Sherlock and Me (The Case of the Starry Night)

  “Marvin! What the hell are you doing here?” Smoothly, I stuck my canister back in my pocket.

  He shook his head. “Oh, Lucy…I could ask you the same question.”

  “Are you involved in this?”

  “…Up to my sleepy eyeballs. I guess that’s how you see me.” He looked around me. “Cindy, you’d better drop that mace.”

  Cindy’s eyes were as wide as mine. She dropped the canister by her feet.

  “You’d better come a little closer too. I don’t want you sprinting away.”

  I looked at his dull eyes. “What’s happening next here, Marvin?”

  “Well, I’m not going to clean theater two, that’s for sure,” he laughed. But I didn’t see any humor in what he said.

  We stood there for a minute, looking at one another… Guesses whipped through my mind. I glanced at Eric whom I could now, for certain, put in the good guy column. He looked pissed. I was pissed… Marvin looked much too happy and took a step forward, putting his other hand on the top of his gun.

  “…Lucy, I hate to do this, but you’re way too smart for your own good…”

  At that moment, we heard movement from an object barreling across the alley, nails clicking on the cement. A blur of white streaked in front of me planting his teeth into Marvin’s pant legs. Baskerville! He was barking and growling and tugging enough to throw Marvin off balance.

  Cindy quickly picked her mace and shot the second guard with it. He went down for the count, grimacing and shrieking. At the same time, I pulled out my canister and aimed it right in Marvin’s grim face. He changed the direction of his gun and was now pointing at the dog -- We both fired at the same time…

  Marvin lurched back, grabbing and wiping his face and dropping the gun. I picked it up and looked around for Baskerville. When the gun exploded, he’d taken off and I couldn’t find him. But I saw a few small drops of blood on the street – my heart flew to my mouth.

  From across the street, Maggie yelled that the cops were coming, but Cindy and I sprayed the guards and Marvin again anyway. I was so angry that Marvin could be this smart and act so dumb. And I owed him one more spray of mace for shooting my dog! Actually, I was ready to beat the crap out of him, but there were more pressing things to do.

  Eric helped round up the guards and put them alongside the truck. I gave him the gun to keep all three men in place, while I went to look for Baskerville.

  Cindy went over to wait for the cops with Maggie.

  As I ran around to the front of the building, rain began falling again. I looked back at the art museum with all its shadows, and it just didn’t look so scary to me anymore. That’s when I heard it – whimpering coming from the fountain. I ran over to the spidery-shaped sculpture in the center of the fountain and that sat my little dog! He’d jumped up on the lower part of one of the metal tentacles and barked when he saw me. Honest to God! That’s the first time I ever saw a spider in a good light… A spider was guarding my dog – or so it looked at the time. Cindy would call it a breakthrough. Huh…

  I ran over and picked up my wonderful Baskerville whom I cuddled while checking for a wound.

  “Oh, Baskerville. You probably saved my life!”

  He licked my face and I found some spots of blood on his right side. He’d been shot for sure – I carried him back over to Cindy and Maggie just as the police arrived. The guards and Marvin were loaded into the police car and we all trooped down to the police station. Maggie took Baskerville over to the emergency vet hospital.

  In the car on the way over, I looked at Cindy. Her face was pale and she seemed a little shaky. When she glanced at me, I gave her my bravest smile.

  “This was scarier than that blackmail case, Lucy.”

  “Only because you weren’t there when the blackmailer was shot by the cops. I was hiding in a corner, scared to death.”

  “Okay…whatever.”

  “Did you talk much to Maggie? How did Baskerville get loose?”

  “Maggie saw the whole thing… She called the police when she saw the gun to Eric’s back. When she opened the door a few minutes later, thinking she had to do something to help, Baskerville slipped out and ran right for us.”

  “It’s amazing he realized we were in danger.”

  “…He’s better than Lassie, that brave dog on TV.”

  I turned to her, feeling a smile spread across my face. She looked at me too and we burst out laughing. What a goofy thing to say…

  Nodding, I agreed. “He’s a great dog and has earned today’s pastrami treat, that’s for sure.”

