Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things

by Rachelle J. Christensen

  Tony shook his head when I told him about hiding the diamonds in the quilt my mother made. “And where are they now?”

  He was good. I hadn’t gotten to the part about the cemetery yet, but his police antenna had picked up on my anxiety. Letting my head fall to my chest, I murmured, “I moved them because someone searched my house and left me a note.”

  “Someone searched your house, and you didn’t report it?” Tony ran his fingers through his hair.

  “I tried to call you first, but when I couldn’t reach you, I was sure no one else would believe me.”

  “They might if you showed them a bag of diamonds.”

  “I know, but the smugglers had searched my house so carefully that if I wasn’t so particular, I wouldn’t even have noticed.” I unzipped my purse and pulled out the note the criminal had left on my entryway table. While Tony studied it, I told him about the pictures and my evening run to the cemetery. He was silent for a moment as he clenched the note tightly.

  “You are in way over your head.” He paced across the room. “I’ll have to talk to the other detective—his name’s Hamilton—but I have an idea. So where are the diamonds now?”

  I dragged my sandal against the nap of the carpet and whispered, “In a bird feeder.”

  Tony frowned but listened intently as I explained the current hiding place of the smuggled gems and the delivery I had made early that morning. His frown deepened when I told him the specifics of my lunch bag being left behind the store, empty. I could see his jaw working as he processed the turn of events.

  “Have you mentioned this to anyone else?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Let’s keep it that way. I’m going to see if I can find a way to have someone watch your place.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t want whoever is after me to know I talked to you, remember?” The police station in Ketchum wasn’t large, so it would be relatively easy for someone with resources to find out who was on the force and keep a lookout for them, even if they were in unmarked vehicles.

  “Your safety is my priority. Let me take care of the details.” Tony reached out his hand and helped me to my feet. “Those diamonds are worth a lot of money. So far these people have played nice, but I’m worried about what they’ll do now that you didn’t turn the gems over. Call me if anything happens or if you notice anything out of the ordinary.”

  I swallowed and met Tony’s gaze. He appeared genuinely worried, and that made me even more uneasy because I had been trying to convince myself that things weren’t as bad as they seemed.

  I was crazy busy for the rest of the day. I delayed cancelling Sylvia’s wedding plans. It could wait until tomorrow after Frankie had talked to Mrs. Rockfort. Lorea finished up the alterations to Natalie’s gown just before five o’clock.

  She cleaned up the shop and looked through the back window before opening the door. “That cat is still outside. What are you going to do with him?”

  I cracked open the door to peek at the kitten. He meowed and pushed his nose into the space. Opening the door wider, I swooped him into my arms and rubbed the soft black fur between his ears. His purr resonated against my chest. “Maybe I’ll take him home with me. I thought he belonged to someone, but I guess not.”

  Lorea wrinkled her nose. “Black cat hair doesn’t mix well with white wedding dresses.”

  “Don’t worry. He can stay in the garage.”

  I’d have to do some reorganizing. I wondered if he would hang around my back patio if I fed him gourmet cat food. I found a cardboard box, questioning my decision a half second before the kitten rubbed against my legs, purring. My heart melted, and I picked him up again. The white patch of fur under his neck reminded me of a tuxedo. “I think I’ll call him Tux.” I patted his head and put him inside the box, where he commenced mewing loudly.

  “Have fun with that,” Lorea said.

  “If Sylvia is engaged again in the morning, you owe me dark chocolate.” I headed out the door with Lorea’s laughter trailing behind.

  The air conditioner in the Mountaineer felt delicious on my tired body, and I switched it to full blast as I drove home. My heart rate accelerated as I approached my front door—I wished for the hundredth time that my garage weren’t so small.

  There wasn’t anything taped to the door. I breathed a sigh of relief and unlocked it, balancing the box with Tux on my hip. Just inside the door, I set the box down and allowed Tux to jump out. My senses were on full alert as I walked through my house, the kitten following me. Once I had deemed my home safe, I rummaged through my cupboards and found some old containers that would work for cat food and water. I set them outside my patio door and put Tux just outside with the sliding glass door open a sliver so he could hear me talk.

