A Little Learning (3 page)

Jerry liked opera, and his choice usually mirrored his mood. “
The Tales of
Hoffmann
.”

“I don’t know that one.”

“Oh, he’s dragged me to it many times. The opera’s an odd mix of three fantasy stories. One story’s about a mechanical doll, one’s about a woman who sings herself to death, and one story takes place in Venice, where Hoffmann’s soul is stolen by a beautiful courtesan. The character of Hoffmann was a restless man searching for the ideal woman, embodied by those three very different characters. He ends up drunk and alone.”

Shana shook her head. “Okay, I have no idea what that could mean.”

“Me, either,” I said.

***

I couldn’t wait to have that long talk with my husband, so after leaving Shana, I stopped by Georgia’s Books. Jerry was helping Austin and Denisha sort through packs of Bufo cards. As usual, the kids were arguing about proper procedure.

“You need to pick a pack from the bottom, Denisha. That’s where all the best cards come from.”

“Austin Terrell, don’t you think I know that? Besides, if other kids have already been through the packs, the ones that used to be on the bottom are now on the top.”

“How are we ever going to complete our set if you don’t hurry up?”

They finally reached a settlement and dumped their change on the counter.

“Do you have enough?” I asked.

“Yes, thanks,” Austin answered.

Denisha dug in the pocket of her shorts for another quarter. “I have more money right here. Go ahead, Austin.”

Jerry handed him the cards. I don’t know who was more excited, the kids or Jerry as Austin tore off the green foil and quickly flipped through the cards. He held one up in triumph. “The Lily Pad!”

Denisha grabbed his hand. “Let me see! It’s the white one! Now we’ve got all three.”

I looked to Jerry for enlightenment. “The Lily Pads come in white, yellow, and pink,” he said. “Open another pack, Austin.”

The other packs yielded the Horned Toad of Death, the Evil Frog Prince, and a pile of other lesser cards.

“I’m getting a new shipment soon,” Jerry said. “We’ll try again.”

After Austin and Denisha left, I gave Jerry a look.

“That’s very good,” he said. “I see you’ve perfected the Long Stare.”

“You’re lucky I’ve had time to think about this.”

“Then you know it’s a great idea.” Before I could answer, he said, “I know, I know, my methods were less than legal, but there was a deadline for the application, and I didn’t think I could talk you into it before that time was up. Now you can decide if you want to go through with it.”

“If I can get two more paintings done by Monday.”

“Of course you can. I’ve had a peek in your studio. There’s a picture of the house and one of the kids and even one of me that’s already a masterpiece.”

I laughed and gave him a kiss. “I’ll give it a shot.”

“Great! I knew you would. Did Shana have a case for you?”

“She wanted me to meet her friend, Rachel Sigmon. Get this: her daughters are named Bronwen and Magwen.”

He made a face. “That’s attractive. Our daughter will be named something much more pleasant, like Hortensia.”

“Exactly.”

“So her friends can call her Horry.”

“A cute nickname is always a plus.”

“Did Rachel want you to find something for her, aside from a new baby name book?”

“She wants me to talk to her classes about art.”

Jerry brightened. “That’s encouraging.”

“What?”

“That you now have a reputation as an artist as well as an ace detective.”

“I suppose,” I said. “I’m a little nervous about talking to a group of fourth graders.”

“They’ll love you. All the little girls will want to look like you, and all the little boys will be dazzled.”

“You are the only boy I like to dazzle. When we get home tonight, there’s a riddle you can help me solve.”

“Okay,” he said, “but I have a séance at nine.”

The gleam in his eye made my heart sink. “Are you still leading Flossie Mae and her niece on about that watch?”

He tried to look offended. “We’re very close to finding it.”

“You are not. You’re making things up as you go along and you know it.”

“But Flossie Mae and Sylvie are having such a good time.”

Flossie Mae Snyder and her niece Sylvie had been coming to the house for weeks so Jerry could get in touch with Aunt Marge and Aunt Marie. In life, the two aunts had fought bitterly over a gold watch engraved with an “S.” In death, according to Jerry, Marge and Marie had reconciled and any day now would reveal the whereabouts of the watch. I had to admit that Flossie Mae and Sylvie thoroughly enjoy their trips to the Other World, but Jerry’s act was getting on my nerves.

