“And I want you to arrest these frauds and then get on the horn to have Jenny Cady taken in up in Boston. She claims to be an agent, but she’s a thief. And my art is worth big money. We’re not talking a misdemeanor. This is a felony.”
Teague’s stomach knotted. If he weren’t the sheriff, he’d probably have knocked the over-dramatic artist halfway across the porch for talking about the woman he loved like that. “Why would she do that? Colton, it doesn’t make sense. She gets paid a percentage of your sales. It’s in her best interest to keep your sales moving, and your reputation growing.”
“Not if she’s double-dipping. Getting a percentage of my work, and then taking the whole cash value of those forgeries she’s making.”
Teague knew Jenny was a woman of many talents, but dumpster diving and welding were not among them. “There’s bound to be a better explanation.”
“Right. Her momma’s been keeping me off her trail while she packs away some more cash.”
“Or—” Abby Ruth stepped forward, “—you’re such a jerk that plenty of people want to take advantage of you and wouldn’t feel bad for it. I told you we are getting close to solving the case. Tadpole, we have a suspect. Most of the proof is circumstantial to this point, but give us a few more days. I promise we can put this puppy to rest.”
Teague glanced at Colton.
Colton sputtered. “Not on your life. The forger has to be Jenny because she’s the only other person who’s seen it. I shipped it to her myself. If she isn’t the actual forger, then I bet she sent my work to the forger she hired, all the while thinking I’m working down here in Georgia completely unaware of her scam.”
Teague raised a brow. “When did you ship it?”
“In March. Dropped it off at the Shipper Shack on my way to pick up more Rhode Island license plates for my current sculpture. A rooster representing the Chinese New Year coming up. There’s a subliminal message there with the Rhode Island and the rooster. Get it? Rhode Island Red.” He paused for agreement. When he got none, he blundered forward. “Lots of people don’t ever get to the depths of why I choose the things I do. Whatever. Those who matter do.”
“Hold that thought.” Teague spun around, his back to the group, and dialed Jenny. When she picked up, he brought her up-to-date on the nonsense down here in Summer Shoals.
He kept his voice low, but Jenny wasn’t so restrained. When she responded, he had to hold the phone away from his ear. “You tell that pompous—”
Teague quickly shoved the phone to his head again to keep her insults and threats between the two of them. He was in love with a passionate woman, but sometimes that passion went wild. And not in a good way.
“Give me a second, Jenny. We’re gonna get this all straightened out. Take a deep breath, okay?”
Jenny’s words petered out and he heard her doing one of Sera’s yoga breaths on the other end. Finally, she said, “I have his damned sculpture right here.”
“Ellerbee,” Teague said, “she still has your monkey.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“FaceTime me,” Jenny snarled.
“Hang on.” He pressed the FaceTime button and connected with Jenny. Then he motioned for Colton to move closer. The grannies moved in too, as if they were all connected by one big fishing net.
“Colton. Why didn’t you just call me?” Jenny demanded. “I’m your agent. I’m here for you. I’d never do something like forge your work.”
Colton’s mouth took on a sulky pout. “The evidence points to you.”
“You’re wrong. Look.”
Teague held the phone so they could all see Jenny standing in front of a four foot sculpture of a monkey with wings made from Kansas license plates, a garden hose tail, and wacky conglomeration of seemingly random parts.
“See,” Jenny said. “It’s right here.”
Colton waved a piece of paper in front of Teague’s phone. “Show her this.”
Teague positioned the phone so Jenny could see the invitation and the sculpture in the picture.
“It’s kind of hard to see,” she said, “but if you look closely, you can tell the two sculptures aren’t the same. The hat on the one here in Boston is made from pillboxes. But the hat on the one in the picture looks like it’s made from Copenhagen cans. And what are those feet—spatulas? That doesn’t even make sense. If I wanted to rip off your art, Colton, don’t you think I’d be smart enough to make it look the same as yours?”
Hopefully Teague was the only one to hear her mutter, “Or better?”
