Missing Heiress (A Jackie Harlan Mystery Book 2)

by Marti Talbott

  Sissy3211: I might do that. Have to go now. It’s late again and some of us need more beauty rest than others.

  Bronco8881: Good night, Sissy.

  ---Sissy3211 is offline---

  CHAPTER 9

  When Laura’s ball gowns came back from the cleaners, Teresa was careful to hang them in the front of the closet – minus the white one. She took the plastic off the white one and hung it where she originally found it. Not that she expected Laura to notice such a small detail, but Laura had her lucid moments, and it wasn’t worth taking the chance now that she was so close to success.

  A few minutes later, Teresa walked into the family room.

  “I love this movie,” Laura muttered.

  Teresa glanced at the TV and smiled when she recognized it. “Apparently so, you’ve watched it several times. Your ball gowns are back from the cleaners, but we need to choose which dress you will wear and find the perfect shoes.”

  “Oh, I don’t care which shoes I wear.”

  “I do. I want you to look your best. After all, you have a date with your husband.”

  Laura finally took her eyes off the movie. “I do?”

  “The invitation is for you both, unless Mr. Connelly said he isn’t going.”

  “No, no, he hasn’t mentioned it to me at all. He’ll probably forget.”

  “Should I call to remind him?”

  Laura thought about that for a moment. “I do have his cellphone number, but I never call him.”

  “He might like it if you did.”

  Laura stood up, made certain she had her balance first, and then walked to the door. “My dear, you live in a dream world where romance is alive and well. I assure you, it is not.”

  Teresa quickly followed her employer out the door and down the hall to the stairs. “I sincerely hope you are mistaken about that.”

  “You are young still. See that you guard your heart well and that you do not become bitter like me.”

  “Yet, Amanda Black said Mr. Connelly once loved you.”

  Laura stopped and turned to face Teresa. “Darling girl, he only says that to convince them he is capable of loving.”

  “But you still love him, I know you do.”

  Laura laughed, turned back around, walked across the living room, and started up the stairs. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

  “You did.”

  “I must have been drunk.”

  Teresa rolled her eyes and continued to follow. “You don’t love him?”

  “I truly do not. Mathew imagines himself something he will never be – a great lover. Oh, he has the looks and the charm, but…” She opened the door to her bedroom and went in. “I thought he might grow out of his need for conquest someday, but he has not. It is a pity, really, for if he had been more of a man, he might have pleased my father, and then this whole business about the inheritance would be unnecessary.”

  Teresa went to the closet, got the violet gown and took the plastic off. “You should decide which of these you want to wear.”

  “Oh, very well.”

  “We must find the perfect shoes to wear with it.”

  “You are a dear girl,” said Laura, “but I truly do not care.”

  “Well, I do. What will the agency think of me, if I let you go to a ball in shoes that do not match?”

  Laura stared at her for a moment. “I had not thought of that. Indeed, what I wear is a reflection on you. Help me find the right shoes, will you?”

  Teresa began to breathe a little easier. “First, we must get you out of that robe and into each of these gowns, so you can make your choice.”

  “Very well.” Laura took off her robe and let Teresa help her put on the violet, floor-length satin gown. Then she turned to look in the full-length mirror. “Do you like this color on me?”

  “I think you look good in any color you choose.”

  “Which do you like best?”

  “With your dark hair, I like the pastel yellow.”

  “Do you?”

  She helped Laura out of the violet and went to get the yellow gown. “I took the liberty of sending Mr. Connelly’s tux out to be cleaned as well.”

  “That was very thoughtful of you. Perhaps he will show up, come to think of it. We are due back in court on Tuesday anyway. Perhaps he will at that.”

  “How handsome the two of you shall look together.”

  “Yes, well, do not be too disappointed if he does not come home.” Laura examined how she looked in yellow and sighed. “Not this one, it makes me look frumpy.”

  “Very well, let’s try the green one. It is quite magnificent.”

