“The bear image has been taken out of the screen saver.”
“That must have been part of the virus.” I went over to them and leaned against the counter. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms to try to warm up.
“My computer upstairs seems to be fine. It must only affect the store computer,” Max said. “You don’t have one at home, do you?”
“We use my iPad or a laptop.”
“Hey, you’ll find this article interesting.” Max held out the newspaper and pointed. “Read this.”
“Sure.” I grabbed the paper and began reading. The article told about several recent burglaries. “This is unreal.” My eyes grew wider as I read further. “Listen to this: Only Lincoln memorabilia were stolen. All other items, including those of presidents, FDR, Teddy Roosevelt, Reagan, and Clinton were untouched.” I scrunched the paper and said, “I wonder why they smashed up my business instead of stealing my Lincoln memorabilia. It’s like they want me to notice what they’re doing.” Perplexed, I cocked my head. “Are these crimes committed by the same person? It can’t be, can it?”
“It sure seems like it.” Aaron glanced at me. “I’m shutting the computer down and rebooting it, to make sure that it starts faster.”
“The computer geek has gone through all this, so you shouldn’t be worried.” Max stepped out from behind Aaron.
“Too many weird things are happening,” Aaron said, getting up. “Liv, what’s next on your agenda today?”
“I have to take a closer look at that little uniform, and those concentric puzzle pages need deciphering.” I folded up the paper and set it aside for further reading.
“I haven’t seen her diary yet,” Max said.
“Me, neither,” said Aaron.
“I’ll get it.” I went to the workroom and found the book on one of the shelves. With diary in hand, I returned. “Here.” Just as I placed it on the counter top, Max’s cell phone rang.
“It’s Anna,” Max said and turned away to take the call.
Max was talking about his sister. I opened the book to search for the pages with the puzzles. I found them as Max disconnected.
“Gotta run.”
“Do you want to take a look at these, or not?”
“Yep, but later. Have to pick Anna up from class.” He headed toward the back door. “Later!”
I shrugged, turning the book around for Aaron to see. “How on earth do you figure this out? What does it all mean?”
“Let’s make extra copies.”
“Good idea.” I picked up the book, and Aaron followed me into the workroom where I copied and printed them out.
“I should check my e-mail, since I haven’t today. After that, let’s close up and go home. Are you scheduled to go in to work later?”
“Nope. Remember? A practice session is scheduled.” Aaron said.
I went to turn the computer back on and was pleased to find that it started just fine. “It’s humming. Good. It takes only a minute to log into my files.” It was going to take me some time to repair the damage the hacker did to my Lincoln file. A few of the file names still looked garbled. “At least now it’s safe to use, plus we have updated software to guard against another hack and viruses. I’m going to send Inga a message.”
“Be right back after I get some meat for supper.” The back door slammed as I wrote:
Inga, I’ll talk to Aaron tonight about paying for the Lincoln desk. Any other Lincoln items? The paper has an article about a thief taking only Lincoln items. Better be safe and lock everything up, including the desk in the back room.
Before sending the e-mail, I added a sentence:
This really isn’t a joke. Be careful! //Liv
Next, I e-mailed Maggie:
Hi Maggie, someone hacked my account. The computer geek was here all morning scanning files. Inga purchased a Lincoln desk. It’s really cute. I’m going to buy it. Catcha later //Me
I sent the message and then looked for the message which had been sent to me that morning when the computer virus acted up. It wasn’t anywhere on my computer. I sat back for a moment before constructing yet another message. Then I wrote:
Dr. Williams,
You sent me an email earlier, but my computer was hacked, and I lost it.
I’m excited to learn more about this acorn necklace. When it fits your schedule, I will bring it to your office.
Please let me know. Sincerely,
Liv Reynolds
Owner and operator of White House Dollhouse Store.
My website displayed two more responses to the question about the Lost Speech. They both read:
He’s dead. RIP. THREE BLIND MICE.
