by Abigail Keam
Doreen handed me eight dollars.
I put the money in my change box.
On her left hand, Doreen was wearing a large gold button ring. It had brushed my skin when I reached for the money. I remembered she had been wearing it the night of the party.
“Interesting ring,” I mentioned. “May I try it on?”
“I’d rather not. I’m fastidious about my jewelry.” She gave me a lopsided grin. “I got this in Italy. Very unusual, don’t you think?”
Why was this woman trying to piss me off?
“Yes,” I replied, observing it carefully. “You know it reminds me of something but I can’t quite put my finger on it. When were you in Italy?”
“Oh, years ago,” said Doreen. “During my first marriage.” Doreen looked around sheepishly.
I stretched my neck to see what she was looking for.
Doreen laughed again. “I’ve got some idiot stalking me. She claims that Addison was seeing her but I know for a fact that he was not. She’s in a psych hospital for burning something down. Something about being delusional. But I still look for her. Better safe than sorry, right?”
“Lacey Bridges?”
“Yes! How did you know?”
“She approached me at Addison’s funeral, and tried to convince the police that you killed Addison.”
Doreen gave a brittle laugh. It came off as phony.
“You didn’t, did you?”
“What?”
“Kill Addison.”
“Silly girl,” answered Doreen. “Now why would I want to kill my own husband?”
“Lacey claims that you were tired of him and wanted to get rid of him, but couldn’t because the prenup states that if you filed for divorce, Addison would get a large settlement.”
“But I could if he was having an affair, is that what you’re saying?”
“You would have to prove adultery to the judge first. That’s why she says you hired her to seduce Addison and provide you with evidence.”
“If that were true, why didn’t it happen?”
“Because she fell in love with him.”
Doreen snorted a short laugh. Sounded like a hyena this time.
“Oh, Josiah, I heard that you had a head for strange stories, but this takes the cake.”
“Then why do you think she’s following you?”
“Because she’s a nut. Didn’t you have someone harassing you who’s a nut? Don’t you use a cane because of an obsessive person still making your life miserable?”
“Touché.”
Doreen leaned over the table. “Let’s not butt heads. I really came down here wanting to thank you for coming to Addison’s funeral. I saw that you were alone and with the difficulty you have in walking – well, I just wanted to thank you.”
“I liked Addison,” I replied.
“I wonder if you would do me a favor?” asked Doreen, pushing her silver blond hair back. “If that woman contacts you again, if she ever gets out . . . will you let me know?”
“Sure. No problem, but wouldn’t the police let you know?” I knew the real reason Doreen was here. She had seen me talking to Lacey Bridges at the funeral and wanted to know what was said. That made sense to me.
“The police have mix-ups, now don’t they.” Doreen looked around again before moving off.
I started to say something, but was cut off by another customer who wanted to pay me. It was then, out of the corner of my eye, that I saw Lacey Bridges across the street watching us. It gave me the chills.
So Lacey Bridges was out and stalking Doreen again. I called out to Doreen to tell her but she had disappeared into the crowd.
I phoned Jake, who was milling around the Market somewhere, and asked him to come to my booth. I didn’t want to be alone. Within a minute, Jake was at the booth, listening to my tale. When I finished, he motioned to the Market Manager and related that the Market had a possible stalker. The Manager called security and put his staff on alert.
Jake also called Detective Goetz and told him.
Goetz promised that he would look up to see whether Doreen had a restraining order against Lacey Bridges. He would also inform the DA.
I breathed a sign of relief. I didn’t have to worry any more about crazy stalkers that day.
It turned out later that I was wrong, but how was I supposed to know that fate would take hold?
18
I kept thinking about Doreen’s ring. It sort of rang a bell with me. No pun intended.
