Hey Folks! Thanks for sticking with me in this E & W Fic. Planning a big ending eventually. We have a few happenings in this chapter. Alex and Camille pose as newlyweds to fish for information about distribution to the more upscale jewelry stores like Tiffany & Co. Once they find that out, they run home only to find Eliza and William at the end of an Eliza and William disagreement. They give their valuable information to Eliza and William who go on their own adventure posing as jewelry buyers for their fine jewelry store. In the meantime, Madame Scarleterri has taken an avid interest in Thomas Wellington. She invites him to dinner and treats him well. Thomas hoping he can play the starry-eyed younger man has his own plans once the ship arrives in Morrocco. A telegram arrives from Oliver Fitzroy in England. Thanks for your support and kind words. Love - Carebearmaxi
Honorable Mention
Chapter 17
Jewel Heist
A small bell in the jeweler's shop jingled as the couple entered. This was an upscale shop with many cases displaying jewelry of all kind. Diamond rings, ruby necklaces, and emerald bracelets shone in the light as Alex and Camille sauntered through the store. Every now and then Camille would gasp and say how she loved a necklace as Alex would murmur how beautiful it would look on her.
As they spotted an older gentleman, a jewelry clerk, approached them, Camille whispered, "Alex, here comes the clerk."
"Don't worry. Just follow my lead," Alex whispered back.
The older gentlemen had white hair brushed back from his face. His rather long shaped face had large blue eyes and his aquiline nose possessed a long white mustache hanging from underneath it.
"Can I help you?" He asked Camille and Alex.
Alex turned around while he patted Cami's hand tucked in the crook of his arm.
"Yes, we were looking for an engagement ring," Alex told the clerk.
"We have a vast selection. Are you looking for something specific?"
Alex looked at Camille who said, "Preferably a diamond or a ruby gem with diamonds."
"We should have what you are looking for in this case, madame," the clerk presented as they strolled to a jewelry case in the middle of the large showroom. "You see there is a ruby and diamond combination setting here or just a plain solitaire in gold or silver setting. At Tiffany & Co we can also design a setting with any type of stones. You only need to inquire."
"So you have stones and jewelry makers on site?" Alex inquired.
"Yes, we have diamond setters, lapidaries, gold and silversmiths who can design and set anything you want. Do you have a design in mind?"
Alex looked at Cami who looked back at Alex.
"I think I would like to browse a few more minutes before I know for sure," Cami responded.
"That's fine, dear. Let me know if you see anything," Alex said as Cami left his side.
"I would love to witness your experts at work. Would that be possible?" Alex asked.
"We normally have guided tours, but not today. Our experts are off today. Perhaps I could arrange something?" The clerk handed Alex his business card. "Just call me if your fiancée does not find anything desirous."
The clerk was moving away when Alex cleared his throat to catch his attention again.
"Yes?"
"Can you tell me if you receive the raw stones here as part of your process?"
"Yes, we do. When and if you take a tour you would also see a part of the shipping and receiving departments as well. Anything else?"
Alex took a moment and then said, "No. You've been most helpful. Thank you. I thought my fiancée was surer of what she wanted, but you know women."
The older man nodded and then walked to another part of the store as another couple were in the store now and signaled for help.
Alex strolled back to Camille and said in a quiet aside, "They do receive raw stones here, so that means there are gem and metal distributors and then they must deliver the raw materials to the individual stores. The stores would not know the origin of the stones, but the distributors may."
"How would we find who they are?" Camille asked looking at Alex pretending to like certain rings as she pointed to a few sitting in the case.
"Let's leave that to my mother and your father."
In the meantime, Eliza and William were working at home in their office wrapping up the other cases they had been working simultaneously with their attempts at finding Thomas. At the moment, they were coming up with a plan to coerce the American government to give a damn about one of their own albeit a local detective who had been in a partnership with one of the higher level spies.
" William, truthfully, I think the only way we are going to get Thomas returned is if we get England involved," Eliza stated as she sat at her desk.
William sat in his favorite seat. The floral covered easy chair next to Eliza's desk.
"We'll be acting unauthorized by the U.S. government. We wouldn't be allowed to extradite Scarleterri and her operation. We would be working as private citizens even if we get the cooperation of the British government."
"As much as I hate to broach this, Oliver may obtain the authority to swear Alexander in as part of the British government spy system," Eliza said with a heavy sigh. "I know I don't like Alex in danger, but I see no other legal way of getting Thomas back even if we should return to England ourselves."
