Missing Heiress (A Jackie Harlan Mystery Book 2)

by Marti Talbott

  Teresa unbuttoned it, let her uniform fall to the floor and taped the baggie to her leg. She took the white ball gown off the hanger and put it on. It was a little too large, but she didn’t care. What she cared about was the bag full of money that bulged on the side of her leg. She hadn’t counted on that.

  Starting to panic, she quickly looked around. In such a vast quantity of clothes, there had to be something she could use. At last, she spotted a peach colored shawl and calmed. She grabbed it, the cash and birth certificate, slipped her feet into the pair of Laura’s shoes she tried on earlier, and hurried to the dressing table. It only took a moment to pile her long dark hair on top of her head and pin it in place. Satisfied, she added a touch of color to her cheeks, found an unused tube of lipstick and applied it to her lips. The color didn’t look great on her, but she didn’t care about that either.

  “Good enough,” she muttered.

  Step two was complete.

  She called a cab, put the shawl around her shoulders, picked up the birth certificate and cash, and turned off the light. She was about to leave, when she remembered the invitation, rushed back to the office, grabbed it out of the top drawer, and then went to the living room to wait.

  By then, she was exhausted, but she was too nervous to rest.

  It didn’t take long for the taxi to arrive, and when she saw it come through the gate, she rushed out the door to make good her escape.

  “The Fillmore Country Club, please.” She reached in her bra, pulled out the cash, and handed the cabbie $40.00. Will this cover it?”

  “Yes, Ma’am, and then some.”

  “Keep the change,” said Teresa. As the taxi pulled away, she once more looked at the home of Mathew and Laura Connelly, and then bowed her head. Leaving Laura was hard, but it had to be done.

  *

  Austin let the chauffer open the door for her, and then scooted out behind Maggie. He offered his arm again, returned her smile and escorted her to the door. The first one he introduced her to was the doorman, Samuel, who looked pleased to see Austin with a date.

  The wide hallway was filled with the sweet smell of flowers, and faint music that grew louder as he walked her to the doorway of the Fillmore Country Club’s ballroom. The polished hardwood dance floor glistened under slowly revolving light fixtures that gave off a soft blue and gold glow. Bouquets of orchids on white stands sat between floor-to-ceiling windows; with blue velvet draperies that were tied back to expose white sheers. Waiters, dressed in white jackets, carried drinks on large silver trays while the orchestra played a waltz. Some of the couples were dancing, while others sat at tables, or were helping themselves to the light buffet.

  “Is it not divine?” Maggie asked.

  Austin leaned closer. “It is, now that you are here.”

  She blushed slightly and began to examine the faces in the crowded room. It seemed everyone knew Austin and it wasn’t but a moment before he began introducing her to everyone. Maggie was pleasant to them all, thanked the ones who complimented her looks and prayed that part would be over soon.

  “How many guests,” she asked when there was a slight lull in his constant greetings.

  “Two thousand, I believe.”

  “Two thousand? I don’t imagine I can bear that many introductions.”

  “Would you care for a walk in the gardens?”

  “Please.”

  He wrapped her hand around his arm once more, and took her out a back door. Behind the building, were manicured shrubs and an abundance of late blooming roses and lilacs. Beyond those were tennis courts and an outdoor swimming pool.

  Maggie let go of his arm, walked to a window that had the sheers pulled back and looked in. “Do you know all of them?”

  “Probably, unless they brought guests I am not aware of. They are all wealthy and very important to the cause.”

  “What cause is that?”

  “The money goes to provide schooling and necessities for homeless children.”

  Maggie’s eyes lit up and she smiled at him. “What an honorable cause.”

  “You approve?”

  “Very much. We have our share of homeless in the United Kingdom too. I find it a very worthy cause, indeed.”

  “Most years, the charity events have bored me, but now that you are here, I…”

  She leaned closer and whispered. “Mawkish.”

  Austin chuckled. “Do you know I had to look that word up? I’m not normally the mushy type. In fact, I have been called stiff more than once.”