Colton’s frown deepened. “Yeah, it’s a crummy forgery at best. My reputation will be shot.”
Teague wasn’t sure what Jenny saw in Colton’s art, but then he was no artist.
Jenny’s voice steadied. “Colton, I’ll straighten this out for you. I’ll go to the wire with the information. The people who matter in the art world will be on your side.”
Abby Ruth shouldered in between Teague and Colton. “Maggie, Sera and I think we know who the forger is and have been tracking him down.”
Jenny caught Teague’s gaze, a plea clear in her eyes. “Teague?”
“Don’t turn away from me, young lady,” her mom snapped. “We’ve been working hard on this case and we’re only steps away from resolving it.”
“Momma, please don’t make a mess of this.”
“We’ve got this. And I’ll keep Teague in the loop,” Abby Ruth said to Jenny. Then she turned to Colton and, in the most sincere tone Teague had ever heard from her mouth, said, “Colton, will you please let us try to solve this? I promise you I won’t let you down.”
Colton stepped away and turned his back.
“Please, Colton. She’s sincere, and Maggie and I will help her,” Sera said softly.
He grumbled and then nodded. “What are my choices? Fine. But if you don’t get some answers soon, I’m calling…the…the…FBI. I’ll have you all arrested, Jenny too, for conspiracy.” He spun toward Teague. “And I don’t know what good you’ll be in all this, but if I’m right, you’ll be thrown out of office when the county hears about your favoritism.”
Colton stomped off the porch and slammed his car door before peeling out. New spring grass floated in his wake as he punched it out of Summer Haven’s driveway.
When the front door whipped open behind Teague, he went for his gun.
Lil’s chin cocked at a stubborn angle. She walked outside and pinned them all with a glare. “What in blazes is going on here?”
Teague motioned for Maggie to fill Lil in, then moved into the yard. “Hey, babe,” he said to Jenny, “I’m sorry all this is going down. I know you’re under a lot of pressure up there as it is. I miss you like crazy. But don’t worry about a thing. I’ll handle this, and I won’t let your mom make a move without telling me about it. While they’re looking around here, I’m heading to Palm Beach to check out the first forgery.”
Chapter 21
After all the hullaballoo Lillian had overheard on her front porch, one way or another, she would stop Maggie and the others from poking around any more. She felt responsible for letting them get involved in that first case, and darned if they weren’t apparently addicted to the adrenaline rush. That wasn’t smart or safe. After being on the inside, she was much more aware of things that could go wrong when dealing with criminal types.
As if she would believe Maggie and the others were just helping Teague through a lover’s quarrel with his girlfriend. Although if Abby Ruth’s daughter was anything like her mother, Lil had trouble believing that girl was Teague Castro’s Miss Right.
Lil had decided to sleep on it before taking action, figuring she’d have a better perspective this morning. But when she got out of bed, she was more determined than ever to make sure those girls didn’t get into more trouble. If they did, it could land her fanny right back in prison and she sure wasn’t up for another go at that.
It was her obligation as a real friend to protect Maggie, and she had every intention of doing so. Today.
Even though her lavender Etienne Aigner clutch didn’t exactly match the mauve lounge pants and tunic she’d found at the back of her closet, she tucked it under her arm and marched right down Main Street and up the steps to the sheriff’s office. She was Lillian Summer Fairview. She could make things happen in this town.
The sergeant at the front desk recognized her immediately. “Miss Lillian, how’ve you been? Heard you were traveling the world or something. Good to have you back.”
“Thank you. You know I couldn’t stay away for too long. There’s no place like home and Summer Shoals will always be mine.”
“So true. What can I do for you?”
“I need to speak with the sheriff.”
The sergeant gave her a nod and picked up the phone. “Yes, sir. Mrs. Lillian Fairview is up here. She’d like to see you. Yes, sir.”
“He said to send you on back.”