On a hunch, I pulled out my books on Renaissance paintings and looked in the glossaries for mention of the notorious Borgia family. Finally I found a reference to Dosso Dossi for his painting Portrait Of A Youth painted in 1514. Flipping to the correct page, there was the picture of a golden-haired youth dressed in dour clothing, almost like a Puritan’s of the seventeenth century instead of the flamboyant, rich clothing of Rome during the flowering of the Renaissance. It was also hard to tell if the youth was male or female even though the print stated that person was Lucrezia Borgia.
I had seen several portraits of Lucrezia during my travels to Italy and this person did resemble that young girl.
Lucrezia Borgia was the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, also known as Pope Alexander VI. The corrupt political and sexual machinations of Pope Alexander VI, which included the famous Chestnut Ball at the Vatican, are said to have laid the groundwork for the Reformation in 1520. Among the many juicy accusations against the Borgia family was incest between father and daughter, orgies and most particularly – political assassinations by poison. Nice family, huh.
It was rumored that Lucrezia did her fair share of poisoning by use of a special ring with a secret compartment filled with poison, which she used on selected guests during dinner.
And, looking at the portrait I saw a ring on her finger – a large gold bauble just like Doreen was wearing. Was Doreen’s copy of Lucrezia Borgia’s ring hollow too? Did it have a special compartment?
That’s what I needed to find out. I drummed the desk. Now how could I get that ring off Doreen’s finger to see?
I would figure a way.
19
The bookstore was packed. I managed to grab a seat in the back near the bathroom. Jake stood in a corner watching everyone. I kept mouthing for him to smile but he was miserable at functions like this. He hated small talk and confined spaces where he couldn’t control the traffic. This was Jake’s idea of a tactical nightmare.
What was one person’s hell was heaven for another. Lady Elsmere pushed her way back and sat in the seat I had saved for her. “Isn’t this grand!” she purred. “Meriah’s book is going to be a big hit.”
“Oooo,” I cried. “Someone just stepped on my foot.” Indeed there was someone standing in front of me with her fanny in my face. I grabbed my ebony cane and was about to insert the wolf’s head into an orifice when Jake asked the lady to move, which she did. Jake went back to his corner seemingly happier and I had some breathing space in front of me.
“I’m not going to stay if this crowd keeps up,” I whispered to Lady Elsmere. “There is no way we can have a conversation with Doreen under these conditions.” I looked up towards the door and saw Matt waving at me. He seemed very relaxed and happy. I waved back.
Before Lady Elsmere could answer, Meriah was pushing her way through with Doreen in tow. “Look who I found,” giggled Meriah, grabbing a chair. She pushed a confused Doreen into it. “Now you girls have fun. I’ve got to sign books. Great turnout, huh?”
Doreen turned to look at us with suspecting eyes. “My, this place is packed. One can hardly get a breath.”
“That’s why we’re hiding back here,” confided Lady Elsmere.
I nodded in agreement.
Lady Elsmere plowed right in. “Doreen, did you hear that someone tried to burn down my horse barns?”
Doreen blinked. “Yes. That’s terrible.”
“I think it was some woman who has a connection to you.”
Squirming in h
er chair, Doreen answered, “I have been having trouble with a stalker. It might be the same woman.”
“Her name is Lacey Bridges,” stated Lady Elsmere.
“Yes, that’s her name, but I’ve nothing to do with her. I have never met this woman, but she keeps going to the police and telling them that I murdered Addison. She is making my life miserable.”
“So sorry to hear that. It’s awful that innocent folk have to deal with people with mental health issues like that. Back in the day, we just locked them up and didn’t have to bother with them.”
Everyone who lives here knows that is a lie. We don’t lock up our crazies. We have them run for political office or become grand marshals at the Fourth of July parades. I stifled a laugh, but said nothing. This was Lady Elsmere’s party.
“That right,” agreed Doreen, nodding her head. “I’m afraid every time I go out, but now she is under observation, isn’t she?”
“That’s not what I understand,” I replied. Hadn’t Goetz called her about Bridges?
Doreen ignored me. “As soon as Meriah’s wedding is over, I’m going to Florida and put this all behind me.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I’m going to sell the house and leave Kentucky for good.”
