Unveiled Treasures (11 page)

After a quick breakfast and shower, Rachel and Brutus were in the truck driving in to town. “You made me forget my list,” she said to the dog as they arrived in front of Potter’s Hardware. “I’m blaming you, if I forget things. Now stay here and be good.”

Scanning the store for her friend, she remembered Jessica had classes all day. Making quick time down the aisles, she added more items to her cart. She knew she needed more sanding pads, some light bulbs, two sets of curtain rods and more cleaning supplies. Unable to remember what else she needed, she made her way to the register. There she saw Josie from Canyon Grocery in line as well.

Josie smiled, “Good morning, Ms. Hardy. I’m kind of surprised to see you out and about today. I figured you would lay low from the press.”

“Good morning to you too, Josie, and please call me Rachel.” Frowning now, she continued, “I’m afraid I don’t understand. Why would I hide from the press?” All of a sudden, it dawned on her. Jessica told her the news media was aware of her involvement with the recovered art pieces.

“Don’t you read the paper or watch television?” Josie asked. “All the local channels are talking about you. There’s a big article in today’s paper too. You made the front page,” she said as she handed the paper to Rachel.

Rachel stared at the newspaper in her hands. There on the front page was her smiling face. She recognized it as a promotional shot that had been taken about a year ago. Above it, the headline read:

LOCAL NOVELIST FINDS CANYON CAT BURGLAR’S STASH

She scanned the article. It contained quotes from Mrs. Johannesberg, Mrs. Coffman and Mrs. Riley. She noticed the sheriff’s office had refused to comment on which pieces had been recovered but the reporter writing the story had made it clear that the necklace was still missing. A small blurb further down in the article included a description of the missing necklace.

Rachel gave the paper back to Josie and shrugged her shoulders. “No one has come by to interview me. I don’t have anything to tell them anyway.”

Josie finished her purchase, but didn’t leave. Her face lit up and her green eyes flashed with excitement. “Hey, I’ve got a great idea. You should write a book about this. You could add in a romance like you do and make us all famous.”

“I write fictional romance novels, Josie. I don’t see a happily ever after in this scenario.”

“Well you could write it that way. Make everything work out in the end, just like you do in all your books,” she said, patting the back of Rachel’s hand. “I need to get going. That grocery store can’t run for an hour without me.” She cackled as she headed out the door.

“Good bye, Josie,” Rachel replied as she waited for the clerk to ring up her purchases.

“How nice to see you again, Ms. Hardy.”

Rachel turned around to see Ed Templeton standing behind her. “Hello, Mr. Templeton,” she replied stiffly. The man made her very uncomfortable.

“I’m glad I ran in to you. I would like to apologize for yesterday. Perhaps I could make it up to you, say at dinner together this evening?”

Her skin was crawling. Call it a sixth sense, women’s intuition or whatever. But warning sirens were ringing in her head. She offered him a weak smile. “That is a very kind offer, Mr. Templeton, and yesterday has already been forgotten, really. But I’m afraid I’m going to have to decline your offer. It was nice to see you again though.” She attempted to make her way to the door.

“Please, call me Ed. Perhaps some other time then?” he persisted.

“Perhaps, I really must be going, um, Ed. I left my dog outside.”

Ed’s face paled visibly. “You brought that vicious beast in to town with you?” he demanded.

“How dare you! Don’t you ever say anything about my dog. He is a wonderful animal and happens to be an excellent judge of character,” she snapped back at him.

His already thin lips all but disappeared as his mouth hardened. The beady eyes narrowed to tiny slits as he spoke softly. “Have a care, Ms. Hardy. It’s not polite to insult people. You wouldn’t want to make enemies along the way.”

“Oh, but it’s perfectly acceptable for you to run off at the mouth? Stay far away from us, Mr. Templeton, very far.” Rachel grabbed her bags, spun on her heel and stomped out of the store. She knew he followed her out of the store. Brutus started to growl low and fierce.

