Tangled Up In You, page 15
The lawyer didn't look happy with her response. "This is a very valuable diamond. We need to find it as soon as possible."
"Why didn’t Mr. Weatherly send you last week? Was it because his thugs couldn't do the job for him?" she challenged.
"I'm offended by your implication. We don't employ thugs. We only ask for your cooperation to retrieve what rightfully belongs to Mr. Weatherly. As for the timing, we only recently discovered that the real diamond had been replaced."
"Well, I'm going to need to check with Ms. Montgomery's lawyer, and Phoebe's lawyer. And then I'll get back to you. I have no problem turning over something that wasn't meant for Phoebe, but I'm not just taking your word for it." She glanced at her watch. "And that's all the time I have." She opened the door and motioned for him to leave.
He gave her a speculative look and then handed her his business card. "Please call me as soon as possible. We'd like to get this resolved. If someone else is trying to get the diamond, time is of the essence."
She didn't say anything, just watched him walk down the street.
Was Charles Weatherly the one who had sent someone to steal the diamond? Or was that someone else?
A familiar Jeep pulled up in front of the store, and Adam got out, holding a vase of flowers. Her heart skipped a beat. He bypassed his crutch to simply hobble over to her.
"What is this?" she asked in surprise, taking the vase out of his hand.
"A little something to celebrate the big day."
She was touched by the gesture. "This is so sweet, Adam."
He shrugged uncomfortably. "It's not a big deal."
"It's a big deal to me. Thanks."
"Was that a customer you were just talking to?"
"No, it was a lawyer. Can you come in for a minute?"
"Sure." He followed her inside the store. She put the flowers next to the cookies.
"I see someone else dropped by," he said.
"Chloe. Would you like a cookie?"
"No, thanks." He looked around the store with surprise and admiration. "You have transformed this place. I barely recognize it."
"I divided the shop into sections: nutrition, sleep, mental health, physical fitness, with subcategories within each section," she said, waving her hand around the space.
"No crystals?" he teased.
She smiled. "They're in the section under mental health. Some people really do believe in them."
"I know." He turned back to her. "Tell me about the lawyer."
"Lance Baylor is his name. He's representing Charles Weatherly. Apparently, Caroline gave Charles a diamond worth three million dollars. It was supposed to be in a safe in the house, but they discovered it had been replaced by a fake. Baylor and, apparently, Mr. Weatherly believe the diamond was inadvertently given to Phoebe."
Awareness entered his gaze. "So that's what everyone is trying to steal."
"Yes. But I haven't seen a diamond. I would have noticed. It has to be huge for that amount of money?"
"I would think so. Is the diamond in a ring?"
"I didn't ask if it was set in a ring or just loose. Anyway, Mr. Baylor wants to send someone over to look through what came from Caroline. I told him it would have to wait until I had a chance to talk to Caroline's attorney. Plus, I'm swamped today and tomorrow." She paused. "At least, I hope I'll be swamped. There's not exactly a line waiting to rush through the door."
"The customers will come. I'm glad you told Baylor you need to check with Caroline's attorney."
"I don't know when I'll have the chance to do that."
"She's out of the office until today. I already have a call in to her. I'll ask her about the diamond."
"That would be great. What happened with Caroline's step-siblings?"
"I went up to the north shore yesterday and spoke to Ray Kenney. He owns an auto shop. He's married, and his wife, Erica, works in the office. They were both friendly. Ray said he only saw Caroline a few times in his life. She was rarely around and so much older than him that she didn't seem like a sister. Nor did she apparently act like one. Although, he did say that she'd left both him and his sister a significant cash inheritance, which they were excited about."
"Did he say how much?"
"No, but I'll find out when I talk to the attorney."
"Did Ray see Caroline when she moved back here? Did he meet Phoebe?"
"No to both, but he said his sister Kim had visited Caroline and knew Phoebe. I'm going to head to the salon when I leave here."
"It doesn't sound like you think Ray is involved."
"My gut says no. He was forthcoming and didn't seem like he had anything to hide. But the one piece of the puzzle that keeps Ray in the picture for me is that Ethan left his rental car on the north shore. He also stole a car earlier, not far from that same location. I'll keep digging. You just concentrate on your opening."
"You're right. I need to stay focused." She paused as Drew came through the door. "Good morning."
He gave her a nod, then threw a stony look in Adam's direction. "Are you checking up on me?"
"No," Adam replied. "Not everything is about you, Drew. I brought Molly some flowers to celebrate."
"Oh, cool." Drew turned back to her. "Sorry I'm late."
"You're fine. We're only ready to open today because of you. I really appreciate your hard work, Drew."
He flushed a little, not looking her or Adam in the eye. "Do you want me to run the register?"
"Yes. And it looks like we have our first customers," she said, seeing two women looking through the window. "I hope they come in."
"You've got this, Molly," Adam told her.
She met his gaze. "I'm more nervous than I thought. I've worked retail before. I've worked in this store before, but this feels different. I have a lot at stake. I'm not used to having anything to lose."
"I understand. But you don't have to worry. It's going to be great."
