Missing Heiress (A Jackie Harlan Mystery Book 2)

by Marti Talbott

  “Where does she live? Never mind, I know how to find out.”

  “She’s not there, she left town for a while.” Jim watched the worried look on his boss’s face. Nicole tossed her half-smoked cigarette into the street, and abruptly hurried back inside the building. With a wide grin on his face, Jim walked around to the picnic table, took a cellphone out of his pocket and called Austin.

  “She fell for it?” Austin asked.

  “Hook, line, and sinker. Is Maggie…Georgia okay? I may never get used to that.”

  “I checked on her this morning, she’s fine. Are we still on for later?”

  “You bet, I can’t wait. I’ll call as soon as Mr. Gallaher goes home for lunch.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  *

  Mr. Harold Gallaher, owner of Gallaher Superior Telephone Service, and a few other shady endeavors, looked a little green around the gills when he left for lunch. Nicole had gone up to his office several times since Jim told her about Maggie’s lawyer, and come back down to her office looking distraught and a little on the pale side. It made him openly chuckle each time. He slipped the cellphone out of his pocket, let Austin know Gallaher was on his way, and then sat back to wait.

  This was going to be good.

  CHAPTER 14

  A pudgy man in his mid-fifties, Gallaher had barely walked in the door of his home in the suburbs when Austin rang the doorbell. He immediately turned around and answered it, “Yes?”

  Austin handed him a business card. “I am Maggie Jackson’s attorney. We need to talk.”

  Gallaher swallowed hard, glanced back inside, and then came out, and closed the door. “How much does she want?”

  “It seems she discovered a slight, shall we say, mismanagement of funds, or if you prefer, fraud in your company.”

  “Fraud? Now see here.”

  “I could talk to the FBI, if you would rather.” Austin started to walk away.

  “No wait. What will it take to shut her up?”

  “Your signature on these papers.”

  “What papers are those?”

  Austin pulled a document out of his inside jacket pocket and handed it to him. “Sign that and all of it goes away.”

  Gallaher’s eyes began to bulge as he realized what the document was. “The Gladstone Corporation wants to buy the business?”

  “My client’s offer is more than fair, considering we will have to return all the deposits to the customers. Of course, I’ll need you to sign a confidentiality agreement, which states you are not to tell anyone about this sale. It’s all right here.” Austin reached in his other jacket pocket and withdrew the confidentiality agreement.

  Gallaher studied that one as well. “I can’t tell anyone?”

  “You can’t even go back to work,” said Austin. “Sign it and there will be no investigation. I am certain you are aware of the penalties associated with fraud.”

  Beads of sweat were beginning to form on Gallaher’s upper lip. “I had nothing to do with it.”

  “Perhaps not, but that might be a little hard to prove in court, especially after Miss Jackson testifies.”

  Gallaher blinked a couple of times, looked at the bill of sale again, and paused for a moment more. “I want six million.”

  Austin took the papers out of his hands and started to put them back in his pocket.

  “Wait, I’ll sign.”

  *

  Cellphones, for those few who worked at GSTS and could afford them, were to be turned off during working hours. When Jim’s cellphone rang, Roxie the Robot leaned forward to see who was breaking the rules.

  “All done,” Austin said.

  “Hot dog!” Jim shouted.

  Austin chuckled. “Do your thing in the morning and then meet me at the house.”

  “I’ll be there.” When he looked up, Roxie was standing in the opening of his cubical with her hands on her hips.

  “We don’t make personal calls during work time.”

  “Roxie, it was an important call. I just won the lottery.” He stood up, patted the top of her head and grinned. “You need to loosen up; you’re going to have a heart attack if you don’t chill out.” With that, he headed out the door.

  “It’s not break time,” Roxie shouted.

  “Sue me,” Jim yelled back.

  *

  Georgia ended up taking only a few items the boutique sent up on Sunday. Some were too old fashioned, some too young, and some positively the wrong color or print. She finally chose a plain, dark blue suit and white blouse for court, and a couple of comfortable dresses. On Monday, she had lunch with the three, fun loving detectives and thoroughly enjoyed hearing about some of their misadventures.

  Eventually, the subject of Mathew came up. “So my grandfather was able to keep track of Mathew through the credit card statements?” she asked.

  “That’s right,” Michael answered.

  “I’ve never had a credit card. I have so much to learn.”

  “You’ll pick it up faster than you think. Austin is probably opening an account for you right now.”

  “Then he will know what I buy and where I go?”

  “Possibly,” Jackie admitted, “but Georgia, once you have the inheritance, you can open your own accounts.”

  “I like that idea better. You said you were married once. May I ask you a question – a woman to woman question?”

  “Of course.”

  “Okay, I’m out of here,” said Carl.

  Michael quickly stood up too. “There’s a pool hall down the street.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Before he left, Carl checked something on the only laptop still on the table. “We’re good to go.”

  “Cool,” said Michael, opening the door. He followed Carl out and closed the door.

  “Well, that’s one way to get rid of them,” said Jackie.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I…” Georgia started.

  “Don’t be, I try to get them to leave all the time. Now, what did you want to ask?”

