Shiny Things

by Samantha Price

  Gretel smiled. “Not quite. That’s my sister.”

  “I knew you were one of the Koch girls. Wait, you’re Gretel?”

  Gretel was prepared for a bad reaction. That was why she hadn't wanted to see Mrs. Welch. It would also get back to her parents, and Gretel didn’t want her parents to know anything about her.

  “Ms. Koch is helping us with our inquiries,” Jack said, with a smile.

  “Oh, well, do take a seat.”

  “Would you prefer I not be here?” Gretel wondered if Jack might be better off questioning Josephine without her there.

  “No that’s perfectly fine.”

  Jack began, “I have some questions to ask you.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Was your Cleopatra bracelet definitely stolen?”

  “Yes. It was. I gave you the list. It’s not here. Do you want to search the place?” She drew her eyebrows together, marring her perfectly smooth face.

  “Your daughter tells us something different.”

  “Gizelle?”

  He nodded.

  “What about her?”

  “We happen to know she was involved with the sale of the Cleopatra bracelet the day after the robbery.”

  “My Cleopatra bracelet?”

  “That’s right.”

  “But that was stolen in the robbery. It was in the safe.”

  “Your daughter tells a different story,” Jack said.

  Josephine’s eyes grew wide as they fixed on Jack. “Gizelle? What did she say?”

  “Do you know for sure it was in the safe?”

  Josephine’s fingers twirled the long rope of pearls around her neck. Then she looped a twist over one finger, slowly moving it side to side. The pearls made a soft clicking sound as they slid across one another, as if echoing the thoughts clicking through her mind. “I suppose I couldn’t be one hundred percent sure."

  "She says you let her borrow it some time ago, and she hadn't returned it."

  "If she says I did, I must’ve. Is that really what she said, or do I need my lawyer again?”

  Jack shook his head. “I’m not trying to trap you here. I’m merely asking some simple questions.”

  Trying to calm the situation, Gretel asked, “Mrs. Welch, would you mind if we take another look at the room where the safe is located?”

  “Right now?”

  “Yes, if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind at all.”

  Together they walked up the stairs to the study.

  Gretel walked over to the safe and stood in front of it. Her peripheral vision showed that the items she’d left between the safe and the wall were gone. She spun around to face Jack and Mrs. Welch. “This is a heavy safe. I’m guessing this floor is concrete?”

  “Of course it is. Otherwise a safe like that wouldn’t be supported. It had to be craned in through the window.”

  Gretel took another look around the room.

  “Is that all? I don’t like being in this room since this is where he was found.”

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Welch. I wasn’t thinking. We don't need to see anything more here.”

  As they walked back down the stairs, Jack said, “Is there anything you want to tell us about your husband’s death, Mrs. Welch?”

  “I told you everything I know.” When they reached the bottom of the stairs she stopped and stared at Jack. “What are you implying, Agent Fletcher?”

  “I’m implying nothing, Ma'am, I’m merely asking the question. These questions have to be asked.”

  “And those questions have already been asked and I have already answered them. I’m an upstanding person, I’m not some riffraff like you’re used to dealing with.” She glared at Gretel and then looked back at him. “You come into my home throwing wild accusations about me …” her voice trailed off. “When did you talk to Gizelle?”

  “Mrs. Welch, what do you think the insurance company will think now that they know your daughter had a piece of jewelry that was on the list as stolen?” Gretel asked. “They’ll take a closer look at the whole claim.”

  Josephine fiddled with the back of her hair. “I’m an honest person. From everything I know, that piece was in the safe ... unless it wasn’t. Unless Gizelle had it, but I don’t know why she would be selling it if she did have it. Surely, she would’ve said something. I’ll talk to her and sort everything out and if she’s got the bracelet I’ll call the insurance company and tell them that particular piece wasn’t taken.”

  Jack asked, “Do you know anyone by the name of Sullivan Manns?”

  “No it doesn’t sound familiar. Is he a TV actor?”

  “No. He’s the man your daughter had go into the pawnshop to offload your bracelet while she waited outside in a taxi.”

  Josephine glowered at Jack for a moment before she spoke again. “Are you telling me the truth or are you trying to trick me?”

  “Believe me, it’s the truth.”

  “It’s all on tape,” Gretel added. “We’ve seen the surveillance footage.”

  “Mrs. Welch, what do you think about when I say the word divorce?”

  Gretel froze, sensing a definite chill in the room as Josephine’s eyes flashed with ice-cold rage. “What are you implying?” She leaned against the end of the bannister as they continued to stand in the foyer at the bottom of the stairs.

  “We have it on good authority that you were considering divorcing Glen Welch.”

  “I felt like divorcing him every other day. Marriage is not easy. Are you married, Agent Fletcher?”

  He rubbed his forehead. “No, I’m not.”

  “And you’re not are you, Gretel dear? Otherwise you wouldn’t need to steal your diamonds. You’d simply have a rich husband and have him buy you what you want.”

  Gretel opened her mouth in shock. She hadn't stolen due to lack of a husband or due to lack of finances.

