Missing Heiress (A Jackie Harlan Mystery Book 2)

by Marti Talbott

  “Hello.”

  “Did you see it?” Carl asked.

  “See what?” Jackie asked, her eyes not quite open.

  “The school teacher’s interview. Didn’t it come through?”

  “Carl, it is five a.m. here.”

  “Oh, sorry. The dead girl isn’t Georgia.”

  Jackie sat up. “Are you sure?”

  “Miss Walker is. It’s one of Georgia’s classmates and I would bet a month’s pay, they switched identities.”

  “Why would they do that?”

  “Because, the dead girl was an American and had an American passport. They looked just enough alike to allow Georgia to get on a flight, no questions asked. Know what else? It’s possible Georgia found out who her parents are.”

  “How?”

  High in the air, Carl took a second to check his instruments. “It’s all on the video.”

  “I can’t wait to see it,” said Jackie.

  “Where would you go if you wanted to get a good look at the parents who deserted you?”

  “Right here in Denver,” Jackie answered.

  “That’s what I would do. Got anything for me to do?” Carl asked.

  “Just come home and get some rest. We’ve got a ball to attend Saturday, remember?”

  “Jackie, I’m not a tux kind of guy.”

  “I know, but it will do us good to get out in public from time to time. You never know when we might meet a potential client.”

  “Good point. Over and out.”

  Jackie smiled, curled up in bed and tried to go back to sleep. It was no use. They finally had a lead – a good one, and she could always catch up on her sleep later. She went to the dining room to watch the interview on her laptop and then excitedly called Michael.

  Asleep in a room one floor below, Michael groggily answered, “What could you possibly want?”

  “Good morning to you too. We got a name.”

  “A name of what?”

  “The name Georgia is using.”

  “She didn’t die, I take it.”

  “Michael, just come up. We have work to do and only a couple of days left to do it.”

  “Okay, okay, I’m coming. Put the coffee on.”

  “Will do.”

  *

  Jackie and Michael had already eaten by the time she called Austin at seven in the morning.

  “You’re up early,” Austin said.

  “Ready for some good news?” Jackie asked.

  “You bet.”

  “The dead girl is not Georgia.”

  “Thank God,” Austin breathed. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of orange juice.

  “That’s what I said. We think we’ve got a lead on her, but nothing solid yet.”

  “That is excellent news.”

  “Now all we have to do is find Georgia, and take a blood test to make sure her DNA matches Laura’s. Have fun explaining how we got Laura’s DNA without her permission.”

  “That might be a challenge, but I’ll think of something. Besides, the method won’t change the outcome…if we can find Georgia and it’s a match. The worst that can happen is if the judge orders another test.”

  “Where is Mathew now?”

  “Still in Florida, as near as I can tell.”

  “Good, I’m a little worried about the nanny,” said Jackie.

  “I can put a guard on her without her knowing.”

  “That would be comforting. Did you set up a way to see that she is provided for?”

  “I’m working on that. I should have something arranged with the bank shortly. I have to be careful not to give her too much, or the state will make her move out. I’m thinking a small monthly check might be the answer. How old do you think she is?”

  “Possibly mid-seventies.”

  “Well, I’ll keep track of her and find her a safe place if she needs one.”

  “Thank you. She is a sweet little old lady and I would hate to see something happen to her.”

  “Do you know the name of the dead girl?”

  “Yes. Carl called the authorities and gave them all the information so they can notify her parents.”

  “Good enough. Call as soon as you find something…anything at all. We’re running out of time.”

  “I know, I’ll talk to you soon.”

  For Austin, it was the best possible way to start the day. The dead girl was not Georgia, and his hope of finding her was brighter than ever before. Not only that, he had a hot date with a beautiful young woman the next night, and he could hardly wait. With any luck, the charity ball would be the beginning of a world in which his dreams really could come true.

  *

  In the cubical next to Maggie’s, Jim stood up, looked around and then stuck his head over the wall. “Empty box alert,” he whispered. Just as quickly, he sat back down.

  Maggie shuddered and covered the top of her head with her hands. Everyone knew what that meant. When she was about to fire someone, Nicole always had an empty box beside her desk. Afraid the unlucky employee would steal something, Nicole provided a box for personal belongings, and then stood by watching as the desk was cleaned out. It was humiliating for the soon to be ex-employee, and added insult to injury.

  *

  “Someday, someone’s going to knock Nicole’s block off,” said Jim, once they were outside on break. They didn’t bother to go around to the picnic table. With no one else outside, there was no need.

  “Assault? No thank you. That’s just what I don’t need right now, no matter how sorely I am tempted,” said Maggie.

  “You think it’s you?”

  “Of course it’s me. I know too much.”

  “I think it’s me. Now we’re both terrified.”

  “Well, I can survive it better than you can. I don’t want to see those beautiful babies of yours going hungry.”

  “Don’t forget, Hanna has a job. They won’t starve.”

  “I know, but you would tell me if I can help…I mean if you are the one who gets fired.”

  “Oh, okay, if you insist.”

