by Carolyn Rae
“You found him,” Melissa said.
“She snatched him away from the rattlesnake,” Justin said. “But we didn’t get bit.”
“Thank goodness,” her sister said.
Justin shone the flashlight on the path. “I’ll lead us back to the cottage.”
After they got there, Melissa went inside while Justin gave Lisa a heart stopping kiss. His hands squeezing her breasts made her wish they could spend the night together.
He gazed into her eyes. “I’m really going to miss being able to make love to you. I know you want to spend time with Melissa, but I hope you’ll find time for me too.”
She placed her hands on his shoulders and gave him a soft kiss. “Of course, I will. We can even do things together.”
He smiled. “Good. I’ll call you tomorrow with suggestions.” He hugged her and kissed her once more. “Til tomorrow then.”
She waved goodbye as he got in his car and drove off, then went inside. She’d sleep better now, knowing Rusty was home safe and sound. Of course, if she and Melissa got to talking, they wouldn’t get much sleep.
Melissa stood by the bureau gazing at Lisa’s open jewel box. “Wow, where did you get these? I’ve never seen any of them before.”
She held up a diamond tennis bracelet, and a large ruby ring. She pointed to a huge diamond ring flanked by two small triangular diamonds sitting next to Lisa’s small ruby ring. “That diamond must be four or five carats at least. Are you holding out on me? Did Justin propose?”
Lisa stared. “Omigosh. How did they get there? Put them down. That’s the stolen jewelry Justin’s been trying to find. Now your fingerprints will be on them, and I’ll be charged with stealing them. The robberies didn’t start until I arrived, so now I’ll be considered guilty.”
“You’d better call him.”
“I already told him I didn’t know anything about them. Now, he’ll think I stole them.”
“He seems like a nice guy. I think he’d believe you.”
“I’m not so sure. I actually told him about the time Mom caught me trying to shoplift. I insisted I learned my lesson, and that I’d never steal again, but how can I explain this?” Was the thief trying to cast suspicion on her?
“What about maid service? Do you have someone who comes in and cleans?”
“Yes, but she promised she would only come when I was here.”
Lisa walked into the tiny kitchen. “The dishes I left in the sink have been washed and put away. That looks suspicious, but I hate to accuse her. She’s a single mom trying to make ends meet, but she was wearing a green pendant the last time I saw her here, and there’s no emerald pendant here. It’s one of the missing jewels.”
“Maybe she stole the other jewels and changed her mind about keeping them. You’d better call Justin and explain how we found them here.”
Lisa rubbed the back of her neck. “I really like him. I’d hate to have him think I stole other women’s things.”
“Has he acted like he suspects you?”
Lisa shook her head. “Actually, he told me he didn’t really consider me a suspect. He should be glad they’ve been found.”
“Then why not call him about this now?”
“It’s late. He or Stevie might be sleeping.”
Melissa brushed her auburn hair. “They couldn’t be. They just left. You’re a coward, Lisa. Look, this has got to come to a head sooner or later. Call him.”
“I need to think how to tell him what we’ve found without looking guilty.” After a moment, she drew in a deep breath and dialed.
Chapter Thirteen
Lisa paced while she waited for Justin to answer the phone. Her legs itched from mosquito bites she’d probably gotten while hunting for Rusty. Her scratches ached. She should have put some antiseptic spray on them, but she couldn’t wait to hear Justin’s reaction when she told him she’d found the jewels.
Justin may not have told her about everything that had disappeared. She didn’t even know if all the missing jewels were here.
Stevie answered the phone. “Justin’s in the shower. I’ll tell him you called.”
She didn’t really want to talk to Stevie. “Please tell Justin I need to talk to him tonight.”
“How come?”
“I have something to discuss with Justin, just him.” She hoped that would shut Stevie up.
“Got any plans for tomorrow afternoon?” he asked. “The four of us could get together and do something.”
