03 Murder by Mishap (24 page)

“That puzzles me,” Peg said. “Why did he have a copy made of Mother’s brooch when it wasn’t among her jewels at the bank? It wasn’t very clever of him.”

“According to your husband, he found the design for the pin with a notation of the jeweler and the date it was given to your mother for her birthday.” The detective picked up the little bag holding the original circle of precious stones and examined it. “It’s a nice piece,” he said before putting it back on the coffee table and looking up at Peg. “He thought you had it hidden away somewhere and that you would bring it out to wear sooner or later. He wanted to be ready with the copy, sure that this piece was one of the most valuable in the collection.”

“How did it end up in the garden?” Edna thought back to the morning she’d spotted it gleaming in the sun. The thought also brought back a somewhat painful memory of getting her head stuck in the fence and, feeling a flush come to her cheeks, she pushed the memory away.

Speaking to Edna,
Ruthers
flicked his eyes toward Peg for an instant before explaining. “Mr. Bishop had it locked in his desk here at the house. He thinks his wife has keys to both the office and the desk. He believes she found the pin and took it, but somehow lost it when she was working in the yard.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Peg sat up with a snap at the accusation. “I have never had a key to my father’s office or his desk and, if I had, I would never go through my husband’s things.” She scowled at the detective, shooting daggers at the messenger.

Edna reached over and patted Peg’s forearm trying to reassure and calm her. “Would Virginia have gone into the office and rummaged in the desk?”

“That’s a possibility, I suppose, although I don’t know where she would have gotten a key. Besides, I’ve never known Virginia to go snooping around the house.” Peg looked forlornly at Edna. “I guess we’ll never know.” Her look of desolation quickly turned to one of dread. “Do you suppose Stephen suspected her and killed her before she could expose him?” 

Edna shook her head, speaking before
Ruthers
had a chance. “I don’t think he had anything to do with Virginia’s death.” She gave Peg an apologetic look. “I admit that I’ve never been able to warm up to Stephen, but I don’t think he’d plot to kill someone.”

“What about last night,” Peg insisted. “He seemed capable of killing
me
.”

Edna turned to
Ruthers
. “What did he say about last night? Surely, you can tell us now.”

“He says he had a blackout. Claims he doesn’t remember anything after wondering why his wife was in the attic so late at night.”
Ruthers
raised his eyebrows. “When we tried to press him on that part of his story, he clammed up and wouldn’t say any more without talking to his lawyer first.”

“Convenient memory loss,” Edna muttered more to
herself
than to the others, although her remark was loud enough for them to hear.

Ruthers
looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. “What makes you think he wouldn’t have poisoned Ms. Hoxie?”

“I don’t think he’d have been that subtle,” she replied. “And, I’d be very surprised if he knew anything about rosary peas, least of all that they are toxic. Besides, you said he thinks Peg took the brooch from his desk.”

He nodded. “You’re right. He’s denying any knowledge of Ms. Hoxie’s death, and I tend to believe him on that score. Her homicide is still an open case.”

“Did he tell you what he’s done with my mother’s jewelry,” Peg said. “He had copies made, but what happened to the real ones?”

“He gave them to a go-between. The courier delivers the goods and each piece is broken down so as not to be recognized. They probably melt the silver and gold and sell the metal separately from the gems.”

Peg looked stricken. “They belonged to my mother and my grandmothers. Are you telling me they’re all gone now? Destroyed?” Her voice rose and her eyes filled.

Ruthers
spoke quickly, trying to reassure her and stem the flow of tears. “We don’t know the extent yet. We have an expert examining everything that was in the safe deposit box. We’ll give you her report in a day or two. We’re guessing about what they’ve done with your jewelry, but haven’t confirmed anything yet.”

Edna felt her cheeks burn with anger over her friend’s loss, but in the midst of it all, something was beginning to nag at her subconscious. “Did Stephen identify the courier, the one who received Peg’s jewelry,” she asked
Ruthers
.

 He nodded.
“Says it’s the gardener.
Goran
Pittlani
.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

“No!” Edna’s hands flew to her mouth as if she could catch the single word. She felt a cold, hard lump in the pit of her stomach.

Goran’s
got Jaycee. Has he handed her over to his gangster bosses like he turned over Peg’s jewelry? Surely, she wouldn’t have gone willingly. But Charlie said the gunman wouldn’t have come looking for her if he knew she was with
Goran
. I must speak with Charlie.

The thoughts flicked through her head in less than a second.

“Ed?” Peg’s voice broke her train of thought. “What is it?”

Ignoring the question, Edna stood abruptly. “Excuse me, please. I must make a call.” She hurried into the foyer where she stopped to collect herself. “I must tell Charlie,” she muttered. Too many alarms had been raised by that one name.
Goran
Pittlani
.

“Whatever’s the matter?” Peg had followed Edna into the foyer and now came up beside her to put a hand on Edna’s back and rub gently. “If you’re upset about the jewelry, please don’t be. I’ll get over the loss. I valued them, yes, but they’re only possessions, after all.”

“Mrs. Davies?” Trailing the women out of the library, Detective
Ruthers
approached Edna on her other side, the question in his voice apparent on his face. He, too, wanted to know what had caused her to react so vehemently.

Edna forced herself to smile. Until she spoke with Charlie, she didn’t want to say anything to this other policeman. She also didn’t want to add to Peg’s worries. With that thought, Edna willed herself to appear unconcerned.

“Absurd of me, really.
I didn’t mean to cause such a stir. It’s only that I remembered something I forgot to tell my neighbor. The mention of the gardener brought it to mind.” She stopped there, realizing the less she said, the better. Her excuse sounded weak, even to her own ears, but she looked up at the detective with wide and innocent eyes, she hoped. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just go upstairs and make my phone call.”

