Mystery on Valentine's Day by Beth Byers & Lee Strauss

Author:Beth Byers & Lee Strauss [Strauss, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-11T06:00:00+00:00

“Mrs. Reed! Mrs. Reed!”

Ginger turned toward the sound of her name to see Lady Fitzhugh waving madly in her direction. “Come quickly!”

Ginger, mentally bracing herself, approached the Fitzhugh table.

“Mrs. Reed, my emerald hair comb has disappeared. It’s as if it’s vanished into thin air.”

“Maybe it’s that Houdini fellow,” Lord Fitzhugh said.

“Arthur! This isn’t time to be glib. That hair comb is a family heirloom. My mother brought it over from Russia, and a good thing, now with the empire gone.” She stared severely at Ginger. “Nothing is safe there anymore.”

Lord Fitzhugh dared another defiant mumble. “Nor here, it would seem.”

Lady Fitzhugh glared at her husband.

“A hair comb?” Ginger said quickly, wanting to prevent a verbal attack. “Where?” she floated her fingers around her head.

Lady Fitzhugh was the only female in the River Restaurant without a short bob of some sort, her salt-and-pepper hair in a loose bun on the top of her head. “At the back,” she said, as if that were the only obvious place for it.

“And my diamond bracelet is missing.” This came from the well-turned-out lady wearing a shimmering red gown and fashionable turban. “It was a gift from Bernard,” she motioned to her date.

The man tipped his chin, and eyed Ginger with a look of appreciation. He extended his hand. “Bernard Chatfield, madam, at your service.”

The lady flashed her date a look of disapproval then continued. “Bernard gave the bracelet to me just before we came here to dine. Its loss is simply outrageous.”

Ginger had to agree. Along with her string of pearls, there were two bracelets, a string of exotic beads, and a hair comb missing. How extraordinary.

“Please don’t worry your heart, dear,” Mr. Chatfield said. “It was fully insured, and I can get you a replacement.”

It appeared that the young man had deep pockets.

“And what was your name, madam?” Ginger asked.

“Dorothy Mansfield. And yours?”

“I’m Mrs. Reed. My husband is Chief Inspector Reed. Her eyes drifted to the bar where Basil was busy interviewing the staff. “He asked if I’d take an account of the items that have been allegedly lost.”

“Allegedly?” Miss Mansfield held out her bare arm and shook it dramatically. “Hardly, allegedly.”

Since Miss Mansfield and Lady Fitzhugh were seated close together, Ginger positioned herself between them so they could both hear her questions.

“Miss Mansfield, Lady Fitzhugh, please think back to the last moment you recall the lost items in your possession.”

“It’s difficult to say,” Lady Fitzhugh huffed. “It’s not like I’m checking the back of my head while dining on stuffed cod.”

“My bracelet was on my left arm only moments ago,” Miss Mansfield said. “I’m fairly certain, though, now, I can’t be sure when I noticed it last.” She lifted her right arm which jangled with a series of bracelets. “However, I did make use of the ladies. Perhaps it went missing then.”

“Were you alone?” Ginger asked. “Or did you see others?”

“Well, there was that blonde over there.” Miss Mansfield pointed to Miss Harris seated at Ginger’s table.

“I’ve not moved from my seat,” Lady Fitzhugh said.

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