  “So have I.” She turned her attention back to the people inside. “What sort of dances do they do here?”

  “They dance the waltz, foxtrot, tango, rumba, cha-cha and samba. Do you dance?”

  “We were taught all those in school, but I do not fancy the cha-cha or the samba. I am much more comfortable with a waltz.”

  He was having a hard time taking his eyes off of her, but he did notice her accent becoming more noticeable. “We could dance out here if you prefer.”

  “No, I prefer to dance inside.”

  “Would you like to go in now?”

  “Not yet.” She took her eyes off the guests long enough to smile at him again.

  “Are you looking for someone?”

  “No one in particular. The dresses are very beautiful.”

  “And expensive. That reminds me. I bought you a gift.”

  “I don’t take gifts from strangers.”

  Austin rolled his eyes. “I didn’t think I still qualified as a stranger.”

  She turned to him, thought about it and shrugged. “You are right. I apologize. I am not yet practiced in the art of accepting gifts. Perhaps we might consider it a loan – just for tonight. Then I shall return it.”

  “Very well, if it makes you more comfortable. When I take you home, we can exchange the necklace for the cellphone.”

  She tipped her head to the side. “If I let you take me home.”

  “There is that.” He smiled, showed her the necklace, and waited for her to turn around. She lifted her hair out of the way while he clasped the thin gold chain together, waited for her to turn back around, and then approved of the half-carat diamond.

  “It’s beautiful. Are you quite certain you are not a bank robber?”

  Austin laughed. “Bank robbers don’t give charity balls, and I happened to be hosting this one.”

  “Then, aren’t you supposed to be doing something important?”

  “I am doing something important?”

  “What?”

  “I am trying to prove I am not an axe-murderer.”

  “Oh that. Jim would have my head if he knew I was with you. He is convinced you are.”

  “I suppose I’ll have to convince him I’m not, too.”

  “No second date without it.”

  “Fair enough.” Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a sight he hadn’t seen in years. “I don’t believe it, they came.”

  “Who came?”

  “Do you see the woman in the green dress?”

  Maggie turned to look and watched the dancing couple glide across the floor. “Yes.”

  “That is Laura Connelly and her husband. Laura is Nicholas Gladstone’s daughter and they have not been here in years.”

  Maggie had nothing stay, but moved closer to the window and didn’t take her eyes off the couple.

  CHAPTER 12

  Teresa handed the man at the door her engraved invitation, and with the document in hand, went into the ballroom. It took a moment, but knowing what she was wearing helped her locate Laura on the dance floor. Laura was pretending to be the adoring wife, as Mathew expertly danced his partner around the floor, pretending to the perfect husband.

  It turned Teresa’s stomach.

  She wove her way through the dancing couples and when she stopped right in front of Laura, nothing could have shocked the couple more.

  “Isn’t that my dress?” Laura asked.

  “I brought you something.” Teresa handed
her the birth certificate and watched as Laura read it.

  Furious, Laura turned on Mathew. “Father unknown? How could you?”

  “How could you, Laura? We were happy until you…”

  Laura ignored him. “Where did you get this?” she asked Teresa.

  “It was in your husband’s safe.”

  Laura’s shocked expression slowly turned to one of pure joy. “I do hope you cleaned him out.”

  Teresa leaned forward, hugged the woman she had come to adore, and whispered, “I left a loaded gun in your nightstand. Use it if you have to.” She stayed just long enough for Laura to nod and then dashed away.

  Outside, Teresa ran to the waiting taxi and got in. Just as the cab pulled away, Mathew rushed out the door wildly waving his arms and shouting something she couldn’t hear.

  Teresa Gregory turned around in the backseat of the taxi, smiled, and waved goodbye.

  Step three was complete.

  Next, she asked the driver to take her to the twenty-four hour access mailbox she rented a few months earlier.

