She gave him a thumbs up sign. “Well, Rudy, they say sometimes good comes from bad and it looks like that’s going to happen here.”
“Yep. The idea is for the fishermen to donate a little of their catch to the FBS and Taku will fillet it up and sell it. The profit will all go to the fisherman’s fund after they pay his wages. Ain’t that great?”
Goldie felt the tears brimming in her eyes and rubbed at them furiously. “It’s not only great, Rudy, it’s absolutely wonderful. Mimi would have been thrilled to see this happen.” She gave him an appreciative smile and plopped down in her desk chair.
A few minutes later the little bell over the door tinkled and Dora came flying in. Goldie’s first instinct was to hide in the back room, but the woman made a beeline toward the desk and cornered Goldie. She looked very agitated and instead of her usual tidy appearance, Dora’s sweater was buttoned wrong and her hair was uncombed.
“Um Goldie, I hope you don’t mind, but the Ladies Auxiliary decided not to give Father Innocent another samovar.” Her voice sounded a bit strained, as if she was trying to control it. “Somehow, with all the terrible things that happened, we just didn’t feel the same about it anymore. You know, sort of like a bad omen. So we got a beautiful icon for him from the Russian Shop instead.”
Goldie felt a great sense of relief wash over her. Her whole body relaxed as she said, “I understand, Dora. You look a little frazzled today, are you okay?
“And how is your friend Nora? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without her.”
That’s all it took. Dora dropped her handbag on the desk and started to sob as if the world had come to an end. Between the hiccupping and gulping she managed to say, “Oh, Goldie, I ca–can’t b–believe it. The police arrested her early this morning. You th–think you kn–know someone and then s–something like this happens.”
Not knowing what to make of her outburst, Goldie led poor little Dora to an antique wingback chair. “Here, sit down for a minute, Dora.” She patted the distraught woman on the shoulder. “Why don’t you relax and I’ll have Rudy fix us both a cup of tea. Then you can tell me all about it.”
Dora nodded numbly and stared at her toes. By the time Rudy came in with two steaming cups of chamomile tea, she seemed to have pulled herself together.
“There ya go, Miz Dora. This’ll make ya feel better.” He handed her one of the cups and gave the other to his boss.
After taking a few sips, she started to calm down. Goldie said, as gently as she could, “There, there. Tell me what happened.”
Dora looked at Goldie’s compassionate face and her story began to pour out. “Oh Goldie, I still can’t believe it. It was Nora all along. She was running the smuggling operation here. About five years ago she recommended Rimsky for the job at the church. Said he was her cousin. We never thought anything illegal was going on. Even after weird things started to happen, everyone just thought he was a little odd, if you know what I mean...” Her voice trailed off.
Dora sighed and took another sip of the tea. Suddenly her face lit up with a broad smile. “Well, at least I get to be first for once.”
Goldie didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. “First?” she asked.
The woman nodded. “Yep, I’m the first one with the gossip this time. I finally trumped that busy body Belle. And this is really big, too. I’m so mad at Nora for what she did. It makes me feel better just to tell you about it. In fact I’m going to tell everyone I know before I get around to telling your mother-in-law.”
Goldie felt a little thrill as she realized that all the missing pieces were about to fall into place. “Well, don’t stop now. Tell me the rest.”
“Okay, so I went over to Nora’s early this morning to have a little breakfast with her. She was just scrambling the eggs when Chief Oliver and Officer Dimwiddy pounded on the door. Nora saw them and got so upset she dropped the pan right on the floor. Then it was just like TV. They asked her a bunch of questions, told her she was under arrest, read her the rights and everything, and then took her away in handcuffs.”
“Did they question you, too?”
“No, I was so quiet I don’t think they even noticed me. I just sat in the corner and listened to everything. After they left I cleaned the eggs off the floor and went home and cried!”
Goldie noticed as Dora told the story, her normal shyness seemed to be fading away. “What did the police say to Nora?”
“Well, Chief Oliver said he got a very interesting call from the Los Angeles police. They’re sending Rimsky back to Juneau, you know, to charge him with Father Augustine’s murder. Anyway, when he realized how much trouble he was in he tried to strike a bargain by telling them about Nora and the whole smuggling ring.”
Goldie sipped her tea and waited for Dora to continue. “It’s so hard to believe Nora was involved in the smuggling. Did you find out anything else?” she prodded.
“Well, you see Nora’s maiden name was Pinsky. Turns out her brother was one of the people who died in that big fire in Vladivostok.”
“That’s incredible! Nora was Uri’s sister? She didn’t even have a Russian accent.”
