The Key in the Attic(52)
The guard turned to Mary Beth. “Is this true?”
She glanced helplessly at Annie. “Well, I—”
“Of course it’s not true.” Annie put her hands on her hips and nodded towards the suitcase. “Isn’t that your clock right there, Mary Beth?”
One corner of the clock was peeping out of what was left of the packing peanuts, exposing an exquisite carving of an oak tree. Sanders could only stand gaping as Mary Beth nodded.
“I’m sure it is. There can’t be two of them like that.”
The security guard eyed Sanders and the debris around him. “I think all of you had better come with me until we can get this all sorted out.”
17
The guard picked up the clock. With it securely in one hand and Sanders’s arm firmly in the other, he led them all through some doors marked “Private” and into a sitting area. Unlike the colorful seating and decor in the airport lounges, this place was strictly utilitarian. The gray walls were bare. The chairs were straight-backed, hard-plastic molded seats bolted to metal frames. They also were gray.
Besides the chairs, the only other furniture in the room was a gray metal desk that looked as if it had been repaired, painted, and passed down a number of times. The security guard sat down behind it and put the clock on top of it.
“Now, I want to know what’s going on here. Do we need to get the police involved?”
“No!”
Mary Beth and Sanders both spoke at the same time, and then Sanders ducked his head.
“Go ahead and take it back,” Sanders said. “I don’t care any more. But you’d better catch your flight, however many of you are going. If you don’t, what you’re looking for will either be found or plowed under. I don’t want the stupid clock.”
The guard looked at Mary Beth. “Then that is yours, ma’am?”
“I’m sure it must be. Is it OK if I take the paper off?”
The guard nodded, and Mary Beth carefully unwrapped the clock.
“Yes, it’s definitely mine.” She gave Annie a worried look as she rubbed one hand over the glossy wood. “You don’t think it’s broken now, do you?”
“Don’t worry,” Annie said. “I’m sure Mr. Malcolm will be happy to check it over once we get it back. And I’m sure he won’t let there be any mix-ups this time.”
Sanders scowled. “Can I go now?”
Annie shook her head. “I want to know what you were after. What exactly did you think you were going to find?”
“Same thing as you.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Don’t you think you’d better get out of here before you miss your plane?”
Annie and Alice exchanged grins.
“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere but back home,” Annie said.
“But the trees. I had it checked out myself. They’re clearing that field starting tomorrow. Everything will be gone.” He stopped, and then he laughed abruptly. “You don’t know where it is any more than I do, do you?”
Annie responded only with an enigmatic smile.
“And those two girls at my shop were part of the scheme too.” He looked as if he wanted to kick himself. “Great. That’s just fabulous. Outwitted by Charlie’s Angels’ grandmas.”
Annie pressed her lips together. “How about you tell us what you know about Geoffrey Whyte, and the clue you found? The police gave me a copy of the notes you had when they questioned you before. What do you think it means?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. That was just some silly poetry I was playing with. It’s very personal.”
“Not as personal as going to jail,” Alice said.
Sanders rolled his eyes. “Why should I tell you anything? Do what you want. Press charges. I’m not going to help you.”
“But maybe we can help you.” Annie glanced at Mary Beth. “If you were nice and told us everything you know and why you wanted the clock so badly, Ms. Brock may not find it necessary to press charges against you.”
Sanders rolled his eyes. “For petty theft? I don’t have any prior convictions or even any arrests. I probably won’t get anything worse than probation.”
“For petty theft, maybe. But for assault? Maybe even attempted murder?”
“Attempted murder? Hold on, now, Mrs. Dawson, you can’t—”
“You pushed us right into the path of that luggage carrier. The security guard saw it all. Seems like a pretty deliberate attempt to kill me and my friend Alice, if you ask me.”
Sanders snorted, “Don’t be silly.”
“You saw it all, didn’t you?” Annie turned to the security guard. “If I hadn’t pulled my friend out of the way, she could have been badly hurt.”