Chapter 9
She said...she said!
"I wish you would have told me that Augusta was also joining us..."
Artie was standing in the doorway of Dorothy Spencer's bedroom. Dorothy didn't seem to approve Artemus's choice for a third guest at their table.
"Since Jim is on a...special mission, I thought it would be nice to be just the three of us, and discuss what we have found out...so far about your missing uncles."
Dorothy, approached Artemus and asked him to attach her pearl necklace.
"I see...I don't mind Augustine well...I do...but... I see this is a lost opportunity for us to make better acquaintance Artemus dear.
Artemus pressed his lips together, just a few seconds before giving Dorothy a very polite answer to calm her down.
"I know how disappointed you are Dorothy, but may be we could have dinner just the two of us after this is all over?"
Artemus was hoping to get her to cooperate for this dinner.
Dorothy turned around and placed both of her arms around his shoulders, bringing him closer to her. He wasn't ready for such a bold move on her part.
"Artemus, dear, I am not a very patient woman...but I can understand that this is what's best for now..."
And on her last word she pulled herself from him and picked up her little purse signifying to Artie that she was ready to go downstairs.
Meanwhile...in Dorchester...
James decided to leave his horse a the restaurant situated a few meters from the Gallery. He then quickly disappeared behind the buildings in the back alley.
Making his way through the buildings, James silently approached the entrance of the cellar. He waited, in the dark, glued to a wall, to make sure no one was guarding the entrance. A few seconds later, seeing that no one was coming in or out of the place, he approached the door and tried to open it. It was locked, naturally. He then took out a small device from his pocket to pick the lock. In seconds, the door gave in to Jim's magic touch. He took his gun out and slowly got in the dark cellar.
The place was old and humid and James felt some rats ran between his legs.
"I see...a 5 star hotel..." though James while slowly getting further, not bothered by the rodents.
The place was obscure, but James could manage to see where he was going because there were torches bringing some light in the cellar. He stopped, and listened to try and hear if there were men still present in the cellar but James couldn't hear a thing. Happy to see that he was alone, he then continued walking along the small corridor until he quickly got to a enclosed chamber illuminated with torches. The place was empty and really small and whatever Baxter was hiding, James wondered where it could be! No signs of the uncles either.
"Where can they be?" he thought, looking around with his hands on the brick wall.
He tried pushing on wall to see if there was any secret room, or passage, but to his surprise, James couldn't find a thing!
He was about to give up on finding the uncles when, his foot hit the hinges of a concealed trapdoor in the floor, hidden under some hay.
"Ahhh there you are mysterious cave!"
He slowly opened the door and saw that there was another hidden room below the floor. He cautiously proceeded down the stairs.
The place was lighted with torched here and there along the cave. It was clear that this was the place James ought to be looking for the uncles. Once on the floor of the cave, James noticed huge wood boxes piled up in the corner of the small chamber where he had landed.
"I wonder what's in there..." he thought, wanting to look inside. Tempted to open a box, James decided instead to continue his exploration outside the little chamber to another longer corridor, where he thought, he would find other clues, and possibly the uncles.
Meanwhile in Grinsburgh...
Artemus and Dorothy came down the stairs to join Augustine who was already waiting in the hotel's dining room. Artemus thought that it would be simpler to eat there, instead of getting out. He had heard someone talk about the chef's famous beef stroganoff and was curious to try place had, after all, some class for a little town like Grinsburgh.
Augustine stood up when she saw Artemus and Dorothy approach her table.
"Dorothy, Artemus, how good it is to see you both tonight. I am looking forward our dinner together."
Artemus gallantly shook Augustine's hand and pulled a chair for Dorothy to sit down.
"I must admit that I thought Artemus and I would have ...a dinner just the two of us...but I can understand that we need to talk about the investigation." said Dorothy, with a cold tone of voice.
Augustine politely smiled without saying a word.
Artemus could immediately feel that the two women were not in such good terms. He wondered why.
"Ladies" said Artemus, sitting down, "Your presence here tonight will help us finding your uncles. You both should be happy about that!"