“How long are you going to keep this up?” Why did I ask this question? As long as Flossie Mae pays him, he’ll keep pretending to talk to Marge and Marie. “You’re going to have to disappoint them.”

“Or Marge and Marie could come through with the watch.”

He can say things like this with a totally straight face. I started to say things he didn’t want to hear when Fiona Kittering came into the store. Fiona’s a small dark-haired woman who works at Holiday Travel across the street from the bookstore. With her sharp little nose and determined manner, she reminds me of a rat terrier who’s out to convince the world she’s the biggest dog in the neighborhood.

“Madeline, did Nathan Fenton come see you this morning?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Good. I told him to.”

“Thanks.”

“We’ve been going out for a couple of weeks now, and he mentioned this inheritance and how he needed some help with the riddle. I told him you were pretty good at solving mysteries.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Did he mention Chateau Marmot?”

“No.”

“I didn’t think he would. You need to go to Chateau Marmot.”

“Isn’t a marmot something like a groundhog?” Jerry asked.

I thought I knew all the landmarks around Celosia. “He mentioned a family home. Where’s this chateau? I’ve never heard of it.”

Fiona pointed out the bookstore window to the left. “Down that way on Satterfield Drive. It’s not far from here. Nathan’s cousin Aaron used to live there, but he and Victoria are separated. She never speaks to anyone.”

“Then what makes you think she’ll speak to me?”

“Well, it’s a worth a try. You’re new in town, so you don’t have any preconceived notions about some of the older families.”

“What can you tell me about the Fenton family?”

She leaned against the counter and folded her arms. “Well, there were three Fentons. Elijah was the oldest, then Ellis, and then their sister, Eulalie. Ellis was Nathan’s father. Eulalie married Thomas Satterfield. They had a son named Aaron, who married Victoria Dewey—only she was known as Tori then.”

“Nathan and Aaron are cousins.”

“That’s right. I don’t know a whole lot about Tori, though. She and Aaron got married and moved into the chateau. He moved out, and I don’t think I’ve seen her since then.”

“Nathan hasn’t been back to the family home?”

“I honestly don’t know all the details. She refuses to talk to him, and she certainly wouldn’t talk to me. That’s why he hired you.”

I wondered why Nathan hadn’t told me these important details about his family and the chateau. “Okay, what about the rest of the riddle? What’s this about a river and a sparrow?”

“The only river around here is Parson’s Creek. As for the sparrow, your guess is as good as mine.”

“I understand Uncle Elijah was fond of word games.”

“He was an evil old coot. Ask anyone. Nathan says he was always rude to Tori. I guess he didn’t like the idea of his nephew Aaron marrying a Dewey. The Deweys weren’t on the same social level.”

“But he left her the house and some money.”

“Because he loved the chateau and knew she would stay there.”

“And Aaron’s in Parkland.”

“Oh, he left Celosia years ago. I don’t think he was very kind to Tori. She was probably glad to see him go. Aaron might be able to shed some light on this riddle. Then again, he might not want to help. He and Nathan are quite different.” She straightened from the counter and gave her clothes a brief tug to make sure everything was in line. “I tell you, Madeline, Nathan is a fine man. Good manners, educated, and this dream of his to open Camp Lakenwood for underprivileged kids—what a wonderful thing. That’s why it’s so important we find his fortune.”

I noticed she said “we.” “Then I hope Mrs. Satterfield will agree to talk to me.”

“I think she will. I understand you’re an artist, and Tori’s somewhat of an artist herself.”

Jerry grinned at me. “Notice this is another connection to art.”

“The chateau’s full of old pictures,” Fiona said. “One of them’s bound to be the portrait in the riddle.”

Nathan hadn’t mentioned this, either.

“Is this the riddle you wanted me to see?” Jerry asked.

I took the paper out of my pocket. “There’s not a lot to it.”

Jerry read the riddle and frowned. “It doesn’t make much sense.”

“That’s why you need to go to the chateau,” Fiona said. “I’ll bet all the answers are in there.”

“How do I get in touch with Mrs. Satterfield? Is Chateau Marmot listed in the phone book?”

“1-800-Rodent,” Jerry said.

