Missing Heiress (A Jackie Harlan Mystery Book 2)

by Marti Talbott

  Jackie let the video keep going.

  “Come on, Laura. I know how to handle this,” Mathew was saying. He took hold of his wife’s arm and practically dragged her out of Austin’s office.

  “Let’s see that again.” Jackie started the video again from the beginning, and then paused it at different intervals.

  “What do you see?” Michael asked.

  “I see a huge, black diamond ring on his finger and no jewelry on his wife.”

  Carl scoffed, “The jerk probably sold all of hers to pay his gambling debts.”

  “That’s probably it,” said Jackie.

  “If he truly has gambling debts,” Michael put in. “He might have socked a lot of money away for a rainy day. How hard would it be, to go to a cash machine in a casino and run a card several times until you reach five thousand a week?”

  “Good point,” said Jackie. “Michael, see if you can find a hidden bank account here in the states.”

  “Things have changed since we came out of retirement, you know. Banks are more secure these days. To do that,” Michael continued, “we’d have to know which bank and have someone inside willing to give us the information. You got any bank connections?”

  “Probably, but not in the US,” Jackie answered. “Maybe a couple in foreign banks. I’ll contact a few and see.”

  “Everyone owes you favors,” Carl muttered. “Someday, we’re going to get caught, you know.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Michael, “she knows a few judges too.”

  Jackie frowned. “That would only work if we got caught in the right states. I guess we better not push our luck. Mathew’s bank accounts probably won’t help us find Georgia anyway.”

  “Unless she’s blackmailing him,” said Michael. “Of course, he would have to pay her off in cash.”

  “And that would be dangerous for Georgia,” Carl added. “Connelly would know how to find her that way and I don’t trust him.”

  “Neither do I,” Jackie agreed. “Michael, haven’t you gotten into the boarding school records yet?”

  Michael slumped against the back of the sofa and deeply wrinkled his brow. “I need to go back to hacking school, Jackie. Life isn’t as easy as it used to be.”

  She grinned. “Well, if you find a good one, I’ll pay your tuition.”

  “Thanks a lot.”

  “And while you’re at it,” Jackie said, “see if Mathew has a girlfriend.”

  “Or five or six,” Carl muttered.

  “Who do we know in the Atlantic City casinos?” Michael asked.

  “Good idea. I just happen to know someone.” Jackie picked up her cellphone and began to look through her contacts.

  *

  For their fifth movie of the day, Teresa chose a British comedy she hadn’t seen before. She laughed, but when she looked, tears were streaming down Laura’s cheeks. Teresa paused the movie and took Laura’s hand. “What’s wrong?”

  “I miss my father so,” she sobbed. “Daddy would know what to do.”

  “About what?”

  “About Mathew.”

  “You are tired. Perhaps it is time to go to bed.”

  “What time is it, dear?”

  “Almost ten,” Teresa answered.

  “Oh.”

  “Can you walk, or should I throw you over my shoulder and carry you?”

  Laura finally smiled. “Sounds like fun.”

  Teresa let go of Laura’s hand and flexed the muscles in her arm. “I could do it, I am very strong. I had to be, to beat up the other…”

  “I believe you, but you need not carry me. I can walk.”

  Teresa stopped the DVD, got up, offered her a hand, and helped Laura stand. Just as she said she could, Laura walked to the elevator on her own, and then down the hall to her bedroom. She let Teresa help her change into a nightgown, and then got into the bed.

  “Good night,” Teresa said as she turned off the light and closed the door.

  At last, Teresa’s time was her own. She hurried to her room, bolted the door, pulled the album out from under her bed, and curled up in a chair.

  It was not the kind of album she expected. There were only two wedding pictures, and although the couple looked happy, it wasn’t the kind of wedding the daughter of an extremely wealthy man would normally have. The wedding license was on the opposite page. Teresa carefully pulled the plastic back and studied the license.

