An Ex-Heiress in Emeralds: A Gemstone Mystery

By Mary Stibal

Madeline Lane, co-owner of an upscale jewelry store in Boston, had never sold a $200,000 emerald necklace before, and certainly not to a billionaire jerk. But then the murders begin, and Madeline steps up to save an innocent prime suspect from a homicide charge. However, in thi

• Language: English
• Publisher: Level Best Books
• Release date: Sep 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781953789648

Mary Stibal

Mary E. Stibal has never considered 'less is more' a virtue, especially when it comes to gems. (Think Mrs. Simpson.) Mary has also long known that beautiful gems are a stone-cold motive for any manner of crime. Especially murder. So using her decades-long business background, Mary weaves stories of the deadly confluence of Boston's super-rich and their breathtaking jewels with blinding ambition and murder into a new series, "The Gemstone Mysteries." A Widow in Pearls is the first book in the series, with An Ex-Heiress in Emeralds its sequel.The third book, A Sister in Rubies, will be released in 2022.

Book preview

Chapter One

MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Cool eyes scanned the gleaming rows of military-grade weapons in the gun room, all legal, all high-end, but worthless. There was a deer hunting rifle in here, somewhere. Walking quickly, the figure went up and down the two aisles. Finally, in the back of the long room there it was, a powerful Browning X-Bolt, one of the best rifles for bringing down a big buck.

Although a deer wasn’t the target.

Gloved hands picked up the rifle and expertly checked the bolt. Yes, this would be perfect.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

Coda Gems

Some of the customers who walked into Coda Gems on Boston’s Newbury Street had serious money, the eight-figure kind. The rest were simply rich. Which made Madeline Lane, co-owner of the upscale gem and jewelry store, happy.

Most of the time.

Unfortunately, there were those customers who grated on her nerves, like the one on Tuesday morning. The slender, mid-30’s woman, in a gray cashmere jacket and slacks ignored Madeline when she set yet another 18 karat gold bracelet in front of her. The seventeenth one so far, or maybe it was the eighteenth. The woman picked up the bracelet, set it back on the glass counter, and without a word grabbed her handbag and headed to the door.

Madeline watched her walk away and muttered, Do you have to leave so soon? I was just about to poison the tea.

As the glass door of Coda Gems swung shut behind the woman, Madeline ran her fingers through her curly blonde hair. Around her neck was a gold jeweler’s loupe that she wore every day, like a necklace. She turned to Abby, her business partner, who’d walked up beside her and said, Well good riddance to that one.

Abby replied, frowning, And thanks to you, it’s probably permanent. I heard what you said. I’m not deaf and it’s likely she isn’t either.

Well, she was rude. Who does she think she is?

A potential customer. But not anymore, said Abby. Her hair was a short glossy black, and her suit, 100% natural fibers, was a shade of blue. She had at least seven.

Let me tell you about the very rich, said Madeline. They are different from you and me.

Well, that’s your opinion.

That’s not an opinion, that’s a quote. F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Whatever, Madeline. Your attitude can sometimes be…unhelpful. You’ve got to watch what you say. I’m serious.

Madeline rolled her eyes. Five months before Coda Gems had moved from the bustle of gritty downtown Boston to the exclusive and expensive Newbury Street fifteen blocks away. A move that was a financial gamble for Coda, as well as a big change. Abby was thrilled, Madeline not so much. Some of their new customers were, no other way to describe them, insufferable.

The two partners glared at each other in icy silence. They’d worked out their roles when they’d started their upscale jewelry business three years before; Abby was the primary salesperson and the de facto CFO, while Madeline was the store’s buyer, handling estate and online jewelry auctions, as well as buying from Boston and New York gem dealers. She worked with customers too of course, when she was in the store. However, she could be outspoken, which Abby had pointed out more than once the rich didn’t always appreciate.

Madeline yanked open the back of the front glass case, slid the unwanted Tiffany and Cartier bracelets inside, and said over her shoulder, Some of these customers think their money means they are… superior.

