| |
As soon as Aaron and Inga left for their bank errand, I turned my thoughts to research. I began my search with Alice Roosevelt. For some reason, I kept going back to her. I was certain Alice held center stage, but how or why? A number of sites appeared and I weeded through several without luck.
While police commissioner for New York City, he’d disguise himself, ride a bike along with a reporter late at night to catch ‘beat cops’ who were either sleeping on the job, or conducting themselves shamefully such as accepting bribes or drinking liquor while on the job. How did he end up in North Dakota? A conservationist. It brought me full circle to land. I reached for my phone to locate Bambi’s number and called her.
She didn’t answer, so I left a message before disconnecting, asking her to call me back.
I held a tiny, naked doll to the light. “Mrs.McKinley,” I said. “I’ll be really careful dressing you. We don’t want another epileptic seizure. I’ll also rearrange the chairs so you’ll be seated right beside your husband. He looks after you like such a loving man, softly placing the handkerchief over your face before a seizure, and gently removing it. You must really love him.” I smiled while dressing her in a beautiful white gown with lace overlay and a scalloped hem. The long-sleeves with the laced cuff were gorgeous, and the matching laced shoulder enchanting. The high collar embroidered with pearls took my breath away. “Mrs. McKinley, you’re stunning. All eyes will be centered on you.”
Did I hear her say, ‘thank you, dear’?
While I waited for a return call, I got busy and cleaned. I no sooner placed my feather duster back on the hook and straightened out a few display sets when Aaron returned.
“How did it go?” I asked. “Get a lot of pictures?”
“Yes. Sorry for not sending them earlier but will do so now.” I watched as he did the deed. “Now you can inspect them closer.”
“Thanks.” I studied him and said, “You look like there’s something on your mind. Am I right?”
“There is, but not sure if it’s significant.”
The serious look on his face caused me to worry, and I curled a few strands of hair around my finger. “Let’s hear it. Did you hear from the detectives?”
“It’s not that, but I think I was followed.”
My phone rang and I looked at the caller ID and held up my finger saying, “Hold that thought.” and answered my call. “Bambi, thanks for returning the call.”
“Oh sure, anytime. I assume this is about Gina?”
“Yes, but first how was the funeral? I’m still really sorry about it.”
“It was huge because she’s from here, you know.” “Any impersonators show up?”
“You’re wondering who from the expo, right?” Without waiting for me to answer, she continued, “Harry and Sunflower. They were at arm’s length, and clearly not speaking.”
“Do you know why they weren’t speaking?”
“Not really. Ida Gray was there of course. She was the cheeriest of the three.”
“Anything odd happen?”
“I don’t think this is odd because it’s right after a death, but my uncle owns a law firm and told me that he met with them right afterwards.”
“It’s a start. May I ask his name?”“Gunnar Whitehorse.”“Thanks. Let’s keep in touch.”“I’ll call if anything else is discovered.”“I don’t want you digging around and getting yourself injured or worse.”“Don’t worry. I want to find out who killed my friend just as much as you, if not more.” We disconnected, and I slipped my phone back into my pocket. To Aaron, I said, “You were saying?”
“I was tailed,” he said. My eyes opened wide as he continued, “when we left Inga’s and went home for me to pick up the figurine.”
I stared at him. “Then what?”
“He must’ve realized that I had spotted him, because I didn’t see the car again.” Aaron crossed his arms and looked outside before turning back to me. “We have to be careful.”
“Did you tell the detectives?” When he shook his head, I asked, “Why not?”
“It could’ve been a fluke. I could be mistaken.” Aaron stared down at me and said, “Don’t worry, everything will work out.”
“It always does. Did you recognize him or the vehicle?”
“He seemed average, and no to the car.” We stared at each other for another minute until he walked away, calling, “I’ll get us a couple of sandwiches. Be right back.”
I decided that another Internet search wouldn’t help my muddled thoughts. I needed to focus on trying to fit the puzzle pieces together. All these clues didn’t add up to any singular idea, which brought me back to Gina and the ranch. I took out my phone and made a note about checking to see if it was on the market and if so, the realtor’s name.
My phone chirped and it was a message from Grandma inquiring about me. I replied, ‘I’m fine. I’ll call later’. Aaron returned with chicken salad sandwiches just as I entered the workroom and sat in front of the work bench.
As we ate, we discussed the same old thing—why was he followed—who is behind this—and nothing made sense. We opened our respective phones and studied the photos.
