Devonshire Scream

by Laura Childs

  “I hear you,” Drayton said. “There’s something odd about them.”

  “And you’re right about this pin.”

  “How’s that?”

  “I . . . I don’t think I should wear it anymore.”

  “Now you’re listening to reason. You feel spooked, huh?”

  “I didn’t until Sabrina and Luke Andros showed up and started making such a big deal of it.” Theodosia fumbled with the clasp and gently unclipped the ruby and diamond pin from her dress. “Here,” she said, holding it out to Drayton. “You take it.”

  Drayton’s hands flew up in a defensive posture. “I don’t want it.”

  “We need to do something to keep it safe.”

  Haley came wafting by their table at that exact moment.

  “Haley,” Drayton said, crooking a finger at her. “Do me a favor, will you?”

  “Sure,” she said. “Your wish is my command. What’s up?”

  “Have you seen Timothy since you’ve been here?”

  “Um . . . sure,” Haley said. “Like ten seconds ago. He just finished doing a sound bite for that TV guy with the fake-bake tan.”

  “Go ask Timothy for the key to his private office, will you?” Drayton asked. “Tell him it’s for me. That I want to lock something away for safekeeping.”

  “Okay,” Haley said.

  Drayton got up from the table. “We’ll meet you over by the door, right next to that display of Etruscan coins.”

  Haley shot him a salute. “Be right back.”

  “Thank you,” Theodosia said to Drayton as they strolled back toward the main door. “I think we’ll both feel better when that pin is under lock and key. You were right, wearing it tonight was kind of reckless.”

  “It does feel as though something’s about to happen, doesn’t it?”

  The words had barely left Drayton’s mouth when a thin, high cry pierced the air.

  “What on earth?” Drayton said. His head spun around. “It sounded like a wounded animal.”

  “But out in the hallway?” Theodosia said.

  They both ducked through the doorway only to run smack-dab into Delaine. Her face was pink and puffy and streaked with tears; her shoulders heaved up and down with emotion.

  “Delaine,” Theodosia cried. “Honey, what’s wrong? What happened?”

  “Re-re-naldo!” Delaine moaned. “He’s so mean and hateful!”

  Renaldo Gilles, Delaine’s boyfriend du jour, was hovering a few feet away, looking decidedly awkward.

  Theodosia advanced on Gilles. “What did you do to her?”

  Gilles looked panic-stricken. “Nothing. She just suddenly broke into hysterics.”

  “I can see she’s upset. The question is why?”

  Gilles spread his arms apart in the manner of a European shrug. “I told her I couldn’t remain here indefinitely. I made it perfectly clear that I had to return to France, that my company would fire me if I didn’t come back.”

  Delaine fanned herself madly as she quavered, “You told me you were going to stay longer.”

  “I did stay longer,” Gilles said. “Almost an extra two weeks. But . . . ah, what’s the use.” He waved his arms. “Mon Dieu.”

  Drayton glanced at Theodosia and said, in a low voice, “Lovers’ quarrel.”

  Theodosia nodded. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen Delaine fall apart over a man. She was clearly in pain now, but she’d get over it. She always did.

  But for now, Delaine was quite content to wallow in the throes of her self-induced pity party. “What am I going to do?” she asked, throwing herself into Theodosia’s arms.

  Theodosia hugged her gently for a few moments, then pried Delaine’s fingernails off her shoulders, where she was sure they’d left some serious indentations. “You’re going to wipe away those tears and go join the party,” she told her. “Take Gilles with you, don’t take Gilles, whatever. Go talk to your friends or even another man if you feel like it. But don’t let this silly little flirtation define you. You’re better than this.”

  Delaine blinked at Theodosia and sniffled. “I am, aren’t I?” Her eyes regained some of their fierce glitter. “I’m a good-looking woman. I’m still in my prime.”

  “You’re a knockout.”

  “Well, I . . . do you . . . do you have a Kleenex?” Delaine sniffled again. “Goodness, I must look a fright.”

  Theodosia dug in her beaded clutch and handed Delaine a tissue. Delaine wiped at her eyes and managed an uneven smile. “Is my mascara all smeary?”

