Annie giggled.
“And Jennifer from Mr. Malcolm’s shop told them, too, that she didn’t recognize Sanders at all when the two of you were at his shop. They just don’t have enough evidence to make an arrest.” Mary Beth’s eyes filled, and she blinked hard. “Neither do we.”
“But we know.” Annie doubled her fists, aching to pound something. “He has to be the one! It’s just too much of a coincidence to imagine someone else is behind all this.”
“But why would he take it?” Mary Beth asked. “I mean, it is obvious that he was interested in it. He told us how much he loves pieces from around the time of the Civil War. Why would he risk stealing the clock when he’d have to know we’d suspect him first?”
“That’s not actual proof though. Not enough to go to court over.”
“How could he have made sure I took the clock for repairs anyway? Maybe this isn’t as obvious as we thought.”
Annie scowled. “Easiest thing in the world. He comes and looks at the clock and does something, I don’t know what, to make it quit working. He’s an antiques specialist. He’s got to know a lot of things people do to make pieces seem more or less valuable than they actually are.”
“I didn’t see anything wrong with the clock,” Mary Beth said. “Of course, what I know about clock mechanisms could be hidden in a thimble, but I looked it over pretty well when it stopped.”
“And you didn’t notice anything unusual?”
Mary Beth shook her head. “It looked all right to me. I guess he could have done something to affect it. But, if he did plan for it to have to go to the repair shop, how could he have known when it would be there? He knows I’ve been selling heirlooms to keep in business, so he knows I’m short of cash right now. How would he know I’d take it for an expensive repair right away like that? And to which shop?”
Annie sighed and settled into her favorite chair. “And if he fixed the clock so it wouldn’t run, why would he break into the house after it was already gone?”
“Hmmm.” Mary Beth shrugged. “Maybe the break-in really was kids, and maybe it didn’t have anything to do with the clock.”
“That’s a pretty big coincidence, isn’t it?”
“They do happen. Sometimes.”
“I guess we’ll have to pretend he didn’t have anything to do with the break-in—for now. But if Frank Sanders was in New York all that day, and the girl from Mr. Malcolm’s is sure he’s not the one who picked up the clock, who was it? And why?”
“He had to know me and you, whoever he was. He mentioned us by name.”
The bell over the front door jingled, and Alice swept into the shop carrying the bag that held her cross-stitch project and a larger bag with “Princessa” written in fuchsia across the side. “Oh good. I’m glad nobody’s here yet.”
Annie lifted one eyebrow, pretending to be offended. “Well, I like that.”
“I mean nobody but us.” There was a sparkle of mischief in Alice’s blue eyes. “I had the greatest idea for you, Mary Beth.”
“It doesn’t involve selling jewelry or home decor, does it?”
“Only part of the time.”
“Alice MacFarlane, I told you that kind of thing isn’t for me. Now, please, just take all that back to your car.”
“Just take a look. I promise you, this line will sell itself here. Look.”
She opened one slender white box. Nestled on a strip of cotton padding was a silver charm bracelet.
“Oh, cute.” Annie lifted the bracelet out of its box. “Look at that tiny little pair of scissors.”
“And they open and close.” Alice demonstrated. “But I think I like the spool the best.”
Mary Beth took the bracelet, examining it, touching one finger to the little silver skein of embroidery floss and then to the tiny button next to it. “It is awfully cute. Some of the ones I’ve seen are just too big and junky looking. This one is beautifully made and really quite delicate.”
“Does that mean you’ll carry them in the shop?” Alice lifted her eyebrows hopefully. “They’re really popular right now.”
“This is a needlework shop, not a jewelry store.”
Mary Beth’s tone was firm, but Alice was the consummate saleswoman.
“But you know women who do needlework will just eat this up. Come on. You want one yourself, don’t you? I can tell you do. I know it’s not much, but I thought it might in some tiny way help you keep the shop going until everything is settled one way or the other.”