“Do you see anything along the base of my figurine? I don’t.” I flipped from one photo to the other. “I don’t recall seeing anything on it except the painted bells.”
“Maybe each bell has a symbol? Ever think of that?”
“But, they’re asymmetrical. All silver.” I stared at one in particular and flipped to another image. “I suppose it’s entirely possible but nothing appears on the image.”
“We’ll keep it right in the bank where it’s secure. If we want another look, we can go one afternoon over there to look at it.”
“That’s a good idea.”
As I began sewing a new inaugural gown for Mrs. Taylor, while Aaron busied himself by reading a sports magazine. “Let’s find out what hunts TR went on, it might be helpful.”
“Okay. I’ll get right on it,” Aaron said.
I went back to sewing. As I finished cutting the fabric for two dresses for the First Lady, I heard the front doorbell chime. I got up and went out to the storefront when the bell rung indicating the entrance of someone.
“Hello. I’m Liv. If you have any questions, let me know.”
“You betcha.” She smiled a toothless grin.“Yust lookin’ around.”Her thick Scandinavian accent, plus her short, heavyset stature reminded me of a lady who used to come in whenever there was a cleaning emergency. Her short gray hair looked in need of a good combing and her worn clothes could use a good wash. I wondered if she had a flask inside a pocket?
“Ya know anyting about Bess Truman?”
“She didn’t like living so much in the White House because she thought it’d fall down around her, and it nearly did!” I smiled. “After his re-election, the White House went through massive renovations.”
“You betcha. What about Nancy Reagan?”
“The comeback kid as Margaret Truman coined Mrs. Reagan in her First Ladies book. Just say ‘no’.”
“You betcha.” I watched the lady reach into a house, then change her mind and not touch a thing. In just a few seconds, she headed for the door saying, “Bye,” over her shoulder as she walked out the door.
“Weird,” I said.Aaron entered the room, “I’ll say so.”“Go follow her.”“Why?”My glare must’ve propelled him, because he
immediately left. I stayed near the window and kept my gaze on the outside street and watched the walkers and Segway riders come and go. The bright sunshine brought an unexpected smile to my lips. It wasn’t long before Aaron returned.
“She drove away alone.” He massaged his chin. “Better?”
“Thank you.” I gave him a kiss. “I must be getting paranoid.”
“I have to admit, the woman was different.”
I glanced at the clock. “We have another hour before closing.”
“I thought we could eat supper at Pracna.” He cocked his head at me. “We need to eat, don’t we?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
While Aaron read his magazine, I finished out the afternoon by sewing together the gowns for Mrs. Taylor. It didn’t take long to do, but it was tedious work. Sewing all the tiny buttons on by hand made my eyes water from the strain. I decided to spend the money and purchase a strong magnifying angle poise lamp for the workroom. I carefully pressed the pieces and lay them aside for dressing the doll in the morning.
I dug out the two wigs in preparation for gluing tomorrow. Satisfied, I walked out to the showroom and found Aaron researching Teddy Roosevelt’s African safaris.
“Did you know that his first safari was commissioned in 1909 as a scientific expedition from the Smithsonian Institute? He was a fascinating man,” Aaron said.
“I think it’s impossible to learn all there is to know about that man,” I said. “Ready to leave?”
“Yep.”
I locked up the front door, turned around the sign, and left through the back door, which automatically locked itself upon closing. For safety measures, I walked to the corner door that led to the basement. It was huge, covering the length of my store, Mikal’s palmistry room, a restaurant, and Inga’s. At one time it was used as a gangster hideout during Prohibition. Originally there were stairs leading up to my showroom, but have since been knocked out and the hatch leading down, sealed. Satisfied, I strolled to the car and jumped in beside Aaron.
“I’ll feel better once Max returns,” I stated, buckling up.
“Me, too.” Aaron had the car running and the air- conditioning going. “It’s about ninety degrees outside.”
“Let’s try and eat on the patio if there’s shade.”
“Oh, all right. I suppose you’d like me to shut the air off, too?” He glanced at me, and immediately turned it off and rolled down the windows.
“Ahh, fresh air.” He drove from the lot and we started up the main drag toward Pracna. After a minute I asked, “Do you think we’ll know anyone?”
“Hard to say.” He stopped for a red light on Lowry Avenue.
