Mystery on Valentine's Day

by Beth Byers

  Violet narrowed her eyes as she took in the man and his companion. This felt very…easy. What was it about the lady? Vi’s gaze focused again, and she could almost hear the whisper of some description in her mind. She stared at the lady and recalled bits of an article. The lady was glamorous … confidence that belied the reality of her features … charisma, wit, … she stole every scene she desired and faded into obscurity whenever it was convenient.

  The lady’s physical features had been noted in the article. Hair dark as coal, thin arched brows, rosebud lips, and a nose with a raised bridge that was somehow charming. Violet stared at Miss Mansfield and said, “It’s not Miss Mansfield, is it? It’s Sofia Draganova.”

  Miss Mansfield’s expression smoothed into nothingness for a mere half a second and then she frowned lightly, eyes wide, the very picture of innocence.

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.” Miss Mansfield glanced at her companion, blushing slightly at the expression on his face.

  Mr. Chatfield had a slowly dawning look of horror on his face and he stared at Miss Mansfield—Sofia Draganova—and asked, “Why do I know that name? Sofia Draganova?”

  “She’s manipulated her way across Europe with her charm.”

  Miss Draganova glared at Vi. “That is not true,” she said, however, in her distress, her Bulgarian accent seeped through. “I did nothing wrong. Am I a criminal because a man wants to give me a gift? That isn’t illegal anywhere.”

  Violet lifted her brows, wanting to reply with a bit of a tirade, but instead she reflected on the newspaper articles about the con woman. She might lie about who she was and where she was from, but she did not steal from those who she manipulated. That fact about Miss Draganova was something that even her biggest foes admitted. She used her wiles to get what she wanted.

  Vi pulled Ginger to the side. “Did you read the news stories about Miss Draganova?”

  Ginger shook her head, her attention half kept by her husband and the barely controlled argument.

  “I don’t think she’s our thief, and evidence suggests that Mr. Chatfield is her victim not our thief.”

  “Rich people do steal things,” Ginger said, “but—” She shook her head. “I think you’re right.”

  “There are also repetitive reports of visits to the ladies,” Vi continued, “my own included. If we were stolen from in the ladies, he can’t be our thief, and if she’s our thief, why does he have the necklace?”

  Miss Draganova was a confidence trickster, but Ginger concurred with Violet Wakefield, and believed Miss Draganova was innocent of this particular crime.

  “Someone wants to draw attention away from themselves in an attempt to frame Mr. Chatfield,” Ginger said. She gazed about the restaurant, the room strangely quiet as all the couples stared back. She’d made her statement rather more loudly than she’d intended.

  Staring back at her were Lord and Lady Fitzhugh, the latter now silent, with a deep scowl and pinched, wrinkled lips as if Ginger were personally at fault for the direction the evening had taken; the soft-spoken elderly couple, Ginger now knew as the Clearys looked rather entertained; the con artist Miss Draganova sat back in her chair with her arms folded, put out that her confidence trick had been exposed, while her date, Mr. Chatfield’s expression remained one of disbelief and dismay; the young, broken-hearted lovers cast furtive glances at each other across the room whilst the grandmother, a Mrs. Dawson, looked on with bewilderment and the grandson a wide grin, as if the night’s entertainment couldn’t have turned out better.

  “Several of us visited the ladies,” Ginger said, recapping. “Myself and Mrs. Wakefield, Mrs. Cleary, Miss Harris, and Miss Draganova.”

  The attention of the room was momentarily taken by the arrival of four police officers. Basil held them at the door, and nodded for Ginger to continue.

  “The huddle at the door included the couples the Clearys, the Dawsons, Mr. Rawlings and Miss Harris, and Miss Draganova and Mr. Chatfield.

  “The bar was a popular destination for the gentlemen, including Mr. Chatfield, Mr. Rawlings, and Lord Fitzhugh.

  Ginger smiled. “This is a two-person job.” Then, glancing back to the only person seated at her table, added, “Isn’t it, Miss Harris?”

  Miss Harris looked up with pouty lips. “I don’t understand what you mean.” Basil took long strides to Miss Harris’ side and held out a hand.

  “Miss Harris, your handbag?”

  Violet spoke up. “And Mr. Rawlings? You don’t mind if Detective Wakefield takes a look in your satchel, do you?”

  4

  It should have been obvious from the beginning, Violet thought, as everyone else had released their coats and larger bags to the concierge at the door. Violet and a few other ladies had small clutch bags that held powder, lipstick, and possibly a house key or some money, but there wasn’t room in those tiny bags to hold an excess of jewelry.

  Violet watched as Jack and Basil dumped the contents of Mr. Rawlings’ satchel and Miss Harris’ handbag onto one of the tables. When she spotted Mrs. Cleary’s hatpin, she reached forward and carefully snatched it. Violet rose from the table and wove her way through the guests and found the elderly Clearys, watching from their table, still hand in hand. Violet unfolded her hand before them, and to her surprise it was Mr. Cleary who took the pin. He pulled it towards himself, but it was only to slide it into Mrs. Cleary’s hat.

  A tear rolled down Mrs. Cleary’s softly wrinkled face, and she touched the pin gently. “It was my mother’s.”

