Queen of Diamonds

Queen of Diamonds

By

Sandra Cox

This story is part of the

A Matter of Taste Anthology

Stories from the Sweet to the Spicy

Something for Every Palate

Copyright 2015 by Sandra Cox

This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to people either living or deceased is coincidental.  Names, places, and characters are figments of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Rights are reserved by the author.

To

The Newlyweds

Meghan Cox and Jacob Lunderby

and

Allison and Michael Walker

Chapter One

“Yes, I shot the bastard.” Her eyes flashed fire. “He was cheating on me with another man. What would you have done?”

“I couldn’t say, ma’am.” The officer cuffed her and led her away.

The End

Rap. Rap.
Kendall tapped the manuscript against the coffee table and set it down. The edges of the thick stack of paper sharp and perfectly aligned. “Looks like you’ve written another bestseller, Mr. Hunter.” She cleared her throat and straightened her spine, her back barely touching the plush leather sofa in Logan Hunter’s study.

“I’m glad you like it, Ms. Theron.”

“Mrs.” Kendall corrected automatically.

“And how is Mr. Theron?” Logan settled back in his swivel chair, legs spread, his wrists hanging over the armrests. Anyone watching him would think he was too relaxed to be paying attention, until they looked at his eyes. Sharp and observant they missed nothing.

“He’s fine.” Her muscles tightened in uneasy knots. The only Mr. Theron in her house was her father. But that was information her boss didn’t need to know. With her index finger, she pushed her black-rimmed reading glasses up the ridge of her nose and glanced at him from under her lashes.

His eyes were his best feature. Bedroom eyes, the kind that held dark intimacy and pleasurable promise. He stretched, popped his back, then ran thin fingers through hair so black it had a blue sheen to it. Edgy, she shifted on the couch trying not to dwell on her boss’s raw allure. There were plenty of other women who did that.

She glanced at her watch, stood up and pushed an invisible wrinkle from her black pants.  “If you no longer need me, I’d better be getting home.”

“Got plans for the weekend?” He rose as well.

“Probably pizza and a movie. What about you?”

“Oh, I have plans.” His lips curved and his lethal eyes danced.

“Blonde or brunette?”

“Redhead.” Laughter rumbled in his throat.

She nodded and headed for the door.

“Have a good weekend, Mrs. Theron.”

“You too.” She glanced back and caught his gaze level with her derriere. She gave him a long unsmiling look. The last thing she needed was the interest of a man who solved mysteries for a living. Especially one with a razor-sharp mind whose thought processes had more twists and turns than a country road.

Shoulders stiff, she didn’t relax until she’d let herself out of his salmon-colored house on Rainbow Row. Once outside, her muscles loosened. She lifted her face as a salty breeze teased her skin, the air heavy and warm. Even in October, the humidity was high.

With nimble fingers, she removed the pins that stabbed at her scalp and let her hair tumble around her shoulders, reveling at the freedom. Logan Hunter set her nerves on edge. Not only did he exude more outright sensuality than the characters in his books, she had to keep her guard up against that ever questing mind. 

She stuck her glasses in her handbag, determined to forget about her provoking boss.

“Taxi.” Fingers to her lips, she whistled as one came streaking by. The taxi slowed. As she got in, she glanced up and saw Logan leaning over his balcony, studying her. On his face was the look of concentration he wore when he was on the scent of a new story.

“Dammit,” she whispered under her breath.

“Where to?” The driver looked at her in the rearview mirror.

She gave him an address on Park Lawn Drive and settled back in her seat.

Ten minutes later the taxi pulled up in front of a yellow, townhouse-styled apartment complex. She paid him and got out.

Her lips turned up and her heart lifted as she saw a little face pressed against the window waiting for her. The child had the instincts of a dog when it came to knowing when she’d be home.

Kendall raised her hand. A small hand waved back.  The sizzling affair she’d had five years ago in college had been a mistake. The child had not. Pregnant, she’d walked away from Caroline’s father and never looked back.

The door flew open. “Mommy, Mommy.”

