I had no doubt she would do it. I remembered Saturdays at the house. Grandma, Mom, and Aunt Franny cooking in the kitchen, getting everything ready for a family get together. Now all but Aunt Franny, Nic, and I were gone and she was threatening to cut off communication over money? Or was it the power my grandmother had passed on to me that she was really after. Either way, it wasn’t my gift to give back. “Grandma made her choice. I can’t change it.”

  “But you can. All you have to do sweetheart is a small ceremony. Your blood to my hand. It’s simple.” Aunt Franny smiled and softened her voice. She stepped forward reaching out for me.

  I dodged her grip. “You’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. I won’t go against what Grandma had set up. You had your chance to fix your relationship while she was alive. I was out of state. I didn’t even know you two were fighting. I didn’t do this. You did. If that means you’re also going to cut me off? I can’t change that. And, I won’t. It’s your choice. You know where I’ll be if you change your mind.”

  I shut and locked the door in her face.

  She beat on the glass with both hands, furious at me. For a second, it didn’t even look like the aunt I knew standing out there. I felt a presence next to me. I looked over and saw Harry watching me from a wing back chair.

  “Sometimes doing the right thing is also the hardest thing to do.” He smiled at me then disappeared again.

  I took one more look at the aunt who’d promised to never talk to me again and went back to the others. My food was getting cold.

  Nic and Bubba watched me as I walked back to the table. I sat down and picked up my fork. “Apparently, Aunt Franny won’t be at family holidays unless I’m not invited.”

  Nic reached out and covered my hand with his. “Sis, you’ll always be invited. She’ll come around eventually.”

  I blinked back tears. “She let Grandma die without making things right. Or even trying. I have a feeling that I won’t be seeing Aunt Franny again.”

  We finished our meal in silence, then Nic made a call. He came back and started throwing empty containers into a trash sack. “What can I do to help?”

  “With the audit?” I knew he didn’t mean Aunt Franny. That situation was between her and me. She’d made her choices. Family is hard.

  He broke the last roll in half and offered half to me. “Yes, with the audit. We’re expected there first thing in the morning and I’m not going to let Franny’s visit change our plans.”

  I took the roll and nodded. “Let’s get to work then.”

  With Nic on board, it took less time than I’d expected. I got into the restaurant in the hotel, Criollo, for an early dinner. Bubba had refused my offer to feed him so he was standing by the wall, watching. It made me uncomfortable to always have security around me. Another reason I had moved away from home as an adult. I’d talk to Nic the next time I saw him and have him pull Bubba. Or at least reduce it to when I was out of the hotel. This was ridiculous.

  I had just finished a great meal off with a dessert, coffee, and a little time with a book when my phone rang. Even across the room, I could see Bubba’s change in stance. I pulled it out of my tote and answered, “Eddie Cayce.”

  “Ms. Cayce, this is Detective Boone Charles. We met a few days ago?”

  I smiled and I saw Bubba relax across the room. “Yes, Detective Charles, I remember. What can I help you with tonight? Did you find Matty’s killer?”

  “I’m sorry to have to disappoint you on that front. We’re still investigating. But since your shop was the murder scene, I’ve been watching it for any unusual activity. A beat cop chased off an attempted break in just a few minutes ago. I don’t know if you want to come down and check your locks or security, but I’ll be here for about another thirty minutes if you do.”

  I had stood up and waved at my server as soon as he said the words ‘break in’. “I’ll be right there.”

  I signed for the meal, then met Bubba at the door to the lobby.

  He took my arm and moved me through the crowd. “What’s wrong?”

  “Someone tried to break into the shop. The police are there now.” I pointed to the door. “It will be faster to walk than try to get the car out.”

  He activated his earpiece, calling someone. “The princess is on the move. We’ll be at the antique shop at time of transfer.”

  I didn’t stop walking, but I glanced up at him. “You call me the princess?”

  “Sorry, that name was set before I knew you. Your brother’s code name is prince. Your dad set them up years ago.” He smiled down at me. “Although sometimes you do look like a princess.”