“Oh, surely you will want to keep your beautiful home?” questioned Lady Elsmere.
“There are beautiful houses in Florida and my daughter is going to join me. We are going to start over.”
“I think that is the best thing,” I commiserated. “Start over. Where will you be locating to?”
“Florida,” answered Doreen impatiently.
“But where in Florida?” I asked.
“On the gulf side,” dodged Doreen.
“I hope you’ll be happy,” interrupted Lady Elsmere. “Let’s change the subject. I want to show you my new antique cameo I’m wearing. I just bought it a couple of days ago.” She took off the pin and handed it to Doreen. “Look at this, Doreen. It opens and has a secret compartment.”
Doreen held the brooch up the light, admiring it. “Fascinating.”
“And that’s a lovely ring you have,” exclaimed Lady Elsmere pointing at Doreen’s ring. “May I see it?”
Doreen blanched. I could tell she was looking for a way to refuse. “I don’t think I can get it off.”
“Oh, sure you can,” I said. “Just give it a good tug.” I reached for her hand, which she pulled away.
Seeing that there was no graceful way to decline, Doreen reluctantly pulled off the ring and handed it to Lady Elsmere.
Smiling, Lady Elsmere tried on the ring. “People used to keep hair locks of the deceased in my brooch. That’s what it was made for.”
“I see,” said Doreen. She handed the brooch back.
Lady Elsmere began taking off the ring but seemed to be having trouble. She fussed with it until, “My goodness. Doreen, your ring opens. Did you know it did that?”
Lady Elsmere and I peered closer at the now opened ring.
“Yes, I did,” replied Doreen, trying to hide her anger. She closed the ring and put it on her finger.
“What do you think the ring was used for?” I asked.
“Women used to keep their snuff in rings like this,” replied Doreen.
“I didn’t know that. I though they used special snuff boxes,” I replied.
“They also used rings as well. I got this in Italy, remember. Lots of women used to use snuff in the eighteenth century.”
“Yes, I remember you telling me that. It is a stunning ring.”
“Yes,” said Lady Elsmere. “It seems that you and I have fine taste when it comes to jewelry, Doreen.”
Doreen relaxed and smiled. It seemed like Doreen loved flattery. If I had known that sooner, I would have really laid it on thick sooner.
“Doreen, you do look really wonderful considering the awful tragedy you’re going through. How are you doing?” I said.
“I miss Addison terribly, but life must go on. And I have my daughter.”
I nodded my head in agreement.
“Who would have thought that a simple aspirin would cause a person such harm?” said Lady Elsmere. “I keep thinking about how he got aspirin at my home, but can’t come up with a clue. Charles, my butler, says he didn’t ask for one. I just keep wondering. I so hope you’re not going to hold that against me. It worries me so.”
Doreen put her hands on Lady’s Elsmere arm. “June, don’t worry yourself about this. It was just an accident. Someone might have had a headache and put an aspirin in their drink and Addison picked up their glass by mistake.”
“But no one claims to have used aspirin that night,” I retorted.
Doreen gave me a sympathetic smile. “Of course, no one would admit to it. They don’t want to be implicated in a man’s death even if it was an accident. Afraid that I might sue or something like that. It’s human nature to protect one’s self.”
“I’ll drink to that,” quipped Lady Elsmere, taking a swig out of the silver flask she had pulled from her purse. “You make me feel better about it, Doreen.”
“It was just an accident, June. Unfortunate, but nothing more sinister that than. I don’t harbor any resentment. None at all.” Doreen looked around and saw a pathway through the throng of people. “Now, I must be going. I had no idea so many people would be here. It makes me nervous. Ta ta, ladies.”
Lady Elsmere and I watched Doreen disappear hastily through the crowd.
Taking another swig out of her flask, Lady Elsmere swore, “She’s guilty as hell. Snuff indeed.”