“Hi, love bug.” She swung her daughter up in her arms and whirled her around. Caroline’s golden curls flew around her face. Except perhaps for her smile, her daughter looked nothing like her. Where Caroline was blonde and fair, Kendall was auburn and tanned.  Like Logan, Caroline had bright blue eyes. Kendall’s were green. 

Still there was something there that said blood, maybe more than just the smile. Caroline showed every appearance of growing up to have her mother’s tall, athletic body. Or maybe it was the way they both carried themselves. Even at four, Caroline had a loose, animal grace.

“Hi, hon.” Her father ambled in interrupting her musings.

“Hi, Dad.” Caroline’s legs wrapped around her waist, Kendall carried her daughter into the living room. She gave her one quick hug, nuzzled her neck, which made her daughter giggle, and sat her down.

“It’s pizza and movie night,” Caroline announced.

“So it is. What show shall we watch, Dad, a comedy or murder and mayhem?” Kendall  winked at him.

“Nemo,” Caroline announced firmly.

“Nemo? Well, yeah we haven’t seen that in, let’s see, about a week.” 

Caroline had select favorites, head of the list being Nemo. She ruled over movie night with an iron hand.

“We haven’t seen Nemo in a month!” Her daughter stood with her fists on her hips, her tiny brow puckered like a thundercloud.

“A month?” Kendall feigned surprise. “Dad, has it been that long?”

“Gosh, I guess it has. Who’d have thought it’s been a month since we’ve seen, Nemo.”

“Grandpa,” Caroline’s tone was exasperated as only a four-year old’s could be.

“I’d love to see, Nemo, punkin. Why don’t you go put your toys away, wash up and put your jammies on?”

“It’s not dark yet,” Caroline objected.

“That’s very true but by the time we watch the movie it will be. Off with you now. I’m going to chat with your mom for a bit and call in the pizza.”

It was a long standing routine and the participants knew the outcome. Still Caroline had to voice her objections.

The prerequisite complaint over, Caroline gave in with good grace. “Okay.” She skipped out of the room.

“I wonder where she gets that stubborn streak.” Warmth spread through Kendall’s chest and a smile pressed against her cheeks as she looked down the hall where her daughter had disappeared.

“I wonder,” her dad said dryly. “Come in the kitchen and I’ll pour you a glass of sweet tea unless you’d rather have that fancy wine of yours.”

She laughed. “Since you offered I’ll take the wine. Thanks, Dad.” She followed him into the kitchen.

He opened the refrigerator, took out the wine and poured her a glass of white. “Are you going to be home this weekend or doing research for that boss of yours?” Carefully, he handed her the crystal glass.

Bill Theron was more comfortable with a tea or a beer in his hand than a glass of wine.

She took a sip of the Chenin Blanc and felt her body relax as the pear-flavored liquid rolled down the back of her throat and took any lingering tension with it.  “Unfortunately research, but at least I’m not going too far, just into North Carolina.”

“What’s he working on now?” Her parent popped a long neck and took a pull, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he drank.

“Now, Dad, you know I can’t tell you that.”

“He doesn’t pay you nearly enough for all the gallivanting around you have to do. Let him do his own research. Besides, I’ve never heard of a publicist who does research.” He grumbled, setting the beer on the counter.

“You can’t expect a man like Mr. Hunter to do his own research.” She had no qualms about throwing her handsome boss under the bus. “Besides, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m not only his publicist, I’m his researcher and his admin assistant. Publicist is just less of a mouthful.”

“It’s not right.” His bushy eyebrows drew together in a scowl as he combed his gnarled fingers through still thick, white hair.

“Don’t worry, Dad. It’s not for much longer, just until I get a little money put back. Then I’ll quit. I promise.” 

“How can you get any money put back with your mom’s expenses? And this apartment isn’t cheap.”

“I told you, I’ve got a grant that helps pay for Mom’s care.” There was no grant, but her dad didn’t need to know that. Her shoulders tightened and unease rippled through her at the idea of him ever finding out. “And you help with the rent.”

“My social security don’t amount to jack.” He shook his head. “I just hate to see you work so hard, honey. You should be home with your little girl.”