  * * *

  An hour later, we were still at the police station, talking to detectives and telling them the whole story. We’d been shown into a single room with two detectives who looked nothing like any television detective I’d ever seen. These two men were as plain looking as the color of the room and desk between us. But their steely eyes were penetrating. A small tape recorder on the desk recorded everything Cindy and I said. I, for one, was thrilled to be handing the whole thing over to the cops. It was a weight lifted off my weary shoulders.

  “And that’s about it, officers.” I wrapped up what I had to say.

  The detective with steely gray eyes stopped the tape recorder and then looked over at me. “Don’t I know you?”

  I swallowed. This question sometimes popped up whenever one of my puzzles came to a close. I shrugged.

  The other detective with steely brown eyes started to nod. “Yeah, I remember you. Lucy James? Hell, yeah… The grocery store robbery…” He didn’t seem pleased.

  I cleared my throat. “…Ah…”

  Gray Eyes began nodding as well. “…And the blackmail case in the mayor’s office.” His lips formed a smirk.

  Brown Eyes laughed. “Always poking your nose in like Nancy Drew, Miss James?”

  I’d about had it with their condescending attitudes. “…More like Sherlock Holmes, officers. May we go?” I stood up, buttoned my coat and grabbed my hat. Cindy stood up too.

  “Nice coat…” Gray Eyes stifled a smile.

  “…And matching hat,” added Brown Eyes.

  That did it.

  I headed for the door…Cindy at my heels. With my hand on the doorknob, I turned to give them my version of a steely look.

  “It was worth troubling about, officers.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “…Because it was inexplicable…”

  * * *

  CHAPTER 27

  Their mouths dropped open, which was the effect I’d desired. I opened the door and swept out, as Cindy closed the door behind her.

  A few minutes later, outside the station, Cindy touched my arm.

  “Pay no attention to those guys, Lucy. You did a great job. This isn’t the first time the police haven’t been appreciative.”

  A lump had positioned itself in my throat, a slight smile on my face.

  “Thanks, Cindy. Let’s go home.”

  I glanced at my phone and read a text from Maggie. Baskerville was all right, bandaged and getting lots of attention from everyone at the vet hospital. I grinned and stuck the phone in my purse.

  “What?” asked Cindy.

  “Baskerville. He’s good and being appreciated way more than I am.”

  In a few minutes, we were in the car. I put the key in the ignition and started the engine. At that moment, a sleek black limousine pulled up in front of us and Warren Sandstrom III got out. He walked quickly into the police station with another man. Neither looked very happy.

  “Who’s that with Sandstrom?”

  “I met him at the party. That’s his attorney.”

  “He’s got a lot of answering to do now. It should keep him busy for some time.” I chuckled. “…Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”

  Before pulling away, Sue O’Dell went into the police station, not two minutes behind Sandstrom. Sue saw me and nodded.

  “Going to talk to her, Lucy?”

  “…Depends on if she goes to jail
or not. She had a big hand in this whole sordid mess.”

  “You’ll have to testify if there’s a court case.”

  “Yeah, so I better wait to talk to her to see which way this wind is blowing.”

  * * *

  When we got home, Maggie was sitting with Baskerville on Mrs. Murphy’s front porch. Mrs. Murphy seemed happy and Hamlet was keeping her distance from a haughty, if slightly wounded, Baskerville.

  We parked the car in front of our apartment and Maggie walked over clutching a bandaged Baskerville. He squirmed out of her arms and ran over to us, little doggy tail wagging up a storm.

  “Where’s that hound we call Baskerville?” Cindy cried as she scooped him up. He licked her face nonstop until I took him and he licked my face.

  I cuddled our toy poodle, the hero of the day, and glanced over at Maggie.

  “How is he?”

  She smiled. “The vet said the bullet grazed his side, breaking skin, but that’s it.”

  I looked at Cindy. “Marvin was a poor shot.”

  “…Thank God,” she said.