  There was so much feeling in that statement, Vi’s eyes filled as well. “I’m glad it’s back where it belongs.”

  Violet rose to leave them to their dinner and found Jack just behind her. Their dinner would be fine in the end when the master chefs returned to their knives and pans. Their dancing would be amazing when they found their place on the dance floor, but nothing would make Vi happier today than returning that hatpin to Mrs. Cleary.

  Jack placed Violet’s necklace around her neck, clipping it into place, and then Violet introduced him to the Clearys.

  “I’ll love you that much when we’re old,” Jack said, giving her the exact words she needed for the day to be perfect.

  Ginger closed her eyes as her taste buds danced in delectation. As a gesture of goodwill, the chef had presented all the restaurant customers with a complimentary piece of decadent chocolate truffle cake.

  “I think I’m in heaven,” Ginger said.

  Basil grinned, the fine lines around his eyes deepening. “The evening’s turned out rather delightfully in the end, hasn’t it?”

  Ginger agreed. She admitted to experiencing a certain satisfaction when Miss Harris and Mr. Rawlings (actually a Mr. and Mrs. Rankin) had been handcuffed by the Metropolitan Police and marched off. The couple was wanted, and, Ginger discovered, had rather notoriously pulled off similar thievery in other London restaurants with their well-oiled sleight-of-hand manoeuvres. Miss Harris’ fake Elsa Schiaparelli gown had been what had first caught Ginger’s eye, and the dramatic argument and the way Miss Harris had stomped off with her large handbag had never really rung true.

  The Rankins had purposely requested a table near the powder room so that Mrs. Rankin could follow unsuspecting victims in—which included Violet, Mrs. Cleary, and Miss Draganova. Mr. Rankin had made trips to the bar, the only opportunity someone would’ve had to collect Lady Fitzhugh’s hair comb. And the Rankins were also in the grouping by the door as Ginger and Basil arrived.

  The pretend fight was part of the couple’s modus operandi—a means to leave a restaurant early before lost items began to be discovered. How serendipitous that Mrs. Dawson, the timid grandmother, had noticed her bracelet missing, and that Basil had been present and quick to block Mrs. Rankin’s getaway.

  Ginger wasn’t the only one to be glad the criminals had finally been caught. Everyone in the room who’d been victimized had had their stolen items returned. Even Lady Fitzhugh seemed mollified, though her hand quite often we
nt to the back of her head to make certain her prized comb was there.

  Ginger found herself doing the same, her fingers fiddling with the pearls of her necklace.

  “If I didn’t know better,” Ginger said, “I would’ve suspected that you’d set up this peculiar episode as a Valentine’s gift for me.”

  Basil laughed. “I should’ve done! I know how you like a good puzzle.”

  “I do have a birthday coming up,” Ginger said. “We could host one of those murder mystery parties.”

  “With our luck, the murder wouldn’t be put on.”

  “Surely we can have one night without an actual murder taking place,” Ginger said. “We’ve managed to not stumble across a dead body tonight.”

  Basil smirked. “So far.” He held up his glass of wine, newly filled, and Ginger tapped hers against his.

  “To us, and a night on the town without a death.”

  “To us,” Ginger said.

  Across the room, Ginger spied Jack and Violet Wakefield doing the same.

  “I do like that couple,” she said. “We must invite them to Hartigan House one day.”

  “I’m glad you’ve mentioned that,” Basil said. “I’ve already done so. I think you and Mrs. Wakefield have a lot in common.”

  Ginger held up the fork holding her last piece of chocolate cake. “I think we do too.”

  Want more of Ginger Gold? Don’t miss the first book of this acclaimed series ~ MURDER ON THE SS. ROSA

  Murder’s a pain in the bow!

  It's 1923 and bright young thing Ginger Gold makes a cross-Atlantic journey from Boston to London, England. When the ship's captain is found dead in a most intriguing fashion, Ginger is only too happy to lend her assistance to the handsome Chief Inspector Basil Reed.

  This fun, jazz-age whodunit has readers saying "Lady Gold is a charming heroine" and "can't stop reading!"

  Murder on the SS Rosa will have you laughing, crying, and guessing until the last page.

  Get started and download the first book in this binge-worthy series today.

  Buy on AMAZON or Free with Kindle Unlimited!

  The complete Ginger Gold Mystery series can be found on AMAZON. Also in paperback and audio.

  Want more of Violet Carlyle-Wakefield? Get the first book of her bestselling series ~ MURDER AND THE HEIR

  Christmas 1922.

  Violet Carlyle--along with a slew of relatives--is called to spend the holidays with their aunt, Agatha Davies. The intransigent woman has spent the majority of her life squirreling away money and alienating her family.

  It's hardly the first time Vi has spent the holidays with her aunt. She and her twin intend to do what they always do. Enjoy Aunt Aggie’s luxuries while ignoring the histrionics of the family trying to worm their way into the will.

  Only this time, Aunt Aggie claims someone is trying to kill her. But how can that be true? Before Vi can find the killer, Aunt Aggie dies. Since Agatha never named an heir, why would anyone want to kill her?

