Deadly Diamond

“Since each of us is blessed with only one life, why not live it with a cat?”

––Robert Stearns

CHAPTER ONE: Misty’s Indignation

Friday morning, ten days before Christmas, Misty and I were on duty at Antiques & Designs. I was at my post on the checkout counter keeping a watchful eye on things while Misty, a smallish cat with a quirky personality, viewed the parade of humans passing by the display window.

Alyx Hille and her best friend Maggie Broeck are the owners of the store. Alyx, five feet two inches tall, brown hair cut in a shaggy sort of style, hazel eyes and a beautiful smile, generously shares her home with Misty, Pooky––who prefers the security of home––and me. My name is Murfy and I’m also a Felis catus. I look and behave like an ordinary cream tabby with green eyes, but I’m not––ordinary, that is. Alyx is my human, and my mission is to comfort and protect her, no matter what it takes.

Althea Burns, a frail, older woman, made her last payment on the late eighteenth-century George III, slant-front desk that Alyx had been holding for her, and asked what time to expect delivery.

“It will be sometime this afternoon for sure. I’ll give you a call later about the exact time. Okay?”

“All right, Alyx, I’ll wait to hear from you.”

As Althea walked past me, she said she wished she could find a playmate for her cat. She’d voiced that thought before. Fortunately, Alyx had never acted on Althea’s request and, I must admit, I was a little disappointed when she agreed today.

“How about I bring Murfy with me and introduce him to your cat when we deliver your desk?”

“That would be wonderful, Alyx! I’ll see you and Murfy later.”

As Althea walked out, a slight built man entered the store. He pulled his black baseball cap lower over his wrap-around sunglasses and in the process bumped into Althea, saying nothing in the way of an apology. He wiped his hands on his shorts, and quickly made his way directly to the slant-front desk scheduled for delivery that afternoon.

Sitting next to the store’s only concession to the season––red candles in an elaborate antique candelabrum surrounded by a Holly branch––Misty observed the man intently.

The commotion caused by a screaming child being dragged out of the store momentarily diverted my attention, and when I looked back, the man was running his hand over the inlaid work on the desk, keeping his eyes averted, refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

A couple of minutes later, he turned to leave and tripped over Misty, her indignation heard all over the store. I bounced off the counter and ran to her aid ready to do battle if necessary.

Now, all eyes were on the man. Alyx started to say, “I’m so sorry …”

The man lowered his head, sidestepped over me, and ignored her as he hastened past.

Bernice, one of the store employees, came up to the counter and asked Alyx, “What was that all about?”

“That was the strangest thing––I don’t know what it was all about. I’d better go check on Misty, and make sure she’s all right.”

Misty, a gray cat with blue eyes, wasn’t used to rough treatment, and getting stepped on hurt her feelings––put her out of sorts, and she sought refuge under a highboy. No amount of cajoling could get her to come out, so Alyx let her be. I figured she’d have to come out eventually, so I sat nearby and offered moral support.

Alyx left and returned a short time later carrying the design board and samples she’d worked on that morning. She dropped it all on the counter when Maggie Broeck flew through the front door, slightly out of breath, her face flushed.

“Alyx, you’re not going to believe what just happened; Hall’s Jewelry was robbed!”

“You were there in the store?”

“Yes, I walked in right after it happened.”

Alyx pulled up a chair for Maggie and one for herself.

“As we discussed yesterday, I went to see Chet Hall about next month’s Downtown Merchants Association meeting. The police arrived right after I walked in, and I stayed to find out what happened. I heard Susan say that someone stole a thirty thousand dollar loose diamond. She said she got suspicious when the customer left abruptly. She examined the last diamond that he’d looked at and discovered it was glass. The security guard ran after the thief, but lost him in the crowd.”

“I didn’t think Chet traded in such expensive stones.”

Maggie shrugged her shoulders. “I guess he doesn’t usually; this was a special case. He wanted to help out a longtime resident, a widow in financial need due to her husband’s medical bills.”

“I guess it was only a matter of time before thieves found their way downtown,” Alyx stated with an obvious note of disillusionment as she glanced at the antique train station clock on the wall.

“Maggie, I have to leave right now if I don’t want to give our new client a reason to fire me. I should be back in about an hour. If you speak to George in the meantime, ask him what time he can deliver Althea’s desk.”

Alyx was back from her meeting with the new client when George called about an hour later. Maggie answered and smiled into the receiver. The conversation was short.

“George said he can deliver the desk at four.”

“That’s perfect,” said Alyx. “Althea was here earlier, and she’s very excited about finally getting the desk home. As much as I hate to see that desk leave the store, I’m glad it’s going to Althea. It has more meaning for her than it does for me.”

Maggie was noticeably quiet.

“Is everything okay with you and George?”

“Yes, everything is fine. What makes you think something’s wrong?”

“Based on your cryptic comments in the last couple of weeks, I sense that something is going on underneath the surface.”

“I know you don’t think he’s my type because he’s average-looking and shy, and it surprised me too when I started seeing him. George is a kind, gentle man. There’s nothing going on, and I don’t want to talk about it now anyway.”

Alyx closed the catalog in front of her, placed it back on the shelf with the others, and casually changed the subject by asking, “Do you mind if I take off a little early today?”

“Of course not. Are you nervous about tonight?”

“No, I’m not at all. I guess the fact that I’ve seen David and spoken to him often during the past few months makes it seem normal to have dinner with him. I’m looking forward to a pleasant evening with a sexy, handsome man. I hope I don’t act too eager and scare him away.”

“What? You act too eager or David get scared? Neither one is a remote possibility.”

“I’m not sure how to take that, so I’ll ignore it and keep you out of trouble.”

“I hope your cats like your choice of dress this time,” Maggie said with a smile, referring to a panicked call she’d received the night of a dinner party that Alyx had hosted earlier that year.

“I’d keep my clothes away from the cats, if I were you; they’re not only smart, they have good taste,” Maggie teased.