“There’s nothing on the floor right now,” I said. “But I think I have something upstairs. I tell you what, let me do some searching tonight. I’ll tag what I have, and you can take your pick.”
“That sounds fair. But keep it on the cheap side. Bartending doesn’t pay all that well.”
“No big tippers?”
“Not many. One less since Thomas Jamison passed away.”
“He tipped well?”
“He spent well, always buying drinks for the ladies. And he tipped proportionately. People who spend money and tip are always welcome.”
“I thought he was more of a nuisance than anything else,” I said.
“He was, as you no doubt remember, since you tossed him out of here.”
“I was hoping people would forget that.”
“They have. In another week, I’ll have forgotten it too. It will be harder to forget Thomas and his antics.”
At that moment, Jacob walked in, and I knew I had to hurry Gigi along.
“I have an idea,” I said. “How about I take some pics of my tables and email them to you. That way you can look at the inventory without making a trip.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I’ll do it tonight.” I led Gigi to the door, where Jacob waited, trying to look interested in an old Waterford vase.
Gigi left, and I turned to Jacob, who smiled. He had a good smile. He always looked as if he missed me.
“What have you got?” he asked.
“For starters,” I said. “I have Jennifer and Eric playing footsie in the flower shop.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Well, not exactly footsie but far too engaged for buyer and seller.”
“That’s interesting.”
“It would be very interesting, if George Ross hadn’t stopped by.”
“George who?”
“Ross, and he bought a ring to give to the woman Thomas Jamison stole away.”
“In other words, Ross is a suspect.”
“Along with every other man robbed of a girlfriend or wife. I hadn’t thought of trying to get a list of those.”
“Neither did I. That could turn a short suspect list into a who’s who.”
“I’m afraid, it means a whole lot of digging, without any guarantee of finding what we need.”
He thought a moment. “What do you think, the bow and arrow?”
“Exactly,” I said. “If it were a shooting, we would have a much tougher time. There are a lot of guns in New Orleans. But since it’s a bow and arrow, we stand a better chance of finding the murder weapon.”
“Then, we have to devise a way to find the bow.”
“And the bow maker, if we can,” I added.
We looked at each other, and I knew both of us were looking for a place to start, that single thread, that if pulled, undid the entire tapestry.
“The flower shop,” I said. “The bow on the wall. I didn’t have a chance to examine it carefully. I think it starts there.”
“Because it’s part of the same wood that made the killer’s bow?”
“I think so. It can’t hurt.”
“You’re right. But I can’t exactly take the bow, as I don’t have a warrant.”
“No, but we can use someone with keen eyesight, as I don’t think they’ll let me pull the bow off the wall.”
“I’ll leave that to you. What’s my job?”
“To keep Eric busy. A few questions about Thomas Jamison and his reputation with the ladies should suffice.”
“Let’s do it.”
I locked up the store, which was the only thing I could do. I doubted that Gwen would want to return, not after her run-in with Roxanne. But I didn’t mind too much. Solving the murder was more important. If I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t have a store to run. We started for the shop, and we hadn’t gone fifty feet before Andromeda showed up at our side.
“I should have known,” Jacob said. “Your old friend.”
And you are a friend, Andromeda.
One must always help a friend in need.
That is the best friend of all.
I explained what I had in mind, and Andromeda understood perfectly. That was the beauty of having a sentient cat. They understood perfectly well what was needed.
Jacob led us into the flower shop, and I was careful to make sure Andromeda had access. Eric was at the counter, and he came around it to meet us.
“Hello, Helga, Jacob,” Eric said. “What can I do for you?”
“Just a few questions about Thomas Jamison,” Jacob said. “If you have a minute.”
“I am busy,” Eric said. “but I can spare some for the police. Fire away.”
“Can we step over to the side?” Jacob asked. “Just so no one can hear.”
“That’s fine with me,” I said. “I’ll smell the jasmine.”
I watched Jacob and Eric move toward the back of the shop. Then, I wandered over to the plants by the front window. That was when Andromeda jumped on the counter.
My mind connection with Andromeda clicked in, and instantly his vision filled my brain. His acuity was much better than mine. With his next jump, onto a file cabinet right under the bow and flowers, I could see the everything perfectly. I pretended an interest in the plants, as Andromeda studied the bow and arrow. For a moment, his eyes found nothing. The bow and arrow were quite ordinary. Then, he moved slightly to one side, and behind a flower was a signature. I had no doubt that the artist had signed the work. The question was whether or not the signature belonged to the bow maker. But even if it didn’t, the artist might well know who had created the bow.
Lance DeChambeau.
It was a fine New Orleans name for an artist.
“Scat.”
I turned in time to see Eric waving at Andromeda who jumped down and ran out the door I conveniently held open.
“How did that cat get in here?” Eric asked.
“I have no idea,” Jacob said. “And I want to thank you for your time. You’ve been very helpful.”
“I hope so, although I have to tell you that I don’t think any of those men had what it takes to kill someone. Not over a woman. But then, you can never tell when love is the motive.”
We waved as we left the flower shop.
“Did you get what you wanted?” Jacob asked.
“Partially. Have you ever heard of Lance DeChambeau?”
Jacob shook his head. “Should I have?”
“Not really. I think he’s the artist who did the bow and arrow display.”
“And you’re thinking he might now the origins of the bow.”
“Are you a detective?” I asked.
He laughed. “The second-best detective in the Quarter.”
I laughed. “You’re the one with the badge.”
“And you’re the one who gets all the leads.”
We bantered as I found the trade fair organizer. I called Evelyn Dubois, who did, indeed, know Lance DeChambeau, a magnificent man with an eye for juxtaposing the beautiful with ordinary tools. I got Lance’s number and immediately called. It was my lucky day, as he remembered the bow and arrow piece. With a bit of flattery and some cajolery, he remembered the bow maker.