, this had signs of disaster written all over it.

Once seated, Martha offered a toast.

“To our hostess, Samantha!”

Everyone dutifully smiled, nodded and sipped.

But she kept going. “To her solving this next mystery!”

I spilled my drink, Betty choked, and Hazel coughed.

Clay just glared at Martha. She tossed him back a grin.

Mona covered her mouth with her napkin.

Tony smiled and raised his glass. “The hunt is on!”

Was he referring to that valuable book or his mother?

Teddy silently gulped his wine and motioned for more.

Scarlett said, “
Y’awl
have Southern Comfort instead?”

“Have you finished your questions, Scarlett?” I asked.

She tinged pink. “I uh, think so. Pertinent ones too.”

Then I turned to Teddy. “And how are you feeling?”

“Much better. Thanks.”

Mona patted him on the back. “He’s a real champ.”

He smiled then carefully began to eat, avoiding his lip.

No one seemed in a talkative mood. I wondered why?

Martha, the provocateur, cleared her throat and spoke.

“Tony, how’s your momma’s trigger finger doing?”

He didn’t miss a beat. “Hasn’t shot at anybody lately.”

Everyone cracked up. She’d finally broken the ice.