  “Thanks, Maggie, for everything.”

  “…You’re welcome, Lucy. I was proud to help. It’s helped me with understanding how Ray died. I’d rather know than not know.”

  I stuck out my hand to shake hers.

  “Good luck, Lucy. Maybe I’ll see you two around,” she said. “…And Baskerville.”

  “…Maybe…” We watched as Maggie got into her car, waved at us and drove away.

  “Lucy!” called out Mrs. Murphy from her porch. “…I’d love to hear your side of the story.”

  I laughed at her and shrugged. “And you will but not right now. I’m pooped and need a rest…”

  “Later then,” and she went into her house, tugging on Hamlet’s leash to follow her. Hamlet, of course, had her eyes posted on Baskerville.

  * * *

  We all slept like the dead that night… Me, Cindy and even Baskerville. I doubt I even moved that night in bed. In the morning, I awoke to rays of sunlight shining through my window, warming my face. It felt good and I felt better.

  I called in sick to work that day. First time in probably two years and stayed home to be with my wonderful dog and to rest. It had been a long couple of weeks – Seemed more like months, instead of days. I wandered around the house, fed Baskerville some pastrami, watched TV and, in general, did nothing. It was heavenly…

  Later that afternoon, I got an unexpected call.

  “Lucy? How are you?”

  “Eric… I could ask you the same question.”

  “How long were you at the police station?”

  “…Too long.”

  “Yes, it wasn’t exactly the kind of case they like doing. I’ve been asked to be the expert on the paintings to prove their authenticity.”

  “…Are you going to do it?”

  “Probably. I’ve called a curator I know to give me a hand.”

  “Good for you…”

  He paused and I listened to his steady breathing.

  “…Say, Lucy?”

  “Yes, Eric.”

  “I’d like to cook you dinner tonight to thank you for all your help.” He paused again. “…No car doors to get in our way this time. What do you say?”

  I was already smiling and nodding, even though he couldn’t see me. “I’d love to come over. What can I bring and where do you live?”

  He gave me directions and I hung up with a huge smile on my face. I know it was there because when I went into the bathroom to take a shower, I glanced in the mirror and it was still planted on my face.

  Hmm… It had been a while since I actually liked a man. Like I’d said earlier, I wasn’t looking for Galahad or Prince Charming, but it sure would be nice to just have dinner and conversation with a man that I liked. A man who liked me too…

  I looked forward to the evening and happily went about the rest of my day babying Baskerville. When Cindy came home, I was dressed and ready to go.

  Handing her the dog, she gave me the once-over.

  “Who called and where are you going?”

  “Over to Eric’s. He’s invited me over for dinner.”

  “…Wow! Really? Cool. I see you snagged my leather jacket to wear over your tee shirts and jeans.”

  “There’s no way I’m dressing up, Cindy. This is me – take it or leave it. I’ve done enough dressing up in the last two weeks.”

  “Yup. I hear that.” She patted Baskerville. “Well, have fun…”

  “Thanks, let’s hope so…”

  * * *

  CHAPTER 28

  Half an hour later, I was sitting in Eric’s living room, waiting for him to return with my glass of wine. I glanced around at the lovely room. One couch and chair were made of brown rattan with yellow pads and cushions. I looked out a French door of dark wood complemented by the winter white walls and hardwood floor. For a professor, it was all so much nicer than I expected, but then this was a pretty good hotel. I was still admiring the room when he came back in, handing me a beautiful crystal glass filled with a dark red liquid.

  “I hope you like Merlot.”

  “…I do. Thanks.” I took a sip. “Delicious.”

  “You were looking around the room, Lucy. What don’t you like?”

  I shook my head. “No, no…I like it very much. It’s just that…”

  “It’s just what?”

  “Not what I expected.”

  “…Which is?”

  “Books, papers, stuff, everywhere… You know, like your office.”

  “Thanks, I guess.” He smiled and took a sip from his glass. “This is good…” He looked at me expectantly. “So…”

  “So?”

