The Marquesa's Necklace (Oak Grove Mysteries Book 1) (26 page)
Read The Marquesa's Necklace (Oak Grove Mysteries Book 1) Online
Authors: P.J. MacLayne
“Do you know how hot this outfit is?” I fanned myself with one hand. “I should’ve made you wear it.”
“It wouldn’t fit me,” he said, grinning, as he started up the car and pulled out of the parking lot. He glanced my way. “And you make a great Aunt Martha.”
He was right. I hated it. I sat on my side of the car and pouted. “Well, at least turn on the air conditioning.”
He laughed, but did.
Next stop was another hour down the road. We headed east. I may not be a female James Bond, but I’ve read enough spy novels to give me ideas on hiding my trail. We found one of those big-box office supply stores and I sent Eli inside with a shopping list. The backseat of the car didn’t provide much of a workbench, but gave me enough room to assemble the cardboard box, stuff it with bubble wrap, and insert a plain wooden box. I’d already made up address labels. Hand printed, block style, not my normal style of handwriting. Printers leave a code not visible to the naked eye. One label went into the box, the other I taped to the top using the clear shipping tape Eli had bought.
I hesitated with the tape in my hand and the box lid still open. I looked up to see Eli watching me from the front seat.
“In one way,” I said. “It was sweet of Jake to give me this.”
“He must really love you, Harmony.”
I stifled a sob. He didn’t love me enough to own up to the theft and save me from the problems the necklace caused. “This will work, won’t it, Eli? The authorities will always suspect me, but they won’t be able to prove anything?”
“You wiped your prints from everything and you’re wearing gloves. We paid cash for everything, so there’s no trace of us being here. I wore a cap and sunglasses, so even if the store has security cameras, it will be hard to identify me. You’ve covered all the bases and I can’t see how we can be connected to the return.”
I closed the box and taped it shut using three layers of tape. I wanted to make absolutely sure that it couldn’t be opened “accidentally” before it got to its destination.
We didn’t mail it until we were another hour down the road. With the rush for shipping Christmas packages already started, I figured Aunt Martha would be another forgettable face in a stream of customers. And when the postal clerk asked me if I wanted to buy insurance, I politely declined. “Just a little trinket I’m shipping to my niece,” I explained, my voice quavering. “Not worth the fuss.” My supposed niece, of course, was the director of the traveling exhibit of the Museum of Fine Jewelry. I’d found her name and address on the internet. The necklace was headed home.
It was late in the afternoon when we reached the entrance to Presque Isle on the shore of Lake Erie. A stop on the way had returned Aunt Martha to my backpack, and Eli and I stood on the shores and watched the waves roll in. “It’s not quite like the ocean,” he said. “But it’s impressive.” A storm was coming in, and the wind was kicking up the waves. I struggled to keep my hair from blowing everywhere—I’d let it out of its usual bun when I had swapped out of the Aunt Martha costume.
When a strand of it blew into Eli’s face, he decided to help me. Facing me, he used both hands to gather it into a ponytail. With his arms around me, and his face close to mine, I thought he was going to kiss me.
“Have you got a rubber band?” he asked.
So much for that. I reached into my jean’s pocket, retrieved the elastic band I’d used earlier, and handed it to him.
“We should head back to Oak Grove soon,” he said as he tried to contain my hair. “We need to buy gas so there’s a record we were here.”
“Maybe grab a bite to eat while we’re here as well.” Not that I was hungry any more, but it would be part of our cover. “I’ll put it on my card.”
He stepped away and shook his head as he viewed the results of his efforts. “Good idea. You’ll need to fix your hair when we get back to the car.”
Supper was a quiet affair in a crowded, noisy restaurant. We wanted to be seen, but neither of us felt like talking. The drive home wasn’t much different.
“I’ll walk you to your door,” Eli said as he pulled up in front of the house.
“You don’t need to.” I opened the door and stepped onto the sidewalk. “I should be safe now.”
He got out of the car as I retrieved my backpack from the rear seat. “I’ll walk you up anyway.” He took the backpack out of my hands. “After you.”
“What time is your flight?” I asked as we climbed the stairs.
“Nine, if the weather cooperates.”
“That early? I guess you won’t be coming by to read the paper in the morning.”