  “You stay right there, and I’ll bring you something good to eat.”

  A search of my fridge produced some leftover chicken casserole that Tux pounced on happily. I’d have to make a run to the store for kitty litter and cat food, but for now I needed to put my feet up. I slumped onto my couch and mentally ran through my to-do list. Natalie’s bridal shower was in two days—no stress. If only every bride were as delightful to work with as Natalie. Immediately, an image of Briette came to my mind, and tears welled up in my eyes.

  My best friend had been the perfect client. Everything was new, exciting, and special. I had reveled in every moment of planning for Briette and Caleb. Three elaborate bridal showers, one of which was held in Georgia, and Briette flew me there to help coordinate and to attend. She had been so happy. The night she died had been the Babe Bash she threw for her six bridesmaids and me, the maid of honor. She had completely surprised me with that one, using one of my associates to plan it so I could attend stress free.

  I’d never forget the glow of happiness on her face when she dropped me off after the party. “You’re the best friend a girl could have, Adri.” She hugged me fiercely and then giggled. “That guy was totally into you tonight. You better answer if he calls.”

  I remembered rolling my eyes. “When would I have time to date?”

  “You make time. Speaking of which, I’d better go.” She blew me a kiss. “Love your guts!” she called out as she drove away.

  My bottom lip trembled, and I swiped at the tears weighing down my lashes. Caleb hadn’t checked in for two months. I considered calling him to see if there were any new leads with the private investigators he’d hired to look into Briette’s murder. My fingers grazed the screen of my phone. No, if Caleb knew anything, I would be one of the first people he would call. I leaned my head back against the couch and closed my eyes. A few minutes later, the jangle of my phone startled me awake.

  Chapter 18

  1,000 Reasons I Picked You

  Select flowers of the same variety as those in the bridal bouquet and separate petals from the stems.

  Open journal so that the outside front and back covers lie flat. Brush a light coat of Mod Podge glue over the entire cover and spine of a hardbound journal and press petals onto the cover. Apply a second coat of Mod Podge and allow to dry. Once dry, add one more coat of Mod Podge or shellac for a glossy look. On the first page of the journal, print “1,000 Reasons I Picked You . . .”

  Ask the bride and the groom for three reasons they picked the other and write those on the first few pages of the journal, as well as instructions for the couple to continue to remember and write other reasons in the journal over the first few years of their marriage.

  Courtesy of www.mashedpotatoesandcrafts.com.

  I fumbled to answer the phone, which had slid between the couch cushions. A glance at the clock on my mantel had me rubbing my eyes. Somehow I had lost track of twenty minutes—an unplanned power nap was probably just what I needed, though. I answered the call on the third ring. “Hey, Dallas.”

  “Adri, are you okay? Why haven’t you answered my texts?” His voice sounded tense.

  “Huh? I—let me check. I just got home and fell asleep on my co
uch. It’s been a stressful day.” I switched the phone to speaker and scrolled through my text messages. There were three from Dallas, all in the last twenty minutes.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. His voice lowered a notch. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  I scanned his messages asking me how I was doing and if we could get together tonight. It irked me that he had called to check up on me because I hadn’t answered his texts. But maybe I had missed one from earlier. I double-checked and didn’t see anything. “I see some messages from the last half hour. Did you try to send some earlier, ‘cause I don’t see anything.”

  “Usually you respond so quickly, and I knew you were home, so I thought I’d call.”

  “What do you mean, you knew I was home?” I tried to keep the edge out of my voice, unsuccessfully.

  “I meant, I figured you would be home. It’s nearly seven.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry, I just hoped I could see you today.” He paused, and I could hear the nervous tremor in his voice as he continued, “I miss you.”