  “If you … if either of you were married, you’d know marriages don’t always run smoothly. My husband was a dreadful snorer. Which is why you’ll notice we had separate bedrooms.”

  “I noticed that,” Jack said. “But that’s becoming more common these days.”

  “I didn’t know that. I don’t know who the troublemaker is who told you I wanted to divorce Glen. Probably one of my so-called friends, was it?”

  “I’m sorry, I can’t say.”

  “Or were you just fishing for information, hmm? Trying to trap me into saying something?” Josephine brought her hands together and tapped her index fingers against each other.

  Gretel was amazed at the woman. She had an answer for everything.

  “I’m not 'fishing for information,' but the person who told us was of the opinion that you were seriously considering it, and it wasn’t just that you had gone through a rough day within the marriage.”

  “It’s rubbish.”

  “You do stand to benefit quite a bit from your husband’s life insurance and that came at the right time since his business was suffering and close to folding.”

  “I can’t help the timing of it.”

  Jack asked, “Have you thought of anybody who could have been mad at you or your husband? Anyone who showed an interest in your jewelry?”

  “First of all, everyone was interested in our jewelry. We beat a lot of people in the auction to get those pieces and paid top dollar. We were always having photographers here to photograph them for various magazines. You’d know all about them wouldn’t you, Gretel?”

  “Yes, you had a wonderful collection. One that many people envied.”

  “The sad thing is my mother-in-law’s collection went too. She was a woman with a love of Art Deco jewelry. So many pieces we had could never be replaced by mere money. You can’t put a price on sentiment.”

  “What about people who were upset with either you or your husband?”

  As Gretel stood there listening, she wondered what it had been like for young Ryan, cast aside and forgotten about in some far-off boarding school. Had rejection turned
him into a psychopath, or was he born one?

  “Everyone was mad at my husband. He was a lawyer.” She smiled, seeming almost proud of her own statement. “He had people upset with him every single day.”

  “What about closer to home? Friends?” Jack asked.

  “I can’t think of anything, except my husband’s manservant was upset a while back. My husband had solid gold, diamond-encrusted cufflinks that went missing and he accused the manservant of taking them. When he found them days later, he remembered that he’d gotten home quite late and placed them in his sock drawer instead of putting them away properly. By the next morning he'd forgotten about them. It was all very silly, but Glen's comments offended him, and he nearly left over it. I had to offer the man more money to stay and of course my husband fell over himself apologizing for the incident. He felt so bad. But they wouldn’t be involved, neither of them, either him or his wife who’s our maid. They’re both loyal staff members.”

  “We’ve talked to them already, but it wouldn’t hurt to have another word with them. They could’ve remembered something they didn’t mention before.”

  “Good.”

  “But they weren’t so loyal, were they, if your husband thought what he did about them?”

  Gretel was surprised at the way Jack poked a sharp question in here and there. She never would’ve been brave enough to say such a thing to Josephine.

  “It wasn’t so much that, but there was no one else around who could’ve taken those cufflinks.”

  “What about cleaning staff?” asked Gretel.

  “We have the cleaners in twice a week. They were due to come the very next day, so that’s why it couldn’t have been one of them.”

  “Any other information before we talk to your daughter once more?” Jack asked.

  “She’s not involved in any of this. My husband and she were very close if that’s your next question.”

  “Pardon me if I have to disagree with that. There are witnesses who tell us they had words at a recent fundraising event.”

  Again, with Jack’s tough comments.

  Josephine didn’t take offense at this, but neither had she directed them to sit down again. “Every family has little spats every now and again. Mine is no different. It didn’t mean that she didn’t have a deep love for her stepfather. After her own father died when she was little, Glen is the only father she’s ever known.”

  “And what was the cause of your first husband’s death, just out of interest? I know he was a lovely man and donated to my father’s ministry.” Gretel asked, smiling and looking as sweet as possible. Although, she wasn’t quite sure which of Josephine’s husbands did the donating. It was even possible it had been both.

  “Yes, he did, Gretel. He got along with your father very well. Earl went away on a fishing trip one weekend with some friends. Two of them didn’t come back. Three were found alive but unfortunately the other two didn’t make it and one was Earl.” She looked down and Gretel felt bad for asking.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Jack said.

  “Yes, I’m sorry too,” Gretel added.

  “But life goes on and we make the best of the life God gives us. Have I answered all your questions now, Agent Fletcher?”

  “Yes you have and I’m sorry if any of our questions upset you. We are doing our best to get the jewels back for you and find out who killed your husband. I hope you understand that we were thrown a curveball when we tracked down the bracelet to your daughter.”

  “Thank you. I do appreciate that. Do you have the time for a cup of tea?”

  “Not today, thank you, but would you mind if we come back tomorrow and talk with your staff?”

  “That’s fine. It’s just the two of them. Julia Tuens and her husband, Phillipe. They live in the house to the left. Of course you’ll know all that since you’ve already spoken to them.”

  “Yes they have been questioned extensively. Phillipe is the one your husband thought took his cufflinks?”

