The Lush Life (Samantha Jamison Mystery Book 8) (7 page)

Chapter 17

Defining Tony G

To define Tony G. was a tough one. I doubted my off or online dictionary could translate or explain that guy. Let’s just say he played a major negative role in my last mystery,
No Hope In New Hope,
regarding the deadly consequences of art forgery. Deadly should tell you something right there.

Tony was a connected kind of guy, sort of like Clay and Mona, but in a bad kind of way. He took a hit in the art market and didn’t take too kindly to it and neither did his mother, who hovered on the periphery.

Since neither one of them were seen around recently, we figured they had moved on to greener pastures so to speak. I guess we were mistaken. Now I had a problem with that. Although good looking, Tony was one scary, dangerous guy. He had an infinity for waving his gun around. So you can grasp my apprehension on hearing of his whereabouts: right here in town.

Now what would Mr. Connected be doing back in town?

I pinched my nose with closed eyes. “...Not now.”

“...Yes, now,” Martha replied sharply.

Scarlett was leaning in excitedly. “Who’s Tony?”

I thought about our situation. Scarlett didn’t appear to be going anywhere. So we were stuck with her for the time being. There would be hell to pay with Clay, but that was neither hear nor there at the moment. Scarlett was going to be exposed to how we dealt with stress and the unexpected, which was badly. Sooner or later she’d hear about why we were upset at seeing Tony in town. We couldn’t hide it. She might end up being inadvertently dragged into it and had to be warned about him and his so-called connections.

I sometimes think I rationalize too much...

“You might as well fill her in,” I said to my crew.

And so they did, letting her know Tony was
not
to be trusted under any circumstances, and he had very unsavory connections, ones Scarlett had probably read about, but not dealt with before. They explained that although he couldn’t be trusted, he had never laid a hand on any of us, just waved his gun around and shot some holes in an art gallery. In other words, she should keep her distance from him.

“Well! I have dealt with some rough gentleman of my own. I know exactly what you mean about uncontrollable and volatile. Besides, I have a black belt in Taekwondo.”

We all stared at Scarlett.
Taekwondo?

“Really?” I said, impressed by Miss Southern Belle.

“Although somewhat sheltered growing up, my momma made sure I wouldn’t be taken advantage of,” she drawled.

Was she for real?

Martha gave me the eye, asking the same thing.

Could we trust her?

I gave a slight shrug.

I don’t know.

“Time will tell,” mumbled Martha. “Time will tell.”

Chapter 18

Time Will Tell...

“Are you sure it was Tony at the supermarket?” I asked.

“I spotted him by the organic half-n-half,” Hazel said.

“What exactly was he doing there? Think back,” I said.

Hazel closed her eyes. “He was checking his watch.”

“Anything else? Anything unusual?”

“Well, he was talking at the same time.”

“Who was he talking to? Did you recognize them?”

“I know it sounds crazy, but he was talking to himself.”

“What do you mean himself?” I asked.

“No one else was standing there, but him.”

“He was probably talking on an earphone,” said Betty.

Martha grabbed Hazel. “Did you catch what he said?”

Hazel shut her eyes again, remembering. “‘That it was worth the price.’ I figured he was talking about the half-n-half until he turned and I saw that it was Tony! I almost knocked down a display of cans hightailing it out of there to hide behind some plants in the flower section.”

“Did he see you?”

“I don’t think so.”

Martha eyed Hazel. “Are you positive it was him?”

Hazel stiffened. “Are you questioning my integrity?”

“No, just your eyesight.”

I looked at Martha and Betty. “Did you two see him?”

They shook their heads no.

“What do you think he was talking about?” asked Hazel.

“It wasn’t about the price of half-n-half,” said Martha.

Betty caught my eye. “Maybe about another painting?”

We had all but forgotten about Scarlett standing there until she said, “Does he know all of you are still in town?”

“Do you think that’s possible, Sam?” asked Betty.

“More than likely. That guy has eyes in the back of his head, plus he’s connected, remember?”

“Isn’t he taking a chance showing up here? Don’t the authorities already have him in their crosshairs? Why risk jail time causing more trouble?” Scarlett asked.

No one said anything at first. They were valid points.

“That, Scarlett, is for us to figure out first,” I said.

She grinned. “This sounds like one of your mysteries.”

I thought of our interview and her possible questions.

“Some mysteries are multilayered and not so simple.”

I heard a rustle coming from the open window. I sidled up to the curtain and drew it back to see who was there.

No one. My skin prickled.

Was someone listening?

Chapter 19

Convincing, Cajoling & Cagey

“This one is unusual,” I said, using my standby mantra.

“Ha! They all are,” said Sandra somewhat amused.

My publisher was curious about my next mystery, so I was filling in my agent, Sandra, about it over the phone.

“Knowing you, I’m afraid to ask why it is,” she said.

“A diverse bunch of people keep mysteriously showing up.” I described Mona’s fiancé, Teddy, Scarlett, and Lucas.

I briefly skimmed over the mailed finger package.

I intentionally left out
Tony’s
sighting in the market.

Sandra knew about the risk he posed once before and would really carry on some more so I let that nugget ride.

She supported Scarlett’s surprise arrival wholeheartedly, advising me to ignore my nervousness about the interview. And as usual, she offered advice and warnings about what I should or should not say, as always protecting my interests.

“Sam, enjoy it for it’s worth: book sales, publicity...”

As far as the phony finger episode, she wasn’t thrilled.

“A finger?” she shrieked. “You should call the police.”