“We have leash laws in this town, Ms. Hardy. I’d hate to turn him in to the authorities. One look at a beast like that, they wouldn’t waste a moment to put him down.”

Rachel slammed her bags into the back of the truck, turned around and walked right up to his face. Poking her finger in his chest, she stood toe to toe with him. “Look, buddy, I don’t know what your problem is, but if you have any sort of a brain in that head of yours you will read my lips and hear what I am saying to you. Stay away from me and my dog!” With a final glare, Rachel stomped back to her truck and got in. She drove away leaving him standing on the sidewalk watching.

* * * *

Ed slid his hands over his hair to slick it back in place. Straightening his jacket, he walked down the block to his office. He tried avoiding the looks of passersby who’d witnessed the scene. Once behind closed doors, he flew in to a fit of rage. Scattering papers across the desk and floor, he stormed over to the liquor cabinet. “That woman is going to be the death of me, literally,” he said to his reflection in the bar mirror. “Months of planning and preparation are wasted because of her. The paintings and statues are gone, but the necklace is still there. The police haven’t found it and neither has she.”
Edward, my dear fellow, you were very clever to hide it in that little chest on the shelf. Now all you need do is devise another plan to get back in there again. You have less than twenty-four hours to recover that necklace.

Sitting down at his desk, Ed produced a small vial of cocaine. After snorting a line, he immediately felt better. Once the euphoria of the drug set in, he began creating his plan to reacquire his merchandise.

The telephone rang beside him and brought him out of his momentary haze. “Ed Templeton here,” he answered.

“Edward, I have received some disturbing news,” the raspy voice said. “I understand my paintings are in police custody.”

“Y-Y-Yes, sir. Someone found my hiding place before I could ship them off.” Fear clutched his throat making it difficult to talk. “The necklace is still safe, Mr. Vee.”

“That is good…for your sake. I will let you in on a little secret, Edward. All I really wanted was the necklace. Acquiring the paintings and art pieces made it more challenging…interesting. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Sweating profusely, Ed replied, “I can get it for you, but I need some more time. It’s a little hot around here right now.”

“You have until Sunday at noon. It has come to my attention that a very dear friend of mine lives in the area. I have decided to come and pick up the merchandise, personally. My plane arrives in Phoenix Saturday evening. I will acquire transportation and meet you at Slide Rock Park on Sunday. I have surmised that a public place will not draw any undue attention to us. Do not keep me waiting any longer. I find I am growing tired of your incompetence.”

“Thank you, sir, I’ll be there,” Ed rambled on and once again realized he was talking to a dial tone. Running was not an option. Mr. Vee would find him. Wherever he went, he would be found and killed. There was only one thing to do. Go back to the cabin and get the necklace.

* * * *

Hundreds of miles away, Mr. Vee sat in his leather office chair contemplating the change in events. He absolutely despised incompetent people. He turned to look at the young woman with short, spiky, jet black hair spread out naked on his leather couch. He felt himself getting hard. “My dear, I have a need.”

The young woman immediately jumped up off the couch and rushed over to stand in front of him. Lowering her gaze, she spoke softly. “How may I please you?”

He smiled. His ice blue eyes raked over her body from head to foot. “I want you on your knees. You know how to please me when you are on your knees.”

“Yes, my lord.” Slowly, she knelt in front of him and unzipped his trousers. Gently, she pulled his rigid member out of its confines, wrapped her small, delicate hands around him and placed him in her mouth.

Gripping her head, he pushed his shaft deeper down her throat. “Ahhh, yes. That’s a good girl. You are very skilled at pleasing your master with that mouth of yours.” Closing his eyes, he leaned back in the chair and enjoyed her ministrations.

Chapter 8

Rachel was still fuming as she carried her supplies in to the garage.
That man had a lot of nerve threatening her dog that way. Who in the hell did he think he was anyway?
She couldn’t understand how he made any money as a realtor with a personality like that.