I deleted both.
I posted more pictures of the dollhouses and several First Ladies. My e-mail showed that another new message was received. Inga had sent:
Bring the stuffed bear in tomorrow. I have an interested buyer, if you want to sell it. //Inga
I replied: Sure
By the time I logged out and shut the computer down, Aaron had returned.
“Ready to go?” Aaron asked.
“Of course!”
I grabbed my coat and followed Aaron out the back door, locking it behind.
The drive home didn’t take long, and I was happy to get inside our warm house. I helped Aaron carry in the groceries and put them away.
“Why am I so cold, and why is the cold bothering me so much?”
“It’s because of what’s been happening. Nothing’s right.”
“Guess you’re right.” I sighed. I poured two full glasses of soda, setting one in front of Aaron, and then grabbed my iPad and typed in:
Maggie//House broken into last night at home. Ripped apart the hat.
That’s it. We’re fine. //Me.
I hit send, and then set the iPad aside. “Done.” I took a sip.
“I’ve got spaghetti cooking. Let’s get a salad going.”
I put together a lettuce salad and set the kitchen table.
While we ate, I told him that I had sent another message to Dr. Williams. I also explained about the desk and wondered about financing it.
“How much?”
“She hasn’t said. My guess is a couple thousand,” I said. “At least. Don’t worry, we should get our income tax return soon, and you can use that to pay for it. You could put it between the dollhouses and display Mary Lincoln dolls or something like that on it.”
“Thank you. You’re terrific.”
I got up, carried the dirty dishes to the sink, and began filling the dishwasher. After putting the food away and finishing with the cleanup, I grabbed my iPad and joined Aaron in the living room. The iPad dinged, signaling the arrival of a new message, actually there were two. One was from Maggie. I opened that one first. She had written:
Liv//I’d tried to do something and punched the wrong button. Sorry about that. Good grief! Another break-in? Keep me posted. I heard about your dumpster dive. You must tell all.//M
The other e-mail was from an unknown sender. I opened it, only to be surprised. “Oh my God! Aaron! Look at this!” It was the newly found Mary Lincoln letter. “They weren’t allowing the public access to this letter. How on earth?” My brows furrowed. “Someone hacked into their site and sent me this.” My mouth dropped open, and my heart pumped hard. “Why?”
“Let me see it.” I held my iPad so we could both read:
Dearest Taddie,
Father’s Lost Speech will be found. Follow the Star of Bethlehem.
Your loving mother
“But look, Aaron,” I said, pointing to the drawing at the bottom of the page. “It’s a pentacle. What in the world?”
“This makes no sense. None whatsoever.” Aaron nodded at it. “How can you make heads or tails of this?”
“I know, where is this leading us?” I set the iPad aside. “Who sent this? Is this why they didn’t post it on their website?”
“Let me look.” He picked it up and pressed a couple of buttons. “We should eit
her bring this in to the station tomorrow, or at least have a police techie come out to the store and take a look at your computer.”
“When’s your shift?”
“I’ll take you to work, then bring it in. I don’t work until three, but the tech guy only works in the morning.”
“I don’t like this, Aaron. It’s creepy.”
“There are plenty of people who are looking out for you.” He slid out his cell phone and dialed the station. I listened as he spoke to the on-duty detective, telling him about the latest incidents with the computer. Before disconnecting, he told them he would bring the iPad in the morning. “Done.” Aaron stood up. “Sorry about this, but I have to go for hockey practice. It’ll last for an hour, then I’ll be right home.”
“Drop me at Grandma’s while you practice.”
We left, and I spent a little over an hour with my grandparents watching I Love Lucy reruns. As soon as we returned home, I jumped into bed.
I slept peacefully, waking with the bright morning sun shining. Aaron lay beside me. What would I do without him? I decided to make him breakfast in bed. I slid from the bed and headed toward the kitchen. On the way, I took a short detour and picked up the toy bear from the extra bedroom. I set it on the kitchen counter, so I wouldn’t forget to bring it to work.
