Beach Rental(76)

Juli was feeling surrounded. Incipient claustrophobia. Amanda, in her own way, was as predatory as Frankie. Time to take the offense.

“Maybe you stole it yourself to collect insurance.”

Amanda hissed as the door swung open. One of the caterers stepped in. Amanda swung around to face her and the woman backed out immediately.

Juli followed up while she had the momentum. “I can’t think of one good reason to stand here and listen to your nonsense.”

“Is there a problem?” A deep voice cut through the tension.

Luke stood in the doorway, tall and distinguished in his tuxedo, with a quizzical look on his face.

Amanda’s posture relaxed immediately. She turned toward him with an air of unconcern. “Not for me. I needed Maia. I thought I might find her back here.” She waved her arm. “But look who I found instead? Good of her to help out the caterers. But then she’s experienced, right?”

“Juli helped us prepare for the reception.” Luke’s response sounded tentative.

“She has many talents, it seems. Delivering artwork. Waitressing.” She smiled benevolently. “I wonder if Juli has any insight into the theft of my ring? She was there and knew the people who had access.”

Luke’s voice was curt. “What’s on your mind, Amanda?”

“On my mind?” Her eyebrows arched. “She was working at the party where my ring was stolen. If the police didn’t interview her, then they need to remedy their oversight. Someone should’ve reported her so she could be questioned.”

Luke moved between them. As Maia came through the door behind him, he said, “Amanda, this isn’t the place for this discussion and you are misjudging Juli.”

“What about your guests tonight? Would they agree? Maybe they need to watch their valuables.”

Maia came up behind the unsteady woman and touched her arm. “Amanda, come with me. Please.”

“What, Luke? You think because she married your cousin, she’s above suspicion? She married him for his money, for heaven’s sake.”

“Now, Amanda.” Maia tugged at her arm. She was petite, but her will was iron. “Now.”

“One moment.” Juli walked nearer to Amanda. She tried to infuse her voice with calm and kindness, without subservience. “I don’t know about any thefts. If I knew, I’d tell you.” Or would she still be trying to stay below the radar? She beat back her personal doubts. “I’ll be happy to speak with the police if it will put your suspicions to rest.”

Amanda stared, but didn’t answer. Juli didn’t allow herself to nod. She stiffened her neck, determined not to revert to the offensive little bob from her past. Dignity.

Maia maneuvered Amanda out through the door to where the other guests were enjoying themselves. “I’m sorry for all of this to-do at the showing. I’ll get my purse and—” She lost her cool and put her hands to her cheeks. “I can’t leave. I still don’t have my keys.”

“Your keys?”

“That’s why I came back.”

“I found keys on the floor. I didn’t recognize them as yours.”

“I changed to a different key ring recently.”

“It’s in my office. Come with me.”

She followed him and moved with two quick steps from the back room to his office door. A low level conversational hum and delicate, lilting music filled the space through which she briefly passed.

Luke switched the desk lamp back on and she pushed the door partway closed.

He retrieved the keys from his desk drawer. “Here you are. Sorry you had to go looking for them. I knew someone would, but I wasn’t expecting it to be you.”

“Thanks for keeping them safe. And thank you for standing up for me—for telling Amanda she was mistaken about me. I’m sorry about the scene.” She waved his response away. “No, I’m not excusing her behavior, but I can’t totally blame her either.”

“Why?”

“When we delivered the etchings to her house, she asked where she knew me. Maia and I kind of blew it off and said I’d married Ben, implying she’d seen me with him.” She shook her head. “Even then, I knew she wasn’t satisfied. To her, it looked like we were hiding something, and once she figured out where she’d seen me, I can hardly blame her for being suspicious.” She examined her keys. “What I’m most sorry about is disturbing your party—the showing.”

“No harm done. I should get back to the guests, though.”

“Of course.” She stepped toward the door, then paused. “By the way, Leslie looks lovely this evening.”