“I know the way,” she said with a quick double-tap on the counter as she walked by. The utilitarian color of the cinderblock walls gave her an eerie sense of déjà vu. Since that darn Angelina hadn’t wasted any time snatching almost every position Lil used to have in this town, maybe she’d start up a new event to raise money for a sheriff’s office facelift. Plus, a new cause might keep the girls busy enough to keep them out of trouble too.
“Hellooo,” she sang out as she stepped inside Teague’s office and took one of the leather chairs in front of his desk. “Brought you a little something.” She dug a small mason jar out of her purse and set it on his desk. “Sugared peanuts.”
“Why thank you, Miss Lillian. It can be hard readjusting after being gone for so long.”
If he only knew. She gave him a polite chuckle. “Well, couldn’t be happier to be back home. Although, I do have one teensy-weensy problem I think you’d be better suited to help me with.”
“Don’t tell me, you need some tree trimming done again?”
“Not this time.” This time the laugh was for real. He’d fallen right into her trap that day. Bless his heart. “You know I have a few guests staying over at Summer Haven with me.”
“That’s seemed to have worked out for everyone.”
For them maybe. Me? Not so much. Now that she was back, she wanted things the way they were when she left. But with Maggie off escapading with Sera and Abby Ruth all the time, things wouldn’t be the same. Not unless Lil took action. “Yes, well, I’m worried.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It seems Maggie and her new friends consider themselves some sort of modern-day Charlie’s Angels or something. Slipping away in the middle of the night snooping around the goings-on in this town. I think they’re going to get themselves in trouble they can’t handle.”
“Really?”
She leaned forward, lowered her voice. “Let’s not pretend, Teague. You were at the house when Colton Ellerbee came by.”
“So?”
“So that man is a volcano waiting to blow. You can’t tell me you think women Maggie’s age should not only put up with his baloney, but also traipse all over creation trying to solve his so-called case. Art, my hind foot.”
Teague’s chair squeaked as he leaned back in it, tapping his fingers against each other.
“I told them to stop this silly investigation, but they won’t listen to me.” She scooted forward in her chair. “But if you tell them to stop, they’d have to listen.”
“I’m not sure I can do that, Miss Lillian.”
“Of course you can. You’re the sheriff. You can do anything you like.”
“I’m not sure I want to. I have to tell you, I saw those girls in action over Halloween. They did a better job than my own deputy could have. I was impressed.”
Lil nearly collapsed back in her chair. She hadn’t expected this kind of response from him. “But…but…I go away on a little vacation and come back to find these ladies have set up an impromptu business in my home. That’s plain wrong. Was it too much to ask they just watch over things for a few months? You’d think they’d appreciate the roof over their heads and do me this one favor.”
She was frustrated and her words were coming out choppy and rough. For a moment there, she sounded more like Big Martha than herself. Probably not flattering.
“Where exactly were you?” He leveled a stare at her, and she wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or he was taunting her.
“A-A-Alaska and a few other places.” Hell’s bells, Maggie and Sera had promised a full briefing on the charade, but she’d be darned if she could remember anything except for the picture from Alaska right now.
“Alaska, huh?”
“I’m just glad to be home. Vacations are nice, but home is all that matters to me. And my friends, of course, and I’m worried for their safety.”
“A ten-month vacation?”
She swallowed and opened her mouth, but she couldn’t lie to him. Not a word came forth.
“Miss Lillian. I know where you were.”
Even though her heart was zinging around, she had to bluff. He couldn’t know. Could he? “Well, you know after you’re hopping from place to place and time changes and all that, the destinations seem the same.”
“Salisbury, Georgia, is not that far away. And last time I looked, it was in the eastern time zone, same as Summer Shoals.”
Her zinging heart dropped like a cinderblock. And there it was. He knew. “How did you know? How long?”
“I got a little suspicious at the Fourth of July parade when I saw a woman with a belly button ring and bare feet sitting in your spot of honor in the back of your daddy’s car. Somehow that didn’t seem like you.”
“And you’ve kept my secret all of this time? Do the girls know that you know?”