Opening the door, Brutus raced past her and slid to a halt in front of his food bowl, hitting it with his nose to make a resounding clang. “All right, all right, don’t you ever think about anything else but food?” she snapped as she poured kibble in his bowl.

She noticed the message light blinking on her answering machine. Pushing the play button, she was very surprised to hear the cultured voice of Jake Vanderhuff.

“Rachel darling, I hope this message finds you well. You are a difficult person to locate when you choose. I will be in the Sedona area this weekend and would love to get together with you. I miss you, darling. I realize what a fool I have been and hope to bring you back home with me, that is, if I can change your mind. I am traveling now, so can’t be reached. I will be in touch, my love.”

She played the rest of the messages and jotted down names of the contractors who had returned her calls. She collapsed in a kitchen chair. She couldn’t believe the way her day was going. Shocked by Jake’s message and still mad at Ed Templeton, she screamed at the top of her lungs and stomped her feet. Brutus ran out of the room and hid. Breathing heavily from the tantrum, she got up and poured herself a glass of water.

Months of therapy taught her one valuable lesson. Don’t keep it bottled up inside. It was better to cry, scream, yell or throw something.
“Vent your feelings,”
Dr. Andrew’s quiet monotone voice droned in her head. “Vent your feelings,” she mimicked with a sneer.

Brutus peered at her from the living room archway. He had his head cocked to one side and his ears were perked up. She laughed at him and herself. “Do you think I’m being stupid, boy?”

He answered by trotting back into the room and licking her face. “I’m sorry I snapped at you. Thanks for the moral support. I love you too,” she said, hugging his neck.

“Let’s go get busy on the office. I’m itching to get back to work soon. I’m not going to be able to take a whole month off from writing. I once read a quote from Nora Roberts saying if you don’t use it, you may lose your gift,” she told him as they walked down the hallway together. An idea was brewing in her mind. She was beginning to think that maybe Josie was on to something regarding a new book.

Her old oak writing desk sat facing the window. Her comfortable leather writing chair patiently waited for her return and her bookcases stood empty. All waiting to be filled with the volumes of books that sat in boxes on the floor. Diving in to the task, Rachel quickly unloaded box after box of books until they were all back in their proper places on shelves. Looking around, she frowned in thought and chewed on her lip. The room needed… something else. “Come on, Brutus. You go out and play while I dig through the garage.”

Not sure what she was looking for, she went out to the garage. She began rummaging through boxes. “Dad said Mom left some things on the shelves. Maybe I can find something for my office,” she muttered to herself.

“Talking to yourself is one of the first signs of insanity,” Todd said from behind her. Rachel screamed and turned around, armed with a cast iron skillet.

“Threatening a police officer can get you arrested.” His gray eyes flashed with amusement.

“Sneaking up behind someone can get your head smashed too,” she replied shakily. “You scared five years off my life. Where is my guard dog when I need him?”

“Your pretend guard dog is frolicking in the creek.”

“My dog does not frolic,” she snapped back.

“Okay, what to do you call prancing and splashing about like a puppy then?”

“Well it sounds like frolicking, but don’t tell anyone. They might take away his man card,” she giggled.

“His secret is safe with me,” he replied earnestly, crossing his fingers over his chest. “I heard you had some trouble at Potters’ today.”

It amazed her how quickly he could go from Todd to sheriff and back again. “Boy, news travels fast in this town. I had an argument with Ed Templeton. He’s an awful excuse for a human being. He threatened Brutus because he growled at him yesterday. The man showed up on my doorstep yesterday with the lame excuse of having an appointment with my father to sell the cabin. Claimed it was a mistake by his office assistant. Personally, I think the man was out trying to drum up some business. Ed gives me the creeps, Todd. Don’t vampires only come out at night?”

Todd laughed. “Ed is more than likely guilty of something. The problem is I have to be able to prove it. I can’t arrest him for giving people the creeps. I am, however, going to ask him some questions about the burglaries. Mike and I have some new leads we need to follow up on.”