Three Dog Island Page 22

  “He didn’t tell me. At least not until recently. But I do have some of my daughter’s intuition, you know.”

  I did know. I had to admit that, considering his dislike of my ex-husband, I was surprised he’d never said anything to me. I assumed it had to do with his grandchildren. Charlie did not take divorce lightly, despite the fact that he had divorced my mother when I was twelve years old, or perhaps because he had.

  “On to business,” I said. “Any information about Grace Wallace’s background?”

  Charlie was quiet. Charlie restrained meant one thing. He did have information and it was information I would not want to hear. “I don’t think we should be sharing this with the lad.”

  “What is it, Charlie?”

  “She was a prostitute for a wee while. Apparently she was desperate for money and she and a friend from the diner thought it was the best way to make some money fast.”

  He was right. I did not want to know this. And I definitely would not be sharing it with Josh.

  “How long, Charlie?”

  “Just a couple months. They got picked up by the cops and never did it again.”

  “So that’s what Mark Simpson is holding over her.”

  “Aye, my thoughts exactly. But there’s more.”

  I took a sip of my tea and braced myself.

  “Her friend from the diner is none other than Dori Arellano, Mark’s partner’s widow.”

  I knew there was a reason I needed to make a trip down to Portland to talk to her. I still wasn’t clear exactly what that reason was, but I was certainly more convinced now that my intuition was leading me in the right direction.

  Chapter 20

  It was a busy week. And cold. The weather was trying to decide if it was fall or winter. When it wasn’t raining, the blast of cold wind that stripped the maples and alders of their leaves and the roses of their petals, made you beg for rain. I was forced to move a portable heater into the garage so I didn’t lose any toes while I was distracted with work.

  Frankie and Sasha’s interruption was a welcome relief. They came through the side door to the garage to find me at my wheel.

  “I like it!” Sasha said. “It’s different.”

  No kidding. It had two spouts and was a touch lop-sided. “I’m not sure I do.”

  “Give it a chance,” Frankie said, taking off her black, beaded cowgirl hat to shake free her long black hair. “Look at it from all angles.”

  I stood up and walked around the vase, if that’s what it was. “I’m not sure looking at this piece from all angles is helping, but in general, it’s a good rule of thumb, particularly in my line of work.”

  “Which line of work might that be?” Sasha teased. Not being a Gemini, she did not comprehend the restlessness and the need for variety in ones life.

  “Actually, all lines. Definitely true of my PI work. Equally true of spiritual counseling. Apparently pottery as well.”

  “Come on, we’ve brought muffins. Chocolate chip banana, your favorite,” Sasha said.

  “Who baked them?”

  The two friends smiled and looked at each other. “Naomi.”

  I laughed. “So you picked them up at the bakery.”

  While I washed up in the garage basin, they made a pot of coffee in the kitchen and rounded up Whistler and Lenny who were outside playing. It felt like old times, the three of us sitting at the kitchen table indulging in a mid-morning snack. Old times of three months ago when I’d first relocated to the island and Frankie was putting in my koi pond and helping me plant a vegetable garden.

  Besides the additional presence of three dogs curled up together in the corner, heads resting on each other’s bodies, there was one big difference. There was now a fire burning in the woodstove in the kitchen to ward off the chill in the air. Actually there was more than one big difference. A glowing Frankie was now dating Sheriff Sam and could look forward to a marriage proposal in the near future. And, besides my having a dog and a teenage boy in my life, I was well on the healing path from my divorce and was totally and completely in love.

  Sasha filled us in on her life which pretty much consisted of her painting. She didn’t bring up the fact that she was assisting me with the case of the missing art model. Wise decision. There was no need for Sam to find out that we had not tossed in the towel as he had. She did not bring up any men either. I figured that was most likely because there weren’t any. That was the drawback of living on Anamcara where single young men were few and far between. If we wanted life to continue on the island, we would have to come up with an import strategy very soon.