  The Connellys were married in Los Vegas, in a simple civil ceremony officiated by a justice of the peace. Their birthdays were verified by photo IDs, which was no doubt required by law to prove they were old enough. The signatures of the two witnesses were unreadable, but that didn’t matter. She jotted down the dates she found on the marriage license, meticulously put the plastic back in place and turned the page.

  There were a few more pictures of the two of them together but that was all, until Teresa turned to the last page. On it was an 8 x 10 photograph of an older man. Teresa pulled the plastic back and turned it over. The notation on the back simply said, “Daddy.” She stared at it for a long moment, and then put it back. As quietly as she could, she left her room and put the photo album back in the library where she found it.

  As she walked past the indoor swimming pool on the way back to her room, she heard a noise. She stopped and turned around. She listened for a moment, thought she could hear splashing, and slowly walked to the edge of the glass door. Guardedly, Teresa peeked around the corner.

  To her astonishment, Mathew was swimming the length of the Olympic size pool, taking laps just the way a professional swimmer would. He was good at it too. Mesmerized, she watched him for several more seconds, but then he stopped midway back, looked directly at her, and motioned her in.

  Teresa caught her breath. She could feel her heart racing and she considered ignoring him, but he was her employer and if he sent her away now, it would ruin everything. Timidly, she opened the door and stepped inside. “I heard a noise.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, “I didn’t mean to disturb you.” He kept his distance, swam to the side of the pool and hung on to the rim with one hand. “There are some towels and swimsuits in the shower stall that need washing.”

  She glanced toward the shower stall, looked back and nervously clasped her hands together. “Yes, Sir, I shall see to it in the morning.”

  “Good. By the way, don’t tell Laura I was here.”

  “Why…if I may be so bold as to ask?”

  “It upsets her.”

  “Oh.” Teresa changed the subject. “I didn’t hear your car, Sir.”

  “I leave it outside the gate when I come at night for a swim, and I leave before my wife wakes in the morning.”

  “Your bed is never slept in.”

  He smiled. “Believe it or not, I know how to make a bed.”

  “I see.” She turned and opened the door.

  “Have we met before?” he asked.

  Without turning back around, she answered. “No, Sir.”

  Teresa walked out the door, ran down the hall, and rushed into her room. She locked the deadbolt, sat on the edge of her bed – and then drew in a deep breath. It would be a while before she calmed down enough to sleep.

  *

  It was later than usual by the time Maggie entered the chat room. After work, she stopped at a bookstore and then the store across the street to pick up something for dinner. She was about to pay for her purchases, when she looked and saw two men hanging around outside her apartment door. Afraid to go home, she decided to stay there until they left. She slowly walked down each isle, spotted a bin filled with odds and ends, picked out two large, wedge-shaped doorstoppers and put them in her cart.

  The store manager appeared to be closely watching her, probably to see if she was shoplifting, but that didn’t bother her. It was better than going home. An hour passed and then another, before her neighbor came home, greeted the two men and the three of them left together. Relieved, Maggie paid for her purchases and went home. As soon as
she was inside, she bolted the door, put the doorstoppers in place, and then went to a drawer and grabbed a spoon. She lifted the lid off her cottage cheese, and began to fill her empty stomach. At last, she pulled her computer out from behind the stove, hooked it up, turned it on, and sat down at her table.

  She had three new emails, all of which were spam that obviously came from people unfamiliar with the English language. Sometimes, they made her smile. Maggie deleted them and then opened the chat room. Bronco was already there, just as he usually was.

  Sissy3211: Sorry I’m late.

  Bronco8881: I was about to send out the Calvary.

  Sissy3211: Are they gallant as well as handsome?

  Bronco8881: Probably.

  Sissy3211: Next time, go ahead and send them.

  Austin chuckled. While he waited for her to log on, he imagined all kinds of things that could be wrong – from something awful happening to her, to her just not wanting to talk to him anymore. He was relieved when neither was true.

  Bronco8881: Do you realize that something might happen to one of us, and the other would never know?

