Curiosity Didn't Kill the Cat (31 page)

She frowned at the layered bottom edge and pulled the top layer back gingerly, then looked up at him blankly. “But, what’s all this?”

“A message—in code.”

“You mean this is—”

“That’s the missing item Mrs. Leen was so anxious to acquire.”

She looked down at the card again.

“I wonder what all those little squiggles mean.”

He leaned back, gazing absently at the card.

“I’m assuming those little squiggles include the timetable and rendezvous instructions for Demetriev’s abduction. It probably told her Harrison’s name, the name of his boat, and when and where he’d arrive to take Demetriev—and herself and Joe, of course—to the trawlers. She was utterly helpless without that information; the timing was particularly important on this little operation.”

Miss Dobie scrutinized the card, pursing her lips in apparent dissatisfaction.

“I thought she got her instructions from the trawlers. I mean, those signals you saw.”

“She did, but only when she couldn’t find that card. It was extremely risky to make direct contact with the trawlers by any means. That particular means was set up from the beginning—from her arrival in Holliday Beach—but it was too dangerous to be anything but an emergency measure.” His eyes narrowed, briefly cold. “I’m sure she was very reluctant to use it, not only because of the risk, but because it meant admitting that she’d let a vital piece of information slip through her fingers.”

Miss Dobie still seemed less than satisfied.

“But how did
Meg
get hold of this card?”

Conan shrugged. “Probably on the night Mills was killed. He put up a struggle before Rose shot him; in the melee, the card might have fallen from the book. Or Mills may have actually handled the book; he knew the title from monitoring my phone conversations. He might have removed the card himself. Perhaps Rose beat a strategic retreat in the middle of his own search, and didn’t attack the Major until after he’d had a chance to look at the book. I don’t know. Obviously, the card was separated from the book, and Rose didn’t know how important it was. By the time Joe came around to search the shop, I suppose Meg had already claimed it.”

“And those FBI men went over this place with a fine-toothed comb.”

“It would take more than a fine-toothed comb to get at Meg’s hiding places.”

She was silent for a while, watching Meg at her predatory antics. Finally, she breathed a profound sigh.

“Well…I guess it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.” Conan winced at the platitude, but made no comment. “Otherwise, you might never have found out about Dr. Demetriev.”

“Possibly. Or perhaps I—or someone else—might have found out sooner.”
He straightened, squaring his shoulders decisively. “Anyway, you can send that card to Inspector West with my compliments. And Meg’s.”

He reached for the File and began leafing through the cards while Miss Dobie watched curiously. Finally, he pulled out the Luigi Benevento card, and his features relaxed into a quiet smile.

“You know, Miss Dobie, you’re absolutely right.”

“I am?”

“Didn’t you say the best way to get a lead on that Fabrizi project was to see Benevento in Florence?”

“Oh. Did I say that?”

“Of course you did.” He grinned at her. “And I always take your advice.”

She laughed at that. “Oh, yes. Always. I can think of at least…well, let’s see, at least two occasions in the last seven years when you’ve taken my advice.”

“That isn’t a bad record.” He reached for the phone. “Now, if you’ll excuse me—”

She smiled knowingly, and as he dialed gathered up her coffee cup and Meg, and started for the door.

“Give my regards to Miss Hartford,” she said as she closed the door behind her.

He nodded, then turned his attention to the phone.

“Trans-World Travel Agency. May I help you?”

“May I speak to Miss Hartford, please?”

When the connection was made, he smiled and leaned back with a luxurious sense of anticipation.

“This is Miss Hartford, may I—”

“Lisa, this is Conan Flagg.”

“Conan! It’s been months. I thought maybe you’d found a cure for itchy feet.”

He laughed. “Never.”

“That’s good news. What can I do for you?”

He closed his eyes, smiling at a warm-toned image of the Duomo; the wide piazza with the flapping, cooing clouds of pigeons; the soaring campanile….

“Lisa, you can book me on the first flight available—to Florence.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M.K. WREN is a pseudonym for a West Coast writer of crime fiction and science fiction. In addition to her skills as the creator of Conan Flagg, Ms. Wren is also the author of the acclaimed science-fiction trilogy, THE PHOENIX LEGACY. As an artist, she has exhibited in numerous galleries in Texas, Oklahoma, and the Northwest. She has been lauded for her watercolor miniatures—detailed paintings with subjects tending toward Victorian houses and ghost towns. CURIOSITY DIDN’T KILL THE CAT was Ms. Wren’s mystery series debut, and she has subsequently completed seven more novels featuring Conan Flagg.