For a moment, her chest constricted. If only she could be.  Immediately, she chastised herself for self-pity. She was so lucky to have her dad. If anything ever happened to her, he would take care of Caroline.  “That’s why you’re here. And I’m eternally grateful.”

“Humph. More like I’m being kept. How hard is it on a man to play all day long with his favorite grandchild?”

“Only grandchild, Dad.”

“That makes her my favorite doesn’t it?” He grinned. “Now why don’t you go upstairs and get out of those depressing clothes you’re wearing and I’ll call in the pizza.”

“I think I will.” Kendall looked down at her plain black pants and pumps, and limp white shirt. On this she was in complete agreement with her father. It was a look she’d adopted shortly after she started working for Logan Hunter. She needed to keep a low profile around her boss and the shapeless outfit she wore seemed the best way of doing it.

She reached over and gave her dad a kiss on the cheek. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’d manage just fine, always have, always will. And I’m proud of you for it,” he finished gruffly. “Now go get your clothes changed.”

He wouldn’t be so proud if he knew what she really did for a living. Goose bumps roughened her skin and sent a chill skittering along her spine. 
But he’s never going to find out.
She took a deep breath then strolled down the hall to change.

An hour later, Nemo was flitting around the ocean and the Theron family was gorging themselves on pizza that oozed dripping cheese.

Caroline nearly made it to the end of the movie before she fell asleep. While her dad carried his granddaughter to bed, Kendall tidied up then went to her own room to get down to work. It was time to research. She let her dad believe that she did her boss’s research, but Logan did that himself. She set up his signings, did his publicity and occasionally proofed his work, an easy gig, her day job so to speak.  Unbeknownst to her employer, thanks to him, she was every bit as famous as he was. She had been desperate for money. His runaway bestseller about a female jewel thief, had planted the seed.

It took moxie and a brass vagina, but Kendra had that in spades. She’d pulled eight heists in three years. The chill that prickled her earlier now lifted the hairs on the back of her neck. What if this time she got caught?

She heaved a breath from deep in her belly.
That wasn’t going to happen.
 

Chapter Two

Dressed in a cream-colored, fitted dress with a brown, polka-dot belt and a wide-brimmed hat, Kendall strolled in the Smith-Malone Jewelry Store. She wore a shoulder-length blonde wig, blue contacts and makeup that made her lips look fuller and her eyes slanted.

One quick, delicious quiver of nerves ran down her spine before she moved from the doorway and waited until the thin, little man with slicked-back, gray hair looked up and caught her eyes. With confident grace she moved toward him.

Behind his glasses, interest sparked. His gaze swept over her before he schooled his expression to polite inquiry. “May I help you?”

“I certainly hope so. I’m looking for a diamond ring.”

“You have come to the right place. What did you have in mind?”

“Nothing too ostentatious, but classy.” She tapped her lip with her index finger. “I think a princess in gold.”

He pulled a princess cut out of the case beneath the counter and held it to the light were it flashed and sparkled. “Here’s a nice one carat.”

“May I try it on?”

“Certainly.”

She slipped it on her finger. “What do you think?”

“I think your fingers were made for diamonds.” He looked admiringly at her manicured hand.

“Aren’t you gallant?” She spliced her fingers and looked as well. “Maybe a larger diamond.”

The clerk’s eyes lit up. “What about this?” He brought out the same style but with a two carat diamond in the ring.

She slipped it on, held it up to the light and wiggled her fingers. “Yes this is nice, but I really had in mind a larger diamond.”

“Of course.” He pulled out the five carat ring she was after and handed it to her. Heat surged beneath her skin along with prickles of excitement, as she tried it on. “This stone may be too large. Is it something your wife would like?”

He shrugged, a man who’d been married many years. “Doesn’t matter, she can’t wear rings. She has short stubby fingers.”

“Really?” She looked at the jewel case and pointed at three channel bands, two silver and a gold.  “What about that one and that, and oh yes, that one.”

“You want to see these single bands?” He looked puzzled.

“Yes.” She gave him a wide smile.