By the time the fried bacon and eggs were dished up, Aaron had joined me and began making toast.
“Ah—this leisurely breakfast is a pleasure.” Aaron sat back and took a sip of coffee. “Good, too.”
“Thanks.”
As we ate, my thoughts circled to the letter. I said, “There are only a few people who would know about the newly found letter.” I ate the last bite of my fried egg.
“None of the ladies at the tea knew about it because Blanche never arrived.” Aaron grabbed the last bacon strip. “So who knew?”
“Probably Inga, Maggie, and Holly. Maybe Luke. Can’t think of anyone else.”
“What about Ronnie? We haven’t seen his mug around here lately, either. What’s he been up to?” Aaron finished his meal. “Why don’t you ask around?”
After cleaning up the kitchen mess, we got ready to leave. As we walked into the garage, I said, “Why hasn’t Inga’s store been burglarized?”
“Good point, since the article said that other area antique stores have.”
Once inside the car, I said, “I hope Inga will be there early. I have this feeling it will be a very busy day.”
“I can drop you off, if you’d like.”
“Okay.”
Aaron stopped near the curb in front of Inga’s, and I climbed out clutching the stuffed bear. The lights were on in the store, so I was certain she was inside. I headed for the front door. Cupping my hands against the front window, I found it odd that she wasn’t near the front of the store where I could see her. I opened the door and went in.
“Inga,” I called. Without an answer, I stepped farther inside. Since there wasn’t a reply to my call, I figured she was in the back where she kept her coat and personal items. “Inga,” I called once again.
I walked toward the back, calling Inga’s name. A chill went through my body when I found her. She lay on the floor with vintage clothes heaped on top of her. I knelt beside her and spoke her name, but there was no response. I felt for signs of life. She had a pulse, and her breathing was shallow but steady.
I dialed emergency services, and then Aaron.
“Go straight out the same door you entered,” Aaron said. “Whoever did that could still be in the building.”
“I can’t leave Inga alone. I’ve moved aside the rack of vintage clothes that were on top of her. She needs medical attention.”
“I’ll be right there,” Aaron said. “Don’t move.”
Was I next?
Chapter Fourteen
Aaron arrived almost immediately and found me hovering over Inga.
“Where are the police,” I asked.
Aaron held his finger to his mouth as a sign to be quiet as he leaned over the prostrate woman. He softly said, “Inga. It’s Aaron.” No response. Aaron straightened up, and then walked to the back door while I stayed crouched near Inga. He stopped to look inside a spare closet but saw nothing untoward. Frowning, he cocked his head and whispered, “Bathroom?”
“There.” I mouthed and pointed.
I smoothed my hand over her forehead and whispered, “Inga, it’s me.” Although I watched for any sign of recognition, none came, and my eyes filled with tears. I said, “Can you hear me? Stay with me, Inga.” She seemed to nod slightly and then moved her lips. I couldn’t hear very well.
Aaron returned. “The bathroom is clear.”
Glancing upward to Aaron, I said, “She said, Lincoln.”
“I hear the ambulance.” Aaron returned. “I’ll open the front door.”
“I’m staying right with her.” I gently ran my palm across her hair and down her cheek while I told her everything would be fine. My cell phone chirped, and I figured it must be Grandma. She had an uncanny habit of calling at the most inopportune times.
Aaron took out his cell phone. “I better get some shots of the crime scene before the medics arrive.” He snapped several shots in quick succession.
“Here they come now” I told him. I pulled the Mary Lincoln dress to which she clung, from her unconscious grasp, and placed it on a nearby chair.
The medical team rushed through the store to where we were “Feel a pulse?” the head of the medical team asked me. “Yes.” I tried to stay near, holding her hand, but a medic brushed mine aside.
“Let me in here, lady,” he asked abruptly.
