Fair Play: A Cat Miranda Mystery, #2

Fair Play

Cat Miranda Mystery #2

C.J. Shane

Copyright © 2021 C.J. Shane

All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher and the copyright owner. Please respect the author’s work.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, locations, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and not to be construed as real.

Published by Rope's End Publishing

P.O. Box 13689, Tucson, AZ 85732

www.RopesEndPublishing.com

ISBNs

Hardcover: 978-1-951524-13-5

Paperback: 978-1-951524-14-2

Epub: 978-1-951524-15-9

Kindle: 978-1-951524-16-6

e-book formatting by bookow.com

Dedication

For those who know that everything is connected.

Acknowledgments

Sincere thanks go to graphic designer Lynne East-Itkin for the cover, to Bookow for formatting, Deposit Photos for the photo of sandhill cranes, and to my ARC team for reading and reviewing.

Letty Valdez Mysteries

Desert Jade 2017

Dragon's Revenge 2018

Daemon Waters 2019

Direct Evidence 2022

Cat Miranda Mysteries

Kissed 2020

Fair Play 2021

The Broken Pot 2022

Table of Contents

Chapter 1_Art Opening

Chapter 2_New House, New Client

Chapter 3_ Old Friend, New Friend

Chapter 4_ Surprises

Chapter 5_The Star Tavern

Chapter 6_Ana and Connie

Chapter 7_Mari and Charlie

Chapter 8_ A New Target

Chapter 9_ Proposals

Chapter 10_A Theft

Chapter 11_Whitewater Draw

Chapter 12_Meeting at the Star

Chapter 13_Mapping

Chapter 14_Threads

Chapter 15_Fair Play

Chapter 16_Changes

Chapter 1_Art Opening

Cat Miranda scanned the main exhibition room of her Bisbee, Arizona, art gallery with a feeling of real satisfaction. The room was packed with people, most of them with a cup of wine in one hand, standing together in small groups chatting and laughing with each other. A few of them were actually looking at the art on the walls, on pedestals, and in glass cases. All the socializing was fine with Cat. Her gallery would get a reputation for being a fun place to go for openings. Collectors and potential collectors would come back later when the gallery was quieter. They would take a closer look, and the chance that they would buy something was much greater than on opening night.

On the far side of the gallery’s main room, her eyes gravitated toward a particularly handsome man. He was tall and well-built with tousled strawberry-blonde hair. And handsome. Yes, muy guapo. Miles Trevelyan. Her favorite Englishman. No, make that her favorite man. Her favorite man in the whole world. Miles had been gone for more than two months, and their separation had been very difficult for Cat – and for Miles, too. He’d only been back in Bisbee since yesterday morning, now on a mid-winter break from his teaching job in Exeter, England. He was returning to England for the spring semester, but in the coming summer, Arizona would become his new home. As far as Cat was concerned, she wanted Arizona to become his forever home. The idea of Miles living in Tucson soon and being so close to her made chills go up Cat’s spine. She couldn’t remember ever being this happy.

Just then Miles looked up and saw that Cat was looking at him. He smiled. Cat returned his smile. As soon as people started to drift away and the exhibit opening was officially over, she would lock the door to the gallery, turn off the lights, and lead Miles upstairs to her bedroom. She shivered in anticipation.

Cat looked around the room again. Most of the people at the opening were locals. Some were old friends who had gone to school with Cat during her childhood and teen years in Bisbee. Quite a few were local artists who had their own shops in town. Their faces were familiar to her as well. She waved to Amanda, her pal who owned and operated the Star Tavern, and to Jillie, owner of a vegetarian-vegan restaurant, and to Willow and Michael, both ceramics artists who had a shop on Bisbee’s main street.

Willow caught Cat’s eye and approached with a smile on her face. Hey Cat, this is a wonderful opening.

Yes, your work looks really good, don’t you agree?

Willow glanced over at four sculptural pieces, two created by Willow and two by her husband Michael. Better than good. It’s such a thrill to get an opportunity to show our art pieces. Most people who come into our shop are mainly interested in our handmade dishware. They focus on the bowls and cups. Mostly they want pretty things that are useful, too.

Yes, but I think if we continue to show your art pieces here, you’ll build your reputation as artists, not only as fine craftspeople. I’ve already had someone call me and express interest in two of the pieces. She saw them on the gallery website. One piece is yours and the other is Michael’s. The potential collector is coming back tomorrow to take a closer look.

Cat gestured to one of Willow’s sculptures, a modernist figure of a woman’s torso, and to Michael’s, an abstract piece with curving lines and shapes. Both were porcelain creations.

Awesome! Willow replied. That’s so awesome.

Amanda Fontaine finally made her way past friends and admirers to stand by Cat’s side. She pushed back her shoulder-length blond hair and smiled at Cat. Great opening, girlfriend. And I see that handsome Englishman has come home. They both looked at Miles.

