by Adrianne Lee
Lyssa reminded him, “Apparently, he changed his mind at the last minute. You knew him, Craig. So did I. No matter what, I don’t think he would have gone through with the theft.”
He wanted to believe she was right, wanted to believe a part of Wayne’s desperation was his own fault for thoughtlessly delaying the partnership. He stood, pulling her to her feet. “Come on. It’s getting late.”
Rain was falling in torrents as they left the hospital, wind whipping water across the ground with the force of a high-pressured hose, sweeping leaves and debris away in wide cleansing swaths. Lyssa felt a similar cleansing had taken place inside her, a decontaminating of her soul, a sense of her original self emerging from the grit and grime of the past few years. Kevin no longer had any power over her; the only emotion he stirred in her was abhorrence.
But as they drove through the wet Seattle streets for her hotel, she felt suddenly drained, at the limit of her endurance for this day. She said good night at her door, accepted Craig's almost brotherly kiss without inviting him inside. He seemed to understand her reticence. She wasn’t sure she did. Wasn’t sure why she was pushing him away.
Monday
Craig called Jackson around nine that morning. He told the detective about Kevin’s confession, and about his own efforts to get Wayne’s body exhumed.
“Under the circumstances, I think that can be arranged,”
Jackson said. There was a pause, then he added, “I was going to phone you in a while. Kevin Carlyle didn’t make it through the night. A blood clot as I understand it.”
“Have you told Lyssa?”
“Not yet.”
“Let me?”
“If that’s what you want.”
It wasn’t what he wanted, but he figured it was probably better coming from someone who cared about her, than the impersonality of hearing it on the news.
Half an hour later, Lyssa let him into her hotel room. Her packed suitcase stood ready by the door. Was she walking out of his life forever? The thought went through his heart like a jagged knife. Then it occurred to him that he had one way of hanging on to her, at least for long enough to figure out whether they had any future. “Looks like you’re ready to go.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to miss another flight.”
“You’ve got a couple hours yet, and I have a proposition for you.”
Lyssa’s look was wary, and he guessed she was afraid he was going to ask her for something she couldn’t give. Herself. It saddened him. She said, “What kind of proposition?”
“Strictly business. Would you be interested in leasing the Purity? Before you say yeah or nay, I’ve checked the feasibility of it with my insurance agent and you’d have to pay some hefty premiums. Plus, I’ll insist on a written agreement.”
This man was always surprising her. Lyssa’s wariness dwindled. “What kind of terms in the agreement?”
He grinned and she felt her heartbeat bobble. He said, “My demands are pretty simple. The only provision is that in the event I should marry before your grandmother’s death, the lease automatically becomes null and void and you must return the Purity before my wedding day.”
Lyssa couldn’t bear the thought of him being married to someone else. But imagining herself in another marriage stole her very breath.
Craig was waiting. “Well?”
“I accept. How soon before it’s arranged?”
“Would today be soon enough?”
“You can’t do the paperwork that fast.”
“No, but I can fax the initial papers tomorrow and send you a copy of the originals as soon as they’re filed.”
“I accept.”
Craig hated ruining her happy mood, but he could no longer put off telling her about Kevin.
The news of Kevin’s death brought surprising tears, and sadness, and left Lyssa more conscious than ever of life’s fragility. “Before we go, I want to call my mom.”
Lyssa told her mother all that had occurred--with the exception of her night with Craig--explained that she was fine and planned to return later in the day. “I’m delighted to hear that Grandy is better.”
“She’s driving me crazy--asking to see you…and the Purity.” A touch of reproof sharpened Roxanne’s tone. And…Craig.”
Guilt nagged Lyssa, and she sighed. “Mother, Craig’s offered to lease me the Purity and I’m picking it up in a few minutes and bringing it with me this afternoon. I’m going to tell Grandy the truth.”
But which truth? she wondered as she replaced the receiver. That she cared for Craig? Probably loved him, but could never marry him? Would never marry anyone again? Even if she were so inclined, her family would never accept Craig Rival, and she wouldn’t subject him to her family’s scorn. How could she enter into a marriage with those kind of odds stacked against it?