  Josephine’s dark lashes flickered. “That’s right, but it’s maybe best not to mention that. He takes things to heart. It took him a long time to get over Glen thinking he’d done it.”

  “Noted.” Jack smiled.

  Gretel stared at the woman. It seemed more and more likely that there was no robbery. It had been staged so no one would look too closely at Glen’s death.

  “I’ll show you out. I’ve given both Julia and Phillipe the rest of the day off, but they’ll be back on duty tomorrow. The maid who let you in today is someone new I’m trying out. This is her first day.”

  They said their goodbyes, left the house, and got into the car.

  “Do you believe her about anything she said?” Gretel asked Jack.

  “Do you?” He started the car.

  “No.”

  “She’s guilty of something, but exactly which part?”

  Gretel looked back at the house as they drove away.

  “What part of it didn’t you believe, Gretel?”

  “If you ask me, the only thing she’s telling the truth about is that her first husband died.”

  Jack laughed. “He did, but she didn’t even tell the entire truth about that.”

  As they drove out the gates, Gretel stared at him. “What is the rest of the truth?”

  “Husband number two—Glen Welch, our victim—was the one who owned the boat. He was hosting the weekend of fishing when the two men were killed.”

  Chapter 23

  Gretel stared at Jack, processing the information he’d just delivered. Josephine Welch’s second husband was on the boat when her first husband died. What a coincidence. “I had no idea. You would’ve thought she’d have said something about that.”

  “It wasn’t hard to find out, so it’s odd that Josephine didn’t come right out and tell us. It was all over the papers at the time.”

  “I’d love to know more about it.”

  “I can pull them up on the computer for you when I get back to the office.” He made a call to the officer who’d been holding Gizelle only to be told that she and her step-uncle lawyer had just left.

  As soon as he ended the call, Gretel said, “Glen owned the boat, Earl died and then Glen married Earl’s widow. I could let my imagination run wild there.”

  “Yes, but remember, we’re dealing in facts and facts are not facts unless we have the evidence to prove they are. I’ll pull the file on the accident and see what it says.”

  “Good. And notice how she threw her servants under the bus? There was no need to mention the cufflinks incident. Seems she was diverting unwanted attention to her poor old servants.”

  “Maybe she was nervous, and her mouth ran away with her.”

  “It’s possible I suppose. Jack, do you think there would be a day soon when you don’t need me? I’ve got some things to take care of.”

  “Like what?”

  She wasn’t expecting him to be so intrusive. “Errands.”

  “Personal errands?”

  “That’s right.” She held out her fingernails. “I haven’t had these redone since I’ve been out of prison, and it was a while before that when they were done last.”

  “They look fine to me.”

  “They’re dreadful.”

  He shook his head. “There will be plenty of time for that later. Don’t forget someone wants you out of the way. I think errands can wait. I’ll order us Chinese. We can eat and then dig into the files.”

  “Don’t I need to be classified or something to look at the documents, look in the files?”

  “I say you can, that’s good enough.” She stared at him and he glanced over at her. “What do you want? Holy water sprinkled on you?”

  “No, please, anything but.” She giggled. “I might disappear.”

  “They’re not that confidential. They’re murder files and they’re not leaving my office. You’re merely reading them under my watch.”

  “Okay. That’s good enough for me. What if Josephine was having an affa
ir with the second husband before the first husband died?”

  “That would be motivation for Glen to do away with the first husband. It would go from being an accident into a homicide, but our suspect is dead, so ...”

  “What about the other man who was killed? Did Glen also have a reason for getting rid of him, a two-for-one deal? Or maybe that man saw something he wasn’t supposed to see. He was a liability who became a casualty.”

  “The possibilities are endless.” He shot her a smile. “Why don’t we wait until we read the file?”

  “Okay.” She was pleased to have more time alone with Jack so she could get to know him better. Then she might find out what was behind him collecting those news articles of her robberies.

  “Tell me, why did you want to see the study again?”

  “Just to get a feel for what went on there. Reacquaint myself with the layout and such.”

  “And?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing new occurred to me if that’s what you mean.” All kinds of possibilities had flown through her mind, but nothing she intended to tell him. The most likely was that Josephine found those sections between the safe and the wall, thought that the police had left it like that, and had her servants put them back before she closed it up.

  With lightning speed, Gretel’s gaze whizzed over the news reports about Earl Butterworth’s unfortunate death.

  Men missing. Five men went out in the boat for a day of fishing, even though there'd been rough seas all week. Earl Butterworth and Edward Cavallaro both went missing. Seems the fell off the side of the boat in the high seas.

  Both bodies washed up within five miles of each other on the same day.

  “Edward Cavallaro. That’s the name of the other man who was killed besides Josephine’s first husband.” Gretel took out her phone and snapped a picture of the name. “Like I said, maybe Edward Cavallaro saw something he shouldn’t have, like Earl Butterworth being knocked over the head and pushed off the boat.”

  “We might never find out.”

  “What do the other men who were in the boat at the time say?”

  “I talked to the detective who was on the case at the time. The other men on the boat were all drunk and don’t remember a thing. They woke up and Earl and Edward were both gone.”