Shiny Things

by Samantha Price

  “They’ve only done this recently. You never come here, so that’s why they did this. Your things are still here. They didn’t throw them out.”

  Gretel was even more disappointed in her parents. “I’m guessing all my things are in the garage stored in plastic crates.”

  “Probably.”

  “Your bedroom would be the same as it always was. You’re the favorite.”

  “No I’m not. They don’t even remember my name half the time.”

  Gretel smiled. “Still, you’re more favorite than me.”

  “That’s only because they know you hate them, and I never left home. Just the once but I was back before they could even think about redecorating.”

  Gretel bounded to her feet. Being there was bringing her down. “I should go.”

  Hazel grabbed her arm. “No stay.”

  “I can’t. I’ve got so many things to do.” She walked out to the living room and grabbed her bag and keys.

  “Stay, Gretel,” Hazel whined. “They won’t be home for hours.”

  “I know, but I’ve got to catch up with things.” She leaned forward and hugged Hazel. “I’ll call you and we’ll do lunch, okay?”

  “I’d like that.”

  As soon as Gretel was back in her car, she called Kent. “Have you found out anything?”

  “Marty still hasn’t heard of anyone that meets Ryan’s description looking for a new ID.”

  It was a long shot. IDs weren’t that hard to come by.

  Kent continued, “No one knows anything about The Shadow group, or gang. Sounds like a bunch of superheroes.”

  “I know. That’s what I thought. I wonder if he’s trying to throw us off the track. Thanks anyway. I guess it’s a waiting game now. Waiting for Ryan to put a foot wrong.”

  “And he will. No one can hide forever. I’ve got all my checks in place. If he makes one move, I’ll locate him.”

  “Thanks. Call me the moment he does.” Gretel ended the call.

  On her way home, she drove slowly past Ryan’s apartment. She was tempted to go in to take a look around. Was he hiding the diamonds in plain sight like she continued to hide goods in her apartment?

  She pressed her foot on the gas. It wasn’t worth it. Someone was sure to see her, and the police would find out she'd been there. She didn’t want to make another silly move that could come to nothing or get her in trouble.

  It still ate away at her that someone she’d loved had wronged her. The worst thing was that he was gone, and she couldn’t even yell at him or tell him how upset she was. He’d played her for a fool.

  Weaving her car in and out of traffic, her mind drifted to the last time she’d seen Ryan. At that time she knew what he’d done. He was at the airport lying on the ground shot by airport security. She had to leave him there not knowing whether he was going to live or die. He’d said the diamonds were in a picture frame, but he lied. When she got to the place where he’d been staying, they weren’t in the picture frame. Why was she shocked about him lying? That was all he seemed to do.

  A car horn blasting at her when she cut across traffic brought her attention back to the present. To keep going and keep focused, she had to eliminate her obsession with being upset about Ryan. That wasn’t going to be easy but she had to shelve those hurts and concentrate on getting those diamonds back. This was business and not personal.

  Chapter 11

  For Glen Welch’s funeral, Gretel had gone shopping. She bought a blonde wig and, in case that wasn’t enough to keep her identity masked, she bought a broad-brimmed hat. Black with a band of white trim—a perfect funeral hat.

  Gretel hated funerals and avoided them whenever she could, but for some reason her new boss insisted she attend. She pulled her hair into the hairnet, and then pulled on the wig. It was realistic, she thought as she adjusted it in the mirror. No one would be able to tell it wasn’t her natural hair unless they already knew her and had seen her own hair, which was sometimes black, red, or chestnut brown depending on her mood.

  Thankfully, her parents weren’t going to be at the funeral. That was one good thing about the day. Standing back from the mirror in the bathroom she studied herself. Then she slipped on her dark glasses. She looked like she was about to attend a somber event, but she wasn’t so sure the bright red lipstick was appropriate. No, definitely not. She opened the drawer and pulled out a moist towelette and wiped it off. Then she chose a light pink blush shade. Far more appropriate.

  Her cell phone sounded.

  She looked at the caller ID. It was Jack. “Yes, boss.”

  He hesitated. It was the first time she’d called him boss out loud. “I’m downstairs.”

  “I’m coming.” She ended the call. Before she left, she stopped at the mirror in her changing room. The black dress clung to her figure and finished at the knee. It was conservative enough without being dowdy. Lastly, she grabbed a black coat and slung it over her arm.

  When she got downstairs, she was looking for Jack’s car and couldn’t see it anywhere and then she saw someone waving at her—Jack, standing beside a black car.

  She walked over and Jack opened her door with a long sideways look. “Not very funereally. A bombshell in black. I nearly didn’t know it was you.”

  “Good, I think.” She held her hat, and slid into the front seat, and he closed the door and walked around to get in the other side.

  He moved the car into traffic.

  “You think I’m a bombshell?” she asked grinning.

  “I didn’t say that, exactly.”

  “You did.”

  He smiled. “I didn’t mean it.” He was always in control—so in control of everything. “I see you brought a coat?” he asked.

  “There’s a cool change forecast.”