Cat nodded. She turned to Amanda and said, It’s because of your stout. He loves to drink that stout. I think that’s the real reason he came back – the sunshine and the stout.

Amanda laughed. You are shortchanging yourself, sugar. He’s here for you. You and you only. I think you bewitched him.

I sure as hell hope so. Cat turned to Amanda. She was serious now, not smiling, and her voice lowered. I’m so in love with Miles. It’s downright scary.

Amanda nodded. Love is scary. But it’s worth it, Cat. Miles is worth it.

They both fell quiet and watched all the attenders interacting.

Hey, look, Amanda. See that man over there? That’s Freddy Howard.

Yes, that’s the art dealer from Los Angeles, right? Isn’t he the ex of that murdered artist, Jax Beringer?

Cat shuddered, remembering how the plumber found Jax’s very dead and mummifying body in the wall of her art gallery when the plumber opened up the wall to fix a leaky pipe.

Yes. I’m surprised to see him here, Cat said.

You may not have heard. Howard bought Jax’s house here. Rumor has it that he plans to split his time between Los Angeles and Bisbee.

Oh, Amanda, you always know everything, Cat chuckled.

Hey, I run a tavern. Give people a couple of drinks, and pretty soon, I know everything they know. People like to talk.

And you’re such a good listener.

Just then, Howard looked up and waved shyly at Cat.

Let’s go say hi to him, Cat said. We can find out what he’s up to.

The two women walked over to Freddy Howard.

Hello, Mr. Howard, Cat said. Nice to see you again.

Hello, nice to see you, too. But please call me Freddy.

This is my friend Amanda Fontaine. She’s the proprietor of the Star Tavern here in town.

Amanda and Freddy shook hands and exchanged greetings.

Amanda tells me that you bought Jax’s house. Are you moving here? Cat asked.

No, not exactly. Well, sort of. As you know, I own and operate three art galleries in the Los Angeles area. And an online gallery, too. Sometimes it all gets a bit stressful. So I decided I needed a nice place to take a break, to get away from all the business in LA and have a place to relax and rest for a while. I really like Bisbee. It’s such a charming little town and so close to the Mexican border. People seem very open-minded and welcoming here. And it seems a nice way to stay in touch with Jax. I miss him.

Cat nodded. Well, that’s good to hear that you’ll be spending some time here. Bisbee is a great place to call home. As far as Cat was concerned, she found it hard to understand why Freddy Howard still had such warm feelings for a man that most local residents despised. But then Freddy and Jax had been married at one time, and it was quite clear that Freddy Howard had loved Jax Beringer. He had none of the negative feelings about Jax that the locals felt toward him. Jax had been known as a totally disreputable cheater and liar, and worst of all, a rapist.

While you’re here, Miss Miranda…

Hey, Cat said with a grin. If I call you Freddy, then you must call me Cat.

Freddy nodded, that same shy smile reappearing.

I was wondering about this painting you have here. He turned and gestured to the wall behind him. The painting was a medium-sized work, thirty-eight inches by forty-eight inches, an oil-on-canvas with an elaborate gold-painted wooden frame. The painting itself was of a train on a railroad track speeding through a blurred landscape. The effect of clouds and rain plus mist and steam from the train made the work seem almost abstract.

Yes, you like it?

"It looks like a J.M.W. Turner painting, very similar to another one he did titled Rain and Speeding Train. It appears to be part of a series."

Exactly. That’s what you’re supposed to think. It’s meant to look like it’s in a series that Turner did in 1844. There’s one very much like this one in the National Gallery in London.

What do you mean ‘supposed to think’?

It’s not real. I mean it’s a real painting, but it’s just very likely not a real Turner.

No?

Cat smiled. Some artist who was really good at copying Turner did this. It is close enough to Turner’s painting that you’re meant to think it’s an original.

Really? So it’s a forgery? What’s a painting like this doing here in Bisbee, Arizona?

It’s kind of a weird story. You know about my brother Luis? He died last year. This gallery was his gallery. He opened it and ran it for several years. I think it would be accurate to say that the gallery was his life’s work. He left it to me along with the house next door and an acreage out west of town. He never got to live in the house, though, because he became too ill. He lived upstairs in this building. Luis told me that the workmen found the painting in the attic of the new house next door during the remodeling process. He contacted the previous owners who told him they knew nothing about it. Luis didn’t know how long it had been there or where it came from.

Cat was frowning now and feeling really sad. She struggled not to let tears take over. She and Luis had been really close, and Cat had cared for him in his final days when he was so sick. Not a day passed that she didn’t think about her brother Luis and miss him.

Freddy reached out and patted her shoulder. If this is too hard for you….

No, that’s okay. He was my big brother, losing him was really hard on me.

Freddy turned to the painting again. I don’t see a price on it. Is it for sale?