  “If I had time, I’d show you who looks like a princess.” I paused at the corner, waiting for a car to move past before crossing without the light. I could already see the flashing lights in front of the shop. “I can’t believe what a mess moving home has been. It’s one thing after another.”

  “You’re just settling in. I hate to say it, but this won’t be the last time someone tries to break into your shop. We’re in a high tourist area. Drunk tourists can make bad decisions. Especially around spring break.” He held his hand up for an oncoming car and hurried me back onto the sidewalk.

  “Thanks for the positive spin on this.” We had one more road to cross and a crowd of people to get through before we were there. I took a deep breath as we approached the building. No windows were broken from what I could see. I hoped I was right. If there had been, I’d need to get someone in to board it up until I could get the glass replaced. Detective Charles waved me over to where he was talking to a homeless man.

  When I got closer, I realized it was the same man I’d seen around the store the last few days.

  Detective Charles nodded to the man. “Tell Ms. Cayce what you just told me.”

  The man glared at the detective but nodded. “He tried to use a key but it didn’t work. Then he started yelling and had a crowbar. I thought he was going to break the window, so I started yelling at him and waving my arms, hoping he’d go away. A crowd of people stopped and one guy started filming. I don’t like my picture taken, so I turned my face. He saw the camera and went running. Then a cop showed up and said I was trying to break in. I wasn’t. Find the camera man.”

  He was getting agitated. “Calm down, I believe you. Did you know the man with the key?”

  Detective Charles frowned at me. Apparently, he didn’t believe the man’s story.

  “He comes a lot. Or he did, when Matty was here. He wasn’t nice like Matty. He told me he’d call the cops and have me arrested. I didn’t let him see me after that. Matty was nice.” Tears fell from the man’s face. “I miss Matty. When you see him, tell him Kirk says hi.”

  No one had told him that Matty was dead. I looked up at Detective Charles and he shook his head. I started to dig in my tote, but Bubba anticipated my need and handed me a ten. I gave it to Kirk. “Thank you for your help tonight, Kirk. I appreciate how you watch the place.”

  “Payday is coming. Matty pays every Friday morning.” His eyes brightened when he took the ten. “Kirk will be back then.”

  As he started to leave, Detective Charles reached out to stop him, but I grabbed his arm. After Kirk was out of sight, I turned back to him. “He didn’t do this. He’s around all the time. If he wanted to break in, he had a lot of opportunity. He was helping Matty.”

  “I think you’re right, but why would someone with a key try to break in?” He took off his cap and wiped his face with a handkerchief.

  “Because I changed the locks today. If someone had a key, it’s from before I bought the place.” I went over and looked at the new lock. A key had been dropped on the ground next to the door but behind a planter. I pointed it out to the detective. “Detective Charles? Any chance you might get a fingerprint from that?”

  He came and picked up the key with a tissue, then put it in a small evidence bag. He held it up to the beat cop who now stood next to Bubba. “I guess we assumed that we had our suspect a little too soon.”

  I nodded to the doorhandle. “You’ll need to fingerprint that too, right? Can you check to make sure it’s locked? I’m wiped and would like to go home.”

  “I’m calling the crime techs down now. Go home and get some sleep. I’ll check it as soon as they dust it for fingerprints. Can you get me a list of all of Matty’s employees? I think we need to look a little closer at some of them.” He glanced over to Bubba. “You have an escort? Or should I send one of my guys?”

  “I have a shadow.” I stepped away from the detective. “Thank you and I’ll send you that list tomorrow to your email. I still have your card.”

  As we walked back to the hotel, Bubba got a call. “We’re on our way back now. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

  “Your replacement is here?” I asked as we weaved through the crowd. Someone was drinking a Hurricane and I could smell the fruit juice as we walked by.

  “He is.” Bubba moved us around a crowd of drunk college kids talking about where to go next. “I’ll be here in the morning to go with you to Matty’s house. I’m not scheduled on until noon, but I adjusted my hours so you didn’t have to have someone new there.”

  “That was nice of you.” I figured Bubba actually wanted to be part of what he saw as a scavenger hunt for the missing antiques. “I’m having a drink when we get back. Do you want to join me?”