I wouldn’t go that far.

Well, I would. Actually, I just did.

Abby just shook her head, Madeline, maybe the problem is that you are just too sensitive, she said. Toughen up, and let what they say or do just slide, and she stormed up the steps to her desk in the open loft in the back.

* * *

Ten minutes later a young couple walked in the door and strolled along their jewelry cases as Abby walked up to them. Good morning. Can I help you?

A third customer came in and Madeline was showing him their ruby jewelry, but then Abby took a call on her cell, and walking over, whispered to Madeline, Sorry, can you take over for me? She nodded to the couple, They’re looking for a birthday present for his mother. Something sapphire. Abby didn’t wait for a response, but went back into the office. She came out thirty minutes later, her face pale.

What’s up? said Madeline as she set a sapphire and diamond brooch back in the glass case.

Abby shook her head, her black hair falling over her brown eyes tight with worry. That was my Dad. Mom…Mom is in the ICU at the University of Chicago hospital. She had a heart attack this morning.

Oh my God Abby. How is she? Madeline turned the lock in the case and walked up to her.

She’s stable now, and they’re running tests. Abby sighed, Anyway, I booked a flight to Chicago that leaves in two hours, so I have to run home and pack.

Of course, yes, you must go right away. I’ll be fine running Coda, and I’ll…

Well, Madeline, I’ve been thinking about that. Someone should be here, to…to help you. I mean with customers. You know, maybe Martin could come in while I’m gone? After all, he does know our inventory, and he might be willing to help us out. We’ll pay for his gas, and commute time too.

Martin was a jeweler who used to manage the store for them on Sundays and had usually been available whenever they needed backup. But he’d moved to Duxbury on the South Shore three months before, almost an hour away.

Martin? Not him, definitely no. Don’t worry, I’ll be just fine, and she hugged Abby. Retail is slow now, since it’s the beginning of November after all, and besides, there aren’t any estate auctions or gem shows coming up, so I can be here full time. By myself.

Abby said nothing, she just stared at Madeline, and after a long, uncomfortable minute that stretched into a second one, Madeline sighed and said, Fine then, I’ll see if Martin can come in. He might be busy, but I’ll check. Anyway, you need to go. Call me later, and don’t worry about the store.

Abby clasped and unclasped her hands, then glanced around the store. Thanks, it’s just that you… her voice trailing off. Yes, I should leave. And she left for her car in the garage down the block.

Madeline did call Martin an hour later, but unfortunately, he was neither busy nor out-of-town. He could be there at noon the next day. To be honest, the man drove her crazy.

He all but genuflected when a customer radiating big money walked in the door.

* * *

That evening Madeline’s cell phone was ringing as she walked in the door of her condo building in the Seaport District. She grabbed her phone, glancing at the caller ID. It was Felix, and she let his call go to voicemail. She worried that Abby hadn’t called, and then she did.

I’m here, at the hospital. Mom is out of the woods thank God. She was just moved to a regular room, and she can go home in two or three days. Which is wonderful.

Abby, I am so glad. you must be relieved. That is very good news.

Thanks, and yes, it is. Still, my Mom is a bit shaky, so I’m going to stay in Chicago for at least a week.

No problem. By the way, I called Martin. He’ll be here tomorrow afternoon, and he can come in every day this week.

She heard Abby give a big sigh of relief, which Madeline thought was overly dramatic. And annoying.

* * *

Madeline walked into Coda Gems at 8:00 a.m. the next morning. She was always at the store at least an hour before they opened, she liked the extra time to get ready for the day. As usual, she was in black designer jeans and hand-tooled cowboy boots. Todays were a delicate, pale orange. It was fall after all, and she was nothing if not seasonal.

As she took their jewelry out of the safe and set up the displays in their glass cases, she wished Martin wasn’t coming in. It would just be easier to be alone in the store until Abby came back.

She and Abby were a bit of an odd couple as far as business partners go. Abby was a ‘by-the-book type,’ Madeline not so much, in point of fact, not at all. What made it work was they were both devoted to their fledgling business and managed to smooth over their differences. Mostly.