  *

  Laura watched her husband through the ballroom window, and then breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she was certain Teresa had safely gotten away. She turned from the window and started to look for Austin. She didn’t notice Mathew coming back inside until it was too late.

  He grabbed hold of her elbow. “Dance with me, Laura. We look ridiculous just standing here.”

  She pulled her elbow out of his grasp. “We have always looked ridiculous, Mathew.”

  “Laura, please.”

  She turned her glare on him. “What are you up to? Why are we here, Mathew? Do you hope to have witnesses when you accuse me of adultery?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then why, Mathew? Why after all these years?”

  “Because I have missed you.”

  She smirked and turned away. Laura rose up on tiptoe, and tried to look for Austin over the heads of the dancing couples.

  “I love you, Laura, I always have.”

  “Me and at least a thousand others.”

  “You rejected me, remember?”

  She turned her amazed expression on him. “I rejected you? Divorce me, Darling. I dare you.”

  He tried to take her in his arms. “Don’t be stupid, Laura, I don’t want a divorce.”

  She decided not to fight him and relaxed. “Mathew, do you not understand where Teresa got the birth certificate? She got it out of your safe. You are probably…oh, I see. You do understand. Teresa has taken all your money, so you still need me for mine.”

  Mathew scoffed. “She can’t touch my money.”

  “Can’t she?” Laura broke free of his grasp, walked away and left her husband standing alone at the edge of the dance floor.

  *

  “Ah, there they are, at last,” Austin said to Maggie. “Come inside, there is someone I need to talk to.” When she nodded, he took her hand and led the way back inside. He smiled and then waved the Harlan detectives over, but he failed to notice the look of astonishment on their faces.

  “Maggie, this is Jackie Harlan, Carl Kingsley, and Michael Sorenson.”

  “Maggie?” Jackie asked.

  “Forgive me,” said Austin, “Maggie Jackson.”

  “Maggie Jackson,” Jackie repeated, slowly extending her hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

  Maggie casually shook her hand and distractedly turned to watch the crowd. “I am pleased as well.”

  “Austin, where did you manage to find her?” Jackie asked.

  “We have been talking online for months. This is the first time she agreed to meet me.”

  “I see,” Jackie said.

  When the orchestra began to play a waltz, Austin said, “Will you excuse us?”

  Jackie nodded. “Of course.”

  *

  Finally, Maggie was in Austin’s arms and it felt glorious to be there. He was holding her firmly, as if he would never let her go, and when he put his cheek next to hers, it was the grandest feeling in the world. She wanted to stay in his arms forever. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to be possible. She closed her eyes, desperately clung to him, and committed every moment to memory. Then she resumed her search of the room.

  *

  Michael watched Austin dance with Maggie and leaned closer to Jackie. “Have I lost my mind, or is that the Maggie Jackson?”

  “The Maggie Jackson?” Carl asked. “The one with a British accent…the one who looks just like the picture in Emma Walker’s yearbook?”

  Jackie slowly shook her head. “I don’t believe it.”

  Michael glanced over the top of his glasses. “Austin has no idea who she is, does he.”

  “It doesn’t look like it.” Carl agreed.

  Michael nodded toward a woman on the sidelines. “Laura Connelly is over there by the orchestra.”

  “So she is,” said Jackie.

  “And,” Michael added, “Maggie can’t take her eyes off Laura. Looks like she’s not very happy to see her mother.”

  Jackie frowned. “You think she’s planning to do something foolish?”

  Carl scratched the side of his beard. “I’d like to help her do something foolish. Her father is standing on the other side of the room watching his wife.”

  “Did either of you notice the mole on her shoulder?”

  “I was too busy admiring her beauty,” Michael admitted.

  “Me too,” said Carl. “She’s quite a looker.”

  “Michael, go cut in. Ask her to come help me with…a wardrobe malfunction.”

  Michael nodded, walked onto the dance floor and tapped Austin on the shoulder. Austin was reluctant, but he finally let the detective take his place and went back to watch with Jackie and Carl. He was not pleased. “I need to have a little talk with Michael about cutting in.”

