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Selena's Keepsake

By Linda Siebold

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Prologue
His long fingers shook as he pulled piece by piece from the dust and sorted the scraps of oak, walnut, pine, and a little bit of cherry on the workbench, wiping each with the soft rag. He drew out the measuring tape and marked a rectangle of pine for the base and four strips of walnut and oak for the short sides. He had enough oak for the two long sides, but the cherry was only enough for the top, so he set it aside.
After the pieces were cut he smoothed them with sandpaper until they whispered smooth across his palm. The last sanding makes it right. I don’t want any splinters while working the pieces. He set them in the correct order so he could place them on the base. The smell of the wood brought back so many memories. Grandfather, do I have this right? Your puzzle boxes sold well from your little shop. Mother scolded me for bothering you, but you always had time for my eight-year-old self after Daddy left.
Alternating the strips of oak and walnut of the short sides, he lined the first four strips on their edge with wood glue and clamped them together, then, two pieces for the second side, saving the last two.
No, this looks wrong. Exhaling a deep breath, he stared at them, squeezing his eyes together in concentration. Why can’t I see what’s wrong? I want to remember how to build the puzzle box before my mind chooses not to…
He clenched his fingers until the arthritic knuckles began to ache. The lip. The top strip is a lip. He undid the clamps and shifted the top piece on each side so the top strip made a right angle. After letting them dry he drilled holes for the brass pins and glued the box.
He sunk down wearily onto the old stool, pieced together the intricate top, carving the wood to fit, and added the guide strips on the back, then gluing the pieces together. He brought his hands, palms up to the light and looked at the lines and callouses. Your hands were scarred and rough too. I remember watching you setting the pieces in the candlelight. Hands that were so gentle, but strong. You were gone before I knew it. Would you approve of the man I was? Have I done my best like you told me to when I sat beside your bench. I’ll see you again…
When the inside rails were dry and he set the lid, the box was done.
Chapter One
Dear Journal, it’s Selena. I haven’t written for a while. A lot of things have happened since I wrote last. I love my new office as I’m in my own space now. R & S Retrievals bought the storefront next door and remodeled it just for me. It was really messy when they cut the hole in the brick wall between the buildings, but now it’s done and I’ve moved in, shelves, filing cabinets, and all. The two agents of R& S Retrievals have become three now as Sam and Matt brought in a new partner. Michael Rickard, a former FBI agent, has a dry sense of humor that keeps us on our toes. Of course I have to look up to him since he’s about a foot taller than me.
Sam and Matt have been out of the office a lot delivering the Carmichael’s stolen goods back to their rightful owners. More stashes will keep them occupied for quite a while into the future. The ruby necklace, the contessa’s necklace, is in its vault in Montaire’s museum.
My research work has been non-stop. It’s been challenging and satisfying. I’ve done cases from the local and state cop shops and even as far away as Scotland Yard in the last few months. Montaire is running smoothly as far as I can tell from reports.
Sam and I spend as much time together as we can. He still hasn’t asked me the big question yet, but I’m hoping it’s soon. Maybe he’ll catch wedding fever when we go to Kim’s wedding this weekend at Palm Keys.
Haylie and I are flying down early in the morning, so I better quit and finish my packing.
*****
As Selena Simmons and Haylie Stevens pulled their luggage in the Orlando terminal down to the car rental agencies, a stray feeling of danger furrowed Selena’s brows and made her uneasy. She glanced at the faces in the busy airport. Families jostled for position in the hotel shuttle lines. Business travelers with overnight cases strode by on their cell phones. Tour groups gathered together, waiting on the buses to pick them up. Maybe I’m just getting paranoid. Why would someone be threatening to two friends coming for a wedding? No danger there. Still, someone was watching them. She gripped the handle to her bag a little tighter.
“Do you think the guys are missing us yet?” Haylie asked.
Sam Russell, the tall dark-haired man of Selena’s dreams, brought Selena and Haylie to the airport, and Matt Stevens, his partner in R & S Retrievals and Haylie’s husband, was delivering jewelry, more stolen pieces from another of the Carmichaels’ stashes, to a family in Kansas City, would fly down the end of the week for the ceremony and events to follow. The new agent, Michael Rickard, and Dex, Sam’s German shepherd, manned the office in their absence.
