“It’s still the same number we have for her,” said Molly. She read it to me, and I checked it against the number Nora had given me.
I had to smile. The only difference was the last two digits. They were flip-flopped.
Interesting.
Maybe I was the one who mixed them up. Or maybe that was what Nora wanted me to think. Or, at least allow for.
“Anything else you need?” asked Molly.
“No, I’m all set. Thanks.”
I said good-bye, putting down the phone in favor of my notepad. On purpose or not, Nora had managed to elude me once again. Now what?
I’d learned early in my career that sometimes there is a difference between information you have and information you can use. This was one of those times. I had Nora’s correct cell phone number but had to act as though I didn’t.
With my banged-up hand I wrote her a note and left it at the front door of Connor Brown’s house. I was fairly sure she’d get it. The question was when.
Chapter 49
IT WAS THE NEED for closure that had Nora back in Briarcliff Manor a couple of days later. Despite Connor’s sister’s offering her the use of the house for as long as she wished, Nora wanted to move on. Actually, she hoped never to see the bitch from California again.
The offer she was going to take Elizabeth Brown up on was possession of the furniture. All 11,000 square feet of it. As the interior decorator, Nora knew what everything cost—and everything cost a lot. A small fortune, really. One she was all too pleased to pocket in the name of assuaging Lizzie’s guilt, or whatever it was.
All she needed was a little help.
“Estate Treasures, can I help you?”
“Hi, it’s Nora Sinclair calling. Is Harriet there?”
“Sure, Nora, hold on a second.”
Nora switched ears with her cell phone. She was in the backseat of the Town Car that was taking her out to Connor’s house.
Harriet got on the line. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite decorator.”
“I bet you say that to every decorator.”
“As a matter of fact, I do. And wouldn’t you know, they all believe me. So how’s business, Nora?”
“Pretty good. That’s why I’m calling.”
“So when can I expect you here in the shop?”
“Actually, that’s going to be my question to you, Harriet. I need you to make a house call.”
“Oy. Where am I going? New York City, I hope. Nora? Talk to me.”
“Briarcliff Manor. A client of mine recently passed away.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“So was I,” said Nora calmly. “Anyway, I was asked to deal with his furnishings on behalf of the estate.”
“You want to consign them?”
“That’s what I was thinking.”
“A house call, huh? How many rooms are we talking about?”
“Twenty-six.”
“Oy.”
“I know. That’s why I called you. No one could do a better job on this than you.”
“I bet you say that to all your suppliers.”
“And wouldn’t you know, they all believe me,” said Nora.
Nora took a few minutes to discuss some of the furniture and a date for when Harriet could come and look at it. By the time she said good-bye her Town Car was pulling into Connor’s driveway.
As the driver grabbed her suitcase, she got out and headed for the front door. That’s when she saw the note from Craig Reynolds.
Please call me ASAP.
Chapter 50
THE BUZZ FROM my office phone was followed by Molly’s voice. “It’s her,” she announced.
I smiled. There was only one her she could be talking about. Nora was back in town. It was about time.
“Here’s what I want you to do, Molly,” I said. “Tell Ms. Sinclair I’ll be right with her. Then put her on hold and stare at your watch for forty-five seconds. After that, put her through.”
“You got it.”
I leaned back in my chair and gazed at the ceiling. It was composed of those white acoustic tiles that begged to have sharp pencils thrown up into them. I could’ve been taking the time to gather my thoughts, only that’s all I’d been doing the past week. There wasn’t a stray thought of mine within a hundred-mile radius.
Ring.
Thank you, Molly.
I picked up the phone and did my best impression of frenzied. “Nora, are you still there?”
“I’m still here,” she said. I could tell immediately she wasn’t very happy about having to wait.
“Bear with me for one more second, okay?”
I put her on hold again before she could object. Then I stared back up at the ceiling. One one thousand, two one thousand… At fifteen one thousand, I got back on the line and let out a deep breath.
“Gosh, I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Nora,” I said, now doing my best impression of apologetic. “I was finishing up with another client on the other line. I take it you got my note?”
“A few minutes ago, yes. I’m here at the house now.”
Time to test her lying ability. “How was your trip? Maryland, right?”
“Actually, it was Florida,” she said.
No. Actually, it was Boston, I wanted to say, but knew I couldn’t. Instead: “Oh, that’s right. Wouldn’t want to vote there! Was it a good trip?”
“Very much so.”
“You know I tried reaching you on that cell phone number you gave me—except it turned out to be somebody else’s.”
“That’s odd. What number were you dialing?”
“Let me check, I’ve got it right here.”
I read it back to Nora.
“That explains it,” she said. “The last two digits are eight-four, not four-eight. God, I hope it wasn’t me who mixed them up. I’m sorry if I did.”
Oh, she’s smooth.
“That’s okay. It was probably my mistake,” I said. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve suffered from digit dyslexia.”
“In any event, we’re talking now.”
“Yeah, we are. Anyway, the reason I wanted to speak to you was the insurance inquiry.”
“Is there news?”
“You could call it that.” I hesitated before going on. “Please don’t read too much into this, but I think we should discuss it in person.”
“It’s bad, huh?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Except if it was good news, you would’ve told me over the phone. At least admit that.”
“Yes, okay, it’s perhaps not the best news,” I told her. “Really, though, don’t read too much into it. Is there a time later today we could meet?”
“I suppose I could come by your office around four.”
And I suppose you won’t need directions, Nora, given that you’ve already staked the place out.
“Four’s good—great, actually. Only we might want to do it someplace else besides here. There’s a crew here painting. The fumes are pretty bad,” I lied. “Tell you what, do you know where the Blue Ribbon Diner is?”
“Sure, just outside of town. I’ve been there.”
I know.
“Good,” I said. “I’ll meet you inside at four for a cup of coffee. Or given the time, should I say high tea?”
“Not if we’re talking about the same diner.”
I laughed and agreed that we should stick to coffee.
“See you at four, then,” she said.
You can count on it, Nora.