  “How did you know you loved your husband…at first, I mean?”

  Jackie put her leg under her and sat down on the sofa beside Georgia. “Well, when I was with him, I was happy, but when he was away, I felt miserable.”

  “You missed him?”

  “Desperately and constantly. I miss him still, sometimes.”

  “I miss Austin too, but I am not sure it is love. We have been talking online for months, and I miss that much more than I thought I would. Unfortunately, things will never be the same again.”

  “Why not?”

  “I tricked him into taking me to the ball.”

  “Oh. Perhaps with enough time, he’ll get over it.”

  “I hope so…sort of.”

  “Why sort of?” Jackie asked.

  “I have no experience in matters of love. I have never let anyone get close to me before, and I wouldn’t want to be mistaken in my feelings for him.”

  “In that case, you need as much time as he does. You might say the two of you are different people now.”

  “I suppose we are. If I think I love him, how will I know for sure?”

  “Georgia, there are no guarantees when it comes to love. Look what happened to your mother.”

  Her eyes opened wide. “Now, I’m really scared.”

  Jackie laughed. “I know that feeling too. I don’t let anyone get close to me either, although Michael would make a very good husband. I just can’t seem to let go of my fear of loving again.”

  “We are in the same boat.”

  “Yes we are.”

  “After you leave, will you keep in touch?” Georgia asked.

  “I will. I am eager to hear how it works out between you and Austin.”

  “So am I.”

  Jackie stood up. “Know what I think? I think we should go shopping.”

  “I thought you didn’t want me to leave the hotel.”

  “I don’t, but that’s what face time on a cellphone is for. Why don’t I go
find a store, show you what they have and you can tell me what to bring up for you to try on.”

  “Could we?”

  “Of course we could, and know what else?”

  “What?”

  “Austin will have to pay the bill – at least until you have your own account.”

  At last, Georgia smiled.

  *

  In the evening, Georgia watched movies with Jackie, ate her fill of popcorn, drank soft drinks, and talked. It didn’t help. All she could think about was Austin. More often than she should have, she went to the window, but his curtains were still closed.

  “He called this morning while you were still asleep,” Jackie mentioned.

  “Why?”

  “To see if you are all right.”

  “He gave me a cellphone; he could have called me to see if I am well.”

  “Men are a bit stubborn sometimes.”

  “If this is what love is like, perhaps I don’t want it.”

  Jackie knowingly nodded. “It’s the waiting that gets to us the most.”

  “Yes, it is the waiting.”

  “I am afraid there is no cure, even after he admits he loves you.”

  “That’s not the least bit encouraging.”

  Jackie laughed. “Another movie?”

  “Might as well, but not a love story. I could not bear it.”

  *

  “Jackie, I can’t thank you enough,” said Austin over the phone early Tuesday morning. “Has the lab called yet?”

  “They just called. They have her blood sample and they are starting the process now.”

  “Does she need anything?”

  “How about another security guard to take her to court?”

  “Already arranged. They’ll pick her up at eight thirty.”

  “She’ll be ready. We’ll be gone by the time you get out of court.”

  “This is goodbye then. Thank you again for everything.”

  “She’s a sweet girl. I am amazed at how sweet she is, considering what she’s been through.” Jackie waited, but he didn’t comment. “Let me know how she is from time to time. Goodbye, Austin.”

  *

  Nicole was beside herself with worry. The owner of the company hadn’t come to work that morning and hadn’t answered Nicole’s phone calls since Monday noon. Furthermore, she couldn’t get into the accounting system – no one could. Nicole angrily stomped through the entire building in her high-heel hooker shoes, demanding to know what was happening. When no one knew, she accused half of them of lying. She checked several times, but Gallaher’s office was empty and his lawyer daughter hadn’t come to work either.

  Jim McMorrow was there when she first arrived, but now he was missing too. That was fine with her; she intended to fire him anyway.

  Still, without direction from Gallaher, she didn’t know what to do. The accounting system was password protected, and her password was denied. She tried several different passwords – ones she thought Gallaher might use, and none of them worked either. The new accounts people could still do their jobs, cancelled accounts were still being cancelled, and the tech department said everything was working fine. Even the website wasn’t having problems.

  She just couldn’t get into the accounting system. Without that, she had no way of knowing if Roxie truly made the bank deposit Monday, or if the light bill had been paid, finally. In fact, there was nothing for her to do and it was driving her mad.

  For a full hour, she stood outside and chain-smoked.

  *

  Austin didn’t come to pick Georgia up and take her to court. Instead, her security guards loaded two suitcases full of new clothes and her laptop in a van and drove her away. They pulled up beside the courthouse, escorted her through a side door, and then up two flights of stairs. After they opened the door and let her into the courtroom, both of them sat in the last row of spectator seats.

  She waited at the small gate until Austin noticed her, and he did slightly smile, but not as warmly as he might have otherwise. He opened the gate for her, and then held her chair while she sat.

  Laura and her attorney were already there, and Georgia briefly glanced at her mother. Not knowing what was expected of her; she folded her hands in her lap and looked straight ahead. At last, the judge entered and when everyone else stood up, so did she.

