I had finished my glass before any great ideas popped into my head. I heard my bed calling my name. Sleep was just a few steps away. I hoped I wouldn’t dream—too much.
Richardson’s Antiques greeted me in the form of Roxanne, crying loudly by the counter. Despite my success with the bow, I was not feeling good about my chances of avoiding jail. No doubt I was still the number one suspect, and sooner or later, Jacob’s protection scheme would break down. The police would come for me. It was that simple—and that depressing.
“Roxanne,” I said. “I’m not in a terribly upbeat mood this morning. Think you can take your tears upstairs?”
“I am sorry,” Roxanne said. “But I was so hopeful yesterday. And now, I’m back to where I started. It’s so unbearable.”
“Well, unbear it upstairs, please.”
She nodded and disappeared. I knew she would be up with the inventory, and I chided myself for taking out my frustrations on her. I needed more patience, but I didn’t have any left. I needed to solve the case. I needed to find another bow, or another bow maker, or something that would keep me from wearing an orange jumpsuit. I never looked very good in orange.
“You don’t look well,” Zephyr said.
“That’s a fine hello,” I answered. “How am I supposed to look?”
“Like you actually enjoy your work,” Orchid said.
The two ghosts stood close by, and while I appreciated their concern, they weren’t helping. I needed information, actionable information, as army officers were wont to say.
“I do enjoy my work,” I said. “I don’t enjoy waiting around for the sword of Damacles to chop off my head.”
“Oooh, I like that tale,” Orchid said. “I always wonder when the sword is going to fall.”
“Yes, well, when it does, you may have to look for another place to haunt.”
“Don’t say that,” Zephyr said. “Not even in joking. Orchid and I enjoy it here. Well, we could do without Roxanne, but other than that, it’s quite pleasant.”
“And your customers are very interesting,” Orchid added. “They come looking for all manner of old things, things that we remember enjoying.”
“I know you mean well,” I said. “But the road to hell is paved with the well meaned, if that makes any sense. Now, if you’ll leave me be for a while, I’ll go about my business.”
At that moment, the bell over the door rang. I looked up and found Penelope smiling at me.
“Oh my,” Penelope said.
“Don’t say it,” I said. “I know I don’t look quite up to snuff this morning. So, leave it at that.”
“I’m your friend, Helga, and I’m not going to leave it at that. You’re coming with me.”
“Not a chance. I have a business, and I can’t run it from some place else.”
“You can spare an hour. And you can use a decent breakfast. I bet you haven’t had a thing, except maybe a cup of weak coffee. So, don’t argue with me.”
I looked at her face, and I knew I wasn’t going to talk her out of her idea. So, if I was going to waste an hour with her, it was better in the morning, when the tourists were recovering from their late nights in the quarter.
“One hour, max,” I said. “Where are we going?”
“The Shifty Bear. You probably don’t know it, but they have a terrific breakfast biscuit, and their coffee can wake up the dead. Well, not quite like that. So, let’s go.”
Penelope was right about one thing. The Shifty Bear had a great cup of coffee. The biscuit was good too, although I wouldn’t rank it over some I had tasted in the Creole restaurants. We ate at the bar, as Gigi was the only person on duty, the pub being an unknown jewel. Most of the stools were empty, although some filled up as we ate and drank.
“Have you found the necklace?” Penelope asked.
“Why do you ask? Because you didn’t see Roxanne?”
“That was a clue.”
“The answer is no. I can’t seem to find it anywhere.”
“You’ll find it. I’m sure of it.”
Gigi moved closer. “You’re looking for a necklace?”
“A particular necklace. Pearls with sapphires,” I said.
“Well, I’m into crafting,” Gigi said. “I know a number of jewelers who design and make all manner of necklaces. You’re looking for an antique?”
“I am,” I said. “My client has particular tastes.”
“Well, if you can’t find it in your collection, there are crafts-people who will fashion any sort of necklace you can imagine.”
“That’s interesting,” I said. “I suppose a new necklace that looked like an antique could work.”
“Trust me,” Gigi said. “You want it to look a hundred, two hundred years old? They can do it.”
“Thank you very much, Gigi. That’s very thoughtful. I hadn’t thought about having a necklace created.”
“Stick with me,” Gigi said. “I’ll steer you to the best artisans in New Orleans.”
Penelope walked me back to the shop.
“Feeling better?” Penelope asked.
“I am. I may have found a source for Roxanne’s necklace. That’s great, because I’m pretty sure that once Roxanne gets her necklace, she’ll stop weeping. And she may well leave. Wouldn’t that be nice.”
At the door, we hugged, and Penelope hurried away, already late for her first appointment. I entered the store, hoping to tell the ghosts that, if worse came to worst, we could make a copy of the original necklace. I thought the ghosts would be happy to find any way to meet Roxanne’s needs. I knew, for a fact, that Orchid and Zephyr were close to the end of their patience. Had I not been facing jail, I would have probably tried to oust Roxanne myself.
“Where is she?” I asked as Orchid and Zephyr arrived.
“Upstairs,” Orchid said. “Where you sent her.”
“Roxanne thinks you don’t like her any more,” Zephyr said.
“She knows better,” I said. “But I wanted to run this idea past you. What do you think of creating a new necklace for her?”
“New?” Orchid said. “I don’t think she wants a new one. She wants the one she had”
“I know,” I said. “And I wouldn’t want to try and fool her. But I found out there are a number of jewelers who can fashion a necklace exactly like the one she’s searching for. They can even make it look old. No, it wouldn’t be hers, but it would be hers, if you know what I mean.”
“We do,” Zephyr said. “And I think it’s a wonderful solution.”
“I applaud you too,” Orchid said. “And if Roxanne doesn’t like it, I’ll toss her out myself.”
I laughed. “No, leave that to me.”
“What other kind of crafts-people are there?” Zephyr asked.
“All kinds,” I said. “From jewelry to ceramics to art to glassware to leaded windows to baskets, practically anything you can think of. Why?”
“Well, to my way of thinking, you might meet a bow maker among all those people.”