  Man, this guy was a heartbreaker. I vacillated for a moment, thinking of his kisses. “I can’t. I have a huge bridal shower in a couple of days, and Sylvia Rockfort cancelled her wedding today, but I have to wait until tomorrow to see if she reinstates. I’m really behind because of the trouble we had with the stolen dresses.” I knew I was babbling, but I couldn’t help it.

  “I understand.” Dallas sounded so vulnerable, I almost changed my mind and told him to come over. “Do you have any time tomorrow?”

  My to-do list popped back into my head, and I remembered that I had been scanning it before I fell asleep. “Hmm.” I stalled for a minute, trying to think how I could squeeze him into my schedule. I wanted to see him, but June was just the beginning of my busy season—I had three more weddings in July. I needed to drive up the mountain and make sure the area Natalie and Brock had selected for their outdoor wedding would work. I’d be taking Warm Springs Road, which led to Frenchman’s Bend, a beautiful area with natural hot pools right in the middle of the creek. “Have you ever been up to the hot springs?”

  “No. Those are the volcanic springs, aren’t they, the ones that get boiling hot?” Dallas asked. “Do you hike there?”

  “Actually, you can drive all the way up, but we could hike around as well. I have to go up there tomorrow to check out the site for a wedding, but it’ll be around four.” I needed to see how the light would fall at the same time as Natalie’s wedding, which would be held at five o’clock.

  “I have to be at the restaurant at six-thirty. Can we be back by then?”

  “Sure. That should give us time to soak our feet in the hot pools, just so you can say you’ve tried it.”

  I could hear shuffling papers in the background and figured he must be calling from his realtor’s office. “What time would you like me to pick you up?”

  “How about if I drive this time? I’ll be meeting with several vendors, and I don’t want to make you have to hunt me down. Do you want me to stop at your office or your home?”

  “My office would be great,” Dallas answered.

  “I’ll try to be there by three-thirty.”

  “I’m looking forward to it already. Have a great night.” He ended the call, and I stared at my phone for a moment, arguing with myself again over Jenna’s suggestion that I didn’t like Dallas. He definitely liked me and was persistent. A guy who wasn’t really into me would’ve given up by now with my crazy schedule.

  The kitchen beckoned, and I foraged for something to ease the gnawing hunger attacking my stomach. A hunk of cheese and some flour tortillas would make a great transformation into quesadillas. My mouth watered as I turned on the stove and flicked a tab of butter into a frying pan. My phone buzzed, and I noticed a text from Dallas. Feeling slightly irritated, I opened the message. It hadn’t even been five minutes since we talked.

  Check your doorstep.

  I frowned. Had he come over, even though I explained how much work I had to do? I tiptoed to the front door and looked through the peephole. No one there. I opened the door and heard a rustling at my feet. I looked down to see a bouquet of beautiful coral roses wrapped in green tissue paper. I scanned the parking lot before bending over to pick up the delicate buds. There was a note tucked in among the dark green leaves.

  Adri,

  I wanted you to know that I think you’re amazing, and your talents and dedication in the wedding business are exceptional. I’m sorry you’re so busy, but thanks for letting me take up some of your time. I can’t wait to see you again.

  Love,

  Dallas

  I admit I let out a girly sigh, but who wouldn’t? So that’s how he knew I was home—he must have seen my vehicle outside when he brought the flowers. And I wouldn’t let him come see me. I felt terrible that I had been upset at him for checking up on me. I grabbed my phone to send him a message—or maybe I should call and tell him to come back. But the pile of things I needed to do would not go away just because Dallas was sweet and thoughtful. He had honored my wishes, and that meant something to me. I sent him a text.

  Thank you for the roses!!! They’re beautiful!

  Two seconds later, my phone pinged.

  So are you.

  I put my hand to my cheek, which lifted in a huge smile. The butter sizzled and popped, reminding me that I still hadn’t eaten. While the quesadilla browned in the pan, I gathered up my supplies and spread them across the table. I ate and then worked for two hours until my neck ached and my brain felt like mush.