  “Let’s hear the story. Start to finish. Tell me what I don’t know because I really don’t know all the details. And you do, don’t you?”

  I squirmed a bit on the couch and glanced around the room. “…Maybe…”

  “Maybe, nothing. If you want dinner tonight, you have to work for it.”

  I smiled at him. He really was cute…”I’ve always thought you looked like Leonardo DiCaprio.”

  “Really? I’m flattered, but I don’t see it.”

  “I do.”

  His blue eyes smiled as he shook his head, shaggy blonde hair shifting.

  “…Let’s come back to my cuteness. Right now, I really want to hear how this went down.”

  “Okay.” I set my wineglass down on the glass table in front of me. Settling into the couch, I cocked my head at him. “Comfortable?”

  “Enough…”

  “Well, you were right about Sue.”

  “How?”

  “… She knew it all from the beginning. She found out somehow, maybe when they’d been intimate, that Sandstrom had a forgery in the gallery and she guessed it was the Van Gogh. She brought the exhibit to Reno to spring a blackmail trap on him but I think he called her bluff.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I saw them together talking and saw a card she wrote to try to sway him, but he was immoveable. She brought me in to put pressure on him and make him nervous.”

  “Did she succeed?”

  “Yes. He put the moves on my roommate, Cindy, to get information out of her as to what I was doing, what I had learned. Which didn’t work, by the way.”

  “… Okay.”

  “So Warren had made the one forgery, I think to pay off some gambling debts, and somehow, Marvin Ross, found out about it.”

  “Was he that guy who pulled the gun on you?”

  “Yep. We worked together at the movie theater and I always thought he was the dimmest bulb in the drawer. Apparently, he fooled me.

  “Marvin worked as a docent at the art museum and found out what was going on. He’s pretty good at playing invisible. Apparently, our shy little Marvin also had mob contacts who had forgeries waiting in the wings for the right opportunity. These were first-class forgeries done in Europe by top-notch guys who know what they’re doing. This had
all been set up for a few years in advance of what went down here in Reno.

  “Marvin told the cops he coerced Sandstrom into going along and splitting the profits with him. Sandstrom didn’t want his family to find out about the whole mess, so he went along with Marvin’s scheme.”

  “So those horrible security guards?”

  “…Worked for Marvin and Sandstrom couldn’t do anything about it.”

  I chuckled to myself.

  “What?”

  “I always wondered where the heck Marvin was at the movie theater. He wasn’t even there a lot of the time. He was off doing whatever dastardly thing he needed to do at the museum.”

  I glanced over at him. Eric seemed to be thinking hard.

  “To tie up a few loose threads,” I continued, “when I found out a few more things than Sue thought I would, she had those guards break into my apartment to scare me. And it worked…

  “However, she didn’t count on your finding out about the forgery, nor about the video camera you’d placed in the gallery.”

  “Which didn’t really help much.”

  “…No, but led us to looking for shoes. Marvin wore those work boots we saw in the video, but I discounted him immediately.”

  Eric laughed. “What about your philosophy of everyone’s a suspect until he’s not?”

  “…Exactly. I screwed up there.”

  “What about the dead guy?”

  “Right. That was Randy, Russell Crowe’s ex-con brother. He was just there to rob from his brother. The cash register had been broken into. Laurel and Hardy dispatched him quickly. Crowe told me he blames himself for his brother getting shot. He wouldn’t have anything to do with Randy once he was out of jail.”

  “I assume the guards have been arrested.”

  “Yes and I would assume, Sandstrom and Sue as well.”

  “What did Russell Crowe know?”

  “Not much. He’s just an idiot and a crummy boss.”

  Eric thought about all the information for a minute. A shadow crossed his face and he glanced at me shyly.

  “I have a small confession, Lucy. I confided in Crowe about the missing slides since Sue started acting so weird. He’s on the board too, but I asked him not to tell anyone.”

  I shrugged. “No damage done.”

  “…I have one more question, Lucy.”

  “Shoot…”

  “Why was the umbrella left at the movie theater?”