  Sissy3211: True.

  Bronco8881: I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you ask a friend to notify me if something happens, and I’ll ask one to tell you? Deal?

  Sissy3211: But with no personal information?

  Bronco8881: If you insist, just a word about what happened. Sissy, I truly was worried.

  Sissy3211: I didn’t mean to worry you. I was late getting home and I have no way to let you know.

  Bronco8881: You don’t have a cellphone that lets you send an email?

  Sissy3211: No cellphone at all. I hope to get one someday.

  Austin didn’t think there was anyone left in the world that didn’t have a cellphone, except maybe in North Korea.

  Bronco8881: More important things to spend your money on?

  Sissy3211: Precisely.

  Bronco8881: I understand.

  Sissy3211: Bronco, I’m kind of worried. My boss gave me some spreadsheets to go over. I think it’s the company’s balance sheets. What do I do if I find something wrong?

  Bronco8881: You’re an accountant?

  Sissy3211: Not really. That’s the thing, why give them to me?

  Bronco8881: Maybe she knows you’re that smart.

  Maggie ate another mouthful of cottage cheese.

  Sissy3211: I can’t help thinking it’s a trap. She needs someone to fire and I think I’m next.

  Bronco8881: I sure would like to meet this old nag.

  Sissy3211: She’s not an old nag, she’s about thirty and very pretty. She knows it too.

  Bronco8881: Those are the worse kind.

  Sissy3211: I’m going to be that way, as soon as I can afford to get this big wart taken off my nose.

  Bronco8881: Very funny.

  Sissy3211: Go ahead laugh. Should I send you a picture of the wart?

  Bronco8881: From one of your magazines? No thanks.

  Sissy3211: Darn, I had the perfect picture all picked out. I think it is from a movie…something about a nanny.

  Bronco8881: I don’t think I’ve seen that one.

  Sissy3211: You’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

  Bronco8881: I’m sure I do. What kind of movies do you like?

  Sissy3211: I am partial to romances, but not if the ending is sad.

  Bronco8881: I like political thrillers, but the books are better than the movies.

  Sissy3211: You read a lot?

  Bronco8881: Not lately. Sissy, don’t.

  Sissy3211: Don’t what?

  Bronco8881: Sign off yet. I can always tell when you’re getting tired of talking to me.

  Sissy3211: I don’t get tired of talking to you, I just…

  Bronco8881: What?

  Sissy3211: Run out of things to say, I guess.

  Bronco8881: Well, we could talk about the books we’ve read and the movies we’ve seen.

  Sissy3211: Okay, talk.

  Austin smiled and started with some of the classics. That kept her online for nearly an hour more, and reminded him of books he could mention in the future. She was well read, even more so than he was, and someday he hoped to catch up.

  Someday…after this mess with Nick’s will was over.

  *

  The next afternoon, Maggie peered around the corner of the bookstore and searched the faces of the people in the plaza. At the same time, Jim peered around her.

  “That’s him,” she said, “sitting on a bench eating lunch.”

  “Maggie, there are five guys out there sitting on benches.”

  “The one by the big green trashcan.”

  Jim stepped out in the open. “All the benches have green trashcans next to them.”

  Maggie grabbed his shirt and pulled him back. “He has dark hair and is wearing a suit, a white shirt and a red tie.” She let him peek around the corner again.

  “The one with the axe in his hand?”

  She giggled. “That’s the one.”

  “He looks pretty dangerous to me.”

  “You stay here; I’m going to go talk to him.”

  “Not on your life. I intend to find out everything I can about this weirdo first.”

  “Weirdo? Just because he talks to me in a chat room doesn’t mean he’s weird.”

  “Is he wearing the same suit?”

  She glanced at Austin again. “It looks like it. Why?”

  “That might be a good sign. A wife would see that he wore a different suit the next day.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “Maggie, just go find a guy your own age. That one looks too old for you.”

  “How old do you think he is?”

  “Thirty, maybe older.”

