Shades of Earl Grey (29 page)

“Get up,” Aerin snarled at Theodosia. Her eyes blazed with a slightly deranged look.

Theodosia rose to her feet. And as she did, a glint of light caught her eye. Aerin Linley had grabbed the letter opener from Drayton's desk and now clutched it menacingly in her hand. Honed from silver, the metal instrument looked extremely sharp.

Can it inflict a serious wound?
Theodosia wondered.
Of course it can. No doubt about it.

“Did you think I was so stupid?” Aerin hissed. “I could smell your pathetic trap a mile away.”

Even as Aerin jabbed the letter opener toward Theodosia's throat, she pawed frantically with her other hand, trying to gather up the stamps that lay scattered atop Drayton's desk.

“You goody goody,” Aerin sneered at Theodosia. “With your proper little friends and your proper little tea shop.” She stuffed the Z grill stamp into the pocket of her black fleece vest, then her hand went back and swooped up the pile of first-day covers. “You really thought you were
investigating,
didn't you? Hah,” she barked sharply. “Little Miss Detective. Looks like the joke's on
you.
”

Theodosia stared at her evenly, praying that Earl Grey would continue to obey her command and remain in the closet. In the distance she could hear the shrill of a police siren. Her call
had
gone through. Drayton had known it was her and immediately phoned the police. Thank goodness.

Aerin saw Theodosia register the sound of the siren and sneered at her. “You think that police car will get here in time? I think not. No one's come close to me yet, no one ever will. I'll be out of here and out of this town so fast it'll make your head swim. And you'll look like a fool.” She gave Theodosia the flat, slow-eyed blink of a reptile. A snake about to swallow its prey.

“You were on the roof of the Lady Goodwood Inn . . .” stuttered Theodosia.

“Piece of cake,” Aerin sneered at her. “I grew up scaling rocks in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Only gear I needed for that job was an aluminum descender.”

Theodosia suddenly recalled the metal ring she'd seen hanging from the strut of the Garden Room's roof. Aerin must have employed the same gear that sport rappellers and police and fire rescue units used.

“Pity the roof gave way,” said Aerin in a cold, offhand manner. “And trapped that poor fellow underneath.” She shrugged. “You never can tell about those old structures.”

“I have to know,” said Theodosia.
That's it, keep her talking.
“Did you snatch Delaine's watch and plant it in Claire's desk?”

“Oh please,” snapped Aerin, “that was child's play. Delaine's house is a cat burglar's dream and the Heritage Society kindly invited me in on a jewelry appraisal. Convenient, no?” Smug and cold, Aerin's grin was hideous.

She turned suddenly and ripped five rows of plastic-encased stamps from Drayton's album. Still keeping an eye on Theodosia, Aerin backed slowly across the room until her hips connected with the window ledge. Then she sat down and swung one leg over the ledge with ease.

“I'd really love to stay and gab,” she said. “But I've got far better things to do. My car's just down the block and the trunk's filled with loot . . . including that antique ring you've been so hot and bothered about.”

Theodosia waited until Aerin had completely swung around and was about to drop to the ground.

“Earl Grey, attack!” she yelled at the top of her lungs.

Earl Grey came hurtling out of the closet like a silver streak. He rocketed across the room, his front paws barely skimming the windowsill as he sailed through the window frame. As Aerin Linley dropped to her feet, Earl Grey smashed into the back of her like a freight train. Eighty pounds of well-muscled canine heeding the command of his beloved mistress.

Aerin Linley screamed sharply even as she went down like a rock. The letter opener flew from her hand and made a dull
clink
on one of the patio stones.

As Theodosia ran toward the window, her hand instinctively reached out and grabbed the bottle of superglue from Drayton's desk. Then she had one foot on the window ledge and was clambering out herself.

On the ground below, Aerin was struggling mightily with Earl Grey, batting at him furiously, her hands balled into fists.

“Get off, you horrible mutt!” she screamed. “Get off!”

Theodosia dropped to the ground, stumbled forward, felt the sting of gravel cut into her palms and knees. She rolled, scooped up the letter opener that lay gleaming on the patio stones, found the bottle of superglue that she'd dropped, and scrambled over to the struggling mass of dog and woman. Now she pointed her finger at Aerin's neck.

“Hold tight!” she commanded the dog.

Earl Grey promptly clamped his wide jaws around Aerin Linley's neck. He didn't sink his teeth into her flesh, but he held her very, very firmly, just as Theodosia had commanded.

“Get this mangy creature off me!” Aerin Linley was screaming and carrying on like a banshee. Her face was beet red, her words a garbled cry. Her heels beat furiously against the pavement as her body squirmed and thrashed, struggling to throw the dog off.

Popping the top off the tube of superglue, Theodosia aimed the tip at Aerin's hair. She squeezed, watched as a huge dollop of clear glue came squirting out.

Aerin's eyes rolled wildly. “What are you doing, you idiot!” she cried as she continued to battle. “You'll be sorry you . . .” Aerin Linley's head suddenly stopped straining from side to side.

“My hair!” she screamed. “What's wrong with my hair!”

“Ease off,” Theodosia commanded Earl Grey.

Panting heavily, pink tongue lolling out the side of his mouth, Earl Grey gazed at Theodosia, hungry for approval.

She reached down, patted him on the head. “Good dog.
Verrry
good dog.”