The detective looked at her sternly for several interminable seconds as Edna stared back with her expression frozen in place. Finally, he broke the glare and looked down at the baggies in his hand. He’d obviously picked them up before leaving the library. Stuffing them into his pocket, he looked back at Edna and then at Peg. “Do you know where I can reach Mr.
Pittlani
?”

Peg shook her head. “I haven’t seen him since ...” She hesitated, thinking back. “...
since
he came in for lunch on Wednesday, the day Virginia died.”

“If he shows up or you hear from him, call me immediately. I don’t need to tell you that he may be dangerous.” He looked again from one to the other, making the request of them both before turning toward the front door.

Edna waited where she was while Peg showed
Ruthers
out, but as soon as the door closed behind him, she spun and hurried up the stairs, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll be down in a minute. I have to make a call.”

In her bedroom, she closed the door and dialed Charlie’s number. When he answered on the third ring, she told him what she had learned from Detective
Ruthers
. Although she explained about the jewelry and
Goran
Pittlani’s
involvement, she decided not to complicate matters by telling him about the scene in the attic, which would also mean explaining how Stephen Bishop had ended up in the hospital.

“Do you think
Goran
might have tricked Jaycee into going with him, so he could turn her over to his gang,” she asked, ending her report. When Charlie didn’t say anything right away, she prodded, trying to impress upon him the urgency she felt. “Jaycee testified against them. They’ll kill her for that.”

“I don’t think Jaycee is in any immediate danger.”

“Why not?
Have you heard from her?” He spoke so confidently, she wanted to believe him, but she also needed proof.

“Not yet, but I’m sure we will very soon.” There was a short pause on the line before he added, “Mary spotted your gunman in town. We’re close to picking him up.”

“Do you think he knows where
Goran
has taken Jaycee?” She refused to be comforted until she knew for certain the young woman was safe and sound.

“I told you before that I doubt the two men work together. Let’s take one thing at a time, shall we? First we catch this guy, then we find out what he knows and who he’s working for. After that, we can concentrate on finding your missing neighbor.” Charlie paused and she could hear voices in the background.
“
Gotta
go, Edna.
I’ll let you know when I have news.” He ended the call before she could say another word.

Setting her phone on the bedside table, she went slowly back downstairs feeling more frustrated than before she’d spoken to Charlie. She’d learned nothing from him and had received very little comfort that they were any closer to finding out what had happened to Jaycee. She sighed.
At least I’ve passed on the information about
Goran
, for what it’s worth.

Peg had built up the fire and was pacing in front of the hearth, rubbing her upper arms as if she were cold, although the room was overly warm. She stopped and turned when Edna entered.

“Talk to me, Ed. Detective
Ruthers
’ mention of
Goran’s
name has unduly upset you for some reason. I think it’s more than his being mixed up in this business with my jewelry.”

Edna didn’t answer immediately. She didn’t want to add to the burdens Peg was already shouldering, so pushed her worries for Jaycee to the back of her mind for the time being.  “Weren’t you surprised to learn that he conspired in these threats against Stephen?”

Without hesitation, Peg said, “I certainly was. I still find it hard to believe. He seemed so kind, gentle even.”

“His being an imposter helps to explain why he knew so little about gardening,” Edna said, then asked, “Did you ever see him lose his temper or act violent in any way?”

Peg paused, looking down into the fire for several seconds before lifting her chin and answering decisively, “Never. He was always cheerful and often considerate, doing small favors, particularly for Virginia.” At the mention of her housekeeper’s name, Peg gasped and her eyes widened. “Do you think Virginia found out what
Goran
was doing, and he killed her to keep her quiet?”

Edna shook her head. “Why would he use such a slow and uncertain method? If he wanted to silence her, he would have done it quickly.” She refrained from describing the methods that came to mind. Instead, she stood beside Peg and stared into the fire. The flames were mesmerizing, helping her to relax and consider what she knew and what she had just learned that afternoon.

“What are you thinking?” Peg had turned her back to the fire, holding her hands behind her to warm them while she studied Edna with sad, blue-gray eyes.

“I’m wondering about the way Virginia died,” Edna replied. “I can’t quite put my finger on what’s gnawing at me, but something I saw in her rooms is tickling my mind. There’s a clue up there, but it’s staying just outside my grasp.”

After another moment’s silence, Peg spoke with forced enthusiasm. “Let’s take a break from the gloom in this old house and go for a walk. It’s a nice day and the fresh air will do us both good. Maybe the exercise will help to jog loose whatever is stuck in your head.”

For the next hour, the two friends strolled around the neighborhood and through the Brown University campus. Starting out, they’d made a pact to avoid any mention of Stephen’s behavior or Virginia’s death or
Goran’s
complicity. They spoke of family matters, bringing each other up to date on the activities and accomplishments of their grandchildren and, eventually, found themselves back at the house.

Peg suggested an early, simple supper. Over a cup of hot tomato soup and a scoop of chicken salad on lettuce, she and Edna talked about what needed to be done by Sunday noon. With all that had happened
,
they’d lost a full day. They’d be twice as busy tomorrow with preparations for Virginia’s memorial service.

“Besides Janette and her husband, will any other relatives be coming to the service,” Edna asked after taking a sip of tea and setting down her cup.

Peg shook her head. “Janette has a son and two daughters, all married with children and grandchildren. The daughters, Virginia’s nieces, are organizing a graveside service for the family in New Hampshire where Virginia will be buried next to her parents.” Tears sprang into Peg’s eyes, and she stopped talking.