“I have it with me,” Fiona said. She reached in her pocket and handed me a piece of paper. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

“And thank you for helping Nathan. He didn’t want to come to you. I think he’s embarrassed by the whole thing—oh, not that you’re a woman detective. Having Elijah Fenton for an uncle is embarrassment enough. He must have been a real butthead.”

“I’m glad to be on the case,” I said. I was glad to be on any case.

Fiona thanked me and left. Jerry took the riddle. “Leave this with me. I’ll see what I can figure out.”

“I’m going to call Mrs. Satterfield,” I said.

I went to the small room at the back of the store the employees used for a break room and took out my cell phone. I was expecting a harsh rebuff, but Victoria Satterfield had a light little feathery voice that trembled with excitement.

“I would very much like to meet you, Ms. Maclin. Could you come tomorrow morning?”

“That would be fine.”

“It’s the large stone house on Satterfield Drive. Well, actually, it’s the only house on Satterfield Drive. Just ring the front doorbell.”

“I’ll see you then.” That was puzzling, I thought. She sounded very pleasant. As I closed my phone, Georgia came in, her arms full of magazines.

“Oh, hello, Madeline.” She plopped the magazines on the small table.

“I just stepped back here to make a phone call,” I said.

“Anytime, dear.” She took off her half glasses and let them dangle on their pearl chain. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”

Another case? I was pleased and appalled at the same time. When would I find time to paint? “Nothing serious, I hope.”

“Well, it depends on how you look at it. Business is a little slow right now, and as much as I love having Jerry around, there’s just not enough for him to do. I’m going to have to cut back on his hours.”

Uh-oh. “Business picks up around October, though, doesn’t it?”

“Usually. How do you think he’ll feel about this?”

I knew exactly how Jerry would feel. Free! Free, at last! “He’ll be okay.” Oh, my gosh, I’d have to find something for him to do.

“I’m sure I’ll have more work for him during the holiday season, but I have to keep my other workers on the payroll. They’ve been with me for years.” She peered at me anxiously. “This isn’t going to be a financial burden on you, is it?”

“No, we’ll manage,” I said. “I have a case right now.”

“Good. I was worried. I wanted to sort of find out how things were before I told him.”

“He’ll be fine, Georgia.”

“I think I’ll go ahead and let him know today.”

My mind whirled with this information as I walked back to the counter. Jerry was laughing and joking with two women who’d been in the community theater’s recent production of
The Music Man.

“Are you going to play for
South Pacific
next summer?” one asked.

“I don’t know,” he said. “It’s hard to plan that far in advance.”

“Would you be interested in playing for our Christmas cantata?” the other woman asked. “We’re desperate to find somebody. The music isn’t hard. I’ll bet you could sight read it.”

“I’ve never played for a church program,” he said.

“Oh, it’s easy. It’s basically lots of Christmas carols with a few extra tunes thrown in. Why don’t I bring a copy by and let you look at it? Then you can decide.”

“Okay,” he said.

“This might work into a good job for you,” she said. “Do you play the organ, too?”

“Never tried that.”

“Think about it.”

Jerry needed plenty to do, but I knew he didn’t want to be tied down every Sunday. He told the women he’d look over the cantata, but he couldn’t make any promises. After the women left, there were a few more customers, and then Georgia came up.

“Jerry, dear, I hate to tell you this, but I’m going to have to cut back on your hours. You’re a very good worker, but business is slow, and the other employees have been with me for years. I’m just going to need you a few hours every day, if that’s all right.”

I saw the gleam in Jerry’s eyes. “That’s fine with me.”

“You’re sure?”

“Georgia, there are all kinds of things I can do.”

She looked relieved. “I’m glad to hear that. I’ll have a new schedule for you tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Jerry said. “See you tomorrow, then. Ready to go, Mac?”

“All set.” I kept my smile in place for Georgia’s sake, but as we walked down the sidewalk to the car, I said, “I’m a little concerned about this.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll find another job.”

“Seriously?”

“You’re going to enter the art show, aren’t you? We have a deal here.”

“Yes, but what sort of job do you have in mind?”

“Oh, something will come up.”

“You’re not bored here, are you?”

“No, not at all.”

“We could always take a trip somewhere, do something a little more exciting.”