"Thanks, Adam. I know you don't even believe in the efficacy of probably half the things I'm selling—"
"I believe in you."
"You do?" she asked with surprise.
"Yes." He opened the door and smiled at the two women. "The shop is open. You should come in and check it out."
She didn't know if the women were eager to shop or if they couldn't resist the sexy smile on Adam's face. But they entered the store, and she got to work on making her first sale.
Adam drove away with a smile on his face. He'd liked being able to send Molly's first customers into her store. He'd also liked how happy she'd been when he'd given her flowers. He might not believe in some of what she was selling, but he wasn't anti-wellness, and he'd already heard from Chelsea how much the tea had helped her morning sickness. He was just naturally suspicious, and he preferred products that had gone through some sort of formal regulation.
But Molly was also selling a lot of products that weren't medicinal. He'd seen books, yoga mats, exercise balls, mental brain-teasing games. She'd really expanded the idea of health and wellness, and she was just getting started. He was more than a little impressed and even a bit surprised at how organized the shop was. Molly seemed more like a wing-it kind of girl, but the store had a structure to it, and he appreciated that. He hoped she would be successful. She was trying to build something for herself, and that was never easy.
He also liked the way she'd stood up to Charles Weatherly's attorney, but he wasn't at all happy that there might be a missing three-million-dollar diamond hidden somewhere in Phoebe's belongings. That put a target on Molly. He didn't know if Weatherly had hired someone to get the diamond before trying a more legal approach, or if there were other individuals who also knew about the very expensive gem.
A short time later, he parked and walked down the street to the hair salon. A young woman greeted him as he entered.
"I'm looking for Kim Collins," he told her.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No. I'm Detective Cole. I just need a few minutes of her time."
"Okay. She's in the back. I'll get her."
A few minutes later, the receptionist returned with a blonde woman, who, despite the warm weather was dressed all in black. She was very thin, with a hard edge to her face.
"I'm Kim Collins," she said. "What can I do for you?"
"Can we speak somewhere private?" There were only a couple of people in the salon, but he knew how fast gossip flew around Whisper Lake.
"Will outside work?"
"Sure." He followed her out to the sidewalk.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"I understand you're related to Caroline Montgomery."
Her gaze shifted. "This is about Caroline?"
"Yes. I spoke to your brother yesterday. He mentioned that you saw Caroline more than he did."
"I saw her once after she moved back here, but I wasn't there long. She wasn't feeling well. I didn't realize at the time that she'd stopped all treatments, and she would die soon after our conversation. She didn't talk about that at all."
"What did she talk about?"
"Nothing in particular. She said she was divorcing her third husband, Charles. I had gotten a divorce last year, so we commiserated about that. We weren't close, but we were tied by her father and my stepfather."
"What was Caroline's relationship with her father?"
"She didn't like him at all. She thought he was selfish and demanding. I can't say she was wrong. He and my mother didn't have the happiest of marriages, but there were problems on both sides. Why are you asking me these questions?"
"There's a very large diamond that seems to be missing from Caroline's estate. Have you heard anything about that?"
Her eyes widened. "No. What do you mean, missing?"
"Just what I said."
"I don't know anything about a diamond. Caroline left me and my brother twenty-five thousand dollars each. It was a very generous gesture. We weren't blood relatives, and we weren't close. I was surprised she left us anything."
"That's a significant amount of money."
"It will really help me. My husband left me with a lot of debt."
Was that a motive he'd just heard?
"I knew my husband was loose with money when I married him," Kim continued. "Thankfully, with this gift from Caroline, I'll be able to finish cleaning up his debts and go forward with a fresh start."
"Is there any chance your brother might have felt that twenty-five thousand wasn't much considering how much wealth Caroline had accumulated?"
"No. He was incredibly grateful." She paused. "I heard that Caroline left a lot of her personal things to her friend, Phoebe. I know Phoebe passed away shortly after Caroline did, but maybe the diamond is in her belongings."
"That seems to be the theory, but Phoebe's heir has not found it."
"Well, I don't know what to tell you. If I had a diamond worth millions of dollars, I wouldn't be cutting hair. Is there anything else?"
"That's it for now. Thanks."
As Kim entered the salon, he wondered if she'd told him the truth. Maybe Kim and Ray were just keeping up the pretense of being working class people who were grateful for the crumbs that Caroline had left them. That cynical thought was replaced by Molly's optimistic voice in his head, suggesting they could be innocent and genuinely happy about the unexpected inheritance.
It could probably go either way. He walked back to his Jeep and then drove to the station. When he got into his office, he contacted Caroline Montgomery's attorney again. Finally, this time he was able to get through to Ava Washington, who was based in Beverly Hills.
"How can I help you, Detective?" Ava asked. "I understand you've been calling about Caroline Montgomery?"
"Yes. There's apparently a three-million-dollar diamond missing."
"I've just been made aware of that by Mr. Weatherly's attorney. The diamond was supposed to be in a safe at Caroline's house, but I understand that there was a fake in its place."
"Who was supposed to get the diamond upon her death?"