Madeline made a cup of coffee and critically eyed their store. They’d bought new furniture when they’d moved to their new location; the sofa, as well as the matching bar stools scattered around the cut-glass counters, were a rich brown leather, and on the walls hung prints of Boston Symphony seasons from the 1930s in matte black frames. Which Madeline thought gave their store a hush of ‘Old Money,’ even though they were barely breaking even.

So far.

At noon Martin walked in the door, still tall and thin, wearing a pale gray suit, his dark hair slicked back, and his shoes black patent leather. He looked like a man who might break into a foxtrot at any moment.

It’s good to be back, he said, smiling. His oversize blue glasses were new. Madeline couldn’t take her eyes off them. He set his bulky umbrella, in the closet. She’d forgotten about that, Martin was never without his umbrella. I like to be prepared, he had said once when she’d commented on it. Obviously, even when the temperature was below freezing.

Only a few customers came in, and she let Martin handle them since she was behind on her appraisals for three clients. But when she overheard him tell a customer in head-to-toe Versace, who’d asked to see a very ordinary, run-of-the-mill diamond bracelet, Excellent, excellent choice. I do have to admire your good taste, Madeline all but ground her teeth.

She couldn’t bear the thought of listening to him every day for a week.

Then at 3:00, Martin announced, I just checked the weather, and I’m sorry, but I have to beat a big snow storm heading straight for Duxbury. I think I should leave right away. I hope you don’t mind.

Madeline smiled, Of course you should definitely leave for home, and she was relieved when he left.

Three hours later, thank God, she read an alert on her computer that the storm had shifted directions and was forecast to move north to Boston late that night, so she called Martin. It’s going to be bad here tonight, up to eleven inches of snow, she said. So don’t bother to try and come in. I’ll pay you of course for the day. Why don’t I check in with you tomorrow afternoon about the rest of the week?

You’re sure? he asked.

Martin, I am most definitely, absolutely sure.

She would call him the next day, and come up with a good reason for him not to come in again. She’d be just fine by herself.

On her way home after she’d closed the store her cell phone rang. The caller ID said ‘Felix’. She didn’t pick up this time either.

* * *

The next morning Madeline was waiting on a young couple buying wedding rings when a heavy-set man in his mid-50’s, with thick, dark eyebrows and streaks of silver in his brown hair walked in, with a man in his late 20’s wearing an expensive gray suit, who said to the older man, Here? This place? But Dad, we’re already running late. We can find a better…

Don’t worry about it. I need to see something, the older man looked over at Madeline, Clerk, I want to see the watch in the window. The Patek.

Madeline told the couple she’d be just a moment and took the sterling silver watch out of the window. She explained to the man, Each Patek Philippe watch, Swiss-made, is hand-finished, and…

Spare me, I know all about them. I collect Patek’s. He pulled up his sleeve, to show a heavy, 18 karat-gold Patek timepiece on his wrist. He held out his hand for the silver watch, but instead, Madeline set it in front of him on a black velvet pad. Without a word he picked it up, turned it over, and inspected the back.

He said, Well, at least it’s real, on the low end, but real. Still, even a low-end Patek is better than any other watch, at any price. His eyes swept across their jewelry cases and he turned toward her, his dark eyes piercing. I see you have emerald jewelry.

Yes, I just brought in a new emerald collection, Columbian of course. They are gorgeous. I can…

Never mind, I doubt you’ll have what I’m looking for, and he signaled to his son studying their Boston Symphony posters and the two men walked out the door.

Madeline was glad they’d left.

But the man was back, three hours later, alone this time.

Hello again. How can I help you? said Madeline.

The man didn’t respond, just walked over to their case of emerald jewelry, so she went back to re-arranging the diamond bracelets.

Then he turned toward her, Clerk?

She walked over, The name is Lane. Madeline Lane. She was being funny. Sort of. The man either missed the James Bond reference or ignored it.