"Well, I became a US Citizen a few years after I took my official positions with the New York Police Department. As of now, you have dual citizenship, you're my wife and you have never relinquished your British citizenship."
"Perhaps."
"All I want to do is get my son back home. I don't give a hang whether Scarleterri gets convicted as a smuggler or continues to bring untaxed jewels into the domestic shops! So, I am not willing to risk your life or your son's life unless I can be assured you will not act or Alex will not act as a hero."
Eliza crossed her arms and assumed a disgusted purse to her lips.
"William!" "Stop!" Eliza exclaimed as she stood up.
"Look, it is going to take all the heroics all of us can muster to get Thomas back. We do not have the US Government in our corner! If we're lucky, Oliver can get the right connection to get Thomas back home."
"If I go to England, I do not want to leave Camille alone with no family…again. I did earlier in the year because she wanted me to find you and I am so happy that I did and that you came home as my wife. However, I will take Alexander with me because he is the connection, but I want to make sure that your daughter will not be alone without family as well."
Eliza rolled her eyes.
"I don't want to leave Camille alone either. We could take her with us and she could stay with Sophia and Bernie. Then neither daughter will be alone!"
"You will not accompany me on any dangerous trip. I will not have it, Eliza! Neither one of us is young anymore and you're a…!
"Woman! You were going to say I'm a woman and an older one at that! " Eliza gave a little sarcastic laugh. Then her rant continued.
" I am still three years younger than you and I know how to shoot and defend myself….Ah! I bet I never told you that, did I? Really, William, I thought you had driven that out of your soul that women are incapable of taking care of themselves…"
"Eliza!"
William's eyes had widened and then his expression was one of ' I-should-have-known-better-than-to-cross-that-bridge'.
He stood up now and put one hand on each upper arm and emphasized his opinion on what was safer. "Eliza!"
"-you always thought I had to be protected although you know-"
"Eliza! Stop! Now you may think me not up to date, but I still feel that a man needs to protect his women especially if the women in question are your is your wife and daughters!"
"I am coming with you-"
"No! I feel obligated enough that I am taking your son with me to find mine, but I will not endanger the life of my wife!"
"William! I am not selfish or really want to be a hero in this because of some feministic viewpoint," Eliza stated more quietly. She stood her ground, took his hands in hers, and stared her husband in the eye.
"I want to be there. I need to be there in the event that anything happens to you or Alexander. Should anything happen…God forbid…I want to be there to help or to do…whatever! I do NOT want to relive losing my second husband the way I lost my first! I do not want to lose the love of my life again."
Eliza's last two sentences allowed William's shoulders to relax. He squeezed her hands and he could see tears welling in her eyes. He took two steps and encompassed her into his arm and held her tight. He laid his cheek on the top of her head and sighed.
"I apologize. Shades of our old arguments haunted me. I understand now. After finding each other again, I couldn't live any longer if something should happen to you."
"We need to stick together," Eliza held William tighter.
"Mmhmm," William said as he raised his face from Eliza's head. Alex and Camille had just arrived in Eliza and William's office out of breath and excited.
"Mama!" Alex said finding his mother in William's arms.
"Dad!" Camille exclaimed panting seeing the parents in an embrace.
Eliza departed from William's arms, wiping her eyes.
"Children, you look excited. What have you found out?"
"Is everything all right here?" Alex asked.
"As we entered we heard you two arguing so we immediately rushed upstairs to see what was the matter. What is the matter?"
"Nothing. What's your news?" William asked.
Everyone took a seat except Camille.
"I have to get back to school. My sub said she could only stay an hour and I am little over that so Alex will fill you in. Gotta run! Bye!" Camille waved as she hurried down the stairs. Both parents jumped when they heard the door slam.
"Well, in our covers as an engaged couple we went to Tiffany & Co.'s. There we learned that they get the shipments of raw gems and make the jewelry there. That's not unusual but they give tours and go through the receiving process in it."
"This means there is a distributor who probably has gems, metals, and alloys shipped to individual stores. Do you think the distributors are centralized?" Eliza asked.
"I don't know but it is worth checking out," Alex said.
"You didn't happen to catch the name of the distributors, did you?" William asked.
"No, but I did get a schedule of the tours for Tiffany's and I thought, perhaps, you two may be able to do some reconnaissance as well."
William pursed his lips and looked at Eliza. "Have you got a cover for us, love?"
"Of course I do. We can leave momentarily," Eliza said with a radiant smile at William.
