To Bead or Not to Bead, Glass Bead Mystery Series, Book 4

by Janice Peacock

  “I’m sorry. I’m glad your shop is still here because I think your clothes are wonderful.” By now I’d collected three dresses to try on and was hoping one of them might be perfect for me to wear to the gala. Slipping into the changing room, I tried on the dresses. The first two didn’t work for me, but the third one fit perfectly. I exited the dressing room, twirled in front of the trio of mirrors in the corner of the shop, and admired the dress.

  Cassie stood behind me and nodded her approval.

  “It’s perfect. I’ll take it,” I said.

  I wasn’t sure what to make of Cassie’s situation, but it did put her on my list of potential culprits, especially since her last name started with MO. She might have been angry enough with Austin, having lost the opportunity to sell to the developer, that she would want him dead. I couldn’t be certain, but I wondered if she might have access to the theater via the Underground. I’d only explored one of the passageways under the theater, but if my somewhat faulty sense of direction was correct, the other subterranean alley led to Cassie’s shop.

  I paid for my purchase and walked the short distance to the theater. I was hoping I could catch up with Tessa, who seemed to be going at full-tilt to get ready for the gala.

  Spotting the Starbucks where Tessa and I had taken Daniel the morning he discovered Austin’s body, I popped over and picked up coffees for Tessa and me. Then I made my way to the theater, where I saw something that nearly made me drop both cups: Ryan Shaw, in cuffs, being hauled out of the backstage door by a uniformed police officer. Zachary emerged right behind them.

  “What the hell! What’s going on here?” I asked, rushing toward them. I was furious. Why hadn’t Zachary told me Ryan was a suspect? I had dutifully been telling him everything about my progress, but he hadn’t told much of anything.

  “Arresting him for the murder of Austin Greer,” Zachary said, in his sternest detective voice.

  Zachary and Ryan had been jealous of each other since they first met, and Zachary had been at least partially responsible for Ryan losing his job at the police department. Now it had come to this. While I knew Ryan hadn’t always played by the rules, I couldn’t imagine he’d ever kill someone.

  While the officer stuffed Ryan into the back of the police car, Zachary took me aside to talk privately.

  “Look, I’m sorry. But it all adds up. He had an opportunity to kill Mr. Greer—he was at the theater the night of the murder. He had the means—according to Leslie Dreyfus, the stage manager, Ryan helped her hang the chandelier along with the artist. Since he knew how to hang it, he certainly knew how to tamper with it.”

  “But couldn’t it mean that Leslie was the one who tampered with it? She could be pointing you toward him to deflect the blame away from her. Don’t forget, she was at the theater with Ryan working the ghost special effects the night Mr. Greer was murdered,” I said. I felt bad throwing Leslie under the bus, but not that bad, given how she’d treated us—including the Scottish play nonsense.

  “I understand that. But she also told us he was alone in the theater well after rehearsal ended last night. We need to understand what he was doing in there, sneaking around, perhaps trying to cover his tracks.”

  This was not good news. Someone knew Ryan had let me in—but it couldn’t have been whoever spotted me, because Leslie thought it was Ryan who had been inside the theater. I needed to make sure I didn’t tip my cards because Zachary—if he didn’t know already—would be unhappy to hear I’d been in the theater. I should have told him I was going before I went, but I knew he wouldn’t have approved. And now, it felt too late to break the news to him. I had to proceed with caution.

  “How does she know that?”

  “Because the alarm system timestamps the security codes entered to arm and disarm the system. Rehearsal ended at eleven. Ryan didn’t enter his code to lock the building until midnight. We’ve yet to discover what he was doing here.”

  Dammit. I was going to have to confess. But confessing wasn’t going to get Ryan released. Maybe there was another way.

  “What about a motive?”

  “Jax, look, I know we’re trying to work together—”

  “Trying? I thought we actually were working together.”

  “Yes, of course. We are working together. I’ve been doing this a long time. We wouldn’t go and arrest a suspect unless we thought he was the killer. He had a motive.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’m not at liberty to say.”

