The Lush Life (Samantha Jamison Mystery Book 8) (11 page)

Chapter 31

Trailing The Truth

Tony said to Scarlett. “I hear you like mysteries?”

She gushed, “I’m Samantha’s biggest fan!”

Tony caught my eye. “I must admit, I am now too.”

My turn to tinge pink. “Why thank you both.”

“Yup, solving them is her specialty,” said Martha.

Teddy turned to me. “How do you figure them out?”

“Deceptive people eventually get too confident, trip up and give themselves away by talking too much and making contradicting remarks. I keep track of their mounting lies.”

“How?”

“With Internet search engines, profiles and habits can be followed, your whereabouts with GPS on cells and cars can be detected. Information can be gathered, like credit cards, licenses, etc. Our assumed veil of privacy no longer exists. For a price you can get just about anything on anybody.”

No one said anything as my response sunk in.

Then Scarlett asked, “Are you saying it’s easier with more information out there today, versus back in the day?”

“More electronic info today, less legwork,” I said.

Scarlett nodded. “Making it easier to track, convict...”

“What if false information is out there?” posed Teddy.

“I admit that’s also a problem,” I said. “People spread rumors, make many false accusations, and report erroneous information about someone on the Internet. I rely on credible sources that I can depend on. There are those I can trust and those I don’t. I still have to do so-called legwork, but electronically and mostly with my fingers instead.”

“What if someone has no other choice?” Tony asked.

All eyes honed in on Tony with his odd segue.

“...What do you mean, no other choice?” I asked.

“About what someone feels they must do,” he replied.

Tony wasn’t talking solving them, but committing them.

“As in being coerced or trapped?” I asked.

“In a way, yes. Like there’s no alternative,” he said.

“There’s frequently an alternative,” said Hazel.

“In all cases?” Scarlett asked.

“Trust me, there are exceptions,” Tony replied.

“You’re either guilty or not guilty,” Betty said firmly.

“A side bet on potential crimes anyone?” Mona joked.

“
Hypotheticals
versus reality. Interesting,” said Teddy.

We all stared at vanity-conscious Teddy.

Like Tony, maybe Teddy was smarter than I thought.

“Nothing intangible about theft or murder,” I said.

“People leave two kinds of fingerprints,” said Clay. He then leaned in for emphasis, adding, “Physical and digital.”

Tony tapped his head. “What about considering it.”

“You don’t get arrested for the thinking, just the doing.”

“And now for all your just desserts!” I said serving it up.

“Ha! You meant physical not justifiable,” said Scarlett.

“Boy, I’d be arrested for some of mine,” said Martha.

Pulling out the rug on this one wouldn’t be easy...

Chapter 32

Non-digital Footprints

I had an eerie feeling the previous evening someone was eavesdropping on our conversation and could have sworn I saw a shadowy figure outside the
porte
cochere
end of the room. I was sitting at the head of the wide table with Clay, so I was facing that direction. Was it just moonlit shadows? Was someone there? Was I mistaken? Instinct told me no, I wasn’t. If that was the case, could someone on the outside be working with someone on the inside? Because of that, I said nothing. I would watch and wait.

Could that someone have been Tony’s mother?

I was walking along those same windows, but outside, while sipping my morning cup of coffee, pretending to admire the flowerbed, but really checking for footprints. I still felt this was one bet I would have taken with Mona last night had she asked. I stopped short. I wasn’t imagining it.

There, squashed flowers right by that window that was open last night. I doubted deer caused it. They wouldn’t come this close to the windows: too noisy with us talking. Besides, there weren’t any chewed up plants. There weren’t any that were eaten anywhere, just those flattened flowers.

“Looking for something?” a voice asked behind me.

I jumped in place, startled by who snuck up on me.

It was Lucas, smiling his usual smile, while carrying his bucket filled to the brim. Today it was filled with garden tools. He was wearing dark sunglasses so I couldn’t see his eyes to tell the true intent of his words. Usually I can read people, but this guy I couldn’t get a bead on.

Although I saw and verified his license at the start, was this the real Lucas standing there? The harmless individual he portrayed to us? Or was he something else entirely? There were others that fooled me at the start of my sleuthing. In time my suspects’ veneers wore thin, and it was only then I got a glimpse of what simmered below the surface. Was he just a friendly, harmless groundskeeper?

Or was
Tony’s
mother the one behind all these threats? Was she crazy enough to go after something in this house to recoup her art loss she felt was owed her? Was she still angry? Add to that
Tony’s
bizarre inferences last night at the dinner table and it was confusing as to who was behind these escalating threats. Did they include Tony or not?

“I was admiring your flowerbeds, but it seems a deer or some other animal trampled some of your lovely flowers.”

He looked down to where I was staring then back at me.

“You’d be surprised by what lurks out here at night.”

“They must see and hear more than they bargained for.”

He laughed again. “You might be right.”

I left it at that. I didn’t want him doubting
my
intent.

“I think I need another cup of coffee. Too much wine last night,” I said turning to leave.