“No. It wasn’t my place to share it. That information didn’t change the safety of this town. I didn’t feel obliged to pass it along.”
“Thank you, Teague.”
“You’re welcome. But about your request to have Maggie, Sera and Abby Ruth back off the Colton Ellerbee case? Well, I promised Jenny I’d head down to Palm Beach to check things out. I’m short-staffed and strangely enough, those ladies are helping me. They’re not in danger. I wouldn’t let that happen.”
“But—”
“Miss Lillian, they’ve kept up one helluva charade for you for nearly a year, and it hasn’t been easy for them. That house has been a handful. Not only that, but I’m pretty damn convinced they helped you solve your Social Security problem. I can’t prove it, but I have a hunch.”
His disappointment in her was worse than the guilt she’d harbored all those months ago when she’d been forced to pawn Daddy’s pocket watches. If she’d learned to be more grateful and less selfish, she wouldn’t be feeling this way right now. What happened to the no more Miss High & Mighty she’d promised herself?
Teague was right. They’d gotten involved in both of those cases for her. If she kept raising a ruckus over every little thing, she might just end up all alone in that big house.
Feeling deflated and ashamed, she forced herself to stand. “I promise I’ll make you proud of me and happy you kept my secret.”
Lillian went straight home, but her heart was heavy. She didn’t even bother going inside, instead collapsing into one of the rockers on the front porch. She’d made so many mistakes.
The familiar rumble of the Tucker Torpedo pulled her from her silent pity party.
Maggie walked outside, glanced at the car coming up the drive and then at Lil.
“Did you know they were bringing the car back today?”
“No,” Maggie said. “I’m as surprised as you are.”
Lil jumped to her feet, sending her rocker thudding against the white clapboard of the house to catch up with Maggie, who was making a beeline for the Tucker.
Lil’s breath caught in her chest. Letting Angelina have this, even for a nice sum of money, would be the hardest thing she’d ever had to do.
A bright orange Dodge pickup pulled up behind the Tucker. A puff
of smoke came from the driver’s side window as the man got out of the Tucker and gave the guy in the truck a nod.
Maggie practically hip-checked Lil as she raced toward the nose of the Tucker.
Lil watched her run a tentative hand over the metal and hood ornament. She overheard the man say, “We finished up and know how eager you’ve been to get the car back before your friend comes home. That hood was a real booger bear to fix.”
Hood fixed? Lil’s jaw tensed, her teeth clenching as tightly as if they’d been wired together like the grid of the Tucker Torpedo’s grill. She saw the gulp Maggie had just taken.
“Figured I could drop it off since my buddy and I had to cruise straight past here on the way to the North Georgia Car Rally. I have to tell you I impressed myself on the paint match. I enjoyed the heck out of this project. Sure glad you tracked me down.”
“Thank you so much,” Maggie said.
Since when had Margaret Rawls become devious and kept secrets from her? Probably since those other two women started hanging around. Lil tried to hold back the jealousy nagging at her about Maggie and her new friends.
“It looks perfect,” Maggie said, and boy, did she look relieved.
I’ll be the judge of that. Lil raised her chin and cast a critical eye on the car. As she quite honestly couldn’t tell it had ever left her care, her misgivings and anger fell away. It looked to be in tiptop shape, and detailed to boot.
Tears of relief welled in her eyes. Lil blinked them back and slid behind the wheel of the beloved car. Her last connection to Daddy.
The man ran his hand along the shiny hood ornament.
“Where did you find one?” Maggie asked.
“I didn’t,” he said. “Your friend Serendipity didn’t tell you?”
Maggie glanced over at Lil, nerves clear in her expression. “Tell me what?”
“She showed up begging me to get the car done early. She’d superglued the pieces together and filled the pits with something organic. I don’t know what it was, but my guy did some sanding on it and sent it to be chromed. I swear it’s nicer than the original Tucker hood ornaments.” He handed her the invoice. “No charge on the ornament.”
In High Cotton Page 18