  Frankie summed up her landscaping and gardening work with three words, “Business as usual.” She was more interested in filling us in on the progress of her relationship with Sam. I’d scarcely seen the girl blush, let alone six times in a period of two minutes.

  “She’s in love, don’t you think?” Sasha said.

  “Clearly.”

  “We just get along well. That’s all.”

  “Hmm hmm.”

  “Right.”

  Frankie tossed her hair behind her shoulders. “Okay, we’re getting close, but that’s all I’m going to say. And if he is wise enough to ask your opinion, tell him I like the antique look.”

  “The antique look?” Sasha asked.

  “In rings?” I asked. “As in wedding rings?”

  Frankie shrugged casually. “So, on to you, Jenny. I hear there’s a new man in your life.”

  Assuming Sasha had not spilled the beans about Josh, I joined the blushing teen club. “An old friend,” I said, opening the bag of muffins and retrieving a second. It had not hurt that MacGregor had disputed my claim that I was at least ten pounds overweight. “Makes you all the more beautiful,” he had said.

  “Whoa, girl! You are so in love,” Sasha said, and I realized my expression must have been reflecting my thoughts.

  I didn’t even attempt to argue. “He’s wonderful. And that’s all I’m saying.”

  Forty five minutes later after telling them every detail of how MacGregor and I had met and our friendship over the years and our romantic relationship that was recently developing—well, not every detail of that part—I said once again, “Okay, but that’s all I’m saying.”

  They cocked their heads to the side in unison, waiting for me to continue.

  “I’m serious,” I said. “So, how are things on Anamcara? Is Sam keeping us safe and sound?”

  “As always,” Frankie said proudly.

  “Any more break-in attempts?” I asked.

  “Break-in attempts?” She wrinkled her forehead. “What are you talking about?”

  Apparently Sam had neglected to tell her. Sasha and I filled her in.

  “I guess he didn’t want to worry me,” Frankie said in response.

  “Or the last thing he thinks about is work when he’s with you,” Sasha offered.

  “I guess,” Frankie said as she excused herself to use the bathroom, obviously disturbed by this information.

  “It’s weird, don’t you think, Jenny?”

  I nodded. “The best protection is being forewarned.”

  “Right. And that’s what Sam always says too, so why would he not tell Frankie? I know he’s been awfully distracted lately, but do you think he could forget something like that? I mean, we don’t exactly have a lot of crime on the island for him to worry about.”

  I wrapped up the rest of my second muffin to save for later. My third chakra was busy worrying, which was not exactly conducive to eating. “Unless Sam didn’t know about it.” I was starting to get the feeling that Dan was doing more and more of the sheriff’s work on this island. It was not like Sam to neglect his job, unless Dan was trying to make it appear that way for some reason, some reason being that he was planning to take over Sam’s post as sheriff.

  “You think Dan would not report something to Sam?”

  “He forgot to tell him about our trip to Aurora Island.”

  “I can see his not
mentioning that, but a possible crime—a series of possible crimes—on Anamcara?”

  We stopped talking when we heard Frankie coming down the hallway. “I thought you said this guy MacGregor is six feet plus tall,” she said, holding up a pair of Josh’s jeans that most likely had been hanging over the shower where he tended to leave them.

  I hoped my face didn’t reflect my panic. “Uh, those aren’t MacGregor’s, they’re my son’s.” I said quickly. But just as quickly, I remembered that Matthew who was just under six feet, was coming to the island this weekend. “Actually, I think he shrunk them, which is probably why he left them here the last time he visited.”

  Sasha gave me a knowing look when I released the breath I was holding. “Close,” she mouthed as Frankie took the jeans back to the bathroom.

  I thought I’d learned my lesson the night Dan had stopped by. As soon as Sasha and Frankie left, I walked through the house twice, scooping up any sign that Josh had been here or even existed. It saddened me to do that to the point that I was fighting off tears. How could I have become so attached to this boy so quickly? Maybe MacGregor’s insinuation was right and it was an effort to deflect empty-nest syndrome. Maybe.