“Her demeanor does give one pause. I don’t think I would be so calm about someone putting aspirin in a drink and my husband dying by drinking from that glass. I certainly would want to know whose glass, even if it was an accident.”
Meriah ran back and leaned over us. “What did she say?” whispered Meriah.
“We know for sure that her ring has a compartment, but we couldn’t trip her up on anything else. She is unflappable,” replied Lady Elsmere.
Meriah turned to me. “Well, it’s up to you now to make it stick.”
“Me?”
“You’re the one with the police contacts. If anyone is going to convince the police to look into this further, it will have to be you,” concluded Meriah.
“Yes, Josiah,” joined in Lady Elsmere. “You will have to talk to Detective Goetz. You have a way with him and if anyone can get his attention, it’s you.”
“Jumping Jehosaphat!” I cried.
“What is it?” asked Meriah.
“I forgot to tell Doreen something important about Lacey Bridges,” I said. “Oh well, the police will let her know, I’m sure.”
Hearing a cough, I glanced at Jake. He was scowling at the three of us. He had been listening and did not like our investigating Addison’s death. I knew that on the way home, he was going to read me the riot act.
But I was wrong.
Jake was quiet on the way home. That was because he was going to drop a bomb and was thinking of how to tell me.
I was also wrong about the police notifying Doreen that Lacey Bridges had been released.
I would have to live with the guilt of not telling her for the rest of my life.
20
I slept late. That’s because I didn’t get to bed until late. Rather I did get to bed, but I didn’t get to sleep until the wee hours of the morning. Get my drift.
I was positively humming.
“Jake,” I called, wrapping a filmy robe around me. “Jake.”
“In here,” answered Jake.
I went to his bedroom where I found him sitting on the bed staring out the patio door. I glanced at the bureau. It was empty of his possessions and his children’s pictures were missing.
Slumping against the doorframe, I muttered, “Oh shit!”
Jake patted the mattress. Reluctantly I sat beside him. We sat quietly for a long time until he found the courage to speak. “I don’t want to go but I have to. In fact, I’ve put thi
s off as long as I could, but my children need me.”
“For how long?”
Jake shrugged.
“I see.” I played with the fringe on my robe. “May I ask why?”
“Pauline called. That’s my ex-wife. She has cancer. I need go home and help with the children. Her mother has passed away and her sister lives in another state. There’s only me.”
“Is it terminal?” I asked, hoping. I know I’m awful at times.
“I hope not,” answered Jake softly. “But I have to be there while she fights, so I’m going home to take care of things.”
I placed my hand on his. His fingers tightened around mine.
“I understand, Jake.”
“It’s not that I won’t . . . that I don’t . . .”
“I love you, Jake.”
“I’ve stocked the refrigerator and pantry. Mrs. Todd will be here tomorrow to help with the light cleaning and cooking. Charles is going to have the pastures mowed next week. All the bills are paid up for the month. Your medicine is in your bathroom with all the instructions.”
“Even the pain medication?”
Jake chuckled as he touched my cheek. “Even the pain medication.”
“Wow, you must really trust me.”
“A new therapist will be here next Wednesday at nine a.m. He is going to give me a report, so you behave now.”
“So everything is neat and tidy and tied with a ribbon. You have thought of everything and can leave knowing that life will continue without you.”
“This is not what I wanted to happen. Please don’t get angry.”
“Will you call me, at least?”
“No.”
“I know you think being blunt is kind, but it’s not.”
Jake gave my hand one last squeeze before rising from the bed. “Goodbye Josiah.”
I tried not to notice the several tears running down my face.
Jake gave me one last look before walking out of the room. I sat on his bed until I heard the front door close.
I sat there until late afternoon shadows stretched across the floor. Then I got up and visited my honeybees. There in my beeyard, where thousands and thousands of honeybees flew around me, winging to their rhythm of life, I cried out my sorrow. And when I was finished, I knew that I would never cry over Jacob Dosh again.