  “I like it too. I believe I have shoes to match it as well, if they still fit.”

  Teresa helped her change once more, this time to a forest green gown with pale green embroidery on the bodice. She went to the closet, found the matching green shoes and when they fit, Teresa smiled her approval. “You look divine in this dress.”

  “Thank you.” Laura looked at her reflection and simply shrugged. “I believe I am quite worn out.”

  “How about a swim? That always makes you feel better.”

  Laura nodded. “And while we’re there, we can see if Mathew is back in town.”

  “How?”

  “He swims at night sometimes. He thinks I don’t know, but a maid told me long ago. Each morning, I check to see if his swimsuit is wet.”

  Teresa hid her surprise. “I see. Why does he not just tell you he is here?”

  She surveyed her green gown in the mirror one last time, and then motioned for Teresa to help her out of it. “I don’t know. He loves the thrill of not getting caught, I suppose.”

  “Have you caught him?”

  “A time or two, but I didn’t let him see me. Why spoil it for him?”

  “Perhaps he thinks it might upset you.”

  “Perhaps he is right. I sleep better when he is not home.”

  Teresa held the robe out so Laura could put her arms in the sleeves. “Frankly, I find your situation confusing. He seems to care about you, but you are convinced he does not.”

  “My dear, it is all an act. Mathew cares for no one. He hasn’t an honest bone in his entire body.”

  “Then you would not be…you would not grieve for him if one day he left you?”

  “Grieve for him? My precious, darling girl, I would be thrilled. Fix me a drink, will you?”

  *

  For months, Maggie and Jim had been taking their breaks outside just to watch the office building go up across the street. Both were fascinated with how quickly it went up, and all the truckloads of material it took to do it. After that, a lot of heavy computer equipment arrived and was taken inside, heightening their curiosity that much more.

  “Well, they have planted the grass and all the flowers,” Maggie pointed out as she strolled with Jim down the sidewalk. “I wonder who will move in.”

  Jim laughed. “Maggie, I love you. Without your innocence, I’d go crazy around here. You’d never guess who’s moving in.”

  “Who?”

  “The FBI.”

  “Come on, they are not.”

  “They are and it explains all that equipment they took inside. On your way home tonight, walk to the front of the building and look at the directory they put up this morning. FBI and ATF.”

  Maggie wrinkled her brow. “ATF?”

  “Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.”

  “Right across the street?”

  “Yep.”

  She lowered her voice. “Half the people in here are on drugs. I better not let Nicole see me looking at the directory. She’ll probably fire me for it.”

  Jim shooed a pesky fly away with his hand. “You know about the drugs? I am amazed.”

  “I didn’t until Baltimore Harry offered me some. He’s got a whole closet full inside his jacket, which he wears even in this heat.”

  “Don’t worry; most companies have drug users on their payroll.”

  She giggled and cover
ed her mouth. “Yeah, but they don’t work right across the street from the FBI and the ATF.” She stopped when they reached the end of the block, turned around and started back. “I’ve never seen a drug raid. This should be fun.”

  “Just keep laughing. It’s the only way to stay sane around here.”

  “Drugs, phone sex, and a hooker for a boss? I can’t figure out how a nice girl like me ended up in a place like this.”

  “Or a nice boy like me.”

  *

  It was payday, finally, and Maggie was excited to go at lunchtime, and pick up the gown she asked the boutique to alter for her. The gown was expensive, but it would be worth it. Bronco8881 wasn’t sitting on any of the fountain benches when she arrived, and she was glad not to have the distraction. She had just enough time to do a final fitting and if the alterations were right, to pick up the dress.

  It wasn’t yet break time when Jim tapped on her wall and motioned for her to meet him outside. She didn’t see him when she first walked out the door, until she went to the side of the building and found him waiting beside the picnic table.

  “When is your interview?” she asked. Her smile faded as soon as she noticed the look on his face.

  “They cut my wages in half.”