I could’ve sworn I heard a reply. I turned back to Lucas, but his face was unreadable: a complete blank.

Was I glimpsing at all there was to this man?

“Catch you later,” I said turning away again.

“I can’t wait to read your next mystery,” he called out.

Laughing lightly, I said, “Once I solve it, neither can I.”

I heard a chuckle behind me as I walked inside.

Lucas
seemed
harmless, but you never know...

Tony and his mother, who had resurfaced, were another snag that made me uncomfortable to say the least.

Chapter 33

Online & More

I was making another cup of coffee at the coffee maker when someone said, “Hurry up. I’m desperate.”

Mona looked like hell. The minute I filled my cup, she gently but firmly shoved me aside to make one for herself.

“He snored louder than a buzz saw,” she said irritably.

I tried not to laugh, but failed. “Broken nose and all?”

In response, she gave me an arched brow.

I returned one of my own. “What’d you expect? He’s drugged all the time. And last night, all the wine he had. He shouldn’t have drank to begin with. You didn’t stop him.”

“Bad enough I listen to his moaning,” she countered.

“I haven’t heard complaints on those fringe benefits.”

“Well, he did keep me distracted previously...”

“Seriously, you think he’s as harmless as he lets on?”

“I thought about that and dug deeper.”

“How, if he gave you an alias?”

“I dug into his wallet,” she said grinning.

“Good move.”

“Should have done it sooner, but my attention was...”

“I know, distracted before his
unfortunate
accident.”

“No reason to check Teddy further after he came clean to Martha about why he was here. Plus, at the hospital his insurance card went through and the nurse kept calling him Mr. Pirelli. But after last night at the dinner table, I got curious to know more about him. I can’t explain it, but something didn’t feel right. So I decided to tear apart his wallet. Initially he told me his name was Teddy Pirelli.”

“And now you know that wasn’t exactly true.”

“His license read Anton T. Pirelli.”

“There’s something more, isn’t there?”

“Something more interesting.”

“What?”

“He hails from
Tony’s
neighborhood.”

“Are we talking same town?”

“Yes. I’m thinking possibly
connected
like Tony.”

“Well, he hasn’t done anything yet, has he?” I asked.

“That’s just it. No. Plus, I asked around and made a few side calls to my people. No convictions under that name.”

“He could just be a naïve actor/model like he claimed.”

Mona laughed. “Who got innocently caught up in this?”

“Not likely, huh? Especially after he lied to you.”

Like I’ve said before, I didn’t know, nor did I want to know who Mona’s
people
were. As long as I was never arrested in the process, I was good to go.

“Oh!” said Mona. “Miss Scarlett complained you’re out of Southern Comfort. Want me to go buy some for you?”

“Would you, Mona? That would be great.”

“You do realize you’d have to babysit you-know-who.”

I had books to inspect...
“When are his next pills due?”

“Don’t worry,” said Mona. “I just gave them to him.”

Chapter 34

Sleep My Pretty One

I snuck upstairs to check on our patient to make sure he was resting and not wandering around. After that I planned to text Clay, who had already left with Tony again when I woke up. But he needed to hear this latest news about Teddy.

I listened at Teddy’s bedroom door. All was silent. I still thought it prudent to check anyway. I quietly turned his doorknob, opened it slightly and peered into the dimly lit room. I blinked then blinked again. No one was in the bed. I listened to the adjoining bath. No noise.

Where was he?

When I stepped further into the room I heard the door abruptly close shut behind me with a click. I spun around. Teddy was grinning, standing between me and my exit out.

After hearing about the latest from Mona on this guy, to say I was a little uneasy was underscoring it.

“Mona asked me to make sure you were okay,” I said.

“I appreciate all the concern.”

He had no idea how concerned I was, cornered in this darkened room with a very suspicious-seeming person.

“Have you seen through anyone’s façade yet?” he asked.

Now, I could take that two ways. He was feeling me out about what I knew or he was still hung up on last night’s conversation at dinner. He swayed slightly. I eyed the door.

I made light of it. “Didn’t know you spoke French.”

He grinned with a slight bow. “Pretense is my forte.”

I laughed nervously. “Ah, another French word.”

“Ever the clever sleuth you are! Don’t miss a thing.”

“I try not to.”

“I should read one of your mysterious tomes.”

I froze in place.

Now, why use that particular word? Why not book?

Suddenly he gave a loud yawn.

“I don’t know why I’m so tired all the time. Mona keeps giving me these vitamin energy drinks too.”

Ah, so that was how she gave him added sleep cocktails.

“You really should get some rest.”

He abruptly moved forward. Nervous, I dodged. Then I realized I was blocking his destination: his bed. He barely made falling into it, rolled over, and was asleep in seconds.

“Good boy. Sleep my pretty one. Stay out of trouble.”

I then hastily made my way out and shut the door.

He didn’t appear to be much of a threat in this condition. Maybe he wasn’t a real danger at all. Maybe he changed his name to be an actor and model to get out of
the ‘hood
.

And maybe I was way off base.