“No, I guess not.”
I unlocked and opened my door. My small and cozy apartment seemed empty. I missed him already.
“I’ll be back for the trials, I suspect,” he said. “We can get together then.” He put my backpack on the floor near the loveseat.
I held out my hand. “It’s been an honor working with you, Elijah Hennessey,” I said. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”
He hesitated before taking my hand and shaking it. “The pleasure’s been mine, Harmony.”
The warmth of his hand did nothing to melt the ice-cold chill settling into my chest.
“Call me or something when you get home,” I said. “Let me know you made it safely. And give Scotty and Lando my love.”
“They’re still hoping you’ll go to ComicCon with them in the spring.”
“We’ll see. I better not make any long range plans until dates for the trials have been set.”
“Right. Well, goodbye then.”
“Goodbye.” I still hoped for a kiss or a hug or something. But nothing. I waited to shut the door until he was halfway down the steps.
“Don’t forget to lock your door,” I heard as I closed it.
It was late, but a bottle of Beaujolais waited for me. A couple of glasses and I might be able to relax. I wouldn’t be able to get to sleep any other way.
I considered going to the library in the morning, even though it was Saturday. Until I could find someone with the equipment to sweep my place for additional bugs, I wouldn’t feel totally secure. But I needed to get back to my normal life, so I didn’t go. I’d finished my cup of coffee, read the paper, and was deep into my weekend housekeeping—I’d neglected it for too long—when I was surprised by a loud knock on my door. I even heard it over the Adele album streaming on my laptop.
I knew better. I should have checked the peephole before I opened the door. Or even asked who was there. But no, without thinking, I danced my way over, cleaning rag in hand, and pulled it open. And stood there with my mouth open.
“Can I come in?” Eli asked.
I backed up and with a slight bow and a sweep of my hand indicated he could enter. We stood there, staring at each other. He didn’t look like he’d slept, his clothes were rumpled, and I was instantly worried. What was going on? When I finally found my voice, I asked “Shouldn’t you be on a plane?”
He pushed the door closed with his foot, never taking his eyes off of me. “I got to the airport, turned around and came back. There’s something I have to ask you, Harmony. And I can’t go home until you give me an answer.” He stepped closer, trapping me between the wall and his body. Oh hell, what now? He looked into my eyes and took a deep breath. “Are you still in love with Jake?”
I didn’t even have to think about my answer. “No.”
His face brightened. “Thank God!”
The next thing I knew, he’d pulled me into his arms and his lips were devouring mine.
I may have been a wee bit distracted with kissing him back, but I swear my toes curled, birds sang, and fireworks exploded in the background.
And magic happened.
The End (for now)
If you enjoyed The Marquesa’s Necklace, you might want to check out
Wolves’ Pawn
, also by P.J. MacLayne.
Dot McKenzie is a lone wolf-shifter on the run, using everything available to her to stay one step ahead of her pursuers. When she is offered a chance for friendship and safety with the Fairwood pack, she accepts.
Gavin Fairwood, reluctant heir to the Fairwood pack leadership, is content to let life happen while he waits. But old longings surface when he appoints himself Dot’s protector…and becomes more than a friend.
But her presence puts the pack and her new friends at risk, and Dot must go into hiding again. When old enemies threaten the destruction of the Fairwood pack, it will take the combined efforts of Dot and Gavin to save it.
Can anything save their love and Dot’s life when she becomes a pawn in a pack leader’s deadly game?
The Marquesa’s Necklace
Copyright
© 2014 by P.J. MacLayne
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any written, electronic, recorded, or photocopied format without the permission from the author as allowed under the terms and conditions with which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution, circulation or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.
The Marquesa’s Necklace is a work of fiction. All names, characters, events and places found in this book are either from the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to persons live or dead, actual events, locations, or organizations is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Acknowledgments
I want to thank my critique partners, who stuck with me through the long process of refining Harmony’s story.
Cornelia Amiri
T.J. McIntosh
D.K. Deters
Ryleigh Rhodes
Dawn Altieri
Thanks also to my cover artist, K.M. Guth, for a great job of taking a basic concept for a cover and turning it into something real.
And thanks to Amy at Author E.M.S. for her patience and professionalism, and to Jenny for the proofreading.
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