  “What? They can’t do that, can they?”

  “They just did.”

  “I can’t believe it. Are you going to quit?”

  “As soon as I find something else. I have no choice.”

  “Take my advice and change your phone service before you do.”

  “Good idea, I’ll do that tonight. Will it tip them off if I do?”

  “As long as you don’t cancel your service here, they will never know.”

  “Good point. I’m so mad I’m not thinking straight.”

  Maggie gathered her long hair in the back, and then pulled all of it around to one side. “These people terrify me. Are all companies like this?”

  “None I ever worked for.”

  “That’s good to know. Jim, can you make it on half the wages?”

  “I couldn’t make it on full pay. I have to find something else and fast.”

  Maggie bowed her head. “I shall miss you more than you can possibly know, but you must do what you must do.”

  “I’ll miss you too. Maybe if I get in a good place, I can recommend they hire you.”

  “I would be ever so grateful. We better get back in there.”

  When she started to leave, he took hold of her arm. “After I’m gone, tell everyone they cut my pay. I’m not supposed to say anything, but people should know it can happen to them.”

  “We might have a mass exodus.”

  “Wouldn’t that be nice? Nicole would have to train a whole new staff herself and it would serve her right.”

  *

  Dishes were still piling up in the kitchen, so when room service brought lunch, Jackie had the waiter load up his cart and take them away. She needed to send clothes to the laundry, but that could wait. They were running out of time and still they couldn’t find the missing Georgia Marie James anywhere. They had accounts with several sites that claimed they could find anyone, but that hadn’t helped either. They’d looked for every conceivable name combination in every English speaking country, and even checked cruise ship manifests.

  They were coming up totally empty until Michael said, “Good news. Want to hear what the boarding school has to say?”

  “You bet.” Jackie answered. She quickly went back to her seat at the table.

  “Not a darn thing. They have a legal document demanding they expunge all of Georgia’s records except her grades. There is no description of her, no health records, and nothing that can tell us where she went after she left school.”

  “No kidding? I wonder how Connelly pulled that off,” Carl said. He stood up and stretched his weary bones. “I sure could use a good workout.”

  “Oh, well this explains it,” said Michael. “They got a large donation the day after they expunged Georgia’s records.”

  “Money really can buy silence,” Carl mumbled.

  “I found something else interesting,” Michael added. “I found a roster of teachers and one just happened to retire last year. If we can’t get the school to talk, she might be our best bet.”

  “Forget the school,” said Carl. “The other PI didn’t get anywhere with them. Just go straight to the teacher.”

  “We could call her,” Michael suggested.

  Jackie shook her head. “She might have recent pictures of Georgia. That’d be worth the trip.” Her movements were animated as she turned to stare at Carl.

  Carl saw the grin on her face, looked away, and then looked back. “Okay, that means I get to fly my baby again. I better get her all gassed up.”

  “You got it,” Jackie said.

  “Oh, boy, oh, boy,” Carl whispered, as he pulled out his cellphone. “I get to go flyin’.”

  *

  Maggie was still distraught about it later that night when she logged into the chat room.

  Sissy3211: Worst day ever. They cut Jim’s pay in half.

  Bronco8881: You’re kidding.

  Sissy3211: He turned down the promotion and embarrassed her. Nicole is afraid to fire him for it, so she’s trying to get him to quit.

  Bronco8881: Will he quit?

  Sissy3211: He’ll have to. I’m worried sick about him, he needs a good job. If he doesn’t quit and they find a way to fire him, he’ll have a very hard time finding another job.

  Bronco8881: I wish I could help.

  Sissy3211: I wish you could too.

  Bronco8881: Maybe if you tell me where he is.

  Maggie giggled.

  Sissy3211: Maybe I’ll just introduce you.

  She waited to see if he would pick up on the hint.

  Bronco8881: That would work. What does he do?

  Sissy3211: He’s an accountant and he’s good at it too.