  “I thought we were working together—you know, sharing information?”

  “Right, and so let me ask you this: What haven’t you told me? I’ve been a detective a long time, and I’ve also gotten to know you pretty well.”

  Dammit. He was on to me. I must be leaking guilt. Zachary was going to be angry to hear this, but he needed to know—he already knew something was up.

  “Um. I need to tell you something,” I said. I took a deep breath and plunged in. “Ryan let me into the theater last night.

  “What? Are you insane? You were creeping around the theater by yourself, days after there had been a murder?”

  “Well, if you put it that way, it sounds pretty bad. But, I was just trying to help with the investigation. I hadn’t been able to get into the box office to look for records during the day, so I thought I’d try at night.”

  “With no listening device,” Zachary said.

  “Right. I didn’t want you to worry.”

  “You didn’t want to me know. You didn’t trust me.”

  “No, that’s not true. I do trust you. I wanted to help.”

  “Right. Well, I’d rather you not end up in the fridge in the medical examiner’s lab.”

  “Me too. I know it was reckless. I should have told you. I’m sorry. Ryan let me in, but he wasn’t in the theater with me, and it wasn’t his idea.”

  Zachary removed his glasses, which usually made me all squishy inside. He pinched the bridge of his nose, and slowly blinked once, and replaced his glasses. Then he gathered me up in his arms and hugged me tightly.

  “I just don’t want anything to happen to you,” Zachary said, kissing me on the top of my head.

  He relaxed his arms and released me. Without a word he turned and trotted to the patrol car. I watched in amazement as Zachary helped Ryan out of the back of the car and ordered an officer to unlock the handcuffs binding him.

  Ryan was free. But for how long?

  NINETEEN

  I thanked Zachary for letting Ryan go, then I scanned the parking lot, looking for Tessa’s van, but it was nowhere to be found. With two cups of coffee still in my hands, I gave one to Zachary as a peace offering, then pointed the Ladybug toward the Fremont District. I had to complete one final mission for the day. I needed to see Rosie at Aztec Beads about a necklace for the auction. By now, Frankie should have gotten in touch with Rosie to tell her it was okay to donate something. I crossed my fingers that he’d done what he promised, because time was running out. Once I had her necklace, I’d be up to eight, and I was hoping Tessa could supply the last two.

  I parked the Ladybug at the curb beside the bead shop. As I entered, Rosie bustled up to me.

  “I know why you’re here. Frankie called me,” she said.

  “Oh, good.” I relaxed a little now that I knew I wasn’t going to have another dismal interaction with her.

  “Listen, Jax, I’m sorry I didn’t help you before. It’s just that Frankie can be such a drama queen. I didn’t know what to do or whether I should believe him or not. But, I do have a necklace here for you. I hope it brings in a lot of money for HAT,” Rosie said, reaching around the counter and grabbing something off a lower shelf behind her.

  “Thanks, Rosie, I really appreciate it.”

  She pulled out an elaborate necklace from a velvet tray. It was a beautiful combination of beads in all the colors of
the rainbow. In a word, it was a treasure.

  “Now, this is a special piece. I’m only giving you this because, you know, Dylan was homeless for a while. I think he could’ve used something like HAT back then to help him.”

  “It’s beautiful, Rosie. Really. Did you make it?”

  “Actually, Tracy made it. Pretty good, I think.” Tracy was Rosie’s daughter and Dylan’s girlfriend. Tracy’s young son, Benny, often played at the bead shop, and today was no exception. He was running around in the yard behind the shop with their little dog Tito, which I was thankful for. It meant Tito wouldn’t be trying to attack me while I talked with Rosie. “She took all the random beads she found on the shop floor over the years and squirreled them away. Then she made them into this woven necklace.”

  “It’s truly a work of art. Thanks so much. I’m sure it will fetch a good price at the auction, and I’ll make sure we find the right person to wear it in the fashion show. Do you want to come to the gala? I can get you a free ticket.”