“Maybe,” Selena grinned at her friend.
They followed the signs pointed toward the rental car section and turned down the ramp.
As the crowd thinned, Selena stopped.
Haylie asked, “Everything okay?”
A shiver darted down Selena’s back as shoes scuffled behind them on the concrete walkway. Her fingertips guided Haylie to the side, moving their backs against the wall. Danger nagged and she wanted to face it head on. A dark haired man in a business suit smiled at them when he passed by.
No sense in borrowing trouble. Maybe Sam was right when he insisted I take a little down time from the responsibilities of being Contessa Selena for a little while. Maybe it was the combination of work and those responsibilities. She’d just had the heebie- jeebies since the plane took off this morning. Maybe it was just her imagination that someone was following them.
Selena said, “I just wanted to make sure I had the name of the car agency before we got there.”
*****
The man smiled in satisfaction as he noted the women drive away in the bright red Lamborghini from where he stood in the shadows. She was here. Now to start the process.
*****
Selena leafed through the brochures on Palm Keys as Haylie finessed the five-speed Lamborghini, weaving through rush hour traffic. Kim Essex, one of Haylie’s college roommates, and Tommy Masters, her fiancée, decided to get married on the private resort on Florida’s east coast in a gazebo off the manicured grounds that looked over the ocean. This was the first time Selena had attended a destination wedding. She could imagine the sea breezes now, ruffling her hair, as they watched the ceremony.
The GPS system on the car directed their way in a husky bass voice.
“I think I need to change the voice on my Porsche to one that sounds like this. Matt would hate it. But, I’ll give him a break and leave it like it is until he does something stupid again like let Sam drive my baby.” Hayley wrinkled up her nose.
Selena laughed. “That would do it.” Sam takes driving seriously especially if a bad guy was involved. No idea is too dangerous then, and semis are a lot bigger when they get really close.
The man’s voice said, “In two miles exit Highway 95 North.”
“We’re almost there. I can smell the beach. Can you, Selena?” Haylie sniffed.
“Exit left to Highway 95 North.” The voice directed. “In ten miles the resort is on your right.”
Both grinned when they drove through the gates to the resort.
Selena said, “It’s pretty frilly.”
The resort property, dotted with tropical flowers, was green and luxurious. The main building covered acres of ground and its façade was adorned with curlicues and vine covered trellises. Angel figurines peeked through the landscaping.
Haylie giggled. “Looks like Barbie run amok.”
“It could be pink,” Selena said. “I can’t wait for the guys’ reaction.”
They pulled under the portico, and a valet rushed out for the keys and the porter followed for the luggage.
Selena and Haylie stepped from the revolving door into a large registration area with busy desks on both sides. Massive pillars dotted the room, holding up a lofty ceiling frescoed with more angels. Ivory stucco walls circled the room. Panels of veined mirrors with gold frames lined the long desk’s back counters. Small palm trees in golden planters added a tropical feel.
“I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore,” Haylie quipped and her eyes twinkled.
Selena grinned.
After settling into their queen size room, they decided to explore the hotel.
“That’s crazy. This place is covered by one roof and even has a canal running through it. Look at the people riding on the boat.” Selena leaned over the rail on a walkway. “I can’t believe all the shops on that level. There are so many rooms and suites above us. With the restaurants and things here, it’s almost like a city. Look up at the glass roof.”
Haylie unfolded the map. “This area is listed as the Everglades District. Our room’s in the Continental. There’s even a water park on the south side of the complex. Guess what it’s called? The Blue Lagoon. That’s where all the families would be. Surely we can miss walking over there?”
Selena nodded. “I think I’m about ready to grab some early supper and call it a night. That restaurant over there with steak and seafood would be the logical place for a salad.”
The hostess seated them in a booth a little way from the bar.
“Tell me about the other bridesmaids,” Selena requested.
“There are four. You’ve met Amelia Masters. She’s Tommy’s sister and a sweetheart.”
“Is she the brunette that came with Kim the last time she visited?”
Haylie nodded. “Katie Perkins is a high school softball coach in Missouri someplace. She just makes you laugh when you’re around her. She was busy with sports when we were in school, but Kim, Katie, and I hung out mostly.”
The waitress introduced herself and took their order.
