Iva nodded. “Along with Maxine and Juanita, of course. They had to be involved once they heard about everything from Orbra. They scrolled through the microfiche, and I looked up some other resources.
“Fiona, do you recall that I mentioned the name Josef Kremer as being familiar to me? I can’t believe I didn’t remember right away—but he was a Nazi war criminal. The son of one of Hitler’s elite, and very much involved with the inner workings of the Third Reich. Kremer—the son—was thought to have escaped Germany and fled to Argentina with some of the others.”
“I haven’t heard of him myself, but I’m sure you’re right. What do you think his connection to Valente was? Do you think he killed Josef Kremer? And maybe the blackmailer knew it. Maybe Kremer killed Gretchen, the love of Valente’s life, and Valente avenged himself on Kremer by taking him out.”
Iva was nodding. “Perhaps. It’s possible. What a romantic story that would be. I thought I would let you know what I learned about Kremer—so maybe if you come across any more hidden drawers with secret letters in them, they might mean something to you.”
“Hidden drawers?”
Fiona nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of Brad’s voice behind her.
“I’m so sorry, ladies. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just realized my wallet is missing, Fiona, and wondered if you’d seen it.”
“I don’t remember seeing it anywhere. When was the last time you had it?”
“I know I had it when I stopped by your shop this morning—I wanted to make sure our date was still on for this evening,” he added, winking at Iva. “But I haven’t had need of it since, and I’m wondering if I left it there, at the store. I’d taken it out of my pocket while looking for a business card, and I’m thinking I must have left it on the table by that walnut secretary—you know the one, Fiona, don’t you? Would you mind if we stopped by on the way home tonight to look?”
“Of course not,” she replied, waving away his hang-dog expression. “Although I’m sure Carl would have noticed if you left it there, and he’d have called me.”
“Well, I’d feel better if I had the chance to check. Maybe it got knocked to the floor. Anyway, ladies, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Fiona, are you hungry or thirsty? Would you like me to get anything for you?”
Iva glanced at Fiona and then turned a sudden dazzling smile on Brad that Fiona recognized as one hiding an ulterior motive. It was the smile Iva utilized when she wanted to bend Gideon Senior to her will without him realizing it.
“Mr. Forth—can I call you Brad?—I’d like to ask you a few questions about your platform—now that I’m one of your new constituents,” she added with a tinkle of a laugh. “There are a few things I’m not certain I’m in agreement with.”
“Certainly, Mrs.—er
“Ms. Bergstrom,” she replied.
“Yes, then, Ms. Bergstrom. If I could just—”
“My Ladies Guild at the library in Wicks Hollow might be interested in having you come in to speak with us—and we usually have quite an attendance.” She fluttered an old-lady look that made her appear fluffy and disingenuous, and Fiona had to hide a smile. “In particular we want to know about your position on legalizing marijuana.”
“Oh,” Brad said, drawing himself up into formal, very rigid pose. “Well, I’m definitely against the legalization of marijuana, Ms. Bergstrom.”
“Well, that’s going to be a big problem then,” Iva replied, still in her easy-going-slightly-batty old lady tone. “Because the entire Ladies Guild grew up in the Sixties and Seventies, and half of us had pot plants growing in our dorm rooms at college!”
Fiona smothered a smile at the shocked expression on Brad’s face, then realized Iva was giving her the perfect chance to escape…and escape she would.
But as she stepped out of the alcove, she came face to face with Gideon.
She’d known it would happen—both hoped and feared it would, if the truth were to be known—and she was always honest with herself, at least.
But the sight of him—his tall, familiar, handsome form—still made her draw up quickly, and her insides jerk and flutter.
“Fiona.” His tone sounded as though he’d expected to see her—so he had the advantage. She never liked that.
“Hello, Gideon.” She would remain cool. Not too stand-offish, and certainly not deer-in-the-headlights speechless.
In fact, she would seize control of the conversation since he’d obviously sought her out. “I must say, you look absolutely delicious in that tux.”
Fiona couldn’t believe her own audacity when she reached out to tug on the collar of his jacket, then slide her fingers on down to smooth it into place.
He was warm and solid even under that brief touch, and she immediately regretted her boldness. “I’ve always said you fill out a tux better than pretty much anyone I know…with the exception of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark.” She grinned cheekily even though her insides churned.
Gideon finally found his tongue, startled by Fiona’s sudden appearance, and then by the onslaught of her icy calm. Surelyshewasn’t faking nonchalance too?
“Thank you for the compliment. You look stunning as well…just,gorgeous…but I don’t want to stand here and mutually admire each other for the next ten minutes, Fiona.”
