The Missing Ink

Chapter 52

This was what Matthew was looking for. I could bet on it. And I’d win. What are those odds in Vegas?

Elise must have stuck it in the plant when she was here. Why, though? Because it was Chip’s ring and she was going to run off and marry Matt? Why wouldn’t she just give it back-or keep it? It must be worth something.

Bruce Manning’s words on the phone jolted my brain. He’d said he didn’t care what Simon Chase did with the girl, but he wanted it back. Must be the ring. So it was worth something.

I turned it over in my hand, watching the colors change in it. It was spectacular.

For a second I had a crazy thought.

I didn’t have to give it back. While they thought it was here, they’d already trashed the place and hadn’t found it. Who would be the wiser?

I would. I couldn’t do that. I had to give it back.

But to whom?

Elise was the logical choice. Granted, she’d left it here, abandoned it for anyone to find. But it was hers-and her decision whether she wanted to give it back to her former fiancé or his father.

She wasn’t exactly accessible right now, though. Simon Chase and Matthew had her. They must have asked her where the ring was-maybe that was what was going on at Viva Las Vegas last night when I saw Matthew taking her out of there. She must have refused to tell them, since Matthew ended up here and hadn’t found it.

Was she going to show up dead now? Or were they still trying to get the ring’s hiding place out of her and then they’d do away with her?

Had Kelly Masters known about the ring and refused to say where it was? Was that why she was killed? And Matt. What about Matt?

I was having dinner with Simon Chase in a few hours. Like I would be able to act natural now.

Maybe I could try to get something out of him about Elise. Where she was, what was going on. No. A dinner date wasn’t going to soften him up enough for him to spill his guts about his crime. Tim’s wire was another idea. It didn’t work with Jeff, but I knew Chase would show up. He wasn’t on the lam.

I dialed Tim’s number but only got voice mail. I left a cryptic message, asking him to call as soon as he could.

I’d been turning the ring over and over in my hand and now slipped it on my finger. It looked good. But how could it not? I remembered that other ring, the one Paul had given me. It was a quarter the size of this, but it had felt bigger. Heavier.

I couldn’t wear the ring. I didn’t want to leave it behind, either. What if Matthew came back and decided to give it another go?

I stuck the ring in my skirt pocket as I went back to the staff room and into the bathroom, changing into my tank top and throwing the poofy shirt on the light table. As I started to go back out, I heard the front door open. Peeking out, I saw Joel lumbering in, his face drawn and tired like Bitsy’s, like mine.

He pulled me into a hug.

“He’s okay,” he said into my hair.

I nodded, carefully extracting myself. “I know. I’m glad. It could’ve been worse.”

Joel shrugged. “That’s the funny thing.”

“What’s funny?”

“Ace said it was more like an accident.”

“Accident how? I mean, his face was all bloody. He had a concussion.”

Joel took a deep breath. “Ace said the guy came in, pushed him around a little. Ace told him there wasn’t any cash. When the guy went into the staff room, Ace tried to be a freaking hero and jumped him. The guy hit him across the nose, but didn’t break it. Ace said he fell then-it wasn’t because the guy pushed him-and he slammed his head against the floor and then passed out.”

“Sounds like it was convenient,” I said.

“Yeah, maybe. But weird. It looked like the guy had beaten Ace to a pulp, but when he got all cleaned up, it had just been a bloody nose, and he’d bitten his tongue when he hit the floor, which bled like crazy.”

We pondered that a few seconds, not really knowing the significance.

“But it doesn’t mean he didn’t mean to hurt him,” I finally said. “And he did trash the place. Did the guy tell Ace what he was looking for?” The outline of the diamond was sticking out of my pocket, but no one would notice but me unless it was pointed out.

“No. Ace said it happened really fast.” Joel looked around. “Did a good job cleaning up.”

“Bitsy did most of it. I was out playing detective with Tim, but I’m not changing jobs anytime soon.” I told Joel about my afternoon. “I have to get over to see Ace,” I ended.

“They’re keeping an eye on him, and your brother was over there, too, asking him all about it.” Joel snickered. “Ace is loving the attention.”

“Wouldn’t have guessed,” I said.

“Why don’t you go over there now, before visiting hours are over?” Joel said.

I looked anxiously around the shop.

“Why don’t we just close up? Put the gate down.”

He had a point. The mall security folks knew what had gone down here. I couldn’t be held responsible for shutting down early, considering. On the whole, they didn’t like that, but these were extenuating circumstances. I nodded.

“Sure. Sounds like a plan.”

We went through the motions, locking the front doors, pulling the gate down, locking that, too. Passersby didn’t even seem to notice. It was almost suppertime anyway.

Which reminded me…

“I have to make reservations for eight across the way,” I said, indicating Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant. It wasn’t nearly as fancy as Giverny, but I wasn’t in the mood for fancy.

Joel frowned, and I told him about my date with Simon Chase.

“You like this guy?” he asked.

That was a loaded question if I’d ever heard one. “He knows Matthew, the guy who broke into the shop,” I said.

“And you want to know if he knows anything about this,” Joel finished for me.

I nodded.

“So you’re going to wine and dine him? What else are you going to do?”

I slugged him on the shoulder and made a face at him. “What do you think?”

“I think you like this guy, even if he’s mixed up in all this.”

“It’s complicated.”

“Isn’t it always?” He put his arm around me. “Want me to sit at the next table and glare at him?”

“No. But I wouldn’t mind knowing you’re nearby somewhere.”

He thought a second, then said, “Okay, I’ll come at eight and hang out in the square, have some gelato or something. I’ll keep an eye on you. Make sure you sit outside.”

The restaurant had tables on the square.

“Sounds good, but you have to try to be discreet.” I was a little worried, because Joel wasn’t exactly the type to melt into the background.

“Don’t worry about me.”

We parted ways at my car, and I watched Joel’s frame make its way to his Prius. I looked for more notes on my windshield, but it was clear. Had that drawing been Matthew’s way of warning me he’d be coming around?

I pushed the thoughts out of my head and backed out of the space, following the exit signs.

As I turned the corner, my rearview mirror revealed that I wasn’t the only one following the signs.

A white Dodge Dakota was gaining ground on me.