  I had not allowed myself to consider what would happen to him once this was all over. Chances were his mother would be spending some time in prison and he couldn’t stay with his grandfather at the rest home. It was unlikely that he could stay with his sister who was attending college. That left me. And MacGregor. And Charlie. Okay, with the three of us on it, we would figure it out.

  I was smiling when the telephone rang. Josh. “Taking a study break?” I answered.

  He laughed. “Hi, Jenny. How are you?”

  “Good. Okay. Missing you.”

  “And Mac?”

  “Both of you. What’s up?”

  “Something kinda interesting.”

  I sat down in the chair next to the telephone. This was not going to be a quick “just checking in” kind of conversation.

  “You know that ‘Tug of Heart’ sculpture of Jasper’s that Mac likes so much.”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, I did some searches and put out some internet blasts to see if I could find it. You know, to see if they’d be willing to at least let Mac see it.”

  “And?” For some reason I was sitting on the edge of my seat.

  “And I found it. Actually I found two.”

  “Two! That can’t be. Jasper’s pieces are all originals. He never makes the same piece twice.” Except the model of the “Boy under Cloud” of course.

  “I know. You told me that. I didn’t think it made a lot of sense. I didn’t wanna wait ‘til Charlie and Mac get home from the University so I called you. Jenny?”

  My mind was reeling. I could not believe that Jasper would make two of the same sculptures. It would put his entire reputation at risk. “Sorry, I’m just in shock.”

  “I’ll forward you the two emails from Mac’s email and you can see what you think.”

  I hung up and hurried over to my computer. There was no mistake. Both owners of Jasper Rosenthal’s “Tug of Heart” sculpture had emailed photographs. From what I could see on the screen, they were identical.

  After playing with glaze formulas for a couple hours, I decided to head into town. Rocky came bounding out to the car. He was not going to settle for staying home anymore. I dropped my new pieces at Army’s and stopped off at Jasper’s on my way back to town.

  “Who’s this?” He pointed toward Rocky as he came out to greet me.

  “My new dog.”

  “He’s lovely. Bring him along.”

  I let Rocky out of the car and he wagged his tail in gratitude, running in a circle before settling his oversized body at my feet.

  “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”

  “Well, a couple things really.” Per Ramona’s request, I tried to persuade him to come to the open house, but two minutes into the conversation, I determined that it was hopeless.

  “And the other thing you came for?”

  “A physicist friend of mine is fascinated with your ‘Tug of Heart’ sculpture. Do you by any chance know who bought it? He’d love to see it. Actually he’d love to have you come speak at one of his university lectures, but—”

  “Wise girl,” he said affectionately. “You know better. Let’s go into the studio. I keep records of all sales in there.”

  While he went through his file cabinet, I looked at his work. There was a new clay model in the beginning stages. I could not identify the figures yet, but there were three.

  “You always do the clay work first?” I asked.

  “Absolutely. I create with my hands, not my mind. Once the idea is formed in the molding, I sketch it out in stages to help me form it in the stone. Fewer errors that way. But Michelangelo would not approve.” His voice softened. “He doesn’t approve.”

  I frowned. Had he resurrected the world’s most renowned sculptor for his opinion . . . and criticism? He was probably right though, since Michelangelo believed in freeing the form that was inside the block of stone. “But your public does approve,” I assured him, surprised he needed reassurance.

  He went back to flipping through file folders. “Here it is. But these people could be anywhere now. They may even have sold it. It’s been over ten years.”

  Peering over his shoulder, I wrote down the name and number of the couple who had purchased it from the Anamcara Gallery. It was the first one Josh had emailed me. I didn’t tell Jasper that I knew that they still lived in Seattle or that there was a second sculpture alive and well and living in San Francisco.

  “Jasper, do you ever do two of the same pieces?”

