The Case of the Scarlet Brooch
Chapter 5Nob Hill. There was nothing like it in Beverly Hills, or anywhere else in Los Angeles. It held some of the most luxurious mansions anywhere in California. I should have known, Jeff thought to himself. She said she was richer than God. I'm beginning to believe her.
The house, known simply as Huntington Hill, made Huntington Manor look like the guest house. Jeff was glad he'd worn a suit today rather than a sport coat and slacks. It made him feel less inadequate. Even the doorbell sounded grander than the normal bell, more like chimes in a cathedral.
Frederick (Jeff assumed) appeared at the door. "Yes, sir, may I help you?"
Jeff produced his business card, which he handed to the butler. "I'm Jeff Spencer. I believe Mr. and Mrs. Huntington are expecting me."
"Won't you come in, sir?"
The mansion may have been more massive, but it was no more lavishly decorated than Huntington Manor. Once again there was a lot of silk and brocade and a fabric that Jeff couldn't even begin to identify. "Please follow me." He followed Frederick into a living room and was directed to a couch. "Please have a seat, sir. Mr. Arden will be with you shortly. Would you like some coffee while you wait, sir?"
"Yes, Frederick. Coffee would be great." Jeff could use a cup of coffee right now.
Frederick was gone but a few minutes and when he returned he brought coffee and the man of the house, Arden Huntington. "How do you do, Mr. Spencer? I'm Arden Huntington." The men shook hands and Frederick poured them coffee. "I understand that Mother's brooch is nowhere to be found, but I'm not exactly sure how I can help in the search."
"Mr. Huntington, at this point I'm trying to determine the last place the brooch was seen. Have you seen it here, by any chance?"
"I haven't, Mr. Spencer, but my wife might have. Frederick, could you ask Mrs. Huntington to come down, please?"
"Yes, sir." The butler went back toward the kitchen and disappeared. Five minutes later a very young, very blonde Tabitha Huntington came sweeping down the staircase. She wore tight-fitting toreador pants and a low cut blouse.
"Arden, you need me?" She asked.
"Darling, this is Jeff Spencer, the private detective Mother hired to find her scarlet brooch. Mr. Spencer, my wife, Tabitha."
"How do you do, Mrs. Huntington?" Jeff had stood up when Tabitha Huntington entered the room, and after she sat down he did the same.
"Really, has Mother Iris lost that thing again?" It wasn't an unpleasant voice, but there was a note of disdain in it when she spoke. "I'm sure I don't know where it's gotten to, Mr. Spencer. I haven't seen it since Thanksgiving."
"Where was it when you saw it at Thanksgiving, Mrs. Huntington?" Before Tabitha could answer the phone rang. In just a minute Frederick came back into the living room.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but that call you were expecting is on the line, sir."
Arden rose, explaining, "I'm sorry, but this is a call I have to take. I could be quite a while. Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Spencer?"
"No, sir, I believe I can direct the rest of my questions to Mrs. Huntington. It was a pleasure to meet you, sir."
"Likewise, Mr. Spencer. I hope Mother doesn't spend too much of your time looking for her jewelry." And with that, Arden Huntington was gone.
The entire atmosphere seemed to change once Tabitha was alone with Jeff. When Tabitha spoke now there was almost a purr in her voice, and a smile in her eyes. "Now, Mr. Spencer, what was it you wanted to know?" She turned quickly in the direction that Frederick had last been seen. "Frederick, come get these coffee things out of here, and bring in some of the Rose Chablis." For the first time Jeff was made aware of the difference in ages between Mr. and Mrs. Huntington.
Frederick brought back an open bottle of Chablis and two wine glasses on a tray. There was also a look of disapproval on his face. "Anything else, Mrs. Huntington?"
She discharged the butler with a dismissive wave of her hand. "That's all, Frederick." He left the room almost gladly. Tabitha turned back to Jeff with a predatory smile on her face. "Coffee. That's truly awful. Won't you join me in a glass of wine, Jeff?"
It took Spencer a moment to answer; he was taken aback by the use of his given name. "No, thank you, Mrs. Huntington. I have a lot of work to take care of back at the office, and I'm afraid it's too early in the day for me."
"Oh, poo." Tabitha pronounced. "It's five o'clock somewhere." She poured herself a full glass and took two large swallows from it. "Now, let's see, Iris' priceless brooch. As to where it was at Thanksgiving, it was right here," and she pointed to a spot immediately above her right breast. "Iris was here for Thanksgiving and she allowed me to wear it because she said it went with my outfit. Wasn't that sweet of her?"
Jeff was determined to be as professional as possible, even though it was obvious Tabitha was attempting to flirt with him. "And what became of the brooch when you took it off?"
By now the glass of wine was almost gone, so she finished it off and poured another. "Why, I gave it back to her, of course."
"And did she return it to her jewelry box that night?"
Tabitha got up and opened the glass door. When she sat down she picked up the cigarette case from the table and pulled one out, then offered it to Jeff. He took one, said "Thank you," pulled out his lighter and lit Tabitha's before lighting his own. She sat down, much closer to him than she'd been before she got up.
"Thank you, darling," Tabitha pronounced as she blew out smoke. Jeff did his best not to shudder. This had gone way beyond flirting, and all he wanted to do was get the information he needed from her and get out of there.
"The brooch? Did she return it to her jewelry box?"
"Oh, she doesn't keep a jewelry box here. See, she doesn't stay overnight here. When dinner was over she got in her car and had her chauffeur drive her to the townhouse." Jeff understood why Iris didn't stay with Arden and Tabitha. He was currently asking questions of the reason she didn't spend the night with her son. "And you're sure she took it with her when she left for the townhouse?"
"Positive. I saw her put it back in her traveling box and put that in her purse."
Jeff stubbed out his cigarette and stood up. "Thank you, Mrs. Huntington, I believe you've answered all my questions."
"Must you go, Jeff? We get so few visitors. We could have an early dinner and go to one of the newest clubs in town. It's a wild scene here at night."
Jeff was moving swiftly towards the front door. "No, I'm afraid not, Mrs. Huntington. I have to meet my partner back at the airport shortly. Thank you for your time, and please thank Mr. Huntington for me, too." Jeff was out the door before Tabitha could make a move to stop him.
He blew out a breath once he was outside. No wonder they had so few visitors if that's that way Tabitha Huntington behaved every time there was a man in the house. Jeff would be more than glad to head down to Pier 39 for some late lunch and some shopping before heading back to the airport to meet Stu. Now he could relax and have a drink, having escaped the Nob Hill monster with his life.