  Her expression was serious when Jackie took hold of his arm. “We need to talk.”

  “Why? Have you found her?”

  “We have, but we can’t talk about it here.”

  Austin watched Michael dance with Maggie for a moment more, and then said, “There’s a private room just out this door.”

  “Good,” said Jackie. “Carl will go with you and I’ll send Michael in to help explain things as soon as they finish dancing.” When Austin seemed unwilling to leave, she said, “Don’t worry; I won’t let her out of my sight.” She watched as Carl took a drink off a tray and followed Austin out of the ballroom. Then she concentrated on watching Michael.

  The woman in Michael’s arms wasn’t very attentive to him, and she wouldn’t turn her head in the right direction so he could see the mole. Finally, he said, “Will you marry me?”

  Maggie pulled back and giggled.

  “I mean it. Jackie won’t marry me and I don’t know anyone else here.”

  “Rather desperate, are you not?”

  Her British accent was unmistakable and there was indeed a small black mole on her shoulder. Michael drew her a little closer so she couldn’t see, and then nodded to Jackie.

  As soon as the waltz ended and Michael brought Maggie back, Jackie asked, “Did you tell her?”

  “Tell her what?” Michael asked.

  “Miss Jackson, I wonder if you might come with me to the ladies room. I seem to be having a bit of a wardrobe problem.”

  Maggie smiled. “Of course.” Even then, she didn’t take her eyes off her mother.

  “Thank you.” Jackie leaned closer and whispered to Michael. “Austin and Carl went out that door to find a private room. Will you join them?”

  Michael nodded and walked away.

  Maggie glanced at Laura one last time, and then followed Jackie out the door and down the hall to the ladies room. Just as she was about to go in, she spotted Mathew coming down the hallway and stopped to stare at him.

  Mathew didn’t seem to care, but her distraction did not go unnoticed by Jackie. As soon as she realized Jackie was watching her, Maggie went into the bathroom and walked to
the mirror to check her hair and makeup.

  *

  The room Austin took Carl to was a small office that held little more than a desk and several chairs. “Well?” Austin asked, as he closed the door. “Where is she?”

  “She is here,” Carl answered.

  “Here? In Denver?”

  “Here at the ball.”

  Incredulous, Austin examined the sincerity on Carl’s face, and then started for the door. “Show me which one she is.”

  Carl quickly stepped in front of him. “Don’t, you’ll scare her away.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “What would you do if you were twenty-two and got this close to the parents who deserted you?”

  “I…you don’t think she means to do something violent, do you?”

  “Nothing we know about her implies she has ever been violent, but there’s always that chance. We need to be careful. If she runs, we’ll never find her again.”

  “You are right, of course. What should I do?”

  Carl puffed his cheeks. Just then, Michael knocked, opened the door, and walked in. “She’s the one,” he told Carl.

  “Michael, show him the picture.”

  Michael pulled out his cellphone, found the picture, enlarged it a little, and then turned the phone toward Austin. “Meet Georgia Marie James.”

  Austin’s mouth dropped. “She’s…she is…”

  “Maggie Jackson,” Carl answered.

  “Are you sure?” Austin asked.

  Michael nodded. “The DNA tests will confirm it, but she’s the one. She matches everything we’ve learned about her including the mole on her shoulder.”

  Austin found a chair and slowly sat down. “I am astounded. All these months, I have been…how long will it take to do the DNA test? I’m due back in court on Tuesday.”

  “Jackie has an old friend here in Denver, but DNA tests take time. We’ll have someone draw blood tonight, if Georgia will let us.”

  “Where is Maggie…ah, Georgia now?” Austin asked.

  “In the bathroom with Jackie,” Carl answered.

  “I…I can’t believe it,” Austin muttered.

  Michael sat down too. “I’m worried about what Mathew will do if he finds out she is here.”

  Austin nodded. “Me too. We can’t let anything happen to her now.”