Dorothy was about to say something, when a waiter appeared out of nowhere and approached their table. He greeted them and began reciting the menu without asking their permission. He was acting fast, and lacked a certain class.
"Welcome to McGinny. On tonight's menu we offer the fish, Cod, a steak, prime beef, and also our renowned beef stroganoff. We also offer a mix of greens and a chicken soup for the entrée. Would you like to order something to drink first?"
Like a true gentleman, Artemus ordered a fine bottle of wine to be shared by the trio. Without further words, the waiter returned to the kitchen to get the expensive bottle of wine.
"So?" suddenly said Dorothy. "What's the status on our uncles?"
"Didn't Artemus tell you?" said Augustine, more then whiling to share what they had found out.
Dorothy looked surprised.
"No...is there any news?" said Dorothy looking straight at Artemus for answers.
Our secret agent had totally forgotten to tell Augustine not to share the new developments with Dorothy. He bit his tongue, mad at himself.
"Yes..." Artemus hesitated a bit then came to the conclusion that it was too late to hide it rom her. "It would seem that...the owner of the gallery...Baxter...has something to do with it..."
"The man who owns the gallery where we bought the paintings? The paintings I am SURE my uncle painted?"
Dorothy's tone of voice got an octave higher. She was clearly mad to have been kept out of the new developments. She was about to say something when the waiter chose this moment to reappear from the small kitchen with the bottle and three glasses.
"You will love this bottle, it came straight from California!"
Dorothy had no choice but to wait while the young waiter opened the bottle. How could've they continued talking? The young man clearly didn't see he was interrupting Dorothy. Artemus took this moment to discreetly look at Dorothy and Augustine and try why the tension was escalating between the two women. He wondered why those two didn't seem to see eye to eye in this investigation.
The young waiter finally finished pouring the wine and quickly took the orders of his customers. He then left without saying a word.
"That waiter needs to have better training in serving his customers." said Artemus while smelling his glass of wine. At last our trio could go on with their evening.
Artemus picked up his glass, invited his lady friends to do the same and toasted to the evening and the investigation.
"To finding your uncles very soon!"
Dorothy and Augustine raised their glasses and toasted to the occasion.
Artemus took a few seconds to taste the fine liquid as it gave him a warm sensation coming down his throat.
He nodded his head in approval.
"Mmm...I must admit that this wine was a really good choice."
"It is indeed very good" said Augustine after taking a sip.
Artemus joined her and took another sip. He then continued on with his earlier conversation.
"As I was saying... Dorothy... it would seem that your uncle did paint those paintings...he is captive in Baxter's cellar under the gallery."
Dorothy's expression changed to pleasant to overcome with emotions in seconds.
"Really?"
"Yes." answered Artemus, waiting to see what would happen next.
"So...what are we doing here? Let's call the police! Let's raid the place!"
Dorothy became more agitated by the second.
"It is not as simple as this, Dorothy...it would seem that Baxter own the town and probably owns the police...they would find a way to top us from finding your uncle, and James..."
"Where is James? suddenly asked Augustine while playing with her necklace, nervously. "Isn't he going to join us?"
"Oh...don't worry, he is, as we speak, investigating the situation at Baxter's cellar." answered Artemus calmly.
Dorothy then suddenly stood up like she needed to be somewhere.
"Can you give me a moment here, that wine taste like dirt water, I will tell that stupid waiter, that this is unacceptable!"
And just like that, without listening to Artemus's plea to stay at the table, Dorothy left and went straight to the kitchen with a mad look on her face.
Dorothy's behavior left Artemus and Augustine speechless.
Augustine was the first to speak up after her departure.
"I don't trust her Artemus...this woman has a weird behavior!"
Artemus returned his attention to Augustine.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Artemus...shouldn't we be in this together? We are both worried about our uncles...but I feel like she his hiding something from me! We stay in the same hotel, and yet, when I try to invite her for breakfast, or dinner, so we could eat together...she declines my every invitations! I am telling you Artemus...your should investigate her! There is something fishy here."
Artemus was about to answer when Dorothy came out of the small kitchen with a weird expression on her face.
"Dorothy...please...there was no need to be...so..."
Dorothy interrupted Artemus before he could finish his phrase.