She spun around to face him.
“How’s your family?” He grabbed hold of her luggage.
“Doing fairly well.” She gave him an abbreviated rundown.
“Good.” Craig held the door as she preceded him. “I’m afraid mine will sever our nebulous family ties altogether when she hears that the police are going ahead with the exhumation and that Kevin implicated Wayne in his plan to steal the Purity.”
“Will she be at the office when we get there?”
“Probably.”
Lyssa discovered that Rival Gems International was much like other elegant establishments that she’d encountered over the years in her line of work. They found Stacey and Ginger in the showroom, putting an order together.
Stacey lifted her flat-black hair off her face, raked Lyssa with a chilly glance, and asked in a contemptuous voice, “What’s she doing here?”
Ginger’s eyes widened, darting from her cousin to her boss who was scowling at Stacey. “I’ll get some coffee.”
“Not for me,” Craig called after her, then said coldly to Stacey, “I’d like a word with you. In private.”
Her hands landed on her hips, jangling the profusion of bracelets on her wrists. “If this is about the same business as last night, my answer is still no.”
“In private.”
With an exasperated grunt, she followed him into his office.
Ginger returned from the back room with two steaming mugs.
Lyssa thanked her, then strode to the windows at the far end of the room and glanced at the smattering of clouds dotting the otherwise blue sky. Yesterday’s storm had given the city a freshly scrubbed ambiance, reminding her of the cleansing sensation she’d experienced last night.
Wasn’t there another layer of old grit right here that needed whisking away? She wheeled around and walked along the counter to where her cousin was checking pieces of jewelry against an order form. Ginger glanced up questioningly. There were soft blue smudges beneath her eyes and she immediately started nibbling at her fingernail. Had she heard about Kevin and spent the night in tears?
“Did you know that Kevin died during the night?” Lyssa's question received a shocked look from Ginger. Deciding not to hold anything back, Lyssa told her everything that Kevin had been up to. The color had drained completely from Ginger’s face by the time Lyssa finished.
Ginger brought her hand to her mouth. “Lord, this beats all.”
Didn’t it just? Lyssa started to turn away, but Ginger said, “Lyssa.”
“What?”
“Thanks for telling me. I know it wasn’t easy for you.” Ginger fingered her large hoop earring. “And I’m glad Kevin didn’t…you know.”
“Are you?”
“Yes. I’ll never forgive myself for letting a man come between us. But I thought I loved him. God knows, I believed any and everything he told me. To think I felt sorry for him.” She sighed. “He blamed you and Uncle Denny when Savage Cologne ousted him as their spokesperson. Savage is a very family oriented business. Kevin hadn’t signed his contract before he and I--” She reddened. “I’m sure his morals lost him the job, but at the time, I thought it was just your way of getti
ng back at me.”
“You should have known better.”
“Yes, I should have known better about a lot of things, like Kevin marrying me as soon as your divorce was final. I should have known better than to follow him to Seattle. Should have known better than to give him my life savings.
“It wasn’t long before we were dead broke.” Ginger’s mouth curved in a self-deprecating smirk. “We both thought my getting the job here was sweet irony. We used to laugh about it. Me…being able to hold the Purity any time I wanted, when the DeHavilands couldn’t. I quit laughing when Kevin dumped me for…someone else. Especially when Uncle Denny showered me with love and support. That made me look at what I’d done to you. I really regret it, Lyssa.”
She seemed sincere. Maybe her father was right. Maybe it was time she forgave Ginger--so they could both heal from the wounding Kevin had inflicted. Trusting her was another matter. That Ginger would have to earn.
But wasn’t this a beginning? Deciding to take it as the first giant step on the road to forgiveness, Lyssa gave her cousin a nod and a smile.
Ginger smiled, too, and the wariness in her eyes melted.