“I have to talk to him first. Tell Justin to call back after he’s through showering. Bye now.” She hung up before he could say anything more. The two brothers seemed to be competing, more so than the usual one-up-man-ship she’d noticed with guys.
She paced the floor until Justin finally called.
“Hi, good looking. Whatcha got cooking?”
“I could make coffee cake for tomorrow if you’d like to come over and join us, but that’s not why I called.”
She heard Stevie in the background. “If she’s inviting you to go somewhere, ask if I can come, and she can bring her sister too.”
“Justin,” she lowered her voice. “I’ve got something serious to tell you, and I want it to be just between you and me.”
“Do you want to go somewhere else to talk, without your sister?”
“Actually, she’s part of it. Please, just get dressed and come on over.”
“Okay, I’ll be there. But I didn’t think we had anything that secret to discuss.”
He hung up. She had nothing to worry about. Surely he’d believe she had nothing to do with the stolen jewels.
“Melissa,” she called.
Her sister wandering out of the bedroom, yawning and rubbing her hazel eyes.
“Justin’s coming over. Please join us, but don’t say a word about the jewels until I bring them up.”
“Okay. I’d better get dressed.” She went back into the bedroom.
Lisa hurried into the bedroom to brush her hair and add lipstick. She wanted to look her best. After glancing in the mirror, she returned to the living room to wait.
The knock on the door startled Lisa. He’d come so quickly.
She opened the door.
His grin reassured her. He’d be glad she’d found the missing jewels.
He hugged and kissed her. “You look worried. Is something wrong?”
She shook her head. “Would you like some coffee?”
“Sure.”
She made a cup for each of them with the Keurig. Melissa wandered in and sat down.
Lisa wondered if she should just blurt out what happened and say how surprised she’d been? She was trying to think how to explain what they’d found when Justin asked for milk for his coffee. She poured some in his cup and felt warmed by his smile at her. If only he still smiled when he heard what she had to say, she’d breathe easier.
He looked at her cup and met her gaze. “You haven’t touched yours.”
“I don’t really want any.”
“You said you had something to tell me.”
“I guess I’d better show you what my sister found after we got back to my cottage.”
“What was it?”
“Just come look.” She took his hand, enjoying the warmth as he twined his fingers with hers and led him into the bedroom. He’d be glad the missing jewels had turned up. He had to be.
The lamp on top of the chest of drawers lit up everything. The tennis bracelet, the large ruby ring, and the huge diamond ring sparkled in the light.
He stared at them, then at her. “Those are the missing jewels. How did they get here?”
“I have no idea. They were just there when my sister walked into the bedroom. Melissa, tell him I was just as surprised as you were.”
Her sister nodded. “She’s right. I never saw them before last night when we got home. Earlier, I’d looked in her jewelry box to borrow some earrings to wear, but these jewels were not there then.”
He let go of Lisa’s hand. His deepen
ing frown sent eagles flying around in her stomach.
* * * *
Stunned, Justin stared at her. He’d felt so close to her, had wanted to ask her be his girl, but now he had to go and find the jewels in her possession. He hated to accuse her, but he had to. “Earlier I trusted my gut when I decided you were innocent. But all the other suspects have been cleared, and I’ve checked out the pawn shops. You’re the only one left who might have taken them. Is this your way of trying to pretend someone else stole them and left them here?”
Lisa shook her head. “I thought you cared for me, that you’d believe me. But why – why would I keep other people’s jewelry. I have enough – enough of my own.” She brushed at her eyes, but kept looking at him as if disappointed.
Justin scowled. “There’s the small ruby ring I saw you wear, but the missing one has a bigger stone.” He didn’t want to believe it, but she must have wanted a bigger one and taken it from Mrs. Walker’s house at a book club meeting. Perhaps she’d seen the tennis bracelet in her neighbor’s jewel box and taken it. At least, she was smart enough not to wear it around here, but no one would know it was stolen when she went back to Texas.”
He pulled out a small notebook and flipped it open. “There’s a green pendant missing. Why isn’t that here?”
