Laina Turner - Presley Thurman 05 - Gems & Gunshots (5 page)

Cooper looked at me. I was sure he was weighing the options of telling me something that might make me want to get more involved versus not telling me and having me continue to hound him about it. I almost felt bad. He was kind of in a no–win situation.

“Should I just guess? It would be my guess that the robbery/murder might be related to something else shady that Greg is involved in?” Cooper’s expression didn’t change, but he’d always been a good poker player.

Finally, he let out a long breath. “Okay, if I tell you a tiny bit of information, you need to promise not to repeat any of this and to stop asking around.”

“I promise not to repeat any of it.”

“And the other?”

“Cooper, I can promise I will try?” I said.

“Well, that’s better than I had hoped for. We do think there might be a chance that the robbery/break–in was a cover for something bigger, but we’re not exactly sure yet.”

“Jill said that Geena said— that was the other girl in the store at the time Nicole was killed—that one of the robbers ran out the back. I thought that it must have been someone who knew the store had a back entrance that was easily accessible. Is that what you think, too?” I asked.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at the information you manage to find out, but yes, that is partly why we think it could be premeditated. Now, enough with the questions.”

“Would you think I was being too nosy if I asked Amelia out for coffee?” I felt Greg’s wife and I had gotten along well at the dinner, and she seemed like someone I’d like to get to know better while I was out here. The fact that she might have information about the crime was a bonus.

Cooper sighed heavily. “If I said no would that stop you?”

I shrugged. “Probably not, but I would rather tell you now and not have you be mad. I want to get to know her better.”

“I like Amelia, too, and Greg. Not to mention, Greg is a client, a big one I don’t want to lose. So just limit your coffee date to being friendly, and please don’t ask her a lot of questions about the robbery or the murder.”

“I won’t if you tell me about how you know Nicole.”

Cooper sighed again. “She’s the daughter of another client. Her job at Gemstones was a coincidence, but as you can imagine, I’m taking some heat for it from her father.”

“So you did
know
her, know her?”

He chuckled. “Not in the way you mean. I’d met her a few times, that’s all.”

While I was relieved Cooper hadn’t known her that well, I felt bad for his predicament—and it made me want to try and solve this murder more than ever.

Chapter 6

L
ast night I had called Amelia to set up a date, and we had agreed to meet this morning. I, for one, was somewhat surprised that she was free at such short notice. I was thrilled that I didn’t have to wait. Patience was not one of my virtues. She seemed like one of those ladies who had a lot going on of the workout, charities, and luncheon variety. That might seem a little judgmental but I meant it truthfully. She had money and seemed very sharp and put together. That was what I would do if I were in her place.

I had promised Cooper I wouldn’t be too nosy, though I knew he didn’t entirely believe me and I was careful not to over promise. I had always been taught in business that you should never over promise and under deliver. Cooper hadn’t found that motto too amusing when I said it to him as rationalization of my inability to completely promise, but at least I wasn’t hiding it from him. I tended to be an act now and beg forgiveness later type of gal when it came to certain things. And when it came to Cooper, I was working hard on trying to change that, since it was about the only reason we ever argued. That, and when he tried to take the last piece of sushi when we went out to eat.

Amelia had suggested we meet at a place called The Tea Cup. When I hesitated, she assured me they had great coffee and that she wasn’t a tea person either. She said she thought I would like the atmosphere and that it was one of her favorite places.

I had arrived early and figured I would just wait for her. I hadn’t been sure how long it would take me to get here and arriving late was probably my biggest pet peeve. As I walked through the door of what appeared to be an adorable shop, I heard someone call my name.

“Presley, I’m over here.” I turned my head and saw Amelia sitting at a table for two in the corner; one that I could see afforded a spectacular view of a courtyard that had the most beautiful flowers and a fountain in the middle. This place was gorgeous. I walked over to her.

“Did I get the time wrong or are you just early?” I asked, sitting down and slinging my purse over the back of my chair, hoping I hadn’t screwed up and made her wait.

