The Case of the Scarlet Brooch

Chapter 13

B y the time the partners got back to the office, Iris Huntington had already called. She left a message with Suzanne, which Jeff took and read to Stu. 'I'm on my way down to your office. Please stay until I get there. Thank you, Iris.' "Looks like that dinner's gonna have to be postponed."

Stu sighed. "Maybe not. Depends on how fast she drives."

Jeff headed for his office. "I'll start on the report."

A little less than an hour later Iris Huntington walked in and went straight for Jeff's office. "Mrs. Huntington, please have a seat." He opened the door that connected the two office's and without a word between them Stu got up and stood behind Jeff. "Mrs. Huntington, may I present my partner, Stuart Bailey. He was invaluable in this investigation."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Huntington," Stu said before sitting down in the other chair.

Jeff opened his desk drawer and removed the brooch, taking it from the bag it was in before handing it to Iris. "I'm sure you're anxious to have this back."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Spencer. You'll never know how much this means to me. You too, Mr. Bailey." She removed a small jewelry bag from her purse and slipped the brooch inside, returning the bag from whence it came. "I know it's past normal business hours, but could you tell me exactly how you came to find this, please?"

"Of course," Jeff began. Over the course of the next hour, Jeff and Stu related to Iris what was necessary to track down and retrieve the brooch. She stopped them several times with questions of her own and was particularly interested in how they were treated by each of her relatives. She shook her head at Sara Beth's attitude and remarked, "I think it's time for Sara Beth to come live with me. She needs a refresher course in manners."

Jeff glossed over his narrow escape from Tabitha Huntington's clutches, but the subtleties of his explanation of the visit were enough to set off another set of alarms for her mother-in-law. "I won't even try to tame that one. Arden's made his bed, now he has to sleep in it."

She smiled when Stu explained his visit to the townhouse in San Francisco. "Yes, Jillian and Claire seem to be the best part of the Simington marriage. Claire is still quite young, of course, but Jillian has grown into a remarkable woman. Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Bailey?"

Jeff almost laughed when he watched his partner turn a subtle shade of pink. "Yes, ma'am, I most certainly would agree. A very fine young woman."

Iris said nothing further until they had come to the Simington household. "Of course, you know, Prudence called me when the two of you left there earlier today. She gave me an explanation of what had occurred, but I would like to hear it from the two of you if I may."

Jeff launched into a recounting of exactly what had gone on in Marina Del Rey, with Stu adding things as he thought of them. When Jeff was finished, Stuart outlined Mrs. Huntington's choices. "If you choose to press charges, McCormick Simington would be charged with a felony, Grand Theft, and would have to stand trial. He would end up with a prison sentence of some kind if found guilty. If, on the other hand, you choose not to press charges, the consequences are entirely up to you."

Iris remained silent for almost a minute before looking first at Start, then Jeff. "I believe that I shall not press charges, gentlemen. That doesn't mean there won't be consequences, however. I am taking over the Simington estate. I will pay McCormick and Prudence exactly market value for the property, nothing more. It is then up to them where they find a place to live. And wherever that may be, there will be no jewelry boxes in their home. As a matter of fact, there will be no more jewelry boxes in any of my homes."

"It's entirely your decision, of course, but do you think that's punish enough for Simington's actions?" Jeff asked.

"I do, Mr. Spencer. You see, that house has been in the Simington family for generations. The fact that McCormick is the cause of the property being sold is enough humiliation to last a lifetime."

Stu had a question to ask. "Are you going to continue your habit of moving from house to house, Mrs. Huntington?"

Iris shook her head. "No, Mr. Bailey, I believe that has come to an end. I am making a gift of all the properties to each of its inhabitants, and I'm moving in with Lilith. I've always loved the house in Newport Beach, and Lilith will need my help at some point. This way I will be there to step in and help out."

"And the property in Marina Del Rey?"

A smile slowly spread across Iris Huntington's face. "I have a developer interested in building something he calls a 'shopping mall' there. He's offered a pretty penny for the place. The house will be torn down, of course, and this novel concept will be built. It will be interesting to see if he can make a profitable enterprise out of his concept." She reached into her purse and withdrew a check, which she handed to Jeff. "I think this will cover your fee, Mr. Spencer. I must say, it has been a pleasure having my brooch found by two such gentlemen as yourselves." Iris stood, as did Jeff and Stu, and she shook hands with both of them. "Goodnight, Mr. Spencer, Mr. Bailey." And in a moment she was gone.

Jeff sat back down, and that's when he looked at the check. "My God! Look at this, Stu." He passed the check to his partner.

Stu whistled. "I will never harass you about a little, bitty case again. It may be too late for dinner, but I believe this calls for a drink."

"Are you still buying?" Jeff asked.

"On that, I can afford to," Stu countered.

Both men laughed as they got up and left the office for Dino's.

The End