  “Oh, no, not me. I’m babysitting Benny tomorrow night so Dylan and Tracy can go out,” Rosie said as she carefully wrapped the necklace in tissue paper and placed it in a box. “I hope it’s a success.”

  It was dark by the time I got home and rolled into my parking spot behind the house. As I got out of my car, I was alarmed to see the back door standing open. Since Gumdrop was an indoor kitty, I was careful never to leave the door open. If Val had come over, I’m sure she wouldn’t have left the door open, either. Dylan and Rudy had been working in the attic, but I didn’t think either of them would forget to lock up when they left.

  Being careful to not make a sound, I quietly opened the car door and didn’t close it. My heart was pounding as I crept to my studio and peered through the window. The lights were off, and I could see someone moving through the darkness.

  A burglar!

  I stood, frozen, not knowing what to do. I often joked that Gumdrop was my guard cat, but in reality, he had never done anything to keep me safe. I wished Val’s dog was visiting, because he might have been able to scare off whoever this was.

  I crouched low behind the sheet-covered chair Rudy and Dylan had moved out of the attic. The thief crept out the door, a black hoodie pulled tight over his head. I caught a glimpse of what looked like a Venetian mask covering his face.

  Suddenly, an orange kitten leaped from the roof and landed on the thief’s head. The kitten’s claws dug deep into the hood as the thief grunted and swatted at it. Then the kitten jumped to the ground, scurrying off into the bushes beside me. I stayed completely still, worried the intruder might spot me, while the sound of my pulse rattled in my ears. Without a sound, the burglar ran between my house and Mr. Chu’s and disappeared into the darkness.

  Frozen with fright and too shaky to stand, I sat quietly, contemplating my next move. I didn’t think the thief would come back, but I wasn’t ready to leave my hiding place. I heard a small squeak and turned as the heroic kitten emerged from the bushes.

  “Hello, little one,” I said in a whisper. I wondered if she belonged to Mr. Chu, since he had cornered the market on cats in our neighborhood. I reached out to touch her. She turned and bolted, heading back into the bushes behind my house.

  I headed cautiously inside, locking the deadbolt on the back door behind me. I never used the deadbolt, but I expected I’d be using much more in the future. It looked like the doorknob was busted and would have to be replaced. I turned on every light in the house. Oddly—and fortunately—the house hadn’t been ransacked. Nothing seemed to be missing. Whoever it was had left empty-handed.

  I found Gummie hiding under my bed.

  “Oh, no! Gummie. Are you okay?” I asked my cat, pulling him up and placing him on my bed. He seemed unharmed, but still a little under the weather from his virus. I was freaked out and I didn’t want to be alone. While I knew I should probably call Zachary and tell him what had happened, what I needed most was someone a little more upbeat. Someone like Val. I went next door and knocked. Val opened her door and ushered me inside.

  “What is it, sweet cheeks? You don’t look so hot.”

  “Holy crap, Val, there was a burglar in my house!”

  “No!”

  “Yes, and as he was leaving, a little kitten scared him off.”

  “Two questions. Have you called the police? You said ‘he’—how do you know it was a man? How did a burglar get scared off by a kitten? You don’t mean Gumdrop, do you?”

  “That’s four questions. You’re right, I don’t know if it was a man, it could’ve been a woman. Whoever it was, they weren’t much taller than me. I didn’t get a good look at him, but he was wearing some sort of a mask and a hood. And, no, it wasn’t Gumdrop. It was a kitten who jumped from the roof and onto the head of the burglar.”

  “Good kitty! And where is this hero now?”

  “She ran off. I don’t know where.”

  “Oh, poo. Well, I’m glad you’re safe. Is Gumdrop okay? And how is your house?”

  “Everything is fine. Whoever was in my house didn’t take anything, as far as I can tell. I should call the police. I’m not sure if this is related to the murder at the Chanticleer Theater, but I better let Zachary know, too.”