  It was just after nine, so I decided it was time for a kitty litter run. Tux had hung around the patio, sticking his nose in the crack of the door and meowing. I bent down and opened the door so I could cuddle the sleek kitten in my arms. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  It creeped me out to go to Roxy’s again, knowing that someone could be watching me. I shrugged off the worry and drove the speed limit, thinking that if Tony had been successful, maybe a few more cops would be patrolling my neighborhood. The entire trip took less than twenty minutes, since I speed-walked through the store and hit the express lane.

  Once home again, I set up the tub of kitty litter, and then I used Tux’s paw and sifted through the litter, showing him what to do. He sniffed at it and circled around it with his tail held high.

  “Sorry, boy, but you’ll have to stay out here for a couple more nights until I get things in the garage moved around for you.”

  Tux looked at me and then started crunching his cat food. He was easy to please, at least. I moved into the living room with my wedding organizer and made a checklist of things I needed to look for in the forest by the hot springs. A few years ago, a fire had devoured part of the woods. I would need to make sure that no burnt trees were in view of the site for the wedding ceremony. The background for the pictures was supposed to be majestic and calming, not blackened and charred.

  My cell phone rang, and I answered on the second ring. “Hey, Mom. How are you?”

  “You should see the little flowers I’m crocheting. They are darling and so easy!” I could hear the smile in my mom’s voice. “I’m going to crochet a ring of them and see what you think about using them around one of your centerpieces.”

  “You mean kind of like a doily?”

  “Sort of, but this is more fresh, modern. I can’t wait to show you all the things we’ve been doing with them. Jenna sewed some onto a little shirt for Bryn—so cute.”

  “You need to get out more.”

  “Oh, hush. You’ll be just as excited when you see them. I can make them look elegant, artsy, or cutesy.”

  I heard something in the background and then my mom shushing. “Did Dad just say artsy-fartsy?” I laughed.

  “It’s another blog I found with all kinds of great ideas. Of course, your father hasn’t let up on that for a minute.”

  “Tell Dad hi. And make sure you’re taking pictures so we can post a tutorial on the blog.”

  “Of course, wha
t would your father make fun of if he didn’t catch me photographing my crafts?”

  I laughed and glanced at the notebook full of sketches and scribblings. “You know, I still haven’t found that one special item for Natalie’s wedding. I need you to brainstorm with me.” For every wedding I’d organized—and that was more than fifty in the past three years—I had always given the bride and groom a special gift. Handmade and unique, my gifts took a lot of thought and also much of my mother’s quirky inspiration. Sometimes ideas would just come to me during the planning stages. Other times, I had to rack my brain to come up with something that would be remembered.

  A few of the gifts were worthy of repeating, and I thought of my favorites now, wondering if any would suit Natalie. Jenna and my mother had painstakingly découpaged rose petals of the same variety as the bride’s bouquet to the outside of a journal. The first page said, “1,000 Reasons I Picked You.” I filled in the first three reasons as given to me by the bride and the groom and wrote instructions for them to continue filling the journal over the next few years. I admit I repeated that one several times because it was so well received.

  Another time, we used vinyl lettering and etching cream to engrave the couple’s wedding date on a glass-enclosed shadow box to hold mementos from their life apart and then their life together.

  Natalie would probably appreciate the decorative pillows my mom made, using scraps of fabric from the wedding dress, accent colors, tablecloths—anything to do with the wedding—and then embroidered with the couple’s name and date. But still, it didn’t seem like enough. Natalie was such a sweet person. I’d have to keep thinking.

  “Natalie likes earthy things, right?”

  “Yes, and she loves antiques.”

  “I think I have an idea based on something we featured recently on mashedpotatoesandcrafts.com.”

  “Really? Which project?”

  “I think I’ll surprise you,” Mom said before ending the call.

  I was nearly finished with my checklist when I heard a loud thud against the patio window. Goose bumps scattered across my arms. Holding perfectly still, I listened and heard a tapping, one, two more times. My heartbeat thrummed in my ears, and a war raged within—did I dare look?