Page 27 of Gem Warfare

“I don’t think it’ll be hard. Everyone wants to talk about Roger.”

My phone buzzed a message. Garrett was in touch with the forger’s parole officer and he invited me to join the meeting. Then another message pinged through in reply from the jeweler suggesting I drop by whenever I liked.

“I have to go,” I said, “I have leads to follow.”

“Anything I can do?”

“Not yet. Let’s talk later. I might need your help.”

“Yahoo!” said Lily and disconnected.

I texted Garrett asking him when we could meet at the jeweler’s and immediately the text bubble appeared.Now, was his brief message. I messaged the jeweler’s, then shot out a family group text suggesting dinner. As the yeses came in quickly from Lily, then my mom, who said we could barbecue at her house, then a long, irritated text from Serena reminding us she had a young child and a business to run and couldn’t drop everything on short notice — across the room Delgado sighedand put his phone down — but fine, they would make it but she wasn’t bringing a dish, and I grabbed my purse.

“Looking forward to dinner!” I said to Delgado.

“You know she’s just worried,” he said, pausing his slow finger-stabbing at the keyboard.

“Of course, totally read between the lines,” I agreed.

“And she’ll be chomping at the bit to find out everything everyone knows about the body,” he added.

This time, I grinned. Of course that was why she’d been so prompt in replying. “Then I’m sure she’ll want to help too,” I said.

Delgado paused. “Do you think she’ll have information?”

“Despite how terrifying Serena is, I doubt she had anything to do with it.”

Delgado breathed out a sigh of relief.

“You married her,” I pointed out. “She’s not all bad.”

“She’s wonderful,” he said, smiling now. “I’m not sure I’d put murder past her though.”

“Is her ex causing problems?” I wondered.

“A little. He didn’t turn up for two visitations in a row. Then Serena got a shirty email about how life doesn’t revolve around her and he’d take Victoria on Saturday instead. She reminded him that he was the one who pestered her for the last two date changes. He said she was being pissy because he’s getting married and she’s jealous. She had to lie on the floor for a full hour.”

I frowned. “Was she sad?”

Delgado shook his head. “No. She was laughing so hard she couldn’t get up.”

“The idea of anyone being jealous of Ted Whitman’s life is pretty funny.”

“Did you know Victoria isn’t invited to the wedding? They’re having it child-free apparently and then a two-week honeymoonin Bora Bora.”

“She was so cute at your wedding.”

“Wasn’t she?” Delgado smiled, his entire face lighting up. “Alongside your sister, that little girl is the light of my life.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

I headed out to my car, thinking how lucky we all were to get Tony Delgado married into the family. Plus, I was pleased that the family message group was now abuzz with dinner plans although tonight was apparently a no go so Mom had offered to host at the end of the week when everyone agreed they were free. Lily was right: the Roger gossip had spread like wildfire and everyone wanted an excuse to rubberneck. Fine by me. I was going to ride on their nosy coattails in search of answers.

~

The last time I’d seen Claudius Bridge, he’d been concerned about a light-fingered employee. Fortunately, after a week of undercover work, I’d solved his problem, much to his relief.

I’d found Claud to be warm and friendly, with a fine array of bow ties, and was happy that he’d agreed to help, not only on short notice but also with no information provided beyond requesting a valuation. By the time I got there, there was another message from Garrett to say he’d been briefly waylaid but was on his way so I headed inside the jewelry store to wait.

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