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Lightning and thunder struck again as we backed from the garage. I looked over toward Gina’s. I breathed a sigh of relief thankful for my husband, and reached over to squeeze his hand. He smiled at me. “We need the rain.” He drove out onto Main Street.
“What was taken?”
“I’m not really sure, but it sounds like most of the presidential items.”
“By that, you mean Teddy Roosevelt?”“Inga will have to tell you.”“That poor woman.”Passing the old Grain Belt Brewery, I thought of
the many uses for the park and now the building had been turned into a library, and realized I needed to visit it more often. Perhaps it held clues to mysteries yet to come. Once across the small bridge, we soon drove through the intersection of University and Hennepin, and circling in back of our store and parking. I reached for my umbrella and bag, and we raced through the rain to the back door. As Aaron punched in the code, I glanced toward the antique store, but couldn’t see anyone. We went into my store.
“I wish I’d worn a sweater.” I shivered. “It’s cold in here.” I turned the thermostat to a more comfortable degree.
“It’s been so hot, that’s why you’re cold.” Aaron sat on a stool in the workroom and glanced at his phone for the time. “Let’s see, ten more minutes?”
“I say fifteen.” I knew he meant my grandparents. “They drive about twenty.”
“The bet’s still lunch?”“You got it.”“Good morning, ladies.” I busied myself by walking through the store and turning on the lights. “Mrs. Ford, you didn’t dance on the desk last night, I hope?” I rearranged the doll’s locations. “Much better. Now you can peak into the oval office better to see your honey.” I continued circling the tables.
“The security guys from Minnesota Nice should be coming this morning,” I said. I turned the sign around and unlocked the door. It was raining so hard I could barely see the cars going by. I stopped by the check- out counter and sat down in front of the computer. The lights flickered as I went to start the computer so I decided to let it go for the time being. I picked up the store phone and gave Inga a call.
“Inga, I’m here at my store now. Would you like me to come over?”
“Please do, when the police leave. Thanks!” Inga said.
“Okay,” I said.
We no sooner disconnected then the two security guys from Minnesota Nice entered.
“Hi,” I greeted them. “I’m Liv Reynolds, the owner.”
“We’re the new team. I’m Thor.” He reached out his hand and I shook it.“I’m Helmer.” I wondered if it hadn’t been a vise that I’d shook instead of a hand.“Follow me.” I brought them to the back and introduced the men to Aaron. “He’ll show you the lay of the store, and you can decide if we’re up to date, or not?”
“You betcha,” Thor said.
Grinning, I sat behind the sewing machine and began studying some patterns I planned to use. Aaron left the room with the two men and I heard their voices in the distance. The back door opened, and I wondered who it was, when Grandma poked her nose into the room. “Hello, Dear.”
“Hi,” I chirped and read the time on my phone. Fourteen minutes. Close enough. Aaron had to buy lunch.
“Let’s hear it.” Grandpa barreled into the room. “Start from the top.” My grandparents found empty stools and sat down.
Grandma looked at me with expectant eyes. “We’re waiting.”
“What do you know?” I said.
“Not much, Olivia. You’d better start from the top,” Grandpa implored.
“From Gina’s death?” When he nodded, I began. I went through the whole bit—everything including seeing the two historical impersonators at Pracna. I ended with adventure from last night, taking the books home, and Inga’s burglary. “I don’t know what all’s missing from Inga’s store, but I’m afraid it may have been a clue.”“We’re not leaving until we find out what’s going on.” Grandpa narrowed his eyes. “The jerks are getting closer. You need protection.”
“Aaron’s here. Don’t worry,” I said.
“Honey, you’re not getting rid of us that easily.” Grandma smiled, and her eyes twinkled. “Your mother would never forgive us if something happened to you.”
Aaron entered just in time to save me. “August.” He shook his hand. “Marie.” He kissed Grandma on the cheek. “I’m glad you’re here. We’ve got to keep tabs on Liv.”
I narrowed my eyes and watched as Grandma leaned closer to him. “Oh no, you two.” I glared at them. “You guys aren’t setting up guard watch. I can manage just fine, thank you.” I crossed my arms, and huffed, “I’m going into the showroom.”
“Liv,” Aaron caught my arm. “The security team just left and will send a bill. They said that all doors are secure, including the outside door that leads to the basement. Max’s door is also secure. He won’t have to worry about a break-in either.”
“That’s good. He’ll be happy to hear that.” I took a deep breath to calm my temper. “No bodyguards?”
“Okay, but if anything else should develop, you’re going to get them—young lady.” Grandma pointed her finger at me.
“We mean it,” added Grandpa.