“Okay.” He started to put the other rings away.

She laid her fingertips on his hand. “Oh, no. I’m not sure which one I want yet. We’re looking at these others for your wife.”

He blinked and jerked his head back. “My wife?”

“Oh yes, these rings are perfect for short fingers don’t you think?” She smiled at him.

He thawed perceptibly. “You may be right.”

She pointed out a couple more plus a four carat diamond she wanted to look at for herself. By now, there were nine rings on the counter.

A lady, who’d walked in about ten minutes before, stood tapping her fingers against the case. “Sir, can you help me?”

“I’ll be with you in just a moment,” he responded.

“Go ahead, I can wait. I’m still deciding anyway.”  To prove her point she picked up the four carat and the five carat, and studied both.

“Thank you.  I’ll be right back.” He moved a couple of feet down the counter. The moment he turned his attention to the other customer, she palmed the five-carat diamond and slipped it on her right hand, the stone upside down, then stepped away from the counter so the clerk wouldn’t get suspicious. He glanced at her, took a quick look at the rings scattered on the counter then turned his attention to his client.

Kendall slipped her hand into her purse and hit speed dial. Her phone rang. She picked it up and answered, “Hello. Yes. Just a minute.”

She caught the clerk’s eye and pointed to the door. “I’ll be right back,” she mouthed. He took another quick look at the rings lying on the counter and nodded. “Okay, tell me what happened,” she said into the phone as she walked out the door.  She put her hand over her other ear as if she were trying to hear and moved around the corner. Once there she walked quickly to the car she’d rented under a different name, got in and headed for Charleston.

Four hours later, wearing a black wig, she returned the car. She walked a couple of blocks, went into a department store restroom, took off the wig, changed clothes, strolled out and hailed a cab.

“Where to?”

She gave directions then settled back against the cracked seat.

The forlorn cry of gulls cut through the whine of engines as they crossed the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Below, a dolphin leaped in the air before splashing back into the water, entrancing her. This was the best part of Charleston, the endless sea and the peace that came with it.

The sunlight caused prisms from the diamond on her finger to dance around the cab bringing her mind back to business. She pulled out her phone and once again hit speed dial.

“Hello.”

“Ralph?”

“Yeah, how are you, Red?”

“I’m fine.” She glanced again at the ring. “Just fine. Can you see me this afternoon?”

“Sure can. Got something for me?”

“I do.”

“What’s the magic number?”

She rubbed her thumb across the band and stared at the beautiful cold stone. “A nearly perfect five worth eighty,” their code for a five carat diamond worth eighty thousand. She glanced at her watch. “It’s four-thirty now. How about six?”

“See you then.” He clicked off.

The taxi stopped in front of a red brick building mellowed with age. Wisteria, no longer blooming, draped a wrought iron fence and peppermint azaleas grew beside the veranda.  She paid the driver and strolled briskly up the walk, the lemony scent of the bushes greeting her. Once inside, she checked in and headed for the elevator.

Stepping out on second floor she walked to two-ten. As she reached for the knob, a nurse came out of the room. “Hello, Ms. Theron.”

“Hello, Ann. How’s my mother?”

“She’s having a good day. Enjoy your visit.”

Kendall nodded and stepped into the suite.  A woman with snow-white hair sat in a rocking chair staring out the window.

“Hi, Momma.” Kendall walked over to her mother and gave the paper-thin cheek a kiss.

Her mom looked up and smiled, the green eyes so like her own it hurt her heart. Still smiling, her mom turned her attention back to the window. 

A hard lump formed in Kendall’s chest. To see her vivacious, beautiful mother reduced to this nearly empty shell was almost more than she could bear.

She cleared her throat and looked around. The living room was light and airy. A water color she’d bought for her, hung on the pale blue wall. Her feet sank into plush, gray carpet as she settled into a cream-colored chair beside her mother.  It was all she could do for her: give her the most comfortable surroundings possible and donate bucket loads of money in hopes of finding a cure.