Lyssa felt a new lightness in her heart mingled with the last residual reservations. All the hurt hadn’t gone, but it was dissipating. She wandered over to a large antique showcase. “Is this the famous “Collection?”
“Yes. The Purity is near the windows.”
Lyssa quickly scanned the impressive pieces displayed in the case until her gaze came to rest on the necklace that her grandmother attributed with the power to ensure happy marriages. It was impressive. She bent at the waist taking a long hard look at the Purity. The diamonds seemed less blue than normal in the dull daylight. And the gold at the edge of the clasp had a tiny flaw like the--. The heat drained from Lyssa’s face. Oh, dear God, it couldn’t be. But it was. She’d swear it was.
The faux!
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Lyssa clutched the counter as if she were standing on two broken legs. Warmth had drained from her face and her body, and she knew her mouth was hanging open.
“What’s the matter?” Ginger asked, but her attention swung to Craig’s office as the door banged open.
“The man confessed. Isn’t that enough for you? Why must you disturb Dad?” Stacey stormed into the showroom, bracelets jangling like warning bells. Twin splotches of red showed through her ghostly-pale makeup and tears streaked her face.
A moment later Craig appeared. “It’s not up to me. It’s up to the police.”
Shaking her head, she grasped a black coat from the brass coat tree and, with it billowing about her like a vampire’s cape, fled into the foyer.
“Craig?” The word seemed wrenched from Lyssa’s throat, emitted with the force of a hoarse whisper.
He frowned, staring at the door as if Stacey would reappear at any second.
“Craig.” This time Lyssa’s voice held urgency, weight.
His frown deepened as he turned toward her.
She had Ginger’s attention again, too. “What’s wrong?”
The air in the showroom had a sudden thick expectancy, a foreboding gloom. Lyssa thought she might be ill. “The Purity. I think it’s my faux.”
“No way.” Craig looked incredulous. Then relieved. “I placed the Purity in that case myself three days ago.”
“Are you sure it was the real one?”
“Positive. I double checked.”
Her certainty faltered. She glanced into the case again. There was no mistaking the flawed clasp, nor the lack of blue in the stones. With sickening sureness, she glanced at him again. “When was the last time you looked at it?”
He considered. When had C.J. and Teri been here? Of course. The same day he’d placed it in the case, the day of the hit-and-run. “Friday.”
“Please, look at it now.”
Distress darted through Ginger’s eyes and, gnawing at her pinkie nail, she scooted out of Craig’s path as he hastened to the case and unlocked the back panel. With his heart beating erratically, he retrieved the necklace, straightened, and laid it on the counter. The weight had felt right, but to his naked eye the stones seemed less blue. His mouth went dry. He pulled his loupe from his pocket.
A second later, he realized he was staring at zircons. The bottom dropped out of his stomach. Swearing, he nearly ran Ginger down as he dashed to the vault. No Purity. In a panic, he rechecked the case. Examined the lock. No signs of tampering. How could this be? Wayne was dead. Kevin was dead. Who had the Purity?
“Ginger.” Craig’s face was red, his voice icy. “What do you know about this?”
“Me?” Ginger cringed like a cornered mouse, and tears sprang to her eyes. “I knew it. Ever since I found it that day, I knew it was a bad omen. And now I’ll be blamed.”
Lyssa frowned at her. “What do you mean ‘since you found it that day’? What day?”
Ginger snuffled, peering through damp lashes, swallowing as if her throat were clogged. Her creamy complexion was splotched from emotion. “The--the morning after Wayne died. I--I f-found the Purity in the e-empty ‘Collection’ case…just lying in a heap…like somebody had tossed it there.”
“Wasn’t the case locked?” A nerve in Craig’s jaw twitched. “No. It was empty.”
Craig fought to curb his impatience. “What time of day did you find the Purity?”
“Around eleven a.m..” Ginger’s voice was strident.
“Was Kevin Carlyle here that morning?”
“H-how did you know?”
Craig didn’t answer, but said to Lyssa, “That explains how the Purity was returned, and how it got back into the vault.”