“This is my morning routine: I get up when Greg does, go to yoga, take a shower, and come here for coffee before I start my day.”

“Wow, if I woke up and did all that, it would be my day. I think I’m tired already just hearing you say it,” I teased.

“Oh, please. Once you get in a routine it’s easy, and I’ve always been a morning person. I love your dress.”

“Thanks. It’s from the boutique I work at back in Chicago.” I was wearing a teal and orange maxi dress that was casual and comfortable. My jewelry was kept to basics of silver hoop earrings and bangle bracelets. I had decided against a necklace, since I felt too much jewelry took away from the vibrant colors of the dress. The old “less is more” thought process. “You look good yourself.” She was wearing a simple gray lined tank dress with royal blue chandelier earrings and a matching oversized blue ring. Very chic and versatile. Good for just hanging out with me having a cup of coffee or a charity luncheon. “I love that ring. It is acrylic?”

“Yes, it is. There is a little shop around the corner that showcases a few different local artisans, and one of them makes the most beautiful costume jewelry. She’s very talented but way too inexpensive in my opinion.”

“You’ll have to give me the address. I love costume jewelry, and I’m always looking for new things to order for the boutique. I like it even better when I can help out a new designer.”

“So you work at a boutique? I thought you were a writer? At least I thought that’s what Cooper told Greg.”

I was getting ready to answer her when a young man came up to our table and set down two steaming mugs of coffee. The aroma was divine.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I went ahead and told them when you got here to bring us their house blend. I thought you should try it. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

“I don’t mind at all. Trying new things makes life interesting,” I said, waiting for the coffee to cool a bit before I tried it.

“Good. Now go on, you were about to tell me about the boutique and your writing.”

“Cooper, being a good boyfriend, is very supportive of my writing and he tells everyone that’s what I am, because he knows that’s what I want to be. He says I have to be confident and it will come. Sometimes his positivity is so annoying,” I said laughing so she would know I meant it in a loving way. “But for the sake of full disclosure I do work at a high–end boutique in Chicago called Silk, and while my dream is to be a writer, I wouldn’t actually call myself one yet.”

“That’s so exciting. I’m not creative at all. I do yoga and play tennis, but other than that I don’t do much. I went to college to be an elementary school teacher, but then I married Greg right after graduation and I just never did anything with my education; I’ve just been a wife.”

“I wouldn’t say
just a wife
. Men are hard to put up with. Being a wife is hard. How long have you been married?”

“Thirty–one years,” Amelia said quietly as if she was thinking about something.

“Thirty–one years, really? Did you graduate college when you were fifteen? I would have never thought you were fifty.” I wasn’t just saying that to be nice. She looked amazing.

“Thank you, Presley, but I’m going to be fifty–three in a couple months.”

“Well, you don’t look it and I mean that! Do you guys have kids?”

“Thanks for the compliment. I have very good genes. No kids; just us. There was a point where we did want to start a family, but I wasn’t able to get pregnant, and there weren’t all the options there are today with in vitro and things like that, and Greg was against adoption. So, it’s just been us. How long have you and Cooper been together?” she asked, shifting the focus to me.

“I’ve known him since high school, but we’ve only been dating for the last year off and on. We kind of reconnected unexpectedly. With me living in Chicago and him out here, it’s been a challenge. Anyone who makes the long distance thing work has my admiration.”

“You should make it easy; just move out here.”

“We’ve talked about it. It’s just such a big step.” I took a sip of my coffee and she was right. “This is delicious. So, how long have you and Greg been in the jewelry business?”

“Greg bought Gemstone’s Unlimited about five years ago, I think. It had been a family–owned jewelry store for years and they were facing bankruptcy. So Greg bought the business and turned it around—he is so good at that—and now it’s profitable. I thought he was getting ready to try and find a buyer for it so he could move on to another business, but with all that’s happened the last couple days, I don’t know how feasible that will be. I doubt people will be interested in acquiring a business that had an employee murdered in the shop.”

