Fleeced: A Regan Reilly Mystery Read Free Page B

home with him?” Regan asked.
    “That would be bad too.”
    “Why?”
    “Because his wallet was missing by the time they got him to the hospital. If he had the diamonds on him, they would surely have been taken along with his wallet. Luckily his Settlers’ Club card was found in his pocket.”
    “That red box could be hidden in the apartment somewhere.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because Nat mentioned at lunch that he was glad he wouldn’t have to worry about forgetting the combination to the safe anymore.”
    “Why did they own the diamonds together?”
    “They were both jewelers. They were part of a group of four jewelers who played cards together every week for fifty years in Nat’s apartment. They called themselves the Suits, after the spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds in the deck. Of course the diamonds were their favorite. Way back when, they’d each brought the most beautiful, valuable diamond they owned to one of the games. They made a pact not to tell anyone about these jewels-except for Wendy, Nat’s wife, who was in the apartment that night-and the last one alive would get to keep all four diamonds. Survivor takes all, they called it. Well, two of them died last year before I started this job. They belonged to the club too. With the centennial anniversary coming up, Nat and Ben decided to do some good with the diamonds and not wait until just one of them was left alive to enjoy the money. But now they’re both dead!”
    “I wonder what the police are thinking?” Regan said.
    “They probably think that I took them!”
    “Why would you say that?”
    “Because I knew about them.”
    “But you brought it up to them. Didn’t you say the diamonds’ existence had been pretty much a secret?”
    “Word had definitely leaked in the club. There were cries and whispers, Regan. Cries and whispers! People heard about the plans for Saturday. Maybe it was the waiter, I don’t know. If I hadn’t brought it up, and they’re not donated to the club, people would ask where they are! It would look like I was hiding them for myself.”
    “I see,” Regan said.
    “Could that make me a suspect?”
    Regan cleared her throat. “Thomas, the police always take a look at everyone who might have had the motive or the opportunity to carry out a crime.”
    “That’s why I need you, Regan.”
    “What do you want me to do?”
    “Regan, please come stay here. Help me solve this mess. Help me get back those diamonds. Help me clear my name. Help me secure the future of the Settlers’ Club!”
    Is that all? Regan wondered. “Thomas, I’m only in town for a few days. I have to get back to Los Angeles on Monday. I’m in the middle of a case.”
    “I don’t care! Come for the weekend then. See what you can figure out in the little time you have.” He paused and said plaintively, “I need you, Regan. I don’t know what else to do.”
    Regan looked over at her mother, who was sitting at the table, studying Regan with a quizzical look.
    “Okay, Thomas,” Regan said. “I’ll come stay with you. I can be down there by about ten.”
    “Regan, I knew you were the one to call. You’ll get to the bottom of this.”
    “I hope I don’t disappoint you, Thomas. I’ll do my best.” When Regan hung up the phone, she turned to her mother. “You always said you wanted me to work in New York City.”

4

    Here we are, Princess of Love,” Maldwin Feckles declared as he carried a tray with hot coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, and flakey croissants into his employer’s darkened bedroom. “Time to rise and shine and fix people up.” He placed the tray on a table next to the king-size bed and opened the drapes.
    Lydia ’s eyes fluttered as she groaned. “What time is it?”
    “It’s 8:00 A.M. The time you instructed me to serve you breakfast.”
    “Was I dreaming, or did what happened last night really happen?”
    Maldwin sighed. He was a short man with rigid posture, tufts of dark hair