“It was a probably a prank, just a joke from a fan trying to get my attention because of my mysteries. If anything more happens I will notify them though. I promise.”

“The implications of that warning sign should be more than enough to make you rethink staying there,” she said.

I tried to sound unconcerned, but Sandra wasn’t buying into it. She was a dear friend and worried about me.

“Is Clay concerned? What does he think?” she asked.

I still hadn’t heard or gotten a text from him.

With Clay always disappearing I didn’t like it, but understood it. Sandra never did. She knew if Clay was around she wouldn’t have to fear for my safety so much.

I may have neglected to mention to her he wasn’t there.

I nuanced, without really lying. “He trusts my instincts.”

“Clay usually counterpoints you on taking risks. I can’t believe he’d ride easy after that finger was delivered.”

“You’re over-worrying. Besides, Mona’s good backup.”

“How about more details on why Mona’s there?”

“You’ll love this. A bogus email was allegedly sent by Clay to Mona to romance this guy, Teddy and...”

We were still laughing at Martha’s stiletto and Teddy’s nose episode when my brain lapsed and I blew it big time.

“...And when Clay finds out what he’s missed here...”

This is where lying crib notes would’ve come in handy.

There was dead silence at the other end of the line
.

...Damn.

“Now, why do I feel I was just lied to?” accused Sandra.

“I didn’t want you to worry.”

I heard her usual sigh of resignation. “Just stay safe, will you?” she warned. “I swear, being your friend stretches my patience to the limit. I don’t know why I put up with...”

Click...

A dead line.

She’d run out of steam and hung up
.
I grinned.

You know, I think she likes this one!

Chapter 20

Without Any Warning

Mona
convinced Teddy to eat lunch out, down in New Hope, saying he didn’t look
that
bad. Who’d recognize him from his modeling ads if he wore some sunglasses?

Martha said, “If you didn’t wear them, who’d recognize you anyway with your bruised, swollen eyes, nose, and stitched lip.”

Trust me, undoing that crack took some smooth-talking.

My senior trio took off to check out both New Hope and Lambertville to see if they could spot Tony. When he disappeared previously, he had vanished without a trace. They promised if they spotted him they’d text Mona.

Scarlett had gone to her room to compose a list of noteworthy questions to ask me. She said she didn’t want to mess up her interview.

If she only knew that was exactly how I felt.

I also felt like a trapped animal and decided to get some fresh air to think. Once outside I began walking the length of the driveway down to the road, about a half a mile, then would backtrack a little to the edge of the woods and front field to hike the perimeter of the whole property.

On the way down the driveway several deer loped off through the trees edging the front fields. A gopher popped up and, noticing me, disappeared from view underground. Off in the distance a fox took off for the woods. I could hear a few wild turkeys calling out a warning to each other.

By the time I backtracked and reached the edge of the front field, I was relaxed enough to enjoy the solitude and began to mull over this mystery. At least it felt like one to me. Was I making something out of nothing over this odd bunch showing up? Then I recalled that package and
knew,
or I should say,
felt
that everything was interrelated for a specific purpose. Now I needed to find out what it was.

Watching out for gopher holes so I wouldn’t step in one accidentally, I was surprised to find myself in the back of the property when I glanced up several minutes later. I had to pass through Blue Spruce and Norway pines to continue walking along the perimeter. I glanced at a hawk overhead.

I heard a ding and smiled. Was Clay texting to apologize for not keeping in touch? I bent, cutting the glare with my hand. But before I could read it, something whizzed by and struck a branch right by my head. Instinctively, I dropped like a dead weight to the ground.

That familiar sound was from a gun with a silencer.

I rolled smoothly under dense branches, grateful I had reached a grove of trees and was now flat on the ground, well-hidden from whoever took that shot. I must have ruined their hit by choosing that precise moment to look down at my cell phone. Who would try and pull this off?

...Tony?
I racked my brain for reasons to support his involvement. What possible motive would he have for shooting at me? I hadn’t done anything that I could recall, so I nixed his involvement. Back to square one. So who took that shot? I grabbed my cell to speed dial a text to Mona and the others for backup, but then thought I should read the text that most likely saved my life before I did that. If it was from Clay, he’d want to know immediately too.

‘Will you find that coveted & valuable tome first?

Warning: I’m watching & listening.’

Still flush to the ground, I reread the text.

Coveted and valuable tome?

After several minutes, I figured they—whoever ‘they’ were—must be long gone. They’d gotten my attention. I stood, took a fast 360
°
pivot. Nothing but wildlife stared back. That bullet flying passed my head had gone way beyond a delivered-finger warning. I had lingered long enough and had to get back to the safety of the house.

I hustled inside into the kitchen and stared through its expansive bank of tall windows to survey the back area. Still rattled, I couldn’t recall where that shot came from or which way I was facing at that precise moment.

I knew I had checked the time, but then may have turned when I glanced up at that low-flying hawk, then heard that ding from that incoming text and looked downward, reaching into my pocket for my phone. That single move at that exact moment had saved me.

Now, think logically, Sam. Think this through.

I was out front, a wide open target. So, why did they wait until I was out back?
Okay, then it was probably a warning shot to get my attention. A tome was a book and in this case apparently valuable. If it was coveted then it was most likely an old one too. But why did they warn me of its intended theft? And why challenge me to find it first? Was someone playing a sick game with me? This was crazy.

...Couldn’t be.
No way.
Was that why Tony was in town?

I texted Clay and my crew for backup then forwarded that two line strange text I received to Alicia Worth. Maybe she could make some sense of it. Within minutes I received a return call on the house phone from her, a very interesting one...