  “Not too bad.” She wasn’t about to tell Delaine that she had a serious case of raccoon eyes.

  “Help me?” Delaine asked, helplessly.

  Theodosia wiped away the smudges from beneath Delaine’s eyes as best she could. “There. All fixed. Feel better now?”

  “Not really,” Delaine said. “But at least I feel a tiny bit more presentable.”

  “There you go,” Drayton said in a false hearty tone. “That’s ninety percent of it right there.”

  Gilles was tapping his foot now. “Well, have you decided? Are we going in or not?”

  Delaine lifted her chin. “You may escort me, yes. But only for the time being.”

  • • •

  Theodosia let out a sigh of relief as Delaine preceded Gilles into the party.

  Drayton watched them go. “That poor Frenchman is like a lamb to the slaughter,” he said. “No man has a fighting chance against Delaine.”

  “She’s one of a kind, that’s for sure.” Theodosia mustered a quick smile as they strolled back into the Great Hall to rejoin the party. “Oh good. Here comes Haley.”

  Haley came running up and immediately dangled a little brass key in front of Drayton’s nose. “I got the key. But Timothy made me promise to bring it back to him immediately. Once you lock up whatever little treasure it is you’re locking up.”

  “Not a problem,” Drayton said, reaching for the key.

  Haley snatched it back out of his research. “What’s so important, anyway?” She gave an impish grin and her eyes danced with curiosity.

  Theodosia handed the ruby-and-diamond brooch to Haley. “We’re trying to keep this safe.”

  Haley gazed at it. “This sure is some fancy hunk of jewelry.” Now there was reverence in her voice. “Where’d you get it, anyway?” She cradled the pin in the palm of her hand.

  “Brooke loaned it to me,” Theodosia said. “It was one of the few pieces that wasn’t stolen during the robbery.”

  “Our dear Theodosia had a crazy notion that wearing that fancy pin might lure the jewel thieves out of hiding,” Drayton explained.

  “And did it?” Haley asked.

  “Not as far as we know,” Theodosia said.

  “So you want me to . . . what? Take this pin and lock it up?” Haley asked.

  “That would be great,” Theodosia said.

  “Just put it in Timothy’s desk,” Drayton said.

  Haley held the pin up to her dress. “It’s so gorgeous, maybe I should wear it.”

  “We’d rather you didn’t,” Drayton said.

  “It’s probably more prudent if you just kept it out of sight,” Theodosia said, glancing around. Nobody was watching, but she still felt jittery. “Maybe hide it in your pocket or something.” She knew the dress Haley was wearing had two deep pockets hidden in the folds of the voluminous skirt.

  But Haley was still entranced. She held the bauble up to the light, studying it. “Holy guacamole, this thing looks expensive.” She grinned as it twinkled and shimmered, catching the overhead lights.

  “Haley . . .” Drayton’s voice carried a warning tone.

  “Okay, okay,” Haley said, closing her hand around the pin. “I hear you. I’ll run down to Timothy’s office and lock it up nice and tight so it’ll be safe from prying
eyes and nefarious jewel thieves.”

  “Thank you,” Theodosia said as Haley skipped away.

  28

  With the ruby-and-diamond pin safely on its way to Timothy’s office, Theodosia suddenly felt a million times lighter. Nothing was going to happen tonight, she assured herself. The Fabergé egg was safe and, come Monday morning, she would redouble her efforts to help Brooke. But tonight she was going to relax and enjoy the party. She might even flirt with Agent Zimmer if she felt like it. And, by the way, she wanted to take a careful look at all the splendid objects that the Heritage Society had on view throughout the room.

  “Those Etruscan coins,” Theodosia said, pointing to a scatter of brass coins that lay on a drift of black velvet. “What do they date back to?”

  “I’m glad you asked,” Drayton said. “These particular coins hail from the third century BC. You see the gold one with the lion’s . . .”

  A tiny, shrill scream, almost a blip of a scream, echoed from out in the hallway.

  The sound didn’t register with Drayton, but Theodosia picked up on it instantly. Her heart did a rapid flip-flop and then leapt into her throat. “Did you hear that?”