  “Be seated. Mr. Steel, have your found your missing heiress?”

  Austin stood back up. “I have, Your Honor. This is Georgia Marie James. We need more time to make certain her DNA matches that of her mother, but if the Connellys…”

  “Your Honor,” Bradley Hyde interrupted. “Mrs. Connelly would like to withdraw her petition to contest the will.”

  “Is this true, Mrs. Connelly?” the judge asked.

  “It is, Your Honor. She is indeed my daughter. I don’t need the money and my husband doesn’t deserve it.”

  “Very well, this case is dismissed.” The judge pounded his gavel, stood up, and left the room.

  In shock, Georgia turned to Austin, “Is that it?”

  “That’s it. As soon as the will is probated, everything is yours.”

  She lowered her eyes. “I would rather have my grandfather back.”

  “So would I,” said Austin.

  By the time Georgia stood up to leave, Laura’s attorney was gone, but Laura was still standing next to the counsel table waiting for her.

  “Georgia, can we meet somewhere and talk?” Laura asked.

  She looked in her mother’s sincere eyes for a moment and then looked away. “Someday, if…”

  “If what?”

  “If you check into a rehab.”

  Laura smiled. “Consider it done.” When her daughter didn’t rush away, Laura opened her arms. “Just once? I have waited twenty-two years to hold you.”

  Georgia nodded, hugged her tearful mother for a long moment, and then walked out of the courtroom. Tears were in her eyes too, but she quickly brushed them away. “What do I do now?” she asked as soon as Austin caught up.

  “Now, I am going to take you home.”

  *

  Cruising at an altitude of 28,000 feet, Michael sat in the copilot’s seat in the Learjet and asked, “So why was that little girl in the back of the pickup truck so mad?”

  Carl made sure the plane was on autopilot, glanced at his instrument panel and then leaned back to enjoy the flight. “Are you sure we never told you that story?”

  “I’m positive.”

  From their office in the body of the jet, Jackie stuck her head through the doorway. “I have decided on our next case. It is a little boy, age three, taken from his stroller in a shopping mall.”

  “How long ago?” Michael asked.

  “Six years. He is…”

  “I thought we were going on vacation?” Carl interrupted.

  “We don’t need a vacation. Finding Georgia only took two weeks,” Jackie said.

  “And even then, we didn’t find her,” Carl put in.

  “I hope our next case is that easy,” Jackie muttered, as she went back to her seat. She glanced at the photograph on the wall of her own missing baby boy for a moment, and then went to work on their new case.

  *

  Austin sat beside Georgia in the backseat of the white limo and again kept his distance. He didn’t say anything, and she didn’t ask any questions.

  It was such an awkward silence, that she thought of several things to say, but decided against all of them. She watched out the window as they left the city, passed through a pleasant suburb with nice houses, and soon the houses became estates. Finally, she could bear the silence no more. “Shall I always be riding in a limo?”

  “Nick has several cars and they are yours now.”

  “I cannot drive here. Americans drive on the wrong side.”

  “Then I guess you’re stuck with a driver.”

  “Perhaps I should take driving lessons.”

  “If you like.”

  She sat up a little straighter as the limo
turned down a private lane between two very high stonewalls, and then paused at a decorative wrought iron gate. The armed security guard at the gate inspected the passengers, waited in the back for the trunk to open, and checked the inside. He closed the trunk and waved to a second armed guard inside the booth who opened the gate.

  The limo slowly passed over a camera that allowed the guard in the booth to examine the undercarriage. Once he gave the signal, the car sped up.

  “What was all that about?” she asked.

  “They check for bombs.”

  She raised her voice, “Bombs?”

  “Nick installed all sorts of safety measures. You’ll get used to it.”

  “I doubt that. At least in my apartment, I was not always watched.”

  He raised his voice. “Your apartment is a dump.”

  “I know.” She bit her lower lip and looked away. “It was all I could afford.”

  He closed his eyes and bowed his head. “I should not have said that. Forgive me.”

  “Not until you forgive me.”

  He looked at her finally. “I am trying.”

  “Then so shall I. You are not the only one who is hurting in all this.”

  “I know.” As the car drove around a pond, he softened his demeanor and pointed to the fountain. “Recognize this?”

  Her eyes brightened. “It is just like the one in the plaza.”

  “Exactly like it, except it shoots water higher in the air. In fact, this one was built first.”

  “It is magnificent.”

  The mansion was just as impressive as the fountain, with high arches over more windows than she had ever seen in a house. The second and third floor had balconies that faced the fountain. “Do you suppose there is anything in the house to eat? I’m starved.”

  “You have a staff of five, including the driver. They worked for Nick and they stayed here to keep the place running. Now they work for you. I’m sure the kitchen is fully stocked with almost anything your heart desires. If not, just tell them what you want.”

  She waited until the driver opened the door for her, climbed out and looked up. “Good grief, it is bigger than the Queen’s castle.”

  “Not quite,” he said, walking around the car to join her.

  “What will I do with all those rooms?”