“Jocelyn Jones is the fourth. She was the party girl of the bunch. She was pretty popular in the wrong kind of way. She’s drop-dead gorgeous on the outside, but not so much on the inside. She roomed with us the last year. She thought Matt was fair game.”
Selena rolled her eyes. “She’s the one you think might try to ruin the wedding?”
“Not if I can help it.” Haylie’s eyes flashed. “She might try but…”
“Ladies,” the waitress walked over to the booth. “The two gentlemen at the bar would like to buy you a drink, if you’d like.”
“Why is it that guys think you’re fair game when you’re out with another woman?” Haylie grumbled and raised her left hand so the stone in her wedding ring glittered in the light.
Selena just grinned at Haylie and the waitress. “Please thank them, but tell them definitely ‘no’. We’re not interested.”
“Now if you’d been Jocelyn she’d flutter her eyelashes and motion them over.”
“You don’t like her too much, do you?”
“Nope.”
Selena just laughed. Tomorrow and these next few days may be interesting.
When they opened the door to their room, Haylie’s cell phone rang. She sat down on the bed, pulled her shoes off, and propped the pillows against the headboard to lay against. “I was hoping you would call. I’ve been missing you… Did you get the necklace and earrings back to the owners okay? Oh, she did. I bet that made you feel really good to give them to her. I would have cried right along with her… Selena’s fine. We got here to the resort about four or so, I guess. You ought to see the vehicle we’re driving…No, not a Rolls, a Lamborghini, and it’s bright red…Don’t worry I like my baby better…”
Selena grabbed her pajamas out of her suitcase and slipped into the bathroom to get ready for bed. When she came back out, she said, “All yours.”
Haylie was already sound asleep.
She plugged in her phone and as her fingers twisted the switch and turned off the light her phone rang. “Hello.”
“How’s my girl?” Sam’s voice caressed her through the phone line.
Selena snuggled under the sheet and lay in the darkness, waiting for her heart rate to slow to normal. “How’s my Sam?”
“Missing you. Did you have a good flight?”
“Smooth flight. I didn’t know Haylie was scared to fly.”
“She never has been. She’s usually guessing the RPMs of the plane,” Sam chuckled. “What makes you think that?”
“As soon as she got on the plane she was hanging on for dear life and white knuckling the seat belt in the cabin.”
Sam hemmed. “That doesn’t sound like her. Matt said she’s been a little quiet the last couple of weeks, not feeling really well and more tired than usual.”
“I’ll make her slow down a little while we’re here. She slept most of the way here. Maybe she’s just tired. Is everything there okay?”
Sam asked, “Why do you ask?”
Leave it to Sam to be suspicious. “No reason. I just wanted to make sure everybody was okay.” Selena evaded.
“We’re pretty quiet right now with just some little cases ongoing. Nothing’s new at Montaire according to Toby when I talked to him last. No work. You’re supposed to take a break this week.” He scolded.
“Okay. I know I promised,” Selena smiled. That doesn’t mean the feeling’s not there. What is it?
“I’ve got some news about Miss Essie. You know how I’ve tried talking her into going into assisted living? One of her friends from church just moved into the new complex down the road from the cabin. The apartment next to her was available, and Miss Essie signed the lease on it this afternoon.”
“What?”
“Uh, huh. That’s what I thought. What clinched it was Dex was welcome to visit her anytime, and we, meaning me, can transplant some of her flowers outside her window. Moving day is tomorrow. Mat and I jumped at it while she was excited about it in case she’d change her mind. She’ll give us her marching orders around eight, and we’ll move what she wants to take with her and the rest will go to my storage area at the cabin.”
“The rest of the old folks will like the dog for sure. There will be all kinds of treat jars set out. He’ll roll down the halls.” A yawn escaped Selena’s lips. “Sorry, Sam. You’re not boring. I’m just getting sleepy.”
“I bet you’re tired. Dex and I just wanted to say goodnight. I’ll call back tomorrow night. Have fun. I’ll see you Thursday night. I love you, Selena.”
“I love you, too. Give Dex a hug for me.” I miss you too. The call clicked off, and she set the phone back on the lampstand. Her arms ached for him as she gazed at the detection lights blinking on the ceiling. Danger lurked as her eyes shuttered closed.

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