  “Excuse me . . . what?” Drayton said. He’d been in the middle of speechifying.

  “That little noise?”

  Drayton cocked an eye at her. “Is Delaine making another scene? Startling everyone with one of her mouse shrieks?”

  Another blip of a scream sounded, and this time it was slightly more distinct.

  “Dear Lord,” Theodosia said. “That sounded just like Haley!”

  “Our Haley . . . Where?”

  “I think . . . out in the hallway,” Theodosia said. Deep in her heart she knew something was wrong. Felt it in her bones. So without another word to Drayton, she lunged for the door.

  Drayton spun and followed on her heels. “We probably shouldn’t . . .” he began.

  But Theodosia was already out the door and five steps ahead of him. “There!” she screamed. She flung out an arm and pointed toward the far end of the corridor, where a trio of shadowy figures danced and ducked and tangled in a mighty struggle. “Haley?” she cried out.

  “Theo!” Haley’s piteous scream came back. “Help me!” Haley was twisting and turning, trying to escape the grip of two men.

  “I’ll alert security,” Drayton said. “Grab those FBI . . .”

  Theodosia snagged his sleeve and tried to pull him along. “No time. We have to help Haley now.”

  “But the . . .”

  Theodosia took off as though someone had fired a starter’s gun, leaving Drayton in her wake. She pounded down the hallway toward Haley. “Hang on, Haley!” Just as her slippery shoes started to gain traction on the thick carpet, a door flew open and she was swatted aside like a bug. Screeching, her right shoulder exploding with a flash of pain, she flailed out and stumbled, then crashed down hard on one knee.

  The door whapped shut as Billy Grainger careened out of the small catering kitchen. He cut in front of Theodosia, struggling valiantly to steady his tray of champagne flutes, wobbling and swaying for a few seconds, fighting to keep his tray level and regain his balance. No such luck. He stumbled badly, causing the glasses to topple sideways and crash into one another. Foamy gluts of champagne spewed everywhere.

  “You!” Theodosia cried as the spatter of liquid hit her. She batted at Grainger from where she was still half sprawled on the floor. “Help me!”

  “Watch where you’re going!” Grainger yelled angrily as he tried to pull himself up.

  “No!” Theodosia screamed back at him, gesturing and trying to make him understand. “A couple of guys just grabbed Haley. You have to help us!”

  Grainger’s face drained white. “What?” he hissed.

  “Down there,” Theodosia flung out an arm. “Two guys grabbed Haley and are trying to drag her . . .”

  As Theodosia and Grainger struggled to regain their footing, the lights flicked off and the entire hallway was plunged into darkness.

  “Where’d they go?” Grainger cried as he whirled about frantically. They could hear Haley screaming and struggling, but couldn’t see her.

  Flailing a hand out, Theodosia located a wall and fought to guide herself along. While down at the far end of the hallway, a single figure stepped out of the shadows and said, in the cold, flat tone of an undertaker, “Pick the girl up and bring her along.”

  • • •

  “C’mon!” Theodosia called to Drayton and Grainger, trying to rally them in the darkness. “We’ve got to help Haley.”

  But as the double doors clanged shut at the far end of the hallway, they were the only ones left fighting their way down the darkened corridor.

  “Where’d they disappear to?” Grainger asked.

  “Dragged her outside,” Theodosia huffed.

  “How many guys?” Drayton asked.

  “I don’t know,” Theodosia said. “Maybe . . . three?”

  “So, a gang,” Drayton panted as he struggled to keep up with them.

  When they finally reached the far end of the corridor, a small light shone on the reception desk. Theodosia clattered her way across the marble entry as Drayton and Grainger followed in her wake. She slammed the double doors open wide, almost decapitating the carefully manicured topiaries of Czar Nicholas and Czarina Alexandra in the process.

  “I don’t see anybody,” Grainger said. He was glancing about feverishly, quivering like a Brittany spaniel on point.

  Theodosia, Drayton, and Grainger all stood stock-still for a few moments, searching for the men who’d just carted off Haley. Streetlights shone dimly, a sliver of moonlight dappled the sidewalk, but they saw nothing.

