The Glitter End, page 22
Delta felt attacked a moment and blinded by a need to retaliate, but then her mind refocused on the issue at hand. “I appreciate your concern for us, Rosalyn, but you never asked whether we wanted you to take the display off our hands. Worse than that, you didn’t ask Tilly what she wanted. I can’t imagine her walking in here to see her display and find out it was taken somewhere else without her knowledge.”
“The Lodge is a high-class venue. It’s not like her display is taken to a garbage dump.” Rosalyn’s voice trembled with anger. “I’m only trying to do you and her a favor.”
“Or do the VanderHursts a favor? Hoping their friends will then come stay at the Lodge?” Delta was tempted to burst Rosalyn’s bubble by revealing the strain the marriage was under and the real possibility she’d never get to entertain the high-profile guests she was now hoping for.
But sensitive information like that, collected to help the case, shouldn’t be shared, especially not out of spite.
Rosalyn would probably not even believe me.
“They’re decent people,” Rosalyn said, “unfortunately caught up in a very stressful situation. They want to avoid any form of association with the lowly criminal their sister married.”
“Then why would they push for the display to be brought to the Lodge? Doesn’t that strengthen the connection?”
“Look, Delta, this discussion is pointless, we obviously don’t see eye to eye. The transport is paid for, and the display will be moved tomorrow morning. With or without your consent. Good day.” And Rosalyn disconnected.
Delta lowered her phone. This was so not going to happen. She had to talk to Tilly. She dialed Mrs. Cassidy’s number and soon heard a friendly, “Hello?”
“It’s me, Delta. I just heard the oddest thing.” She told her friend what had happened when Ray came to the store. Mrs. Cassidy listened without comment to the entire story, including Rosalyn’s infuriating conviction. Delta ended with, “We must ask Tilly to stop them. This is too much.”
“I wonder.” Mrs. Cassidy sounded thoughtful.
“Whether they are doing the right thing? Do you think they know better?” Delta was taken aback a moment. Mrs. Cassidy was now housing Tilly, so maybe she had seen a side to her that convinced her Tilly was better off listening to her well-meaning relatives.
“I wonder why the VanderHursts want to have that display nearby. If it’s at the Lodge, all the hotel guests can come and look at it. Meaning they can come and look at it.”
“They can look at it right here,” Delta retorted automatically.
“Yes, in full view. During opening hours. If the display is at the hotel, they can get to it in the middle of the night.”
“In the middle of the… Why on earth would they want that?”
“I don’t know. But remember how the van was ransacked? And we thought someone was looking for something? What if the VanderHursts are looking for something? And they think it’s hidden in the display?”
Delta’s jaw sagged. “Why would they want to search for something hidden in the display their eccentric sister made?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a thought.” Mrs. Cassidy sounded apologetic. “Maybe I watched too many murder mysteries on TV.”
Delta grinned. “No, you could be right, of course. The van was ransacked. And the police don’t know why. It could all be connected.”
Mrs. Cassidy said, “Maybe you should just let them have the display and then make a plan with Ray to have Jonas keep watch at the hotel, and, once they come into the boardroom in the dead of night to search the display, he can arrest them.”
“Jonas can’t arrest anyone, as he’s no longer with the police.” Delta clutched the phone. “And just coming into a room where a miniature town is on display isn’t a crime. Besides, Rosalyn will never agree to setting up some…trap at the Lodge.”
“Rosalyn need not know about it, if you go through Ray.”
Delta bit her lip. Rosalyn already disliked her and Hazel. If they did something that Rosalyn would consider a violation of her position at the Lodge, they’d certainly make a lasting enemy of her. And Hazel might have a future ahead of her with Ray. Wasn’t her personal happiness more important than the off chance of solving the murder by catching the VanderHursts red-handed at the display?
Delta said, “I’ll think about it. Thanks for sharing with me. Just for the moment don’t tell Tilly, okay?”
“Fine with me. Have a nice day.”
A nice day? Delta felt like she hadn’t had a nice day in ages. It was all so complicated. What to do next? How to make progress?
She peeked into the store. Hazel was at the counter staring down at something. Ray was nowhere in sight. Delta snuck in, tiptoeing up to her friend. The thing she was looking at was a ticket. To that antiques show Ray had mentioned?
Delta said, “Sorry to have kept you waiting. I was on the phone. Are you all right? You look a little out of sorts.”
Hazel snatched up the ticket and turned away, slipping it into her pocket. “I’m fine. I was just…working out a few figures.”
Delta felt a little stab that her friend didn’t confide in her, but she understood how confusing matters of the heart could be.
Nevertheless, she asked, in an innocent tone, “Did you catch Ray? He dropped by for a minute.”
“Yes, we chatted.” Hazel turned fiery red. “About the bad weather really having messed up some things they planned at the Lodge. Small stuff.”
Delta nodded. “Did he mention Rosalyn making a deal with Tilly’s sister about the display?”
Hazel looked bewildered. “What display?”
“This one.” Delta stood beside it. She let her gaze wander the small houses and people going about their business. Then she sank to her knees and looked underneath it, studying the construction. Could you hide something in it? Had Tilly put an item there? Something valuable? Or a paper? Connected with her husband’s scams?