  He shook his head. “I won’t be on duty then. My replacement…”

  I paused at the door to the hotel. “I wasn’t asking you as my bodyguard. I owe you for all the work you did on the missing items. Come and have one drink with me. Then I’ll let you get home to your wife or girlfriend. I just hate sitting alone at a bar. Men think you’re lonely.”

  He laughed at that and nodded. “I can have one drink before I head home. Fluffy won’t mind.”

  “Your wife’s name is fluffy?” I pushed the door open and headed to the bar. I could see that there were still seats on the rotating carousel with the circus animal stools. If we hurried, I could snag a lion.

  “Fluffy is my cat. I don’t have a wife,” he paused as they settled onto seats at the circular bar, “or a girlfriend.”

  8

  Friday morning, Nic waited outside the hotel in his limo. Apparently, he wanted to make a statement when we hit Matty’s neighborhood. I slid inside and Bubba followed me.

  “Coffee?” Nic offered as he held out a carafe. Annamae sent me with some banana bread and a question on when you’re coming over to the house again. She misses you.”

  “I know. I need to come out more often. Maybe after we get the shop up and running. Did you hear about the attempted break in?” I sank into the seat and reached the carafe.

  Nic nodded. “Trenton monitors the police channel. You should have called me last night.”

  “I was fine. Bubba came with me to the shop.” I refilled my coffee cup and screwed the lid on tight. I didn’t need coffee spilling all over me or Nic’s leather seats because we hit a bump.

  “Oh, I thought this happened later in the evening. Did your replacement not arrive?” Now Nic’s gaze was focused on Bubba who had just turned a bright shade of red.

  “No, sir. I mean, yes, Terry came on time, but this was when the princess, I mean, Ms. Cayce was eating dinner.” He blushed and kept talking. “Then after we returned to the hotel, I stayed and had a drink with Ms. Cayce.”

  Now, Nic wasn’t looking at Bubba, he was watching me. “Interesting.”

  “I was technically off the clock.” Bubba continued.

  I reached out and touched Bubba’s arm. “You didn’t do anything wrong. He’s just messing with you.”

  Relief filled Bubba’s face as he looked back and forth from Nic to me. Something in our faces must have told him he wasn’t losing his job, at least not today. I sipped my coffee, thinking about last night’s events. “I’m beginning to think that one of Matty’s employees had something to do with his death. This place was a goose with golden eggs to some of the employees. They were making double what they should have been paid, and if you take into consideration the commission, it’s triple. Whoever tried to get in last night had to have been after more of the antiques. We need to find most of these things in Matty’s house so we can stop looking over our shoulders.”

  “What did Detective Charles say?” Nic handed me a slice of banana bread, then two slices to Bubba.

  “Not much. At first, he thought it was Kirk, the homeless guy who has been hanging around the shop. Then I found a key that the guy had tried to use, that matched Kirk’s story, so he asked for a list of Matty’s employees. I’m sending it to him today after we finish up with Matty’s house.”

  “Charles said he was thinking about charging the homeless guy?” Nic leaned back in his seat, watching my reaction.

  “Kirk, his name is Kirk, didn’t do it. He loved Matty and he doesn’t know he’s dead. I’m going to have to tell him somehow, but I’d hate to send him into a tailspin. He’s coming by today for his paycheck. I’ll talk to him then.”

  Nic choked on the swig of coffee he’d just taken. “His paycheck? This homeless…I mean, Kirk is on your payroll? This is the reason I moved my businesses out of the French Quarter. Too many panhandlers.”

  “He’s a nice guy in a bad spot. We all have issues.”

  Nic watched me for a bit, not responding. Then he shook his head. “You’ve always had a soft spot for the losers in the world. Just make sure that someone’s with you when you talk to this guy. Okay?”

  “I’m beginning to feel like I’m five and heading off to kindergarten.” Nic’s eyes flared so I backed down. I wasn’t going to win this fight. “I’ll be smart and have one of my bodyguards with me.”