Whatever. I want to buy my wife an emerald necklace. A first-anniversary present, so it needs to be spectacular. And he drummed his fingers on the glass counter. What else do you have?

She took a Bulgari gold necklace with four carats of emeralds out of a drawer and set it on a black velvet pad on the counter, but he waved his hand airily, I said ‘spectacular’. That one is not ‘spectacular’.

Madeline hesitated, then set the necklace back in the drawer. I see. Well, tell me more about what you’re looking for, and if we don’t have it, I can have a piece or two sent in for you to consider.

I need a necklace, an emerald necklace, at least ten or twelve carats. In four days. Got that? And I want the best. I’ve been to Tiffany, but they don’t understand the meaning of ‘right away.’ So can you find something I’ll want to buy in four days, or is this conversation a waste of my time? He checked his watch and looked up at her, impatiently. Just say yes or no.

She stared at him, not about to answer. The man was a jerk.

He glanced at their glass cases again, and then back to her. I’ve checked out emerald necklaces online you know, so don’t jack up the price on me.

Madeline said, an edge in her voice, Excuse me? We don’t ‘jack up’ our prices. Just so you know I think you are…

A man in a black jacket walked in and Madeline stopped, watching as he walked along their jewelry cases and then he glanced up, saying, I’m just looking, so she turned back to the older man and started over, in an even tone now. Just so you know, a ‘spectacular’ ten or twelve-carat emerald necklace, with the stones unenhanced, meaning no fillers, will cost at least $500,000, or more. But I can find ‘stunning’ for you, from Cartier or Van Cleef & Arpels, for around two hundred thousand dollars. Or so. Which was more or less true, although she’d never sold a necklace that expensive before.

The man furrowed his brows. Sounds like highway robbery to me.

Madeline muttered under her breath, Then you need to have your hearing checked.

He headed to the door, but stopped, and turned back to her, So would you be able to find an emerald necklace, at least twelve carats, in four days, or not? If yes, I’m interested, definitely interested.

Madeline managed a nod.

The man took a slim gold case out of his jacket pocket, pulled out a business card, and dropped it on the counter. Call me then when you have a…what did you call it, a ‘stunning’ emerald necklace? Just make it worth my time. He looked dismissively around the store and walked out.

Madeline glanced at his business card on the counter, then walked over and picked it up. The card was printed on heavy, gray stock and embossed. She ran her fingers across the raised lettering. His business card was expensive, but the man could be just a blowhard; a waste of time. She knew the type.

Still, wouldn’t Abby be astonished if she made such a big sale while she was in Chicago? Totally astonished. However, before Madeline spent any time tracking down a $200,000 necklace for the man, she needed to have a sense he had that kind of money. She went on Google and typed in ‘Harley A. Atherton,’ from his business card, and a page with seven links popped up. Madeline clicked on the first one, and a slick, dark blue and gray website opened, with men carrying assault rifles. She scanned the page; Harley owned a private military contracting company, Atherton Global Security, that provided training and development programs for law enforcement, security professionals, and military personnel in the U.S. as well as overseas. She skimmed the long list of weapons and sniper training classes and tactics. She paused at the next page with the bold headline, Facility for Special Operations, glancing at the photos of a one-hundred-acre training center in Holyoke that included indoor and outdoor gun ranges, urban reproductions, a driving track, and even an artificial lake. The last page titled, Elite Forces Experience included background on their contractors, all of them ex-military, most of them with a Special Operations background that included the Navy Seals, Delta Force, and Marine Raiders. She read the last subhead, Experts in Close Quarter Combat Available. So, the company provided trained and armed soldiers too.

Harley Atherton was definitely not their typical over-educated, ultra-liberal Boston customer.

* * *

Madeline decided that Harley might be worth the effort, but just to be sure she went on Dunn and Bradstreet’s database. After one click, she knew the company was privately held, with Harley listed as the sole owner, who had moved to Massachusetts three years before from Florida. However, no net worth information was available. She did find his home address