The killer had been in here that night putting the prospector with the mattock in his back outside the boardinghouse. But why? Had it been about that alleged clue? Or about checking the display for hiding places?
Delta crawled underneath to look better.
Hazel asked, “What are you doing?”
Delta lowered herself so she could turn over and study the display’s bottom. “I’m not sure. I wonder if there’s something hidden in this thing. I can’t see any levers or…”
“You read too many books. Why would it have levers?”
“Tilly might have used it to store something safely. Who would look here?”
“But the guys who build the display for her take it apart. Wouldn’t they find something?”
“You’re right. It can’t be in the construction. It has to be hidden in the models themselves.” Delta wormed her way out from underneath with a groan. “But I won’t be touching the models. I would be afraid to break something. Tilly put so much time and effort into them.”
Hazel leaned back on her heels. “You do have a point that it is odd that the VanderHursts are so eager to move the thing to the Lodge. What for? They don’t seem to be fans of Tilly’s work, per se. I haven’t even seen them in here yet.”
“I saw in a video Jane’s husband made how Tabitha was at the door the morning of the opening, but she never came in. I wonder why. And Bessie overheard Tabitha at the Lodge talking to the director of a museum in Helena, about putting up a permanent exhibition of Tilly’s work. She may be after control of her sister’s work. It’s worth something.”
“But they have enough money.”
“Jonas shared with me that the VanderHursts’ marriage is in trouble. He wants to divorce her, and she signed a prenup and won’t get a thing. I should ask Jonas to check that out further.” Delta got her phone from the back. “I’ll ask him right away.”
She called his cell, tapping her foot impatiently, her head full of thoughts.
“Hello, Paula speaking.”
Delta froze. She stammered, “Sorry? What?”
“This is Paula.”
The female voice was unmistakable. Paula was answering Jonas’s phone.
Delta hesitated. She wanted to say she had a wrong connection and hang up. But that would be the cowardly thing to do. She needed to push through and find out, for better or worse, what was going on here. “Hi, it’s Delta. Is Jonas there?”
“Yes, but he’s hanging up some paintings, so he can’t come to the phone right now.”
Paintings? In their home? The place where they were going to live together?
Delta immediately had this mental image of Jonas holding up the painting and asking Paula if it was straight. The tenderness of the scene hit her like a knock against the chin. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Jonas was hers.
Hers?
No, of course not, but she did know that he meant a whole lot more to her than just some friend.
“Okay,” she said with difficulty, “I’ll call back later.” Her heart pounded violently under her breastbone. Why hadn’t Jonas told her outright Paula was his girlfriend? Why hadn’t he introduced her like that when they had met?
Delta pressed a hand against her temple. It need not be like that, she tried to reason with herself. Maybe Paula asked him to hang a painting or two in her own home. To spend time with Jonas? Maybe they weren’t an item yet, but was Paula pushing for it?
Then there was still time, however little, for Delta to act. To tell Jonas how she felt and win him for herself.
Her courage sank at the idea, and she wondered if she could ever really do that.
Hazel peeked in. “Did you talk to Jonas? What did he say? Are we suspecting too much? Might be with all that’s been going on.”
“He didn’t answer his phone.” Delta wished she didn’t sound so squeaky.
Hazel narrowed her eyes as if she had heard and wanted to ask something. But Delta’s phone rang. It was Jonas.
So he could call her back. Delta accepted with a shivery “Hello?”
“Hey, Delta. Paula said it was you, and I wanted to know what was up right away. There aren’t any problems, are there? With Buckmore or something?”
“No. But I have to talk to you. One-on-one.”
“Okay.” He paused, sounding a bit reluctant. “I’m up to my eyebrows in work right now, so can it wait until tonight?”
“Sure.” Delta’s mind whirled, checking off places that weren’t suitable. Not at her home where Hazel might catch something, not at Mine Forever where too many locals hung out. It wasn’t summer anymore so they couldn’t go for a bike ride or walk. Do it casually. No, they had to meet indoors, protect themselves against the ongoing rain.
“I’ll pick you up at seven,” Jonas said. “I know just the place.”
“Okay. I hope Paula doesn’t mind.”
He paused again. “I’ll be done here by then. See you later.”
Delta lowered the phone and exhaled slowly.
Hazel grinned at her. “Is it a date? You’re so smart, getting a meeting out of it and…”
“It’s not funny.” Delta walked past her into the shop again. Fortunately, customers had come in and were browsing. She wanted to be very busy so she didn’t have time to worry about tonight.
Chapter Nineteen
Jonas picked her up around seven as he had promised and drove her along the dark road. The rain hadn’t ceased at all and washed in rivulets across the windows. Delta shivered, ducking deeper into her coat. Even indoors you could feel the chill of late fall seeping through.