  Trenton turned the limo onto a side street and the houses got even bigger, a feat I didn’t think possible in the Garden District. “It’s up here on the left, sir, but there’s a car in the driveway.

  I watched out the window as we pulled into the circular driveway and behind a small convertible. The top was down and showed the cream leather interior and the bright yellow paint job. I suspected it was a BMW, but it could have been something else. I wasn’t that good with identifying car makes. Especially since I hadn’t owned a vehicle in Seattle at all. I’d lived close to my office and if I went somewhere, I’d ordered an Uber or walked.

  A woman got out of the car and put her hands on her hips. “It’s about time you showed up. I’ve been waiting for over an hour.”

  We climbed out of the limo, including Trenton who’d turned the car off and was holding his cellphone, just in case.

  “And who are you, exactly?” Nic asked as we lined up in front of her.

  “I’m Mrs. Mathew Goldstein, and I’m the owner of this house.” She brushed the fur from her coat away from her face. She’d been running the air to enable her to keep the coat on without suffocating in the already muggy day, but now that she was standing outside the car, she was melting fast.

  “I didn’t think Matty’s will had been probated yet.” Nic walked to the front door. “We have permission from the court to be here, so if you’d excuse yourself, I’d appreciate it.”

  “I drove all the way here at the crack of dawn today. You’re not going to keep me out of the house while you three steal me blind.” She stepped on the sidewalk in front of Nic.

  “You’re not going to keep me from doing what I need to do. We’re not letting you inside the house.” Nic tried to step around her, but she blocked him. He looked back at Trenton. “Do you mind?”

  “Not at all sir.” Trenton picked the woman up by her arms and moved her off the sidewalk, giving us room to get around her. She sputtered but didn’t fight him. “I’ll keep the trash off the sidewalk while you go inside.”

  “You can’t call me trash. I’ll get my money from Matty, even if I have to dig his body up to get him to sign a new will.” She yelled at us as we headed into the porch held up by three Grecian columns. The house seemed to chuckle at the scene.

  Nic took a key out of his pocket and unlocked the door. When we were in the cool foyer, Nic turned to me. “Well, our Annamae wasn’t too far off. The woman thinks she’s getting all of Matty’s stuff. Speaking of delusional people, have you heard from Aunt Franny again?”

  I shook my head. I didn’t want to talk about my aunt and her lack of family ties. “Money, it changes everything. I never thought she’d say the things she did.”

  Nic leaned closer, checking to see if Bubba was out of earshot. “It’s not just the money for our aunt.”

  “I know, but this isn’t quite the bonus power most people dream of when they want to be superheroes.” I studied the vase on the table. Taking my list and clipboard out of my tote, I handed a sticky pad and pen to Bubba along with a clipboard and list for him and did the same for Nic. “There’s one of my items. Put a star on the stickie and see if you can find the number on the list. I think it’s Ming dynasty. Maybe about halfway down the list. There’s a picture of the item next to it. Then take a picture. I hired movers to be here at ten, just in case we found the items.”

  “Always thinking ahead., I can give the judge the list and the pictures of what we took out of the house.” Nic nodded to the baby grand in the next room. “Is that on the list? I was looking for one on the second floor a few days ago.”

  “Good eye.” I scanned the list. “Number forty-two. Put the number on the stickie and mark it off your list. Everyone take a room. Hopefully we’ll be close to done before the movers get here.”

  We spent the next few hours, reclaiming items that Matty had ‘stored’ at his house. If the ex-Mrs. Goldstein was still watching, she’d be furious at the amount of things we took out of the house. But even then, there were still several missing items still on my list that were worth a lot of money. As we waited for the movers to finish loading their truck, I sat in the foyer, marking up my list with the finds that Nic and Bubba had found. “I wonder if Matty had a second house?”

  “Not according to the judge. He sold it a few years ago. Maybe some of these items were in there and he just didn’t remove them from inventory?” Nic took a drink of water. “Give me a second list showing the still missing items, I’ll take it to the judge and put a hold on anything that looks like what we’re missing.” He jerked his head toward the door. “Or maybe he’ll give us a warrant to check her place too. She seems the type to help herself.”