"Well, the ownership of the diamond was in dispute during the divorce. Caroline had purchased the diamond. She was going to have it made into a ring and cufflinks for Mr. Weatherly. She told him about the gift on his birthday, but then they had a falling out, and she filed for divorce. He insisted that the diamond was a gift to him, and it should be in his possession. Until the judge ruled, it was supposed to be in the safe. Now that Caroline has passed away, the diamond will probably go to Mr. Weatherly."
That information made him doubtful that Weatherly would try to steal the diamond rather than go through legal channels. "Tell me about the items that Caroline sent to Phoebe Haller. Do you have an itemized list? Do you know who packed the boxes, or who might have had access to them?"
"I don't have a list of what went to Phoebe. Caroline told me that they were all personal items. The rest of her estate was to be distributed to various parties."
"Can you give me any more details on those parties?"
"The properties that were owned by both Mr. Weatherly and Caroline, including the house in Whisper Lake, will go to Mr. Weatherly. Caroline owned two other properties that will be sold. The money received, in addition to her personal investments, will be donated to a foundation that Caroline supported. She was a world traveler, and she wanted her money to support a variety of charities dedicated to animals and the environment."
"What about her previous husbands and her stepchildren? Did they inherit anything?"
"No. Caroline wasn't close to her previous husbands or any of her stepchildren. She wasn't involved in raising any of them, and I know she didn't particularly care for Charles's two sons. She thought they were spoiled and entitled. However, she did leave some money to her step-siblings." Ava paused. "Are you suggesting that someone stole the diamond because they didn't get an inheritance?"
"It's a theory. I know Caroline was sick, so it seems doubtful she packed the boxes that were later sent to Phoebe."
"Her housekeeper, Rebecca Pierce, handled that under Caroline's supervision. She had most of the items packed before Caroline passed away."
"What can you tell me about Rebecca Pierce?"
"Rebecca worked for Caroline for over twenty years. I believe she returned to Los Angeles after Caroline passed away." Ava paused. "I have her number." She rattled off the digits. "She would certainly be able to tell you about what was in the boxes."
"Would she have had access to the safe where the diamond was supposed to be?"
"I don't know. It's possible. As I said, she was a longtime friend and employee of Caroline's. She worked for Caroline for many years and was devoted to her."
"Did Rebecca get an inheritance?"
"Yes. It wasn't huge, but it was enough that she can retire if she wants. She's in her late fifties, so I think that's probably what she'll do."
"All right. What about other employees? Do you know who else was with Caroline when she moved to Whisper Lake?"
"There were no other full-time employees. Hold on one second." She paused for a long moment, then said, "Rebecca hired a woman named Brenda Dunn to come in once a week for heavier housecleaning. She lives in Whisper Lake. She also hired a gardener, Reuben Cardoza, who handled the landscaping."
"Anyone else?"
"There were hospice workers and a nurse who went into the house. I don't have that specific information. I can have my assistant look into it. I'll also have her send you the contact information for the individuals I just mentioned."
"I'd appreciate that."
"No problem. I would like to resolve the issue of the missing diamond, so whatever I can do to help…"
"I'll let you know if I need anything else." After ending the call with Ava, he punched in Rebecca's number. It didn't connect. A feeling of unease ran down his spine. The only person who knew what was in those boxes had changed her number. That wasn't good.
Ava said Rebecca had gotten an inheritance. Maybe it wasn't enough. Maybe she'd decided to swap out the diamond and/or steal it. Rebecca was probably the person who had had the most access to Caroline and to the diamond. He needed to find her.
Chapter Seventeen
"Not a bad first day," Drew said as Molly turned the Open sign to Closed Friday evening.
"It was better than I thought," she admitted. "Thanks for all your help, Drew."
"I didn't have anything better to do."
"I saw Cassie come in this afternoon. Are you two seeing each other?"
"We're hanging out," he said carelessly. "She's cool. She plays guitar and sings."
A beautiful, guitar-playing singer. Drew was a goner. "Have you met her friends?"
"Some. We're meeting up tonight at the festival."
"That sounds fun, and you deserve it."
"Yeah, tell that to Adam," he grumbled.
"I'm sure he's just trying to watch out for you."
"I'm nineteen years old; I can take care of myself. And it's not like he did a great job looking out for my sister." Drew stopped abruptly, looking a bit shocked that he'd said the words out loud.
She frowned. "Do you blame Adam for what happened to your sister?"
"Did he tell you about it?"
"Yes."
Drew hesitated. "I don't know. I did blame him for a while, mostly because my parents did. But after I grew up, I thought about it more, and I realized that Adam didn't know what was going to happen that night. It was random."
She was relieved to hear that. "Have you ever told Adam that?"
"No. We don't talk about my sister."
"Why not? You have her in common."
"Because we don't. Nobody in my family talks about her, either."
"What was Gina like?" she asked curiously.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because I do. If you don't mind telling me."
Drew thought for a moment. "She was pretty. She laughed a lot. She liked stupid jokes, or maybe she just laughed when I told her stupid jokes. I can't really remember. She liked baseball. She always came to my games. And she'd yell so loud from the stands. It was embarrassing, but kind of nice, too."
"That is nice. I never had anyone in the stands for anything I did."