"I'm sorry...it's just that when I get nervous...I tend to lash out at people...I came to my senses in there...don't worry...the waiter is fine...this whole situation is driving me insane."
Dorothy sat down but Artemus could feel she was still a bit agitated from the news.
" Now what are we going to do about my uncle?" said Dorothy while sitting down, trying to remain calm.
Artemus was about to say something when out of the blue Augustine stood up at her turn.
"Will you excuse me for a moment...I think I will go and take some medication for my arm..I have a horrible feeling of throbbing in my arm, it really hurts tonight..."
It was Augustine's turn to leave the trio and go back to her room upstairs.
"Yes, of course Augustine, I am sorry to hear that your arm is bothering you..."
Augustine left without giving Artemus the chance to finish his sentence. She seemed to be in a hurry to leave the table.
Artemus didn't know what to make out from her weird behavior. Dorothy was the first to break the silence after Augustine left. She came closer to Artemus and whispered:
"Artie...I don't trust that woman..."
Artemus almost choked on his wine.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I don't trust her! I tried inviting her for breakfast a couple of times, but she is never in her room! Where could she be in a town where she knows no one!"
Dorothy took a sip of her wine while Artemus looked around the dining room, a bit stressed.
"What is going here?" he thought while trying to figure out where Dorothy was going with her accusations.
"What do you mean...she is never in her room?"
"I mean, she is NEVER in her room!" insisted Dorothy.
"Come on...we shouldn't doubt Augustine's behavior. May be she went out for walks, who knows?"
"In this heat?" replied Dorothy, making him feel like he was useless.
Artemus hesitated a bit but continued with his suspicion.
"Weren't you wearing a hat, last time we saw each other...and it was very warm outside?"
Dorothy stared at him.
"So? Can't a lady always look her best, even in this stinky little town and this stupid heat?"
Artemus immediately knew he should've have gone there.
"I'm sorry Dorothy, I should never forget how "looking your best" is very important for you...I am sorry."
Dorothy seem to quickly forgive him and gently placed her hand on his forearm.
"This is nice...just the two of us, isn't ?"
Artie smiled at her and placed his hand over hers.
"Yes Dorothy...but not tonight...I have a few questions for you and Augustine. Let's just enjoy our meal together...shall we?"
Artemus hoped she would be more cooperative.
Dorothy gently took her hand off his arm and rearranged her hair.
"Yes Artie, you know what's best for us and I do appreciate your help finding my uncle...what is it your wanted to know?"
Artemus was about to ask her about her uncle when the clumsy waiter suddenly reappeared with their food. As usual, his timing was impeccable!
"You will love our beef stroganoff! People come from miles around just to eat it!"
He then clumsily dropped the plates on the table, lacking some serious serving skills. Dorothy, somehow, didn't seem to be bothered by him.
Augustine was still in her room and had not come back down back yet.
"Her food will get cold...should you go and get her?" proposed Dorothy, innocently.
"I think I will..." said Artemus while getting out of his chair.
He left Dorothy in the company of the waiter and went straight up the stairs to Augustine's room that was on the complete opposite of Dorothy's room at the end of the hall.
Artemus knocked once; no answer.
"May be she didn't hear me." thought Artemus trying to see if he could hear here through the door.
No a sound. He knocked again, waited and then, after a moment that felt too long for Artemus, the door opened on Augustine, who seemed a bit out of breath.
Surprised by it and mostly curious, Artemus tried looking in her room, but couldn't because Augustine was blocking the entrance.
"I am so sorry! I couldn't answer you the first time...I was... drinking water and trying to take my medicine...I should be all right of the rest of the night. As our food been served?" asked Augustine while almost pushing Artemus out of the door frame.
He had no choice but to step back to let her leave the room.
"What is going on here..." he thought
"Yes, Augustine, the food has been served. This is why I came to get you."
"Thank you Artemus. This is very kind of you. Shall we go down? I am starving!"
Artemus let her pass in front of him and followed her. Something was off about what had just happened, but he didn't know exactly what.
"This evening is getting weirder by the minute." he thought, while returning to the dining room with Augustine.
Meanwhile...in the cellar...