“That will die down, but why would he sell it? And why would you want him to? The discount must be fantastic,” I teased.

Amelia smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’s what Greg does. He buys failing businesses that have potential and once their profitable he sells them.”

“It’s the challenge of turning them around that motivates him then?”

“Greg certainly loves a challenge,” she replied sadly.

I could sense she wasn’t as happy as when we had first started talking. “Is something wrong Amelia? If I’m being too nosy, I apologize.”

“Oh no, Presley. It’s not you. Greg and I are just going through a rough patch, so I’m just not myself.”

I nodded sympathetically. “I’m a good listener if you need to talk about it.”

Amelia smiled. “Thanks, Presley. It’s not the first time this has happened. When you’re married thirty years you’re always going to have your ups and downs, but that doesn’t mean it gets any easier. I just don’t know how Greg gets himself involved in these kinds of things.”

I thought Amelia was being fairly calm, considering. I would blow a gasket if I knew my husband was cheating, and she seemed merely annoyed. And the fact that she knew it had happened before? “Have you guys tried counseling?”

She looked at me funny. “We have been in counseling before but not for this. I’m not sure it would help this situation.”

“Oh, okay. In my limited experience I thought talking with someone might help with issues like this.”

Amelia looked at me strangely again. “Exactly what type of situation do you think we have?”

Nothing like being put on the spot. I paused for a few seconds. Could she be talking about something other than her husband’s affair? I had just assumed, but maybe I was jumping to conclusions. I needed to be careful in my response. If I annoyed her by saying the wrong thing it would get back to Greg and then Cooper would kill me. Not to mention I didn’t want to come across as rude or offensive. “I’m sorry, Amelia. I guess I just made the assumption that Greg was having an affair. I shouldn’t have. It just seems to be the main reason couples have issues.”

After what seemed like an eternity, Amelia burst out laughing. “Oh, Presley, you should see the look on your face. He’s not cheating, but I understand how you would assume that, because you’re right. Most men are pigs, and that’s why many relationships break up. But we’re having issues of a different sort. Actually, it’s why he hired Cooper. I’m surprised he didn’t tell you.”

“Yeah, well, Cooper doesn’t talk much about his work. He says it’s client confidentiality and all that. Drives me crazy.”

“It’s not like we have some big secret, but I do guess it’s nice to know Cooper is so closemouthed. We hired him because someone has been trying to blackmail Greg and we want him to find out who.”

So I guess I was way off base. Maybe what Jill told me was all rumors.
Way to stick your foot in your mouth, Presley
. “Blackmail? For what?”

“The usual, I guess. Money. That’s what this guy, or could be guys, wants. Funny thing is, we don’t have a lot. Definitely not what they’re asking for.”

“You said this has happened before? I didn’t realize blackmail was so prevalent. It seems like something that happens in movies or to the super rich. Not to imply you’re not, but you know what I mean.”

“I completely know what you mean. But it’s more common than you think. It’s happened twice before to us, but compared to this, those incidents were nothing. We quickly figured out who those people were and the cops took care of it. It was strictly amateur stuff. This person is much more savvy. That’s why Greg contacted Cooper instead of the police. He needs discretion.”

“Why? Did the blackmailers say not to go to the police?”

“Of course. They all say that, just like in the movies. This time, though, it’s different.”

“How?”

“I’m not exactly sure. Greg won’t say. He’s been very closemouthed, which is causing a lot of tension between us. Normally, we share everything. He’s never acted this way before, closing me out of his life. I don’t like the secrecy and feel he should tell me. I’m his business partner and his wife!” she said, voice rising. She was visibly upset, and I didn’t blame her. I would want to know what was going on, too.

“What does he say?”

“Nothing. He only told me about the blackmail because I overheard him on the phone talking to Cooper and confronted him about it. I demanded he tell me what was going on, and so he said someone had contacted him demanding a large sum of money or someone close to him would be in danger. He of course assumed that person close to him to be me, which is one of the reasons he didn’t want to tell me. He didn’t want me to be worried.”