“I didn’t take it … I hate to say this, but I saw Molly, she’s the maid that comes to clean, wearing a small one. She claimed it was Helenite, made from the rocks left from the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state.”
“I checked her out. She may be a single mother, but she gets a check regularly deposited in her bank from the child’s father. And besides, the missing pendant was a large one.”
He looked at the list again. “Where are the emerald cuff links and tie pin? Were you going to give them to some man you’ve been seeing in Texas?”
Lisa’s mouth dropped open. “I’d never do that. It wouldn’t be a real present unless I bought it myself.”
She looked desperate. “Justin, you have to believe me. I didn’t steal any jewels. They just showed up here. The thief probably thought the jewels were getting too hot and tried to put the blame on me, but I’m not the thief.”
“I’m calling Lucas McBain. He’ll get to the bottom of this. I want all the evidence checked so the right person is arrested. Please don’t go anywhere.” Hoping to hell it wasn’t Lisa, he pulled out his phone, tapped it, and strolled toward the front door.
Lisa glared at him. “I’m innocent, so I’m not leaving. I can’t imagine anything I’ve done to make you not trust me.”
He didn’t say anything, just turned his back on her and stood just outside the open doorway. He called Luke, and then Stevie. He was careful to speak in low tones, so she couldn’t make out what he said.
Lisa sat fuming on the couch.
Melissa patted her shoulder. “Maybe he’ll investigate everyone in the book club group. It could be one of those.”
“At least he doesn’t suspect you because you just got here.”
About ten minutes later, Stevie arrived and knocked on the door. “May I come in?”
“Wonder what he wants,” Lisa muttered. She opened the door.
Stevie glanced at the plate of cake on the table. “May I have a piece?”
“You guys are all alike,” Lisa said. “Always ready to eat. Sure. Help yourself.”
As he sat down and munched a piece of cake, she asked. “Why are you here?”
“He asked me to keep an eye on you.”
Lisa frowned. “You mean to be sure I don’t leave?”
“Yeah. Sorry, but that’s the way it is. You got any soft drinks or beer?”
“There are cans of Coke in the refrigerator. Be my guest. Your brother is adding insult to injury, big time.” She clenched her fists and marched to the doorway. “Justin, can’t you trust me not to leave before Lucas comes. Where do you think I’d go? You know I don’t have a car here.”
Justin swallowed. Maybe he’d gone too far asking Stevie to keep an eye on her.
Ten minutes later, Luke arrived with a tall, lean, young man. “This is Dan, my fingerprint expert.” Justin walked into the bedroom. Stevie followed. Dan dusted her chest of drawers and her jewelry box.
Luke laid his list of missing items on the bureau and checked off each item except the emerald pendant, the emerald cuff links and the emerald tie tack as he slipped them in clear plastic bags.
Lisa watched, then asked, “Would you have them dust the sliding glass door? Someone was in here last night and let my puppy out.”
Lucas stared at her. “Are you sure someone let him loose on purpose?”
“Dr. Oliver’s son, Evan, snuck in to play with him, but he said he didn’t take him out of the playpen. And the sliding glass door was left open less than a couple inches. Rusty’s too big to get out that way.”
“Good point.” Lucas pointed to the window door. “Dan, dust that too.”
As he gathered up all the bags with jewelry, Lisa asked, “What are you going to do now, arrest me?” She looked miserable standing there in front of Stevie and her sister.
Lucas’s office was only a block and a half away. She was probably worrying about being led in handcuffs along the sidewalk so all the residents and tourists could see. How humiliating that would be. Would she hold her head high and still proclaim her innocence? Justin hoped Luke would drive her to his office. She could duck down in the back seat so no one would see her.
Lucas shook his head. “We don’t have enough evidence yet.”
“Would you be willing to submit to a fingerprint test?” Justin asked.
“Of course. I didn’t touch them,” Lisa insisted.