My thoughts went to that old lady who had earlier entered the store. Something about her bugged me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Was it because she did remind me of the former cleaning lady?
Aaron turned the corner and we parked behind the building and stepped from the car. After locking it up, arm in arm, we strolled toward the main door. Unfortunately, the outdoor eating area was filled, and we headed indoors. Once inside the dark interior, it took a moment for our eyes to adjust after the bright sunshine.
“Let’s find a corner booth.” I let Aaron steer me toward the nearest one, and we sat opposite each other.
“I wonder if they serve anything other than burgers?” Aaron asked.
“We’ll see....” At that moment, I glanced over toward the bar and my eyes flashed open. “Look at that woman sitting by the bar.” I touched Aaron’s hand and whispered, “Don’t let her see you look.”
“Huh? Who is it?” Fortunately, Aaron followed my instructions and didn’t turn. “Annie Oakley?”
“Shush! Yes, and no. Annie Oakley is over at the bar, talking to a woman bartender. And guess who she is?” I looked up and smiled at the waitress. “I’d like a glass of your house white wine. Nice and cold, please.”
She turned to Aaron who said, “I’d like a tap beer. Bring menus please.”“Coming right up.” She reached over to a nearby table and handed us greasy menus. “Here.”After she was out of whispering range I said, “You can look now.” Aaron cranked his head around and shrugged. “Doesn’t she look familiar?”“Sort of, but also different. It can’t be who you’re thinking of.”“Yes, I’m certain it was the old woman who entered the store. There is such a thing as makeup, you know? And costuming.”
“But why? Why would she go through all that trouble?”
“They needed to know what was in the store, to see if it was worthwhile to break-in or not. Don’t you see?” To my chagrin, he got up and walked toward the person in question and stopped to speak for a minute. My irritation grew. The waitress returned with the two drinks, and I told her to come back for our orders. I watched as Aaron pointed toward the restroom sign and headed for it. I opened the menu and tried to look interested but had a terrible time keeping my eyes from the woman bartender. Can it really be her? The size is right. No doubt was left in my mind.
I resumed reading the menu. Since there were four burgers mentioned and deep-fried chicken fingers it didn’t take me long to decide what I wanted. When Aaron returned, I readied myself for what he had to report.
“Yes, it’s her.” Aaron smiled that big grin of his, and I almost burst. “I’ve already contacted the detectives.”
“Jeez!” He raised a brow and cocked his head. “This place is beginning to give me the creeps.”
“Look at the menu. She’s returning for our order.”
Aaron sipped his drink and cast his eyes on the page and was ready when she stood before us. “I’ll have the Lumberjack burger with fries.” When she asked about another beer, he shook his head.
When it was my turn, I said, “I’ll have the Lumberjill burger with coleslaw. A glass of water, please.”
“Me too.”“Okay. Be back with the water.”I watched as she marched away, stopping at another table before taking the orders to the kitchen. “It is the old lady who came this afternoon, isn’t it?” I tried hard to not look in her direction. “I knew there was something fishy about her.”
“The question is what on earth could we possibly have?” Aaron asked.
“You’re certain it was a man that followed you earlier when you two went to the bank?” I asked.
“I’m positive,” Aaron said.
I frowned. “That means that they probably put this woman up to spy on us. They followed you, realized that whatever it was that we have is safe—then they wanted to know if we left anything of consequence behind.” I looked over at the small crowd and thought for a minute. “Can you think of a better reason?”
“Not really. But, who’s ‘they’? By the way, the owner’s in the backroom.”
“Who’s they, is right. That’s what we need to know.” I glanced around the room. “I wonder if this barmaid person plays a role in any of this or is she just a dupe used to carry out their wishes?”
“I tried to spot a name badge each time I walked past, but she doesn’t seem to have one.”
I took out my phone and made a quick notation to myself to search the employee names of this establishment.
“I’ll send a message to the detectives.” He quickly punched in the message and took a distant headshot of the person and sent the message. “We’ll get results.”
“I know-, I’ll be patient.”
We ate our meal as fast as possible and headed home. We didn’t want to be there when the police showed up or they might realize we were the ones who called the cops. By the time we watched a movie and headed to bed, we still hadn’t received a verification of the barmaid’s identity. I tried to think about her, but sleep overtook my thoughts. During the night, I woke and saw the northern lights dancing across the sky. I looked closer and wondered if I really saw lights on at Gina’s or was it the stars?