  “Wear it, please. That dress is far too figure hugging. I don’t want us to get too much attention.”

  Neither did she want attention. In fact, she would rather stay at home, and she nearly told him so. “I can always wait in the car.”

  “You won’t be any good to me in the car. I’ll need you to keep your eyes and ears open. I’m sure the killer will be in the church somewhere. And, do you need to wear that hat? I can hardly see your face.”

  “That’s the point of it, and see?” She moved her hat back slightly so he could see her blonde hair.

  “That wasn’t necessary, was it?”

  “Was for me. At least my parents won’t be there. That’s a good thing.”

  “They didn’t know him that well?”

  “They knew him well enough to go, but they’re off on one of their evangelistic missions around the country. No wait, it’s a cruise this time.”

  “You don’t look so sad that they can’t be there.”

  “You know I’m not. There’s no love lost between us.”

  “That’s sad.”

  From his comment, she knew he must’ve been close to his family. “That’s just the way things are. It doesn’t bother me. They gave up on me a long time ago, so I eventually gave up on them.”

  “Well, you can hardly blame them. You weren’t exactly a shining light for them. Someone they could boast about.”

  “Thanks very much.”

  He laughed. “It’s true.”

  “They have plenty of other children to boast about. My older brother even went into the ministry.”

  “And you don’t talk to him either, I’m guessing.”

  “Exactly. What are you doing about Ryan?”

  “I told you. I’ve got people on it.”

  “Well, what are they doing exactly?” She didn’t want to keep harping on it, but she needed to know.

  “Trust me, it’s under control. We’re doing everything we can.”

  Gretel hated that she was thinking about Ryan all the time. “I hope you believe that I don’t have those diamonds.”

  “I do, Gretel. And I’ll help you clear your name.”

  She lifted the side of her hat to look at his handsome face and
saw him smiling. “Good. Thank you.” She couldn’t help it when tingles traveled through her body.

  Jack parked two blocks from the church. The crowd around the chapel was ridiculous. “This is all for Welch?” he asked as they both got out of the car.

  “It looks that way.” Gretel held onto her hat as a cool breeze swept up. She was glad she'd brought the coat.

  “I had no idea it was going to be this big.”

  “He was a wealthy man and knew a lot of people.”

  “I know, but still, I wasn’t prepared.”

  “Now do you know why I wore this hat?”

  He frowned at her. “Not really.”

  “Anonymity.”

  He tilted his head to the side. “You’ll attract more attention with the size of it.”

  “I don’t think so.” She nodded her head at a group of ladies outside the church with hats just as big.

  He looked over at them. “Maybe you’re right. You’ll fit right in.”

  As they got closer, she spotted a familiar figure. It was her main fence, Jackson Forsitto. He owned a prestige jewelry store in the heart of the city. Because he had so many contacts, he was able to move things other people couldn’t. He’d connected her with people overseas and he was a vital part of her operation. She immediately looked away from him. They couldn’t acknowledge each other.

  “Is he someone you know?” Jack asked, having noticed her gaze pause at Forsitto.

  She shook her head, concerned that her eyes had lingered on him for too long. “No. I mean, I see people in the society pages that I recognize. But I don’t know any of these people personally.”

  “That’s right. Your job wouldn’t allow you to mix well with those kinds of people.”

  “That’s right.” She deliberately calmed her breathing, hoping she’d diverted his attention from Forsitto.

  “Tell me again, what is it you do for your day job?”

  “I’m an interior designer.” She was, according to her financials in case she was ever audited.

  “That’s right. You file tax returns.”

  “Of course I do. Everybody is required to do that.”

  “You must have a good accountant.”

  “He is a good one.” To avoid causing her accountant grief, she added, “I give him the figures of what I’ve made, and my outgoings and he does the rest.”

  “Fair enough. Don’t worry I’m not going after your accountant.” He looked around. “I think every lawyer in town is here. We should go in.”

  As they walked through the front doors of the memorial chapel, she said, “Can we sit in the back?”

  “I usually do.” They slid into the back pew and moved halfway along. “This way I’ll get to keep an eye on everyone.”

  “That was my reasoning.” Gretel took a moment to look around the church. “It’s so pretty isn’t it?”

  “It is nice. Is this the first time you’ve been here?”

  “As far as I can remember.” She looked around at the pale blue walls and white archways.

  Then Gretel noticed Glen Welch's business partner, Doug Greeves was sitting to the left of Gizelle and her mother in the front row. Sitting at Josephine's right was her brother-in-law, Reginald.

  Josephine took out a tissue and dabbed at her eyes.

  Jack whispered to Gretel, “I don’t like funerals.”

  “Me either.” She wanted to suggest they leave, but she knew he wouldn’t. While she sat, she wondered about the victim’s money. He was wealthy before he married Josephine and she was wealthy too, so added together they were able to splurge on jewelry. Why had his firm suddenly taken a downward turn?

  When she saw Jack fidgeting, she asked, “Do you always come to the funerals of your victims?”

  “Often, I do.”

