Miss Fortune (40 page)

But not before she heard the announcement that the flight to Savannah was boarding.

Well then. She was stupid enough to have trusted him, but she wasnt so stupid that she didnt know Savannah was next to Hilton Head Island, where his parents had a condo, and where he was going to get stoned, lie on the beach, and contemplate his sorry life. Asshole! she shouted as she slammed the phone down.

She paced her living room trying to think what to do, and at last came to a couple of hard conclusions. She had been an idiot. But she was not about to take this lying down.

Rachel picked up the phone again, dialed Dagne. Hey, Dagne began brightly, but Rachel quickly cut her off. Its real, Dagne. That painting is real . The bastard has been stealing stuff from the museums. I dont know what his scam is, but hes been using me.

W-what? Dagne stammered. You cant be serious!

Oh, Im dead serious, Rachel said, choking back a sob. He said if I called the cops, hell tell them I was in on it. Dagne, that stuff is all over my house! And worse, you sold some of it on eBay!

Oh, Jesus, Dagne uttered. Oh, Jesus. What do we do?

I dont know for sure. But I know one thingMyrons on his way to Hilton Head Islandremember the year we went and stayed a week? His parents have a condo down by the lighthouse somewhere. I know hes going there, I

could hear them boarding in the background while he was talking on my phone. Im going after him. And honestly, Rachel had never felt as fiercely determined as she did in that moment. That asshole had her phone, and she was going to go get it back. And maybe kill him in the process, too.

Wo, Rachel! Dagne cried. Dont do that! Theyll think you are running away. God knows what else hes got in your house!

I have to, Rachel said, her determination growing in leaps and bounds.

Jesus, no you dont! What do you thinkyoure Charlies Angel or something? You cant go chasing after a a

Lying sack of shit!

Exactly!

Yes I can, and I am, Rachel said. Dont come around here, okay? Who knows whats here or who will be looking for me. Once it gets out you have that painting, the RIHPS is going to figure it out and start looking for the jackass. And they can damn well have himjust as long as I get my hands on him first.

Rachel ! Dagne shrieked. You cant

Yes I can, Dagne! Rachel cried, on the verge of hysteria. Dad is right! Its about time I quit hiding and just step off the ledge and fall into life! Ill call you, I promise, but Im going, she said, and hung up before Dagne could argue.

She glanced at the clock. A little past six. She snatched up her PDA, pulled up the number for Lear Transport Industries in New York and hastily dialed the number.

Hello? she said, getting Dads secretary on the line. Oh hi, Belinda. How are you? she said, trying to keep her voice calm. Listen; is Dad in New York for a while? Great I need the plane No, wait! No, really, its okay, I dont need to talk to Damn ! Ah, hi, Dad, she said brightly, frantic now.

Whats this about you needing a plane? he asked calmly.

Dad. She took a deep breath. Remember our talk? About how it was time for me to get out and face life and not be afraid of it?

Of course I do.

There is something I need to face. And I need you to trust me. I just need to go do it and I dont have time to talk, because I have to get to Hilton Head fast.

Hilton Head

Dad, please! I am going to go down there to take that asshole Myron Tidwell down, but I need to do it in a hurry! Ill explain everything later but could I use the plane, please?

Dad didnt say anything for a moment, and she squeezed her eyes shut, her mind already racing ahead to how shed get there if he said no. A train. Trains left all night. But for the second time that week, Dad surprised the shit out of her. I guess it needs to pick you up in Providence?

She opened her eyes, feeling, remarkably, stronger than she ever had in her life. Yes, she said, and worked out when to meet the pilot.

FLYNN arrived at Dagnes apartment complex and parked next to Joe, who was waiting for him. Shes inside, he said as Flynn slipped into the passenger seat. So whats up?

Youll not believe it. This one, Flynn said, jerking his thumb in the direction of Dagnes apartment, took the Badger portrait to some televised show where people bring their heirlooms to have them appraised.

Joes jaw dropped. Antiques Roadshow ? he exclaimed in disbelief. Christ Almighty. He shook his head. I guess I shouldnt be too surprised, he added, and reached behind him, grabbed a pair of silver candlesticks wrapped in plastic and showed them to Flynn. Some guy in Michigan bought this off eBay. When he received them, he suspected they were authentic and had them checked out. They were authentic, all right, so he turned them over to the police, who traced them back to a seller here in Providence. One Dagne Delaney.