“What'd you do?” wailed Aerin Linley. “I can't move my head! Help me, oh please, you've got to help me!”

The
whoop whoop
of the police siren was much closer now. It sounded a block away. Now it was directly in front of Drayton's house.

“Help!” Theodosia yelled. She ran to the side fence, boosted herself up as best she could, and waved frantically, trying to capture their attention. “We're in back!” she hollered. “Come quickly!”

“
ANY INJURIES?” DETECTIVE
Burt Tidwell cocked an eye at the paramedic in his navy jumpsuit.

The paramedic, whose name tag read BENTLEY, shook his head, but the corners of his mouth kept twitching upward. It was obvious he was trying to remain professional. In other words, not burst out laughing completely.

“Slight puncture wounds,” responded Bentley. “Nothing that requires any
serious
medical treatment, even though your perp is complaining bitterly about what she refers to as
dog bites.
”

“The woman does seem quite unhinged,” offered Drayton. He had arrived home just minutes after the police cruiser arrived.

The police, at Theodosia's urging, had contacted Detective Tidwell. And Drayton, of course, had immediately phoned Haley, who'd been trying to call Theodosia at home and was frantic to know what was going on. Not one to miss out on excitement, she immediately came dashing over.

Now they were all gathered in a conversational knot on the front walk of Drayton's house, a few steps from where Burt Tidwell's burgundy-colored Crown Victoria was parked at the curb.

“You say she's unhinged,” said Tidwell to Drayton. “What a quaint assessment. So very Dr. Watson.”

“Hey,” piped up Haley as she stroked Earl Grey's head. “Drayton
is
Dr. Watson. To Theodosia's Sherlock, that is. Haven't you figured that out by now?”

Tidwell smiled tolerantly.

“Your suspect's
hair
condition is what's really causing the problem,” continued the paramedic, Bentley. His eyes sought out Theodosia's. “I don't know what you squirted on her, lady, but it sure as heck is permanent. My partner and the other two officers are
still
trying to cut her off the pavement.”

Drayton's eyes widened. “
Cut
her?”

“Well, her hair, anyway,” explained Bentley as he packed a roll of gauze and bottle of antiseptic back into his bag. “Looks like she's gonna get a whole new look. Kind of patchy and choppy. That glue or whatever it was is pretty mean stuff.”

This time Drayton threw back his head and howled. “Don't tell me you superglued Aerin Linley's hair to my patio!” he exclaimed.

“How else could I subdue her?” said Theodosia. “She was thrashing around like a crazy woman. I certainly didn't want to see Earl Grey get hurt.”

“God forbid,” said Tidwell as he rolled his eyes skyward. “And pray tell, while we're on the subject, why exactly
did
you stage this elaborate little charade without benefit of any backup?”

Theodosia threw him a look that was pure innocence. “But I
did
have backup, Detective Tidwell. I had you. I always have you.”

“What she means is it's comforting to know we can always count on our law enforcement professionals,” said Drayton, jumping into the fray and trying to derail Tidwell's anger. “Thank you so very much, Detective Tidwell.”

Tidwell shook his head in bewilderment and gazed down at Earl Grey, who was sitting on his haunches and yawning contently, looking as though he'd just been through a typical, uneventful doggy evening. “I'm afraid the mayor doesn't award certificates of appreciation to canines,” said Tidwell. “At least he hasn't up until now. We'll have to find some other way to honor the crime-fighting Earl Grey.”

“How about a free cup of Earl Grey tea to all our customers this week,” piped up Haley. “And we can put up his photo. With a big
thank-you
banner.”

“The dog that helped catch a cat burglar,” said Tidwell, and even he couldn't resist a snicker.

“I've got a better idea,” said Theodosia. “Let's all go in and have a cup of Earl Grey right now, instead of standing around shivering in the dark.”

“When you put it that way,” said Tidwell, “it sounds very inviting. The night
is
rather chilly.”

“Tea
does
sound nice,” said the paramedic, Bentley.

“You have Earl Grey in the house, don't you?” Theodosia asked Drayton. “The tea, I mean, not the dog.”

“Of course,” said Drayton as he started for the door. “And some nice molasses spice cookies, too.” He glanced over at Bentley. “Does your partner drink tea?”

“I guess so,” said Bentley. “And we
were
due to go on break,” he said, suddenly showing genuine enthusiasm.

“By all means invite him in then,” said Drayton. “The other officers, too.”

“Hey, aren't they still working on Aerin?” asked Haley.

“She's not going anywhere for a while,” said Theodosia with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

“That's right,” chuckled Tidwell. “Let her wait. Let her wait.”

 

Heat oil over medium-high heat using nonstick 12-inch fry pan. Add chicken and cook about 8 minutes or until golden, turning over once. Transfer chicken to plate. Reduce heat to medium and add bacon or salt pork, cooking for 4 minutes until browned. Remove bacon or salt pork with slotted spoon to small bowl. Discard all but 2 tsp. bacon fat from skillet.

Add onion and green pepper to same skillet and cook, covered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add rice and stir until evenly coated. Stir in bacon, broth, salt, pepper and ½ cup water. Return chicken to skillet; heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, 10 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. Yields 4 servings.

 

Steep tea in boiling water to desired strength, then strain. Add lemon juice to the tea. Cool tea to room temperature. Marinate shrimp or prawns in tea for at least 30 minutes, then grill or stir-fry as usual.