  He looked at me as though I’d asked if he was a sculptor. “Of course not, Jenny. Much of the value is in the fact that there’s only one.”

  “Of course.”

  “Were you wondering if I could make another like it for your friend?”

  Whew. I could get out of here without his thinking I’d either lost my mind or was a complete idiot or that I was questioning his integrity. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

  “He must be a special friend.”

  “Very.”

  Jasper’s look of approval and hopefulness reminded me of my Aunt Winnie. “Well in that case, I could make something similar, but not the same piece. What was it that fascinated him? Never mind, you said he’s a physicist. I’m sure I can figure it out.” His eyes were more vibrant than I’d seen them in a very long time. He wanted to do this. I would let him. Without asking how much it was going to cost.

  “As soon as I finish this new model, I’ll get to work on it.”

  “Thank you, Jasper.”

  He gave Rocky a gentle pat on the head and me a hug good-bye. I started breathing again when I was halfway into town. The last thing I wanted him to think, besides that I was an idiot, was that I suspected he had risked tarnishing his reputation by making more than one of the same sculptures. Nor did I want him to know that it was very possible someone else had done exactly that, at least not until I had confirmed it.

  Despite being anxious to get home to do some glazing, I stopped at the sheriff’s office. Only one car was parked in front. Hopefully Sam’s.

  He was hanging up the telephone as Rocky and I walked in the door. “Hello, Jenny. What can I do for you? Hey, Rocky.”

  Smelling the remnants of deep-fried grease, Rocky tromped around behind the desk to sniff at the box of donuts. “I thought you’d given those up.”

  “Yeah, I kinda did, before Frankie went out with me. Then—”

  “Once she agreed to go out with you, you got the habit back.”

  “Something like that,” he said, stroking Rocky’s fur coat. “Did you come to talk about Frankie?”

  “It’s on the list.” But the first item was the one I could not discuss in front of Dan so I jumped right in before he returned. “Just wondering if there have been any more break-in attempts.”
/>   “Break-in attempts?” He scrunched his forehead up and leaned forward. “On Anamcara?” I had my answer. He didn’t know.

  “Dan didn’t tell you?” My feigned surprise would have been impressive in an acting audition.

  “No, he didn’t.” He hit the middle of his desk with his fist. “What the hell is going on?”

  I shrugged. I doubted he really wanted an answer to that question.

  Now he was standing which was followed by stomping back and forth behind his desk. Considering Sam’s outburst of anger, I half expected Rocky to pounce but he sat at my feet, having given up hope of getting any donut crumbs. “First he forgets to tell me about your boat trip to Aurora Island. And now this?”

  He looked at me for a long moment and I knew that this time he did want an answer to his question. “Do you think he’s trying to show you up?”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s been trying to do more and more himself without consulting me.” By the time he sat back down, he was just a tad calmer. “Do me a favor, Jenny, don’t mention this conversation to anyone.”

  “You’ve got my word,” I said, recognizing the perfect segue when I was handed one. “I’d like to ask the same of you.”

  “About this?”

  “No, about another matter.” I told him what I’d discovered about Jasper’s duplicate sculpture. I was forced to take credit for the discovery, but would happily give it over to Josh as soon as it was safe to do so.

  “You think someone is copying his work?”

  “I do. As difficult as it would be to match Jasper’s incredible ability, everything is pointing in that direction, starting with the model theft and replacement with an imitation. And now we—I—discover a duplicate of one of his stone sculptures?”

  This time he didn’t negate my assertion, possibly because of the new information or very possibly because Dan was not in the room to dismantle it. Another thought struck me. Maybe Dan had talked Sam out of exploring Jasper’s case because he wanted to solve it himself, another point for him and one against Sam.

  “Please don’t say anything to anyone until I have more information, even Dan.”

  “My pleasure.” The anger was rising in his eyes again. “I’ll reopen the investigation. On the QT, of course.”