“Sure.” I moved aside, but not before kissing Inga’s forehead and telling her everything would be all right. I went to stand near Aaron, who was speaking with the newly arrived Erlandsen.
“What can you tell me?” Erlandsen asked me. His black eyebrows looked bushier than normal.
“She asked me to bring in my Tad Lincoln toy bear early this morning because she had a prospective buyer. The door was unlocked, and I walked into the store, calling her name. She was on the floor right over there, clutching the dress on that chair. I phoned the emergency number, and then Aaron.”
“You were expected?”
“Yes. Sort of like an appointment.”
“What did you touch?” Erlandsen stood poised with his pencil and pen.
“Doorknob…and the dress that covered her.”
“I want the pictures sent asap.” He looked at Aaron. “Already have.”
“Good work.”
I piped up. “One more thing, detective.” He frowned at me.
“I sent an e-mail earlier to Inga that jokingly said something like, ‘lock up the Lincoln antiques in the bathroom.’ I didn’t really expect someone to break in and attack her. It’s just that there has been that rush of stolen Lincoln antiques, and it got me to thinking.”
“Right.” Erlandsen wrote that down. He scratched his head. “You sure have a way of drawing bodies to you, dead or alive.”
“Thanks for the wonderful encouragement.”
“You’re welcome. That message…we’ll need to see it.”
“Will do. I’ve still got your card with your e-mail address.”
“Let’s walk around the store. You can point out to me which are the Lincoln antiques. Oh—also where you’ve walked.” He urged me away from the crime scene.
“Right this way.” I headed toward the front door and began walking through, just the way I had previously. Once I came to the closet, I made sure they knew Aaron had been the one who opened it. “You can check this out.” At the bathroom, I stopped. “I haven’t seen anything of Lincoln’s here. Nothing. Not even his desk, which I planned to purchase.”
A chill from the open back door caused us to look toward it. An officer had entered. “There’s an old desk right outside the back door,” he reported. “It’ll get ruined if it’s not brought indoors.” When the detective didn’t answer, he said, “I’m brin
ging it in.”
“Take some pictures first.”
“I have, and also of footprints.”
“Good.” Erlandsen pulled on a pair of plastic gloves and gradually opened the bathroom door. “Didn’t know what I would find, but nothing’s here.”
“I’m going over to the presidential area, just to see if she hid her valuable pieces in the bathroom.” I quickly walked over to the area and noticed Inga had indeed moved the Lincoln items from where they had been. A noticeable line of dust from where the pictures once hung was apparent. A few toys had been removed and replaced by other antique items of the same likeness. All looked undisturbed. She must have moved the Lincoln antiques last night as I’d suggested. “The items are safely hidden,” I called, walking back to them.
“Lincoln’s?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks. We can take it from here.” Erlandsen looked at Aaron.
“We’ll be over in Liv’s dollhouse store. I go to work at three,” Aaron replied and placed his hand on my back. “Let’s go.”
“I want that desk when you’re finished with it,” I told them. “You’ll have to talk with the owner.”
“Already did… Consider it mine.”
Aaron steered me outside and into the bitter cold morning air. The gray sky fit my mood. Sniffling, I reached for a tissue and blew my nose. Aaron pressed in the code, and we entered the rear of the store.
“I’m freezing.” Chilled to the bone, I left my coat on, hoping to warm up. “I’m calling Grandma.”
“I’ll go for coffees. Be right back.”
“Lock it.”
“Of course.” He left.
Poor Inga. I pulled out my cell phone and speed dialed Grandma, who answered immediately.
“What happened?” I pictured Grandma pulling Grandpa close to the phone to listen in to our conversation.
“Inga’s been injured. She may have surprised a burglar. I found her, Grandma. The paramedics took her to the hospital. Aaron is here with me.”
“How is she? You better be careful. People are dropping like flies around you.”
“Yes, Grandma, I’ve heard that. Inga’s going to be fine, it looks like she was conked on the head. The police are swarming the area.”
Word to Death Page 13
