The Case of the Unseen Lady
“Good Morning Vince”, I called as I approached to buy a copy of the morning paper.
Normally, Vince had a good-natured smile for me but today he looked tense. “Johnny,” he called, “I’ve being given a message for you.” He hesitated. “It’s from a woman who said you would remember her from the Swing Palace.”
A message first thing in the morning meant that she might still be close by. In her state she could be very close indeed. I urged Vince to go on.
“She said that she wants to make a deal with you. She said that she’d like you to drop the cat burglar case. In exchange she’ll give your friend her face back.”
I thought fast. Obviously, the cat burglar didn’t know that Natalie had already reappeared. Secondly, she must have thought that I was a real threat to her operation.
“So, where do I find her, to tell her my answer?” I asked already knowing what the response would be.
Vince licked his lips nervously. “You’re supposed to tell me and I then relay the message to her.”
I thought about her actions thus far. She seemed very sure of herself. Maybe too sure.
Knowing she must have been standing within earshot I decided to try something different. I decided to wager on her confidence.
“Well Vince,” I said making it clear that I was addressing him alone, “I don’t need to pursue that case anyway. The cops got it wrapped up.” He gave me a quizzical expression and I pushed on. “Yeah, they already figured where she’s going to strike next and they already have a plan to capture her. I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the show.”
“Johnny,” Vince said warningly, “You don’t have to tell me all that. I’m sure the cops don’t want their plan to get out.”
Now was the tricky part. If I were too subtle she wouldn’t see the bait. If I were too obvious she’d see the hook within it. I had very limited insight to her mind so I had to take a shot.
“Oh, no Vince, I can’t tell you that.” I then looked right at the cover of the paper and smiled. “Let’s just say she’ll be crying a river next Wednesday.”
There it was. Clearly Vince had no idea what I meant and maybe she didn’t either. But if I guessed right, she’d try to work it out.
“As for my friend,” I continued, “She doesn’t mind things the way they are. There’s more to life than a pretty face. Maybe the lady from the Swing Palace could learn a few things from Miss Taylor.”
“She’d not going to like it when I give her the message, Johnny.”
“I know that, Vince.” I said as I paid for the paper. “She’s transparent. I can see right through her.”
I then thanked him and went up the steps. Once inside I hurried to the office and unlocked it – Natalie hadn’t yet arrived.
Inside my office I hurried to the window and glanced down through the curtain. There was Vince selling his papers. It was difficult to tell if he was talking to someone. At one point he shrugged his shoulders. Then, very suddenly, the top paper on his stack turned a little to one side. I was sure it was being read at the moment. For a time there was no activity and eventually it seemed that Vince was more relaxed and was chatting with customers in his usual way.
Even if she guessed that I was aware of her presence I hoped that she would think I was being cautious and not leading her.
I tossed my own copy of the paper on my desk. There on the cover was an article about the Riviere, a necklace of 55 diamonds set in silver on a gold chain. The total weight of the diamonds was 118 carats. On loan from Lisbon, it was to arrive at the museum next Wednesday. The word riviere means “river”.
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