  Bronco8881: Sounds like he shouldn’t have any trouble getting a better job.

  Sissy3211: He has a prison record.

  Bronco8881: Oh, I see.

  Sissy3211: It was a long time ago, but businesses don’t seem to be very forgiving.

  Bronco8881: No, they don’t. What did he get convicted of?

  Sissy3211: Stealing a car, grand theft, I think it is called. He had just turned twenty-one, and says he listened to some friends instead of his conscience. He would give anything to take that night back.

  Bronco8881: I bet he would. Otherwise, how was your day?

  Sissy3211: Busy as usual. Oh, I saw a squirrel chase a cat today.

  Bronco8881: You mean a cat chasing a squirrel?

  Sissy3211: No, the squirrel chased the cat part way up a tree, and then when the cat turned around, the squirrel ran back down and dashed up a different tree.

  Bronco8881: That is too funny.

  She sighed. He didn’t pick up on the hint, but then, she wasn’t sure what she would have said if he did.

  Sissy3211: Do you like classical music?

  Bronco8881: Love it.

  Sissy3211: I went to a concert once and the orchestra was wonderful. I could have listened to them for a week.

  Bronco8881: I’ll take you to a concert any time you say.

  Sissy3211: Now, that’s tempting.

  Bronco8881: I hope so.

  Sissy3211: I’m not very fond of opera though. Maybe when they learn to speak English.

  Austin smiled.

  Bronco8881: You’ve got a point. I’m keeping you up past your bedtime again.

  Sissy3211: Don’t worry; I won’t cut your pay in half.

  Bronco8881: Just don’t cut my time with you in half. You are the highlight of my day.

  Sissy3211: Bronco, don’t go all mawkish on me now. Good night.

  ---Sissy3211 has signed off---

  “Mawkish,” he whispered. “Is that what I’m becoming…mawkish? Who even says that these days?” He signed off and closed the lid on his laptop. “Sissy, what do
I have to do to get you to meet me?”

  *

  It was definitely hurricane season. Dozens of warnings came from weather centers all up and down the east coast, and Carl was well aware of them before he took off from Denver International Airport early the next morning. With any luck, he could get in and out of New York before the storm came up the coast.

  The east coast was not the only place that suffered from violent storms. In 2007, the windshields of fourteen planes shattered at the Denver airport due to cold temperatures and high winds. Thankfully, the temperature was in the seventies and his takeoff was routine.

  Carl’s new baby was a sleek Gulfstream G500, with Rolls Royce twin jet engines, and a cruising speed of 459 knots. It originally seated 18, but it had been converted into a high tech office for Michael and Jackie, with only six passenger seats. Carl knew every inch of his baby, took pride in making sure she was clean, and had her carefully checked after every flight.

  Most of their business was in the US, but occasionally they flew to other countries. However, they had their limits and there were several countries they refused to work in. The jet also took them to exotic locations for the vacations they treated themselves to between cases. No matter how short or how long a case was, they always rested for a few days between them.

  Carl was over Chicago before he began to feel turbulence that was probably caused by the approaching storm. Flying well above the cloud cover, he could see the edges of the swirling mass in the distance and counted himself fortunate not to be going south. A Learjet could be refueled anywhere, so instead of needing to land in New York, he radioed the current air traffic controller and asked to change his flight plan.

  He might have been imagining it, but he thought he detected a slight note of relief in the air traffic controller’s voice. Most likely, a lot of planes, both private and commercial, were trying to make it to New York before the sky got ugly.

  His new flight plan was quickly approved, so the pilot of the Jackie Harlan Detective Agency’s jet banked left and headed into Canadian air space. Nonstop, the flight from Denver to London took ten hours, but without a break or a copilot, that was pushing it for a man who’d already been up since the crack of dawn.

  *

  “Our boy is going to Canada,” Michael said after looking at the blip on his computer GPS tracking system. “Bad weather’s got him running north.”