Thai Die by MONICA FERRIS

Author:MONICA FERRIS [FERRIS, MONICA]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2011-06-30T11:12:40+00:00

Thirteen

BETSY barely woke up in time to get to work the next morning. She had no more than opened the store when her phone rang. “Crewel World, Betsy speaking, how may I help you?” she said as she answered it, and was dismayed at the lack of levity in her voice.

“Ms. Devonshire? This is Eddie Fitzwilliam.”

It took a moment. “Oh, of Fitzwilliam’s Antiques! Good morning!”

“I wanted to tell you that we’ve finished clearing out the store, and there was no sign of the Buddha.” His voice was quiet but a little hoarse, as if he’d had to do an unexpected amount of talking lately. “That is, there was no sign of the standing Buddha the police were looking for. There were several of the laughing fat ones, and a beautiful Buddha hand cast in bronze, but no slim young man with upraised hands.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.”

“Is there anything else you want to ask me?”

“Yes, but it’s a hard question.”

He sighed. “I doubt it could be harder than what the police have asked.”

“Is it possible that your father was involved in something dishonest?”

“What do you mean, dishonest?” He sounded depressed but not surprised at the question; doubtless the police had asked him that, too.

“Well, he was waiting for the delivery of a very beautiful statue of Buddha that was being brought into the country under somewhat peculiar circumstances. You told me his store was improving its sales but in an irregular manner. And now he’s been murdered and the statue has disappeared. Have you gone over his books?”

He sighed and said in his roughened voice, “All right, I guess you are a detective. We’ve just started going over his books, and there are some . . . irregularities. I’d say yes, he was involved in something dishonest, probably involving the sale of stolen art objects. There was money coming in with no explanation. There were objects sold—not for very great amounts—that didn’t have inventory numbers, or were obviously added to inventory after the fact.” He stopped and then continued in a lower voice, “I believe he was taking additional money under the table for these things.”

“That’s very interesting.”

His voice turned much harsher. “Interesting? Oh, very interesting! What I’m giving you is evidence of a man destroying his whole life! No wonder he didn’t want me anywhere near him—he didn’t want me to see what he’d become, or to get myself involved in his predicament! I’m happy you find that interesting !” The connection was broken with a crash.

Betsy had to go sit down for a minute. The pain and anger in Eddie’s voice were a shocking wakeup call. He must have been devastated to discover his father had become a criminal, and she was dismayed that she hadn’t realized that. Of course he was insulted when an insensitive amateur came strolling by to find the wreck and remark that it was “interesting.” Betsy’s own father would have been disappointed in her.

Betsy went to make herself a strong cup of black tea.

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