“I’m fine,” I said. I thought of telling them to leave me alone, but didn’t. They must’ve sensed that I wanted just that, because in an instant we said, ‘goodbye’, and they walked out the door. “Yikes. The wrath of Grandma.” I blew out a long breath. “I’m walking down to Inga’s to see how she is.”
“No, you’re not, I am,” Aaron said. “The store security is up to date.”
I clenched my jaw and sat down behind the sewing table and watched him walk out the door, knowing that the doors were locked. Sometimes I just wanted to scream, and now was one of those times. I searched through patterns and found the inaugural gown for Jackie Kennedy. I almost drew blood a number of times cutting the light, pink chiffon fabric used for her bodice. Earlier I’d pieced together the skirt, now the top needed assembling. I turned the radio to my favorite station, working for quite a while without noticing the time pass.
An hour later, Aaron and the two detectives entered. “We’re back.” Aaron grinned. “I brought your two pals.”
“I see that.” I nodded to each. “Let me finish this one thing.” I tied a knot, cut the thread, and set the piece aside. “Okay, ready.”
“Ma’am,” the detectives stated in unison.
I pushed my chair back and stood. “Where should we go?”
“Right here is fine.” Mergens glanced to his partner and then to Aaron.
“I’ll leave.” Aaron walked out, shutting the door behind.
“Liv, can you tell us what happened in your words?” Erlandsen said.Both detectives sat perched on a nearby stool and had a notepad and pencil in hand. “What did you and Aaron do after you left with the books? Did you look outside and see anything or anyone different?”
“You’re not accusing me? Us? Of doing this to Inga?”
“Nope.” Erlandsen shook his head. “We’re trying to find a connection no matter how thin it is.”
“I wondered the same thing myself.” I twirled a few strands of hair between my fingers. “I said that to Aaron, that I didn’t see anyone familiar besides the neighbors. They left eventually.”
“Find anything that ‘hits’ you as odd in the books?”
“I didn’t look close enough.” I looked from one to the other. “Want me to keep an eye out for anything in particular?”
“No,” Mergens said. “We want you to tell us, without any influence from us.”
“I’ll go through them carefully tonight.”
“That’s all we can ask for.” Erlandsen stood, looking more crumply than usual. “Now for the computer.” They followed me over to the counter where Aaron sat behind the computer.
“Have you checked your e-mail lately?” asked Mergens.
“Have you checked my mail, yet?” I asked Aaron “Just going to do it,” Aaron said.“Let me.” I scooted in and sat once Aaron moved aside. It took about a minute before I had the few messages loaded. “I haven’t posted a thing about Teddy Roosevelt on my website. Not like what I did with Mary Lincoln or Dolley Madison to help flush out the killer. Want me to do something like that?”
“We aren’t really certain if this is about him or not, though.” Mergens glanced at Erlandsen. “What do you think?”
He shrugged. “The connection is so vague. Not sure if any good will come from it.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Heck. Let’s do it, but what?”
“How about asking the public if there’s anyone who knew Alice?” I questioned. “It’s bound to bring some kind of a discussion.”
“What if this person doesn’t know about your website, hon?” Aaron asked. “Never mind, dumb question. The killer would know.”
I watched as the detectives each scratched their heads. “What should I say?”
“Go ahead and ask the simple question. It’ll generate answers, and we should get some good results from it.”
“This is about real estate, isn’t it?” I cocked my head and stared at them. “Right?”
“It’s a slim thread. We don’t know for sure but all of the historical impersonators involved are real estate agents. They are usually licensed by their state of residency and Gina held the property title. That’s all I can give you.”
“Also, the oil companies and drilling.” When they didn’t respond, I knew for certain that I was on the right track. “I’ll post it right now.” I typed in the question, ‘Any available land for sale near the TR national park?’ and saved it on the website. “I’ll let you know when I have responses.”
“We’ll want to see all of them. Not just the odd, questionable ones. We’re not taking any chances. This guy seems to be more aggressive than the other three.”
“All right.” They wrote a few things down before heading out the door. I looked over to Aaron who appeared slightly pale. “What is it?”
“Something about the way that they talked about this guy makes we worried,” Aaron said. “I’m sticking with you as much as possible.”
“I’m glad you’re my bodyguard.” I was about to kiss him when the door opened and in walked a customer. “Can I help you?”
“Just looking. It’s almost my daughter’s birthday.” She strolled around and occasionally stopped to look at one of the houses. I noticed she reached into the house and kept her hand inside of it a little longer than usual. I loudly cleared my throat. I glanced at Aaron who strolled in her direction.
“You must like the early White House designs?” He held his hand out to shake hers. “I’m Aaron, the husband of that spectacular woman and part owner.”