No, Cat smiled. Like I said, it was my brother’s. He took it to Tucson to get an art expert to look at it, but the expert said the painting could not be authenticated. For one reason, there was no provenance. Luis liked it, and he decided to keep it. For that reason alone, I would keep it. But I like it, too. I just had some room on this wall when I was hanging this show so I decided to include it.

Freddy nodded. He looked again at the painting and frowned. It just looks so real. So much like a Turner. Does it have a title? And you don’t know who painted it?

No idea. I don’t know the title, and the artist is a mystery. Cat could see Miles over Freddy’s shoulder. He wiggled his eyebrows and smiled in a flirtatious way. She turned away, trying not to laugh.

Do you mind if I take a photo of this painting? Freddy asked. I’d like to see if I can find more information about it.

Sure. Feel free.

Freddy pulled out his cell phone and took a couple of photos. Thanks. I’ll let you know if I find anything.

Come on, Freddy, Cat took his arm. Let me show you some of our other works. I do happen to know these other artists. They all live here in Bisbee.

Cat gave Freddy a tour and introduced him to several artists as well as other local residents who had come for the opening. He fell into conversation with a group of people. Cat stood back in the corner with Amanda and watched.

I should go to the tavern and see how things are going, Amanda said.

Who’s minding the store?

You know the new girl I hired back in the fall? Renata Romero? She’s handling everything. She turned out to be a really great find. She goes to school at the community college during the day, and she comes in on weekend afternoons and evenings to help me bartend.

Can she handle all the rowdies who drink too much?

Are you kidding? Amanda laughed. She’s a little bitty thing, but she’s tougher than me or anyone I know. She grew up around here. She knows everybody, and she’ll tell on you to your mama if you misbehave. She absolutely won’t put up with any nonsense. And Jake McKenna comes in to help out. He doesn’t hesitate to throw anyone out who gives Renata a hard time. He’s with her at the tavern right now.

Oh, yeah. I know Jake. When I was a kid, he was a big athlete in Bisbee High School. He was on the football team, the basketball team, and the wrestling team, too. And baseball. Then he went into the Marines for several years. He served in Afghanistan. He’s a tough guy. And he’s a real sweetie, too.

Don’t tell the drunks that ‘sweetie’ part. Amanda said. Between the two of them, Renata and Jake keep everyone in line. And I can get a break every now and then to attend art openings. She paused. Jake is writing a book. A space opera.

What’s a space opera?

"Jake told me his book is science fiction. Kind of like Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, he said. And Star Trek, too."

Cool! I’ll read it when it comes out, Cat said. Anyway, I’m glad you got a break so you could come tonight.

Amanda hugged Cat. Okay. I’m off. Enjoy that Brit while you’ve got him.

Oh, I will. I’ll enjoy every minute.

After another hour of conversation and wine, the crowd began to disperse. The gallery was nearly empty now except for Cat and Miles plus a quartet of visitors who were making their way to the door. Miles was standing in the corner with his arms crossed in front of his chest. He looked at her, smiled and wiggled his eyebrows again.

Cat went to stand next to him as she waved at the last group of departing visitors. She looked up at Miles and frowned. She said in a serious tone of voice, Stop it.

He cocked his head and grinned. You’re going to say something cheeky, aren’t you, Señorita Miranda?

No. I just want you to stop it.

Stop what?

Stop being so sexy. It’s very distracting.

Miles chuckled. I can’t help it.

Let me guess. You can’t help it because you’re an Englishman.

That must be it.

Well, you know what that means. I’m going to fix you. I’m going to take you upstairs to my bedroom and fix you good, Sir Miles.

Miles laughed. I’ll go along with that. I rather like the idea of being fixed.

Cat leaned in and put her arms around him. Smart ass, she said in a soft voice.

Just at that moment, the door to the gallery flew open, and a woman rushed in. Cat turned at the sound and gasped. Veronica!

Cat! Oh, Cat, can you help me? I can’t find Jeremy, she cried.

The young woman was about Cat’s age, a little taller, and with disheveled long brown hair. The look of fear on her face was alarming.

Cat reached out and took Veronica’s hand. What’s going on?

Jeremy and I were supposed to come to your opening this evening. She broke down and began to sob.

Cat turned to Miles. This is Veronica Flores. She’s the wife of Jeremy Flores, my friend. And my attorney.

Yes, I’ve met Jeremy. Miles reached into his pocket and found a handkerchief for Veronica.

We haven’t seen Jeremy, Cat said.

Start from the beginning, Miles said in a calm voice. We’re here to help you.

Veronica struggled to stop her sobs. She took a deep breath.

Jeremy’s been working too much. He works all the time. I insisted that he take some time off. We were supposed to come to the opening tonight and relax a little. Say hi to everyone. Tomorrow we were going to take the day off, maybe go for a hike or to Sierra Vista to see a movie or just hang out together.

Those are all good ideas, Cat said encouragingly.

"I was supposed to pick him up at around eight this evening at his office. I brought some supper with me. We were going to eat together and then come