  “Where is she?” Drayton asked.

  Suddenly, there was a telltale blur of movement from far down the row of parked cars. Theodosia caught it out of the corner of her eye and said, “There they are!”

  It was dark as pitch, but Theodosia could see that Haley was still putting up a valiant struggle. Heads bobbed, bodies twisted, arms flew wildly, and then someone—probably Haley?—was rudely shoved into the backseat of a long, dark car.

  “Let’s go!” Theodosia cried.

  Three abreast, they thundered down the sidewalk. But they’d covered only half the distance to the dark car when its lights flashed on. Then the car’s engine roared to life and, a millisecond later, it squealed away from the curb.

  “Dear Lord, she’s gone,” Theodosia cried. She felt like sinking to her knees in despair. Instead, she spun toward Grainger and snarled, “You better not be in on this.”

  “I’m not, I’m not,” he cried.

  “Then, who took her?”

  Grainger threw up his hands in frustration. “I don’t know.”

  “Had to be the jewel thieves,” Drayton said. “I think our worst fear just came true. They saw that jeweled pin and . . .”

  “We’re going after them,” Theodosia said, making a snap decision and darting across the street. “Come on. Everybody into my Jeep.”

  They all piled in, and she took off like it was the start of the Indianapolis 500, gunning her engine, breaking a nail as she snapped her seat belt closed.

  “Where’d they go? Where’d they go?” Drayton quavered as they rocketed down the street.

  “Back down King Street,” Grainger said. “And then I think they turned left on Tradd.”

  “You think or you know?” Theodosia demanded. She was accelerating like crazy, weaving down King Street, throwing caution to the wind, hoping she wouldn’t sideswipe a car or kill a hapless pedestrian.

  “Turn left,” Grainger shouted.

  Theodosia squealed into the turn. She could feel the back end of her Jeep ready to let go, swinging ever so slightly with the centrifugal force. At the last moment, her tires dug in and found purchase. She fishtailed like crazy
for a hundred yards and then straightened out.

  Grainger leaned forward and squinted. “I’m positive that’s the car up ahead. Same curved taillights.”

  Theodosia goosed her car faster.

  “Be careful,” Drayton cautioned.

  “No fear,” Theodosia said. She reached down, grabbed her beaded bag, and tossed it over the backseat to Drayton. “Dig out my cell phone and call Tidwell. Be quick.”

  Drayton panicked. “Call him? How?”

  “Speed dial,” Theodosia said through gritted teeth.

  Grainger was riding shotgun, hanging on for dear life, but doing his best to spot for her. “I think they’re turning again. Yeah, that’s them. It has to be. Looks like they’re headed for the harbor.”

  “Andros!” Theodosia snarled. “It has to be Luke Andros who grabbed Haley. I’ll bet that jackhole is going to put her on his boat and take off.” She had a sudden and terrible vision of a boat speeding out into the fog as the Atlantic rushed in, and Haley being dumped overboard into bitter cold water. Could Haley swim? Could she even dog paddle? And if they launched a rescue boat in time, would they even be able to spot her among the choppy waves?

  “Theo!” Drayton cried. “I’ve got Tidwell on the line. What do you want me to tell him?”

  She clutched the steering wheel as they flew along at breakneck speed. “Just hold the phone up to my mouth. I’ll do the talking.”

  “Miss Browning?” came Tidwell’s steady voice. “What?”

  “We need help bad,” Theodosia cried. “Haley’s been kidnapped by Luke Andros and two of his gang members.” She gave him a rapid-fire version of what had gone down. “We’re pretty sure they’re headed for Charleston Harbor.”

  “Probably headed for the Charleston Yacht Club!” Grainger yelled.

  “The Charleston Yacht Club,” Theodosia told Tidwell. “Can you alert the Coast Guard and pull out all the stops? I think Andros is going to try to make a getaway on one of his yachts.” She listened to Tidwell for another half minute, nodded even though he couldn’t see her, and said, “We’ll be there.” Then she said, “Okay, Drayton, you can hang up now.”