The ship to Morocco rocked on into choppy waters. Thomas had spent most of that time in modestly comfortable surroundings due to the courtesy and favoritism of Madame Scarleterri.
Thomas sat at the table in the Madame's private room about to partake of a rather sumptuous meal considering the modest accommodations. The table was set for two and Thomas had been presented, about an hour ago, with a clean suit and time to shower and change. His pneumonia symptoms had been treated. The only mark left of his cruel incarceration for two months in a cold warehouse in Italy had been a dark purplish bruise around his left eye and a scar on his forehead which was somewhat hidden by his thick dark curly hair.
"Thomas, relax, you remind me of my own first husband. He was tall, dark with abundant curly hair like yourself. You are a very handsome young man. Do you have a young female at home whom you love?"
"No I don't at the moment. Why? Is that what this is, Madame? A seduction?"
Madame Scarleterri was a beautiful olive skinned buxom woman, but she was old enough to be Thomas' mother. She was heavily encrusted with large diamonds and gems around her neck and on her fingers. Thomas had been raised in a modest home. Neither his mother nor his sister indulged themselves in large jewelry. Both of them being teachers, the most Thomas ever saw his mother wear would be wedding rings and a locket that his father, William, had presented to his mother after his sister was born. She was wearing it on her deathbed. His upbringing was practical and that's how he approached his own life. Modest and in the service of others like his father.
So, this woman was the least attractive person he could wish to be a part of. However, if it would facilitate him going back to the USA then he could pretend. That's what he would do now to bide his time. When they arrived in Morocco, he would locate the America Consulate and get a cable to the USA to let them know he is fine and expose this ring.
Until then, he would play the smitten younger man to this prestigious, unlawful, wealthy woman.
William and Eliza entered the offices of Bailey and Binks Distributors. They were posing as jewelry buyers with a shop in construction and were looking to stock their store as they were also in the design and selling of fine jewelry. They knew that had tough competition in NYC but felt that this was the best place to start their business.
The head of the distribution company was Mr. Bailey. A tall thin older man with a pince-nez sitting on the bridge of his nose. His hair was brushed back from his head which belied his age. The salt and pepper hair ended in curls at his neck. His dress was one of middle class wealth. He wore only a brown metallic threaded vest over a beige long sleeve oxford shirt and brown trousers.
"Mr. and Mrs. Wellington, how nice to meet you. I don't normally get visitors these days," said Sam Bailey. He stood and shook their hands.
"Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Mr. Bailey. My husband and I have scoured the city. Our permits for our shop were a little tardy, so we are just now getting stock for our store and our jewelry makers," Eliza said in a sophisticated business tone.
"Your English!" Mr. Bailey said jovially. "I thought I noted an accent when I spoke to you on the phone, Mrs. Wellington. You are Scottish, correct, Mr. Wellington?"
"Yes, I am," William said. He had decided to pour on the thick brogue just to throw Bailey off the scent if he happen to recognize William as the recently retired Police Commissioner.
"So please be seated. Tell me about your operation and how I can help you…"
While Eliza and William were sitting having a conversation with Samuel Bailey, Alex retrieved the mail.
"I've got it, Mrs. Ryan," Alex called to the older woman. She reminded him of Ivy who was like a grandmother to him while he was growing up in England with his parents and sister. Mrs. Ryan always met them at the door and informed them of the latest happenings and always inquired if there was anything she could do for them along with telling them when the next meal was coming and what she was serving. Reluctantly, Alex was beginning to really feel a part of the family.
The person at the door was not the mailman, but a delivery boy from Western Union.
"Cable for Alexander Blake, Jr. and Mrs. Eliza Wellington," the young thin boy who was probably no more than 16 stated.
"I'm Alexander Blake, Jr. I'll sign for it," Alex said signing the delivery boy's book. He dug into his pocket and found a couple of coins which he handed to the boy.
"Thank you, sir."
"Thank you," Alex said and closed the door. He opened the pale yellow envelope.
Eliza laughed as she and William departed from Bailey's office.
"I thought Mr. Bailey was going to ask me to translate as he could barely understand a word you were saying. The only time I ever hear your brogue get that thick is if you're so mad you mix it with a couple of words of Gaelic," Eliza smiled wide looking up at her husband as he walked beside her.
William looked back at her and smiled a little seeing the humor of his wife's anecdote. However, his eyes turned back to the street and his smile back to grimness. He felt Eliza's hand on his arm and he stopped to see what she wanted.