“How are you today, Momma?” She reached over and took the cool, limp hand. She rubbed it lightly between her own. “Caroline’s growing like a weed. You wouldn’t recognize her. She looks just like James, except around the mouth. She has our smile, Momma, yours and mine. And I think she’s going to have our build, the way she’s shooting up. She’s going to look like a willow tree, just like you.” She lifted the flaccid hand and kissed it. “You know I named her after you. Caroline.”

Her mother’s head turned and for an instant, Kendall thought she saw recognition in her mother’s beautiful, vacant eyes. Then once again, her mom returned to staring out the window.

“It doesn’t matter. I know for a moment you were with me, Momma.” She swiped at her eyes impatiently. Crying wouldn’t do one damn bit of good. Instead, she chatted about inconsequential things for another twenty minutes. Finally, she got up to leave. Her legs heavy, she felt more tired than she should. Her visits with her mom always affected her like this. She sighed and inhaled the scent of aerosol overlaying the musky sent of age, powder and urine.

“I’ll be back soon, Momma.” She bent and kissed her. Her shoulders squared and her back straight, she left the room.

The nurse she had seen earlier approached her. She must have seen something in Kendall’s face because she patted her arm, compassion in her eyes.  “I mentioned you by name, Ms. Theron. I swear her eyes lit up and she smiled.”

For the second time in less than an hour Kendall fought back tears that threatened to spill over. “Thank you for telling me that,” she whispered. “I treasure that information.”

“I know somewhere deep inside, she loves you very much.”

Kendall bit her lips, nodded and hurried out.

When the taxi she’d called a few minutes before pulled up, she slid into the seat. “Waterfront Pier please.”

In short order, the cab stopped in front of the long cement pier. She nodded to a couple sitting on one of the benches holding hands and passed a young man leaning against the railing looking out at the ocean.

She walked to the end of the pier where a gray-haired black man with round glasses sat, feeding the gulls. She sank down beside him. “Hello, Ralph.”

“Kendall.”

He glanced at the diamond now on her left hand. “Nice ring,” he remarked and threw a handful of bread crumbs to the gulls, screeching and flapping their wings, before they swooped down, snagged the bread and flew off.

She handed it to him.

He pulled a loupe out of his pocket and discreetly examined it. “How much do you want for it?”

“Sixty.”

“I’ll give you forty.”

“It’s a good cut, nearly colorless with a slightly included clarity. Forty-five.”

“Forty-one.”

“Done.”

She opened her handbag and placed it between them. He dropped a brown paper bag inside.

“What if I hadn’t settled?” She closed the flap on her bag.

“Then I’d be forty-one K richer and you’d have a beautiful sparkler on your left hand.” He stood up. “See you around.”

“See you.” She waited until he walked away then got up and left. Once more signaling for a cab, she headed home.

She was barely through the door when a small body hurdled toward her. “You’re home. You’re home.”

“I am.” She squeezed her young daughter and buried her face in silken hair that smelled like strawberries. “How’s my honey bear?”

“Hungry.”

Kendall let the small, warm body slide down her waist and legs. They joined hands and Caroline skipped into the kitchen beside her. “Hi, Dad.”

“Hi, hon.” He stood at the stove, a white towel wrapped around his waist, flipping burgers that hissed and popped in the skillet.

“You shouldn’t have waited for me.” She walked over and kissed his cheek.

“As you can see, we didn’t. Just put it back a bit and hoped.”

“Well, I appreciate it.” She moved toward the refrigerator that hummed in the background.  “I’ll get the drinks.”

“I’m setting the table,” Caroline chimed in.

“Such a good girl.” Caroline’s hair crackled with electricity as her mother ran her hand over it.

“Yes, I am,” Caroline agreed.

“And modest too.” Kendall reached for the plates and handed them to her daughter.

“What’s modest?” Caroline carefully set the plates on the table, her tongue stuck out in concentration.

“Someone who doesn’t toot her own horn.” Ice clinked as Kendall filled the glasses.

“If you had a horn why wouldn’t you toot it?”

“She’s got you there.” Her dad added cheese to the burgers.

Kendall shook her head at her daughter’s impeccable logic.