Jonas glanced at her. “I didn’t get far with Buckmore. I’ve been making a list of known victims of the pyramid scheme, people who went public about their losses during the trial, but I can’t establish a direct tie between any of them and Buckmore. I looked especially close at Adam Baker and Cheryl Remington, as they were also here in town when the murder occurred. But no tie I can see. I also couldn’t connect Buckmore with Weatherspoon in any way. So I’m not sure what to think. Was he after revenge? Or involved in the scheme and eager to keep Weatherspoon away from the loot? Why did Weatherspoon come to Tundish of all places? For Buckmore or someone else?”
Delta raked a hand through her hair and said, “On one hand, I hope he’s not involved, as I’d feel terrible that a criminal came close to Gran, but, on the other hand, if the police picked him up and it would be crystal clear he’s bad, I need not tell her and risk my bond with her. I haven’t felt so confused in a long time.”
Jonas gripped the wheel tighter. “Is that why you wanted to talk one-on-one?”
“It’s just that…” I think you’re dating Paula, and I want to date you? No, that is impossible to say. “How did the paintings come along? This afternoon?”
“No diversions, Delta. What is the matter?” Jonas glanced at her. “I know I should wait until we’re at the restaurant, nicely set up with our drinks and waiting for our specials, but…”
Picturing this, him across from her toasting her then focusing on her with his interested eyes, she knew she’d clam up. Now or never. “I thought we were friends.”
“We are. Who told you we’re not?”
“I just… I feel a little disconnected from you. I’m not sure whether it’s the thing with Gran messing with my feelings or…” Delta clenched her hands. “This is probably all very silly to you.”
“I never felt before like you were folding under pressure. Why now?”
Delta shrugged. She didn’t dare look at him.
Jonas said, “Oh, well, maybe situations do get to people and change them from how they usually are. Paula is having so much wedding stress. I would never have believed it.”
Wedding stress. Delta’s muscles tightened. “So, she’s getting married? When?”
“In two weeks. There is still so much to do it drives me crazy.”
Me? He meant her right? Or did he mean me? Was he…
Delta struggled to breathe evenly. “What do you still have to do?”
“Find a ring bearer. Get the right flowers for the venue’s decoration. The ones they suggested weren’t to Paula’s liking.” He rolled his eyes. “I have never known she could be such a diva. A real bridezilla.”
Delta faked a laugh. “Poor you.” Sweat filled her palms. “Of course, I’m happy for her.” You. Come on, say it. You can do it.
“Yeah, well, when she asked me to be best man, I thought it would be easy. Paula had always been down-to-earth and undemanding, not fussy or anything. I thought it would take me a few hours of my time, and now… She calls me for every little detail. Do this, arrange for that.” He waved a hand in the air. “Last week, I felt like telling her to find someone else for the lousy job. But we’ve been friends for so long, and she once saved my life. I owe her, right?”
“Best man?” Delta repeated. The fog in her brain didn’t allow her to fully grasp this.
“Yes.” He glanced at her. “And don’t ask how she saved my life. I don’t want to talk about that tonight.”
Jonas was best man. Not groom. He wasn’t marrying Paula. Paula was marrying someone else.
“That’s great,” Delta said with a grin that almost pulled her face apart.
Jonas frowned. “It’s great that I don’t want to talk about a major life event? I thought you’d be ruffled.”
“Not at all. Whatever you want to do. I’m fine with it. Totally fine.”
Jonas gave her a suspicious look. “You sound a bit hysterical. Maybe you’re closer to the edge than you think. With the murder, Wanted involved and all…”
“I have news to share about that.” Delta dared look at him again. “Important stuff you can help me with.”
Was it a flash of disappointment she saw in his eyes? She didn’t really know, as she was so ridiculously relieved that he wasn’t marrying Paula—wasn’t even dating her or anything. It was all perfectly fine.
Jonas turned into a parking lot and stopped the Jeep. “I hope you like this place. They serve great turkey specialties. With Thanksgiving coming up…”
Delta smiled at him. “I’m grateful to have a friend like you.”
Jonas put his hand on hers a moment. “You can count on me, you know that.”
She held his gaze. The relief inside of her wanted out, in a mad moment of throwing herself into his arms. But, as she had just saved their friendship and the potential they had, she wasn’t going to risk it now. She gestured at the lit building ahead. “Shall we? I can’t wait to see what they have on the menu.”
***
They had finished their turkey roast with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables from the grill and were into their dessert. Jonas had listened intently to her story about the latest developments and now said, “But if the VanderHursts want access to the display, what could they actually gain by that?”
Delta gestured. “I don’t know. I just thought it was odd, considering that they also wanted to pay for the lawyer Mrs. Cassidy hired and then get access to the information that Marjorie Brenning has on the case. It seems they want to be in control of everything.”
Jonas nodded slowly. “Maybe it’s just damage control? They’re worried this case will make a splash in the media, reaching into their circles, over time, and they think that, if they hold all the cards, they can determine the game. As an investment banker, he must be used to making a risk calculation.”
“I bet. Well, anyway, I wanted you to know it all. The idea to set a trap at the Lodge might not be totally bad, but I can’t see Rosalyn agreeing with it.” Delta looked up at Jonas. “After Hazel’s suggestion to lure Buckmore into stealing something at our cottage to expose himself, you might think we’ve gone overboard with our plans to frame people.”