  “I wonder how much Josephine’s worth now?”

  “A lot more after her husband’s death.”

  As they whispered to one another, she knew she was in trouble. He was handsome, intelligent and good company. She’d not told him too much about herself but somehow it felt like he knew who she was without her needing to say anything.

  He lifted the side of her hat so he could better see her face. “Do you want to take the hat off now?”

  “Men’s hats come off indoors, whereas women’s hats stay on.”

  “Ah, forgive me. I didn’t realize the protocol. Thanks for the etiquette lesson.”

  She adjusted the brim of her hat. “It stays on all the time. By the way, nice suit.”

  “Thank you. It’s my funeral suit.”

  The slightest giggle escaped her lips. “It’s nice.” She looked at the front. “Where’s the coffin?”

  “Not here yet but it looks …” He looked back at the door. “Yep. Here it comes.”

  She turned to see eight men carrying the coffin on their shoulders. They placed the coffin on the stand at the front and immediately a young woman, who appeared to work for the funeral home, tried to place a large arrangement of white lilies on the top of the coffin. Gizelle stood up to help her.

  Once they were seated, a robed minister with a white collar stood and moved to the microphone. Organ music sounded and he gave an upward wave of his hands as the signal for everyone to stand. The words of the hymn were printed on the booklet they’d been given at the door, but with her upbringing Gretel knew it by heart.

  She kept her mouth clamped closed, refusing to sing the words that brought back memories of a painful childhood. Everyone sat when the song was over and the minister said some kind words about Glen Welch, a regular member of his church. As he droned on, Gretel’s mind switched off Glen Welch and onto Ryan Castle. More than anything she wanted him caught red-handed with the diamonds and then thrown in jail. She wanted him to suffer like he’d caused her to suffer.

  Gretel closed her eyes wanting to be anywhere other than at a funeral.

  She’d spent most of her younger years in churches and she’d had enough. She glanced over at Jack ready to make some excuse about a headache, but quickly changed her mind when she heard Gizelle being called up to say a few words.

  Gizelle said how grateful she was that Glen had stepped in to raise her after her own father died in an accident when she was two. Her only regret was that she didn’t spend more time with Glen. When Gizelle finished telling lies, it was Glen’s brother, Reginald’s, turn. It wasn’t long before he had everyone laughing about the antics he and Glen got up to when they were younger. Even Gretel had trouble keeping a straight face and at one point a giggle escaped.

  After a prayer, another hymn was sung. The coffin was again lifted up and borne outside by the pallbearers.

  Since there was no one sitting between Gretel and the door, she got up and hurried outside and away from the doorway while she waited for Jack. After half the crowd had come out, Jack joined her.

  “That was a quick getaway,” he said.

  “I didn't want anyone to see me.”

  “With that hat, it won’t be a problem.”

  She knew he was disappointed in her, and for her that was familiar territory thanks to hearing—constantly—from her parents what a dreadful person she was. Even though she’d not seen them for many years, the hurts were still ingrained.

  “The graveyard’s half an hour away.”

  “You mean we’re going to the grave to watch him …”

  “Yes. And just act normal. You seem jumpy and twitchy. Eyes and ears open. That’s what’s needed.”

  “Well, I’m not used to being—”

  “You’re not used to being out in the daylight in your line of business.”

  She couldn’t help smiling. “Former 'line of business,' and that’s not so. Most of my decorating clients see me during the day.”

  He made no further comment as they walked up the road.

  As Gretel and Jack walked over to the grave, Gretel said, “I’ve always found graveyards so peaceful. I don’t think they’re scary at all. They might be at night. I suppose under a
full moon I’d be nervous if I was here alone, but during the day there’s such a sense of tranquility. Don’t you think so?”

  “Not particularly. I think there’s sadness and sorrow all around. People have lost loved ones.”

  “It’s the cycle of life. We live and then we die, so we’d better have a good time in the middle.”

  “You don’t believe in the hereafter, Ms. Koch, daughter of Brady Koch the famous evangelist?”

  She didn’t like to be associated with her family. Many times she’d considered legally changing her name, but more often than not she’d had different names every few months. “I did believe and then I didn’t. Now I don’t. What about you?”

  “I don’t know.” He scratched behind his ear. “I keep changing my mind about the whole thing.”

  “My father would say just because you change your mind, doesn’t change what’s going to happen after you die.” She stifled a laugh. She knew her father’s standard answers to all the usual objections.

  “Ah, ministers, they do like to put the fear into you.”

  “Ain’t that the truth?”

  They smiled at one another. At least they could agree on that. Now that they were getting closer to the other people, Gretel kept her head down and stayed that way until the coffin was lowered into the grave.

  People were gathered around the open grave in a circular formation. When the minister said a prayer, Gretel looked up at the crowd, scanning the sea of faces. Then she spotted her silver-haired lawyer, Cameron Wiltshire, looking ever so good in his dark suit. Who knew an older man could look that good? Most of the guests appeared to be lawyers so she wasn’t surprised to see him there. Then her gaze was pulled to the man standing next to Cameron.