“Look. The dolls are missing from this house. Are they supposed to be?”
“Liv?”
Puzzled, I walked over and looked inside of it. “It’s the McKinley house. They should be inside of it. They were here earlier today.” I looked inside, then back at her. “Sorry. I can have a new set ready by tomorrow if you’re interested?”“As a matter of fact, I’m interested in Mamie Eisenhower.” She smiled at us. “I’ll return another time. I need to think about it.”
“McKinley wasn’t that popular, was he?” Aaron asked, leaning over the counter, after the customer left.
“He was president when TR was vice. That’s the connection.” I took a deep breath. “We’d better call the detectives.”
Aaron listened while I gave them a play-by-play report of the incident. When I disconnected, I said, “They told me to keep them posted.”
“If they have anything of value to report, they’ll let us know.”
“I wonder about a connection between the thief and the killer?”
“The police will figure it out.” I gritted my teeth when Aaron gave me a forced smile. I knew that as a signal to cheer-up and step-back, and let them do their job. “It’ll work out, just wait and see.”
“In the meantime, I could be the next victim. They’re getting bolder.” I turned my eyes away from him and stared at the computer. It wasn’t long before I thought of Bambi and wondered if she’d mind a phone call. I was just about to reach for the phone when Inga walked in. “Hi Inga. I wondered about you.”
“I’ll bring us both out a chair,” Aaron said.
Aaron walked away to fetch them, and I got up and gave my good friend a bear hug. “I’ve worried about you. You didn’t get hurt did you?”“No. Thank goodness. Not like last time when I landed in the hospital.” Inga sighed. “That figurine of Teddy Roosevelt was stolen. Do you believe it?”
“Why would anyone steal that? Anything else?” I studied her, and decided that her brown eyes were clear and she didn’t look any worse for wear. She looked good and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“The other presidential items weren’t taken, just messed up. It was as if they had trouble deciphering between Teddy and Franklin.” Aaron brought in the chairs and opened one for her, and she sat. “Thanks.”
“Anytime.” Aaron opened his and sat down. “Did I hear correctly that only Teddy’s items were stolen?”
“Yes. That’s crazy, isn’t it?”
“Maybe and maybe not.” I decided to go ahead and tell her about the unresolved questions surrounding Gina’s death including the break-in of her house and my suspicions about the impersonators. “I hope nothing else happens.”
Inga glanced at Aaron and then back to me. “That’s why you’re here. Just like the other two times. Bodyguard.” She crossed her arms and must’ve seen the veil come over my eyes because she said, “I was right.”
“We don’t really know what this is all about. No real clear suspicions, that is.” I shrugged. “I’m not sure of the connections. It might be as simple as real estate.”
“Nothing is simple. Never simple with Teddy Roosevelt, that’s for sure.” She shook her head. “Maybe the mystery lies with the Rough Riders and San Juan Hill?”“No. I don’t think so. It might have to do with either the TR National Park or Yellowstone. I think it has to do with sellable land and the oil drilling or ownership of the mineral rights on a piece of land, which vary by state.”
“Yes, but any park land is unsellable,” Inga stated.
“I know, that’s why it’s confusing,” Aaron said. “I wonder if he didn’t squirrel away something of importance and set it aside for Alice? Right after his first wife died—he took off—handing her over to his sister.” I knew that I was on to something, but unsure what. “What else is missing?”
“Campaign items—pins and buttons—that sort of thing.” Inga glanced around the room. “His tennis racket. A small map of Cuba and a framed picture of him as Police Commissioner of New York City. Miscellaneous items.”
“Do you know if there was anything hidden inside the frames of either of them?”
“Not that I’m aware of. I never removed the frame to look.” Her eyes opened wider. “You think there was a letter or something?”
“I don’t have any idea of what I’m thinking, really.” I shrugged. “I find this all a bit peculiar, that’s all.”
“How does it all tie together?” Inga frowned. “That’s the rub of it all, isn’t it?”
“My jingle dancer figurine might hold a relevant clue,” I said. “Then we have that grass bowl with the symbols. That wasn’t stolen, was it?”
“Nope. That’s going into a safe-deposit box until this is settled.” Inga hesitated, “I had it set in the front display cabinet. Unless you knew it came from TR’s collection, no one would suspect its importance.”
“Good. Aaron can take you to the bank right now so you can lock it up.” I looked at him. “You should do that with the figurine. It’s at home on my dresser.”
“Let’s do it.” To Inga, he said, “We can go now.”
“Are there symbols on the TR figurine?” I said. “I don’t remember”
“Aaron, take lots of pictures of it before you go and send them to me. I want to look at them. Take some close-ups of my dancing figurine, too.” I smiled. “We might be on to something here.”