  She knew he probably wouldn’t, but the offer was there if he needed it. “I’ve got a feeling this might be our last break together. It’s Friday afternoon, you know.”

  “I know.”

  “Jim, if you have to print my last check, don’t let it get you down. You have to do what you have to do.”

  “I hate men who cry, but I just might if Nicole makes me do that. You’re the best friend a guy ever had.”

  “Oh no, now you’re going to make me cry.” She covered her eyes and took a deep breath.

  “You can’t cry; it will make your makeup run.”

  “True.” She slowly grinned. “Did you see Susan’s makeup yesterday?”

  At last, Jim smiled too. “Was she crying or what?”

  “She must have been. Not only does she curl her eyelashes now, she wears eye makeup. I guess she doesn’t know the cheap kind runs, and not one person mentioned the black streak down the side of her cheek. She didn’t notice it until after lunch. I thought it was hilarious.”

  “So did I.”

  Maggie sighed. “Just think; if they fire me, no more Roxie the Robot, no more Susan and no more Nicole.”

  “Just think; if they fire either of us…” Jim let his voice trail off. “Promise we’ll stay in touch?”

  “Of course we will.” She gave in to the urge, and went into his arms.

  “Now they’ll really talk,” he whispered.

  “Let them, I don’t care.”

  “Neither do I.” He kissed her on the cheek, let go, left her standing there, and walked back into the building.

  *

  “Come see me,” was all the email from Nicole said.

  With only half an hour left before time to go home, Maggie knew what was coming. She closed her eyes and gathered her courage. “Might as well get it over with,” she muttered. She slowly stood up and left her cubical. For once, Roxie the Robot was not watching her. Wh
en she walked past Jim’s cubical, he looked at her with sad eyes. She guessed, and rightly so, that he had been forced to print her final paycheck.

  Maggie softly knocked on Nicole’s closed office door and wasn’t surprised when Nicole quickly opened it.

  “Come in and sit for a moment.” Nicole’s smile was sickeningly sweet as she closed the door and walked to the chair behind her desk.

  “Have I done something wrong?” Maggie sheepishly asked, taking a seat.

  Nicole took her time sitting, folded her arms on the top of her desk and looked Maggie in the eye. “We think you stole some money.”

  “What?”

  “In fact, we can prove it. You left a very easy trail to follow.”

  Maggie didn’t respond right away. “You mean you left an easy trail to follow.”

  “What trail is that?” Nicole sneered.

  “You know what trail. I know too much, so you’re getting rid of me. If you claim I stole from the company, who’s going to believe you did?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Of course you do. There is a hundred-thousand dollars missing. Who else could have taken it but you?”

  “I think you took it.”

  Maggie narrowed her eyes. “How? I don’t have access to the bank accounts.”

  “Nevertheless, I say you did and like you said, who are they going to believe?”

  “If you say I am a thief, I won’t be able to get another job.”

  Nicole looked abundantly pleased with herself. “Not my problem.”

  “I shall not go quietly. I shall complain to L&I.”

  Nicole picked up the envelope lying on her desk and handed it to Maggie. “Your last paycheck. I advise you not to make a fuss.”

  “Or you’ll what? You’ll fire me?”

  “Just go quietly, Maggie. There’s nothing you can do to change my mind. I’ll go with you while you clean out your desk.”

  “Of course you will.” Maggie had a lot more to say, but she was too mad to say it without crying. She got up, yanked the door open, marched to her desk, and grabbed her purse. She turned and glared at Nicole one last time. “You clean it out. There is nothing here I want.” She left her ex-boss standing there with the empty box in her hand, walked out the front door, and let it slam.

  Maggie marched down the sidewalk with tears in her eyes. Her mind was in a fog and her heart actually hurt. She knew she would get fired, but nothing could have prepared her for being called a thief.

  Four blocks later, she slowed down and dried her frustrated tears.

  Her usual bus wasn’t due for another hour, and she had nowhere to go so at length, she decided to walk to the bank and deposit her last paycheck. Next, she darted into a shoe store and bought a cheap pair of heels to go with her white dress.

  Maggie stopped at the corner, leaned against the side of a building and rested for a moment. One thing was for sure; by the time she got home, she would be minus phone and internet service – leaving her with no way to contact Austin.

  “The library,” she whispered. She caught a bus to a branch library not far from her house and went in. It was still early, and if he was not online, at least she could send him an email. As it turned out, there was a long line of people waiting to get on the six available computers. She took a number, found a book with lots of pictures, sat at a table, and waited.

  *

  It was nearly six thirty by the time she got on a computer. She logged into her email account, quickly glanced down the list and when she didn’t find one from Austin, she started a new one.

  I got fired for stealing. I didn’t steal anything, I just know too much. I worked for a phone company and they cancelled my account. I no longer have a phone or access to the internet. I’m using a library computer and someone else is waiting to use it. See you tomorrow night.

  Maggie

  Austin hadn’t seen an email from Sissy3211 for a long time, and certainly not one that was signed.

  “Maggie,” he whispered.

