Page 45 of Murder on the Page

“Yes.Phew.”The bank manager looked visibly relieved. “There’s a slip I overlooked. She often withdrew jewelry and brought it in a week or so later.”

“So it’s most likely at her house,” Tegan said. “I’ll bet Vanna knows where it is. She’s a snoop. She’ll have gone through all of Auntie’s closets and drawers by now.”

Why would Marigold have removed that particular ring? Did she plan to have it resized? Or cleaned? Had she intended to wear it to the community foundation tea? It wasn’t on her hand the day she died.

“This piece.” Tegan indicated the Georgian-style trembling floral brooch that featured dozens of hand-cut diamonds. “It’s the one my mother inherits.”

I said, “It’s gorgeous.”

“She’ll never wear it,” Tegan said. “She’ll be too nervous.”

“She needn’t be,” Ivey said, her mouth curving up at the corners. “Each item is insured, and your aunt prepaid the premium for ten years. I’ll convey that to your mother.”

That meant if the ring was stolen by the killer, Noeline could be compensated. I supposed there was some comfort in that.

“Marigold certainly planned ahead,” I said. “When did she pay the premium?”

The bank manager consulted her file. “A month ago.”

Again I wondered whether Marigold had foreseen her own demise.

“Let’s put everything back in the box,” Tegan said. “I’ll return with my sister, and we’ll go through the items together.”

When Ivey completed the task and reinserted the box into its slot, she said, “Follow me.”

We retreated to her office, and while she fetched water for us, Tegan and I sat in a pair of chairs facing the desk.

“Can you believe it?” Tegan whispered. “We won’t have to worry about sales to keep the bookshop going, and if we have to, we can sell off jewelry to keep afloat for years.”

“Not we.You.”

“You’re my partner now.”

“About that . . .”

She held up a hand. “Uh-uh. I will not allow you to give your portion to me or Mom, and I sure as heck won’t let you bequeath it to Vanna.”

I chuckled.As if.

“Auntie wouldn’t want me to hawk the jewelry, but if I have to, I will. The bookshop was her baby.”

“Here we are.” The bank manager laid cocktail napkins on the small table between our chairs and set down the glasses of water. Then she perched on the ergonomic chair behind her desk and opened a folder. “Now I’ll fill you in as to the cash on hand, as well as to the significant value of her stocks and bonds.”

“Auntie had stocks and bonds?” Tegan pressed three fingers to her lips, thoroughly dumbfounded.

I batted her arm. “You didn’t know? Are you saying I knew more about your aunt than you did? She told me she’d invested.”

“She told me, too,” Tegan said, “but I had no idea they would have asignificantvalue. How much are we talking?”

“Over a million dollars,” Ivey replied.

Tegan whistled.

“The man Marigold was to marry,” I said, to enlighten Ivey, “not only left her his estate, but he was wise in matters of finance and taught her everything he knew.” Marigold had regaled me with stories of their blossoming love. Sometimes I’d wondered if she’d embellished their history, merely to keep the spark alive, but after seeing the jewelry and hearing about her portfolio, I realized she hadn’t inflated any of it. She’d promised to teach me some of her investment tricks but hadn’t gotten around to it. “Your mother must have known your aunt’s net worth,” I added. “That’s why she chided Vanna.”

Ivey said, “In addition, she had over seven hundred thousand dollars in cash.”

“Seven—” Tegan cut herself off. “Vanna is going to be miffed that she didn’t come along on this visit.”

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