  I noticed Val was wearing rubber gloves, a rubber apron, and little rubber booties. “Is this your newest sci-fi costume?” Val loved to go to science fiction festivals in full costume. Her most recent Princess Leia costume had been a hit at the Burien UFO Festival a couple of weeks ago. It was the costume Val said was the reason for her recent dieting obsession. The white form-fitting gown had looked great on her when I had seen it, so I had to wonder if this was the real reason she had decided to drop a few pounds. This particular costume, I couldn’t figure out. “Something from Rocky Horror Picture Show, perhaps?”

  “No, silly, I’m washing the dog. I took Stanley out for a stroll-n-poop earlier, and he found a dead bird and rolled in it. It was disgusting!”

  A loud ah-roo echoed from Val’s bathroom. Stanley must have been distressed that Val had left him alone, and she headed down the hall to find him.

  “Can I borrow your phone?” I asked. I’d left mine at home when I came dashing over to Val’s.

  “Sure, sweet cheeks, it’s on the kitchen table.”

  I sat down at the table, picked up Val’s rhinestone-encrusted phone, and dialed Zachary. Fortunately, I knew Zachary’s number.

  “Grant,” he said, picking up the line. He always sounded so serious when he answered the phone when he didn’t realize it was me calling.

  “It’s Jax.”

  “Oh, I didn’t recognize the number.” His voice softened and just hearing it helped to calm me.

  “I’m using Val’s phone. I, um…” My words caught in my throat. The fact I’d interrupted a burglar, and the danger associated with it, swept over me now that I was talking with Zachary. “Someone broke into my house.” My voice cracked a little as I held back tears.

  “Are you okay?” Zachary asked.

  “Yes, I just kind of caught the guy as he was leaving, I think.”

  “Where are you now? Are you safe? Do you want me to come over?”

  “I’m at Val’s. You don’t need to come, I’m okay. Sorry I called so late.”

  “Don’t be sorry. You can call me anytime. Are you sure do don’t want me to come over?”

  “No, you don’t have to. I’m really okay, just a little spooked.”

  “I think you should go away for a little while—I think perhaps your involvement in this investigation may have put you in danger,” Zachary said.

  “No, I’m fine. We don’t even know if this break-in was because of the Greers. It could just be a random event.”

  “Maybe you could visit your parents in Florida?”

  “Really, I’m okay, and I’m not running away to Florida just because someone breaks int
o my house. I don’t even think whoever it was took anything.”

  “Do you know what they could be after?”

  “No idea. Should I call the police about the break-in?”

  “Let me give dispatch a call. I’ll have them send an officer over. I’ll let them know you’re at your neighbor’s so you don’t have to wait around the house by yourself. You’re sure you don’t want me to come over and keep you company?”

  “Positive,” I said. We said our goodbyes, and I hung up Val’s phone, returning it to where I found it.

  I followed the splashing sounds emanating from the bathroom, where I found Stanley chest-deep in a tub of sudsy water. As soon as he saw me, he started wagging his fat tail, which sent a tidal wave of water out of the tub and onto the floor.

  “Now you can see why I need this kind of coverage.” Val knelt at the side of the tub and started rinsing the dog.

  “Listen, I need to tell you something.”

  She stopped rinsing. “What’s wrong, honey bunny?”

  “It’s about your Uncle Freddie. I know where he is. Or, where he used to be.”

  “Oh—you know about the painkillers and the rehab? I’m sorry I fibbed about him. I wanted to tell you, but I needed to make sure it was okay with him first. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth.”

  “It’s okay. It really is. I saw him today and he was doing really well. Actually, he’s on his way home. He checked himself out. But I wanted you to know that I knew, because he’s going to be our emcee at the gala tomorrow!”

  “He is? That’s fantastic! I love that. He’ll be super, much better than that awful Frankie guy, anyway.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. He’s is going to be fantastic.”

  I saw two clear plastic bags of cotton balls on the bathroom counter. “Stocking up on cotton balls?” I asked.

  “Yes—they’re for my newest diet. You know, I had to give up on the Weekday Diet—there were just too many things to eat on Friday alone—French dip sandwich, fruit, feta, falafel. I ate all those things. I’m still stuffed!”