Bloody hell, Flynn said.

So what about Rachel Lear?

What about Rachel Lear Flynn glanced out the window into the dark. Shes got quite a number of items lying around and seems unconcerned in general.

Joe said nothing for a moment, but finally said, Dude. Im sorry.

Flynn wasnt sorry. At least not yet he wasntin his heart of hearts, he didnt believe for a moment that Rachel was involved in this scheme. That would go against everything he knew about her. And he was, generally, a bloody good judge of character. Actually, he was usually spot on when sizing people up.

But then again, he couldnt come up with a plausible explanation for how those items had landed in her home without her having some part in it.

He couldnt think about that now. At the moment, he was more interested in retrieving that priceless portrait of Colonial Woman and said, I suppose we should have a chat with Miss Delaney to start, eh?

At the door of 4A, Flynn knocked. Dagne answered a moment later, but the instant she saw them, her eyes went wide and she tried to slam the door shut.

One moment, if you please, Flynn said, stopping her from shutting the door with a stiff-arm to the door. Im Rachels friend Flynn Oliver.

Flynn? she said, her eyes getting wider. Youre Flynn Oliver? She suddenly smiled. Wow . Rachel wasnt lying when she said you were a hunk

Might we have a word? Flynn asked, pushing a little on the door.

She looked at Joe then, and her eyes narrowed into suspicion again. Wait. How do I know youre Flynn Oliver? she said, pushing back. And whos this bozo?

Im really Flynn Oliver, and this bozo is my

American partner, Flynn said, digging in his back pocket. He retrieved a small case and flipped it open.

Dagne squinted at it. Lloyds of London Flynn Oliver. Okay, she said, glancing up at him. Youre Flynn. So where is Rachel?

At home, Flynn said, smiling charmingly now. Shes quite all right, and in fact, was preparing dinner when last we spoke. That earned him a look of surprise from Joe, but Dagne folded her arms across her middle.

No shes not. I just talked to her.

Thats great. And now we want to talk to you, Joe said, stepping up. Take a closer look at Mr. Olivers credentials. Hes an investigator with Lloyds of London. And I, he said, pulling out his badge, am a detective with the Rhode Island State Police. So do you want to let us in, or do you want us to haul you downtown?

Dagne glared at the badge, then at Joe, and she held on to the door tighter, bracing herself against it. Listen, pal, you cant just come in here like that. I watch Law & Order ! You have to have a search warrant!

A warrant just to talk to you? He laughed. You need to watch a few more episodes, because I dont need a warrant just to talk. And I can talk to you here, or I can take you downtown. Right now Im giving you a choice. But if you dont let us in, I might stop being so magnanimous.

Im calling the cops, Dagne said.

I am the cops, kid. If you call more, theyre going to come out here and tell you the same thing I just told you. And then they are going to ask, just like Im about to ask, what your problem is. Do you have something to hide in there? Should we go get a search warrant?

I dont have anything to hide! she said angrily. I just dont like being pushed around

No ones pushing, Miss Delaney, Flynn said calmly. This is really about Rachel. She might be in a spot of trouble, and I, for one, would like to help her.

That softened her up. She blinked at Flynn, glowered at Joe, but seemed to think the better of it and stepped back, letting them inside. I smell vanilla, she said as Flynn passed her. Vanilla ! she said again, only louder.

Flynn ignored her.

Joe assumed a fairly aggressive stancelegs apart, hands on hips and coat flared back so that she couldnt miss his gun, and that backed the poor girl up against the wall. All right, Delaney. How is it you came to be in possession of the Joseph Badger painting? he demanded as Flynn walked to where it was perched on the couch and picked it up.

The blood literally bled from the girls face. I ah I d-didnt Can you ask that question?

I can ask any question I want. Why wouldnt you answer? Afraid of something?

No! Look, pal, you are not going to bully me. I was just helping Rachel out

Helping Rachel do what? Fence stolen property?

NO! she cried, aghast. What are you saying ? Do you even know Rachel?