Lyssa glanced at Ginger, recalling she’d lied about the necklace never being out of the vault. Had she lied to protect Wayne? Or Kevin? Lyssa felt a prickling at her neck. With Kevin’s unmasking, she’d thought the clowns were all accounted for, but it seemed there was another harlequin in the game. Her pulse skipped. Was it Ginger?
Or someone else?
Ginger was afraid of something. Was it that she’d be accused of the theft, or that she’d be caught with the Purity? Lyssa needed to know. “Did you take the Purity, Ginger?”
Ginger flinched as if she’d been slapped. She fled into the back room and was back in a flash, a large handbag in tow. Emptying its contents on the counter, she glared at Lyssa. “I swear I don’t know who took it or where it is. Would you like to search me?”
Craig dragged his taut fingers through his hair. “Who’s been here this morning?”
“Lots of people.” Ginger seemed to be grasping at her dignity. She lifted her chin and sniffed. “Let’s see, Dav--Mr. Lundeen was here to see Stacey. And Ms. Temple to see you. There were a few one-time buyers. Oh, and Teri came in, too, but not with her boss. No, they weren’t here together.”
“Did you leave anyone unattended today?”
Ginger said quickly, “Only Ms. Temple and only for a minute or so, while I answered the telephone.”
Lyssa gathered her coat and her purse. “I say we pay a quick visit to Ms. C.J. Temple.”
Craig nodded. With her mysterious buyer for the Purity and her unscrupulous business tactics, C.J. was the obvious starting point. He instructed, “Ginger, call the police. Report the theft and answer their questions as best you can. We should be back before they’ve gone.”
“Should I tell them where you are?” Ginger lifted the telephone receiver.
“Not unless they ask specifically,” Craig said. “They might think we’re interfering with their case.”
Ginger’s expression seemed to say, “Aren’t you?”
“What we’re trying to do.” Lyssa tugged on her coat. “Is recover the necklace before it’s dismantled and sold.”
“If it isn’t already too late,” added Craig.
“Don’t even think that.” Lyssa reprimanded as they exited the offices and hurried into the hallway. In the Lexus, she asked, “What do you think?”
Craig wasn’t c
ertain what he thought. He was back to suspecting them all--his clerk and his cousin and his lawyer and his main competitor and her assistant--of aiding and abetting the murder of his uncle and the near murder of Lyssa. And of stealing the Purity.
Temple’s Treasures & Trinkets, Inc. was located on the second floor of the Columbia SeaFirst Center Building, a beautiful seventy-six floor structure on the corner of 5th and Columbia. The shop reflected C.J.’s taste: austere decor so subtle as to be almost non-existent. The display cases held two of Lyssa’s original designs and one of her faux pieces. Which, she pondered, did C.J. consider the treasure and which the trinket?
They asked the salesclerk to speak to C.J., but it was Teri who appeared from the back room a moment later. She would never acquire the sense of style and taste that were inbred in her boss, and the gracious room seemed to point this out as though she were an exclamation point on a blank page.
The shop cried champagne and caviar. Even in a designer suit, Teri looked like beer and pretzels. Lyssa preferred her that way. Down to earth. Genuine. Honest and caring. Dark smudges beneath her eyes attested to a poor night’s sleep, and her eager greeting and immediate concern for Lyssa’s health made her realize she’d probably caused her friend undue worry.
“Hi. What’s going on?” Teri had heard about Kevin, but seemed at as much a loss for words on the subject as Lyssa.
Craig asked for C.J..
“She’s not here.”
“Where is she? It’s urgent that we speak with her.”
His gruff tone had Teri’s eyebrows lifting. “Well, she had several appointments.” She checked the time. “She ought to be at…Ben Marlowe’s now.”
“Ben Marlowe, the gem cutter?” Craig’s lips thinned into twin white lines.
Teri nodded. “Would you like me to call?”
“No! Not unless I miss her.”
Once again in the Lexus, Lyssa asked, “Do you think we’ll find the necklace intact?” There was a tremor in her voice.
