Shades of Earl Grey

“Theodosia,” Timothy replied, his eyes bright with intensity, “if you can do anything, and I do mean anything to help get the Blue Kashmir necklace returned, I will be forever grateful.”

It was eleven o’clock by the time Theodosia made her way upstairs to her apartment above the Indigo Tea Shop. She’d talked with Jory Davis on her cell phone one last time, thanked him profusely for keeping tabs on Claire Kitridge, then bid him good night.

She unlocked the door at the top of the stairs and pushed her way into her kitchen before realization dawned that she’d forgotten to swing by Haley’s apartment to pick up Earl Grey.

“Oh rats,” she said out loud, then stopped suddenly in her tracks.

Did I leave the light on in the dining room?

She thought she’d turned everything off except for the little light over the kitchen sink. That light was still on, winking at her. But there was a definite glow coming from beneath the door that led to the dining room.

Okay, then. Maybe Haley already let Earl Grey in. And he’s in there now, curled up on his bed. Or on the couch. That hadn’t been part of their plan, but with Haley, who knew what could happen? She was like a miniature sidewinder, always going off in different directions.

Well, decided Theodosia, only one way to find out.

Her heart pounding mildly, she pushed open the swinging door that led from the kitchen to her dining room and stepped gingerly into the room.

Every light in the dining room and adjacent living room was on! The cut glass chandelier hanging above the polished oak dining table blazed brightly.

And there, in the dead center of her dining room table, sat a tea caddy!

Theodosia stared at it, barely daring to breathe. The mild pounding in her chest suddenly accelerated to double time.

Is that the tea caddy that was stolen two days ago from the Hall-Barnett House? she wondered. She stared at the highly polished tortoiseshell. Has to be.

What is it doing here? Better yet, how did it get here?

Figure all that out later, her brain suddenly flashed. Just get out! And get out now!

Theodosia whipped down the stairway, made a mad dash across the cobble stone alley, and pounded on the door of Haley’s small garden apartment. Theodosia could see that a light was still on and she could hear faint music.

“Haley, let me in!” Theodosia called.

“Is that you, Theo?” came Haley’s voice from the other side of the door.

“It’s me,” Theodosia answered. “Open up. Hurry!”

“Oh, hi,” called Haley as the lock was unlatched and the chain unhooked from the door. The door swung open inward and Haley appeared, dressed in pajamas and fluffy slippers. “Come for your good dog, I suppose . . .” began Haley. Then she stopped, her smile frozen in place as she caught the look of fear and utter confusion on her dear friend and employer’s face.

“Theodosia,” she said. “What’s wrong?”

“Remember that sleepover we talked about?”

Haley nodded.

“This is it. Someone’s been inside my apartment.”

“They broke in?” Haley asked, horrified, as she grabbed Theodosia by the arm and pulled her quickly inside.

“I...I think maybe the lock might have been picked,” said Theodosia.

“Oh my god, we’ve got to call the police!” exclaimed Haley as she threw her apartment door closed, quickly turned the dead bolt, and scrambled to refasten the chain.

Theodosia watched as Haley dove for the phone. I’m in a mild state of shock, Theodosia decided. Things seem a little hazy and it feels like everything’s happening in slow motion. She shook her head, tried to clear her brain.

“Do you remember the note that someone left yesterday morning?” Theodosia finally asked Haley.

“The twinkle twinkle little bat note?” said Haley. She stood, poised, ready to dial 911.

“I think it might have been the same person,” said Theodosia. “Only this time they didn’t leave a note. They left a tea caddy.”

“What?” exclaimed Haley. She put a hand to her forehead in a gesture of incredulousness. “The one that...?”

Theodosia pumped her head in agreement. “I think it’s the exact same tea caddy that was stolen from the Hall-Barnett House.”

“Wow,” breathed Haley and her eyes were round as saucers. “This whole thing is getting very, very weird.”

Chapter 23

The knob rattled, then pounding sounded on the door of the Indigo Tea Shop. “Are you open?” called a voice from outside. “Can we come in for tea?”

Drayton went to the door, peered through the leaded pane at the little group of visitors that stood on the doorstep.

“I’m sorry,” he told them. “We’re closed today.” He glanced over at Theodosia, who sat sprawled at the table nearest the little stone fireplace. The lights were on, a tea kettle was whistling and bubbling, but they were most definitely closed. He also had the distinct feeling that if these strange events didn’t come to a head sometime soon, they might be closed for a few more days.

Last night had been a nightmare for Theodosia. The police had shown up and scouted through her apartment looking for signs of a forced entry. They had found none.

They’d been equally puzzled over the mysteriously appearing tea caddy that sat on her dining room table. Halfheartedly accepting Theodosia’s story that it had been stolen earlier, they’d checked back with headquarters at her urging and confirmed that, yes, indeed, a tea caddy fitting that same general description had disappeared some two days earlier from the historic Hall-Barnett House.

Theodosia had been at a loss to explain the sudden appearance of the tea caddy in her home and the police hadn’t pressed her for details. Just took the tea caddy into their possession and requested that she sign a receipt acknowledging their removing it as evidence.

She and Earl Grey had spent a restless night at Haley’s. And first thing this morning, Theodosia had given Drayton a call. It had been his suggestion that they meet at the Indigo Tea Shop and try to figure out a next step.

“Did you call Jory about this?” Drayton demanded as he poured a cup of Assam for Theodosia.

“No, I didn’t want to worry him,” said Theodosia.

“That’s precisely why you should call him,” responded Drayton. “Because he will undoubtedly be very worried about you.”

“I know,” she said, taking a sip of the hot tea, letting the sweet, slightly malty flavor refresh and revive her. “Gosh, this is good. Really hits the spot.”

“Towkok Estate,” Drayton told her. “I thought we deserved to treat ourselves, today of all days.”

Drayton knelt down, constructed a little pile of kindling in the fireplace, struck a match to it, and fanned the flames briskly. Once the kindling was crackling nicely, he added a couple of medium-sized logs to the fire.

“Drayton,” said Theodosia, “I think that tea caddy was meant as another taunt.”

He stood up, looking remarkably poised, and pocketed the matches. “I’m sure it was.”

Theodosia peered at him anxiously. “Is it someone close to us?”

Drayton frowned. “Hard to say,” he said, staring into the fireplace. “Maybe we miscalculated with the