Do you ? Joe pressed.

Yes, I do, better than anyone, and shed never do that! She didnt even know Dagne squealed then, clamped a hand over her mouth, and big fat tears welled in her eyes.

Joe eased up on her. 1 think you better sit down and tell us what you know.

She nodded slowly, lowered her hand. Its my fault. I should have done a spell to ward off the evil, she said, gulping down a sob.

What? Joe asked, confused.

Ill explain later, Flynn said, and with the priceless portrait under his arm, he put a hand to Dagnes elbow, guided her to sit at her little dining table.

With some prodding, Dagne told them what she knew. Professor Tidwell, or Myron, as she called him, had been bringing Rachel presents from time to time, all of them, ostensibly, from the museum gift shops. I always thought he was trying to make up for borrowing her money and eating her food, she said, staring morosely at that table.

So how did you end up selling the stuff on eBay? Joe asked.

She explained that Rachels father, Aaron Lear of the huge Lear Transport Industries, had recently cut her off, which came as something of a surprise to Flynn. He thought shed been in school too long and was running around with the wrong people. Which, she said, stabbing the air to point at herself, she was , hello!

Another loud sob, a comforting pat on the back from Flynn, and she continued.

So anyway, she was having a hard time finding a job and paying her bills, and I thought Id help her out! Thats all! She didnt like the stuff Myron brought her anyway, and shed put it in the dining room or in the guest room and say she was going to decide what to do with it later, but she didnt want to throw it out because she was afraid of hurting his feelings or something shes just really nice like that. So I started taking things. One at a time, you know, so she or Myron wouldnt notice. And I I sold them on eBay ! she cried out in a flood of tears. But I gave all the money to Rachel!

How many items? Flynn asked.

Am I going to jail? she sobbed into her hands.

Not right this minute, Joe said, casually leaning back, his feet propped on an empty chair as he watched her.

Perhaps not at all if you can help us, Flynn said. How many items did you auction?

I dont know, she said, lifting a very red, tear-streaked face. Maybe six or seven things. Enough to pay the utility bill. Except she used the money to have that stupid Thanksgiving party for her weaving class because shed already promised them. God, sometimes I just want to slap her!

Joe rolled his eyes, drummed his fingers impatiently against the tabletop. Dagne reached for a paper towel and blew her nose, sounding a bit like an old bleating sheep.

And how many items do you think the professor brought her? Flynn continued.

Oh hell, I dont know. There was something all the time.

Were you ever present when he gave something to Rachel and claimed it was a replica?

Yes. The torch thingies. I remember because I thought it was weird theyd have those in a gift shop. I mean, who would buy them, right? And then I thought, well duh, Myron the idiot, who else?

Joe looked at Flynn. Lets go pay a visit to Professor Tidwell.

Righto, Flynn said. Have you any more items here, Dagne? he asked. She shook her head.

Joe stood and looked down at Dagne, then suddenly bent down, so that his face was just inches from hers. You leave this apartment without calling me, he said, flicking a card at her, youre definitely going to jail for a long, long time.

Dagne wailed, motioned for him to go away.

Look at me, Joe said sternly, and when she looked up, he said, Do you think Im kidding?

No, she said, sniffing. I think youre a jerk.

Joe smiled, came to his feet. She buried her face in her hands again. Flynn patted her on the back, followed Joe out.

Myron was not in his apartment. Nor was he at the RIHPS offices, or the bar he frequented. Their last stop was Rachels; it was almost eleven oclock, but there were several lights on in the house, and her car was in the drive. There was no sign of the professor.

Joe and Flynn jogged up the steps to Rachels house, knocked loudly, then stood there, waiting for her to open. Several seconds passed; Joe walked down the steps, looked at the upstairs lights. Ill check around back, Flynn said, and withdrawing a small pocket flashlight, walked around the porch, down the steps to the drive, and along the bank of windows that framed the dining room. The garage was closed and locked, but the kitchen light was on and the back screen door was slightly ajar. Flynn tried it, but the door was locked. He knocked, waited for a time, but heard nothing from within.

After checking the back of the house, Flynn walked up the east side and around to the front, where Joe was still banging on the door, and was about to speak when someone behind him asked, Who are you?