  To her shock, Vi finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation where she and her family are the suspects. Just who murdered Aunt Agatha? And why? Will they be able to find the killer before someone else dies?

  Buy on AMAZON or Free with Kindle Unlimited!

  The complete Violet Carlyle Mystery series can be found on AMAZON. Also in paperback.

  More from Lee Strauss

  leestraussbooks.com

  On AMAZON

  GINGER GOLD MYSTERY SERIES (cozy 1920s historical)

  Cozy. Charming. Filled with Bright Young Things. This Jazz Age murder mystery will entertain and delight you with its 1920s flair and pizzazz!

  Murder on the SS Rosa

  Murder at Hartigan House

  Murder at Bray Manor

  Murder at Feathers & Flair

  Murder at the Mortuary

  Murder at Kensington Gardens

  Murder at St. George’s Church

  The Wedding of Ginger & Basil

  Murder Aboard the Flying Scotsman

  Murder at the Boat Club

  Murder on Eaton Square

  Murder by Plum Pudding

  Murder on Fleet Street

  LADY GOLD INVESTIGATES (Ginger Gold companion short stories)

  Volume 1

  Volume 2

  Volume 3

  HIGGINS & HAWKE MYSTERY SERIES (cozy 1930s historical)

  The 1930s meets Rizzoli & Isles in this friendship depression era cozy mystery series.

  Death at the Tavern

  Death on the Tower

  Death on Hanover

  THE ROSA REED MYSTERIES

  (1950s cozy historical)

  Murder at High Tide

  Murder on the Boardwalk

  Murder at the Bomb Shelter

  Murder on Location

  A NURSERY RHYME MYSTERY SERIES(mystery/sci fi)

  Marlow finds himself teamed up with intelligent and savvy Sage Farrell, a girl so far out of his league he feels blinded in her presence - literally - damned glasses! Together they work to find the identity of @gingerbreadman. Can they stop the killer before he strikes again?

  Gingerbread Man

  Life Is but a Dream

  Hickory Dickory Dock

  Twinkle Little Star

  THE PERCEPTION TRILOGY (YA dystopian mystery)

  Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans. Her brother Liam is missing. Noah Brody, a boy on the outside, is the only one who can help ~ but can she trust him?

  Perception

  Volition

  Contrition

  LIGHT & LOVE (sweet romance)

  Set in the dazzling charm of Europe, follow Katja, Gabriella, Eva, Anna and Belle as they find strength, hope and love.

  Sing me a Love Song

  Your Love is Sweet

  In Light of Us

  Lying in Starlight

  PLAYING WITH MATCHES (WW2 history/romance)

  A sobering but hopeful journey about how one young Germany boy copes with the war and propaganda. Based on true events.

  A Piece of Blue String (companion short story)

  THE CLOCKWISE COLLECTION (YA time travel romance)

  Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this ~ she's accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.

  Clockwise

  Clockwiser

  Like Clockwork

  Counter Clockwise

  Clockwork Crazy

  Clocked (companion novella)

  Standalones

  As Elle Lee Strauss

  Seaweed

  Love, Tink

  Also by Beth Byers

  The Violet Carlyle Cozy Historical Mysteries

  Murder & the Heir

  Murder at Kennington House

  Murder at the Folly

  A Merry Little Murder

  New Year’s Madness: A Short Story Anthology

  Valentine’s Madness: A Short Story Anthology

  Murder Among the Roses

  Murder in the Shallows

  Gin & Murder

  Obsidian Murder

  Murder at the Ladies Club

  Weddings Vows & Murder

  A Jazzy Little Murder

  Murder by Chocolate

  A Friendly Little Murder

  Murder by the Sea

  Murder On All Hallows

  Murder in the Shadows

  A Jolly Little Murder

  Hijinks & Murder

  Love & Murder

  A Zestful Little Murder (coming soon)

  A Murder Most Odd (coming soon)

  Nearly A Murder (coming soon)

  About the Authors

  Lee Strauss is a USA TODAY bestselling author of The Ginger Gold Mysteries series, The Higgins & Hawke Mystery series, The Rosa Reed Mystery series (cozy historical mysteri
es), A Nursery Rhyme Mystery series (mystery suspense), The Perception series (young adult dystopian), The Light & Love series (sweet romance), The Clockwise Collection (YA time travel romance), and young adult historical fiction with over a million books read. She has titles published in German, Spanish and Korean, and a growing audio library.

  When Lee’s not writing or reading she likes to cycle, hike, and play pickleball. She loves to drink caffè lattes and red wines in exotic places, and eat dark chocolate anywhere.

  For more info on books by Lee Strauss and her social media links, visit leestraussbooks.com. To make sure you don’t miss the next new release, be sure to sign up for her readers’ list!

  Beth Byers is a lover of unique flavors, baking, and experimenting with recipes. These loves are only surpassed by her love of books. She's also a little obsessed with the sound and smell of the rain and enjoys nothing more than curling up with a cocoa and a book. If one of her sweet puppies chooses to snuggle in for the book, nothing could be better.

  She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her four children, three dogs.

  Mystery on Valentine’s Day