She turned him to look at her and she pulled him into a café. They quickly took a table for two facing along the large window storefront. Eliza ordered two coffees with cream and sugar and a cheese pastry that she could share with William. One thing she learned about him a long time ago. He always opened up and thought better if they shared food. Since they had been married she noticed his preference for sweets which was new to her. Previously in their time together, he always begged off anything that seemed too sweet and not healthy. However, she noticed since he had grown older and exercised frequently in the basement gym that a preference for cheese pastry had emerged. Many times Eliza was amused by how bits of it always caught in his mustache and beard. Eliza's thoughts momentarily thought what happened one night after dessert when they were young and on one of their monthly dinners.
"Eliza…Eliza…" William said in a gradual louder tone.
"William? I'm sorry I was remembering one of our monthly dinners we used to have when we were young."
"I wondered why you ordered me a cheese Danish. You do know that's my favorite," William said as he smiled at her.
Eliza blushed and said, "Yes, William, that's why I ordered it. We can share it."
"Certainly. I know what you're thinking of. The first dinner after Arabella and I ended things," William said smiling. "You asked me if Arabella fed me cheese pastry in bed. I thought at the time that you were joking but you were perfectly serious."
"I was still in an envious mood when I asked you. I figured you two had a maturely scandalous relationship and that she was easy in that way as she had been married previously. Come to of it. You never answered me. If that's the reason cheese pastry is your favorite then you had better pick a new favorite."
"How about you feed me cheese pastry in bed? Start a new tradition," William suggested in a deep seductive voice giving Eliza a look that was exactly what he wanted her to do.
Eliza smiled brightly and laughed. "You never know, husband. I may surprise you."
"A husband can only hope."
The server finally came with their coffees and a large cheese pastry on a plate. She provided two forks and napkins.
While William cut the pastry in half he said, "I wonder if Oliver will send a cable or a letter."
"Probably both as we did for him," Eliza responded. "William I will never finish all of that entire half of that pastry."
"We'll take it home. I'm sure someone will finish it then," William said as he shoveled a small forked piece of pastry into his mouth.
"Mr. Bailey was a big help in telling us the process and that we could witness his ship coming in from Africa. Though he said his meeting was not with Abercrombie or her crime lord name Scarleterri. Do you think he knows who his gemstone broker works for?" Eliza asked.
"Probably not would be my guess. Again, if it's Scarleterri we do know that her shipments will be off loaded during the night time when the import tax official would probably look aside."
"Or disguised as something else or perhaps packed in something else. These are gem stones. They can't be very large and are easily hidden," Eliza said with a pensive look in her eyes as she chewed on the pastry.
"We also have a specific ship name that's due back from North Africa for jewel distribution in August. That would be the perfect time for Scarleterri to come back to the New York and get paid," Eliza responded.
After a sip of coffee and another bit of the pastry, Eliza spoke again. "I think we would be better off gaining the government's trust if we had specific information."
"We don't that's the problem. We can pull all the shipment schedules available and there will not be a secure manifest until a few days before. Even then we are only guessing she could use an alias when she travels to hide who she really is and what cargo the ship is actually carrying," William said.
Eliza focused on the pastry of which she could eat no more. She offered it to William silently and he waved his hand in the negative. He leaned back and signaled for the check.
"You're right, William, there really is no way we can predict when Scarleterri will be back in the United States. Also there is no guarantee that Thomas would have been with her anyway," Eliza said.
"Our best way of returning Thomas is intercepting the ship in Morrocco," Eliza again stated.
William smiled while they waited for the check. As usual Eliza was Eliza doing all the talking and thinking while William just sat there fascinated waiting so he could get his thoughts in edgewise. Oh how I missed this! Loving Eliza and now working with her again. Between the both of us and help for the whole family we will get our lost one returned.
After paying the check they left the café and walked the rest of the way to their car and proceeded for home.
Eliza and William arrived home and Alex handed his mother the cable.
"Looks like Oliver got the help we need from the British Government," Alex said.
William looked over Eliza's shoulder as she read the cable:
TO ELIZA, ALEX, AND WILLIAM:
HAVE MADE CONTACTS FOR YOU WITH BRITISH GOVERNMENT. WILLING TO HELP.
HOWEVER, MUST COME TO ENGLAND.
WILL SEND MORE IN LETTER.
OLIVER
William and Eliza looked at each other. Eliza looked at her son.
"We had better start making arrangements," Eliza said.
William and Alex looked at each other and smirked and watched as Eliza was all hustle and bustle thinking a mile a minute.