  “I’ll go ask him.”

  Just as she started around the building, Jim took hold of her arm. “Don’t tell him who you are. By the way, who are you in this ridiculous chat room?”

  “I’m sissy3211,” she answered, wiggling free of his grasp.

  “Sissy? That’s appropriate. You’re afraid of a real relationship.”

  “I am not. I dated once.”

  “Once? Bravo! I…” Jim had a lot more to say, but Maggie had already walked away.

  She leisurely strolled to the bench, sat on the other end and pretended to watch the water cascade down each tier of the fountain. She didn’t think he noticed her the first time she glanced at him, but the second time, he was looking directly at her.

  “Mesmerizing, isn’t it,” Austin said.

  “Very,” she answered. This time when Maggie looked at him, he was pulling something out of his pocket.

  “Jackie,” he said into his cellphone. “Any news?... I see…of course, I’ll send that as soon as I get back to the office…He is a beauty, isn’t he. Tell Carl he can ride him anytime he wants. I keep him pastured at Evergreen Stables and I’ll let them know to expect him…By the way, ask Michael to come by the office. I have a gift for the three of you…you too.” He hung up and put the phone back in his pocket.

  “You have a horse?” Maggie asked

  “I do,” Austin answered. “Do you like horses?”

  “Very much.”

  “Do I detect a British accent?”

  “Not much of one, I hope.”

  Austin smiled and nodded. “I have to go.” He stuffed what was left of a sandwich back in his bag and stood up. He looked directly at her, nodded, and walked away.

  She watched him walk across the one lane street in front of the Gladstone Building and then go inside. She kept her eyes on him as he walked to an elevator and then went in when it opened. He didn’t look back, which was a good thing, she supposed. In a movie she saw once, the main character said if he looked back, it would mean he was interested. She wanted him to be interested, but in Sissy3211, not a woman he happened to see on a bench.

  “I love horses very much,” she sighed. For a moment, she stared at the name etched in large gold letters above the multiple doors
. “Nicholas Gladstone Corporation,” she muttered. When she looked for him, Jim was standing just a few feet away. “Didn’t I tell you to stay there?”

  “I couldn’t. What if he kidnapped you?”

  She rolled her eyes and stood up. “In front of all these people?”

  “It happens all the time. So, did you find out what you wanted to?”

  “Yes, he did not meet any women, he has a deep voice and he enunciates his words clearly.”

  “That’s important to you – enunciation? You are one strange chick.”

  Maggie stood up and started back toward the bookstore. “Chicks are baby chickens, I am a…”

  “Babe.”

  “Oh, stop, before I tell your wife.”

  Jim fell to his knees, put his hands together and begged, “Please, I’ll do anything.”

  Maggie stopped, turned around and thumped him on the head, “Get up this instant!” She stuck her nose in the air and walked around the corner.

  Several people were staring at him when Jim got up, stuck out his lower lip, and hung his head. “She said no.”

  “Don’t give up, young man,” said an elderly woman.

  “No, ma’am, I won’t,” he said, as he took off around the corner.

  He soon caught up and silently walked beside her to the end of the block. They crossed the street together and headed down another block.

  “Does he truly look dangerous to you?” Maggie asked.

  “It didn’t look like he was carrying a gun, but he could have a small one strapped to his leg. You just never know.”

  “I should make him take off his clothes so I can be certain?”

  A look of horror crossed Jim’s face. “I wouldn’t recommend that!”

  “What would you recommend?”

  “A full body search by me, naturally.”

  “If he agrees to that, then I can go to dinner with him?”

  “If he agrees to a search, I will let you sit in a crowded room and talk to him, but that’s all.”

  She stopped to stare at Jim. “I cannot wait to see what you are like when your three daughters are old enough to date.”

  “Don’t remind me, I’m already worried sick. Are you going back to the fountain again? If you are, I’m going with you.”

  “No, he’ll catch on if I do.”

  “Good, I’ll sleep better if you don’t.”

  *