  He had a thousand questions to ask her, but they could wait. Mostly, he wanted to assure her everything was going be fine. Nick’s companies were always looking for good help, and he could line up a better paying job for her in a matter of minutes. Just in case she found a way to access her email, he sent that in a return message. He waited, but she didn’t answer.

  Austin went to the fridge, chose a dinner marked meatloaf and put it in the microwave. That old familiar loneliness was creeping in on him again. It was Friday night. All over America, people were celebrating the end of the workweek, and he didn’t feel like working. He had hoped to spend most of the evening in the chat room with her, but that wasn’t possible now.

  An hour later, he set his half-eaten dinner in the sink and ran the disposal. An hour after that, he closed a book he was trying to read, set it aside, and turned on the television. He tried to watch a preseason football game, but that didn’t hold his interest for long either. Austin got up, walked to his desk and checked his email. There was nothing from her, nor was there likely to be. He went back to the sofa and had no choice but to let the time slowly and painfully tick by.

  *

  Maggie sat at her table staring at her laptop. As she suspected, she had no internet connection. She opened her favorite game, one she downloaded before she left England and tried to win it. The game was particularly challenging, which was her favorite kind, but it was difficult to concentrate.

  She was clearly depressed, although she told herself she was better off not having to work there anymore. Still, a last paycheck was a daunting reality, one that couldn’t help but depress even the most mentally sound person.

  “You are strong enough,” she tried to convince herself. “You shall survive this.”

  It was a stupid thing to do, but she kept watching for Austin to sign on. He couldn’t, of course, but old habits were hard to break. She considered looking up other internet providers, but for that, she needed to be on the internet.

  Discouraged, Maggie got up and lay down on her bed.

  Across the room, her ball gown hung on a nail in the wall. She tried to imagine what it would be like to be with Austin, finally. It could be a disaster, just as previous attempts at dating had been. On the other hand, this could be the beginning of something she had waited for her whole life – love, that’s what she longed for most – someone to love her.

  CHAPTER 11

  It was late when Mathew came home.

  Teresa quickly got out of the way, as he stormed through the front door and marched into the living room.

  “Darling,” a surprised Laura said. “Is it time to pick up your clean laundry again so soon?”

  “Don’t be flippant, Laura.” He walked right past her, took the grand staircase two steps at a time, and disappeared around the corner.

  “Isn’t he getting a bit too old to do that?” Laura asked Teresa.

  “Apparently not.”

  “Perhaps he’ll fall down the stairs and break his neck this time. Oh, I do hope so. But then, his mistress would miss him…what day is this?”

  “Friday.”

  “Friday? That means the ball is tomorrow night. He has come home to pick up his tuxedo. You did send it out to be cleaned, did you not?”

  “I did, it is hanging in his closet.”

  Laura walked to a chair and sat down. “Good, I wouldn’t want his clothes to smell musty when he takes me to the ball.”

  “You are going together?” Teresa asked. She had a feather duster in her hand and continued to dust a decorative bookshelf.

  “It seems so. Don’t worry, dear, it is all for show. Mathew means to have the inheritance, and to be the charming host of all the future balls.”

  “With you by his side?” Teresa asked.

  “No, not me. It will be Cheryl, Amanda, or maybe even Gloria, who was once my dearest friend. But no, not me. I intend to divorce him as soon as…”

  “As soon as what?” M
athew asked, coming up behind his wife’s chair. He had the cellophane wrapped tuxedo draped over his arm.

  “He took the back stairs,” Laura whispered to Teresa. “He likes doing that and thinks I can’t hear him. What a dunce I married. I may be stupid, but I am not hard of hearing.”

  “Leave us,” Mathew demanded.

  Teresa’s eyes widened and she started to rush away, until Laura said, “Teresa stays! I may need a witness.”

  “Very well, let her hear,” said Mathew. “I accuse you of adultery, Laura.”

  Laura laughed out loud. “Well, that’s a new one. You must be thinking of the community property. Been talking to one of those barroom lawyers again? Did he say that if you can prove I am the unfaithful one, you might get half my trust fund?”

  “I can prove it. I have pictures,” Mathew shot back, walking around the chair to face her.

  “Darling, has Gloria been playing with her photo software again?”

  Mathew’s face was starting to turn red with anger. “You were unfaithful long before I was. She probably wasn’t even mine!”

  Enraged, Laura stood up and faced her husband. “How dare you say that? You know full well she is yours.”

  Teresa began to inch farther away.

  Mathew glared at his wife and put his face closer to hers. “Well, you’ll never be able to prove it now. They cremated her.”

  Not the least bit intimidated, Laura put her hands on her hips. “I don’t believe that girl is our daughter. I don’t believe it for one single second.”

  “You just don’t want to believe it. She is gone, Laura, dead and gone.”

  Laura narrowed her eyes for a moment, and then slowly and cunningly smiled. “Just a few more days and you will lose it all. All those years – squandered when you could have been happy with Karen, or Stephanie – or was it Helena you truly gave your heart to? What a dreary life you have lived.”

  Mathew doubled his fist. He looked like he was going to hit her, but he walked to the front door instead. “Have another drink, Laura, that’s all you know how to do.”