“But I did, even though I didn’t steal them,” her sister said. “I guess you’ll have to take my fingerprints, also.”
“That’s right,” Lucas said. “Dan, take care of that.”
Lisa sat at the table while Dan spread a plastic sheet, then laid fingerprint charts and a container of black ink down. He rolled each of her fingers and thumbs on the chart. As Lisa rose and washed her hands in the sink, he did the same with her sister and then packed up his equipment.
Lucas slid the bags with jewelry into a briefcase and headed for the door. “Don’t leave town. I’ll call and let you know the results.”
Stevie followed Lucas and Dan out the door, but Justin lagged behind. “If you’re innocent, those tests will help prove it.” He shut the door behind him.
* * * *
Lisa sank onto a chair at the table with a lump in her throat and tried to hold the tears back. Justin had walked out without a kiss or even a wave. Obviously, she was being framed. How could he not believe her?
Melissa washed her hands in the sink. “You look really down. You love him, don’t you?”
“I don’t know. How can I love someone who doesn’t trust me, who doesn’t believe me? I feel betrayed. I wished this didn’t have to happen now.”
“Why?”
“Even if I manage to convince the police I’m not guilty, Justin’s thinking of opening a jewelry store here instead of going back to Dallas to work in his family’s jewelry stores, so he’ll stay here, and I’ll be in Hurst, and still teaching at Knollwood School—unless I get arrested for robbery.”
“You think he’d stop seeing you then?”
“If he believes I’m guilty, he’ll want nothing to do with me.”
Melissa dried her hands. “Forget him. There must be another really nice guy who will get you and appreciate you.”
“But I’ve struck out twice. I don’t know if I have the courage to take a chance again.”
Melissa walked around the table and hugged her. “You’re too good for him. Save yourself for the man who’ll become your soul mate. He’s out there somewhere. All you have to do is keep an open mind and you’ll find him.”
Lisa blotted tears from her cheeks. “I’m glad you believe in me, but I think I love Justin. Why can’t he see that I’m not guilty?”
/> She collapsed onto a kitchen chair. She looked at her wrists, imagining them handcuffed. What if she were taken to jail in Naples? She dreaded being dragged off with all the inhabitants watching. Charity and Louise would milk their knowledge for days. Would the parents of the children she taught withdraw their kids? Would she be fired from this job?
She’d been sympathetic with Justin when he told her about the deadly car accident, which must be still eating at his soul. She’d tell him again that she had nothing to do with those jewels. He just had to believe her.
Melissa sat down across from her. “Surely, he’ll find the thief and realize you didn’t take the jewels. Let me take you out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant tomorrow. We’ll order fajitas with beef, chicken, and shrimp, hopefully served with sour cream and guacamole.”
“I wonder if they serve hot fudge sundaes.”
Melissa laughed. “You and your hot fudge sundaes. I remember they always used to cheer you up when you were disappointed about something. I’ll clean up in here. You’ll feel better about things tomorrow when they don’t find any of your fingerprints on the jewels.”
As Lisa washed her face, she couldn’t stop thinking about Justin, how he complimented her, how he made her feel beautiful, how he’d had confidence in her ability to pass the GRE the next time she took it, and how he’d stood by her in the hospital. She’d had fun with him, riding the waves, sailing in the Gulf of Mexico, and even fishing. All the memory of those good times had been spoiled by his accusations.
Why couldn’t Justin believe her? She wiped away the tell-tale moisture from her eyes. Tomorrow she‘d try to enjoy being with her sister who did believe in her, even if she had to pretend to enjoy lunch. Melissa was a jewel. Lisa was lucky to have her sister on her side.
In the morning, a knock on the front door awakened Lisa. Who could it be so early? Grumbling about having her sleep cut short, she called, “Who is it?”
“It’s Justin. I need to talk to you.”
“Wait until I put on a robe.” She put on the robe, combed her hair and put on lipstick. Even if he didn’t believe her, she still wanted to look good.