“Oh, I knew she grew up in Minsk, that’s where the Pinskys were from, you know. But she came to Alaska years ago as a one of those young mail order brides and lost her accent pretty quick. I feel so stupid. When Belle said Minsky & Pinsky were your importers, the ones that got killed, I didn’t even put two and two together.” She shook her head dejectedly. “And according to the police, Rimsky really was Nora’s cousin. He worked in the warehouse in Vladivostok. Her brother sent him to Alaska to help with the smuggling because he spoke perfect English.”
Goldie tapped the rim of her teacup. “Nora must have been the one who stole the ledger sheet with my customer’s names.”
“Oh yes! Sitting there in the kitchen she admitted that she did it when she told Rudy she wanted to see if there was a samovar tucked away in the back room.”
Rudy, who had been silently listening to every word, let out a big whoop that made Dora spill some of her tea. “Dang it! I knew I shouldn’ta let that pushy ol’ gal get past me.”
Goldie gave him a sympathetic look. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, Rudy, looks like she put one over on everyone!”
Rudy nodded. “C’mon, any more to the story?”
Dora hesitated, as if trying to remember everything she heard. “Well, I guess Rimsky told the police that he’s been receiving all kinds of valuable things since he took the job. It was Nora’s idea to have the stuff shipped to the church as religious artifacts, so they could whizz past customs.”
“Really? I wonder if Nora knew that the samovars I was waiting for were the ones that had the gems. After all, it was the Dumkovskys who switched them.”
Dora scratched her head and scrunched her brow. “You know, Goldie, I kept telling Nora we should give you a break. But she insisted on dragging me here every day to see if those samovars came in. It’s funny, though, I really don’t think she knew they had been switched. When we finally bought the one for dear old Father Innocent, she just left it in that pretty box you wrapped and handed it over to him.”
“Well, if she did know, maybe she figured Rimsky would retrieve the stone and she would appear completely innocent. Whatever the rest of their plan was, it looks like they didn’t count on the Dumkovsky brothers running their own game. That’s when things really fell apart for them.”
Rudy crossed his arms and leaned against a Victorian armoire. “Funny, ain’t it, ladies? Sometimes things are goin’ on right under yer nose an’ ya haven’t got a clue.”
Dora nodded and gave a little sniff. “Yes, I always thought she was my best friend. Boy, was I wrong. Now I’m just glad it’s over and we don’t have to worry about who will be killed next.”
“Yeah, we can finally get back to life as usual. Thanks for the information, Dora. I can’t wait to tell my sister.” They started to walk toward the door of the shop. “I’m glad you feel better. Sounds like your new priest will help sort out the mess and put your church back on its feet.”
The woman turned in the doorway and said, “Father Inquisitive seems very efficient. Too bad he’s not as handsome as poor Father Augustine. There is one thing that makes me happy—”
“What’s that, Dora?”
“With all of the rumors that started going around, I’m so glad it turned out that Father Innocent really was innocent!”
Goldie waved goodbye to Dora and realized one thing was making her happy right at that moment, too. She wouldn’t have to deal with any more samovars. Ever.
FORTY THREE
As the sun set on Clifton Bay, its colorful display turned the sky into a mango smoothie. A gentle Bahamian breeze kissed the broad deck of one of Lyford Cay’s mini-mansions and wafted across the white sand beach. Two middle-aged men in Hawaiian shirts lounged in deck chairs beside the Jacuzzi sipping Pina Coladas.
Vladimir Minsky lifted his glass. “Uri, this is nice life, no?”
Uri Pinsky wiggled his bare toes. “
Da
, is good to be warming feet in Nassau instead of freezing butt in Vladivostok.”
Vladimir drained his drink and picked up a thick terry towel. “Karl will be here soon, so I think I go into house now. You are coming, also?”
A dreamy smile played on Uri’s lips. “Not yet, Vlad. Six months we are here and still I do not tire of watching sunset. You go, I come soon.”
The short, paunchy man eased himself back into the deck chair. “You are right, I stay a little longer. Such a beautiful sight. Not like view Nora and Rimsky will have from jail window.” He exploded in laughter.
Uri sighed and shook his head sadly. “They are so dumb, those two. Imagine my own sister and my stupid cousin thinking they will outsmart Uri and Vlad.”
“Ha!” Vladimir clapped his hands loudly. “Little do they know those idiot Dumkovskys already had burn down warehouse. Try to double-cross all of us, poor fools!”
Uri sighed again. “
Chërt!
Our beautiful antiques, nothing but ashes.” He slapped Minsky on the shoulder. “At first I am crying, but now, my friend, I am having last laugh.”
As the sky darkened to an indigo blue, the two old friends went back into the house, arm in arm, to wait for Karl.
* * * *
The buttons on Vladimir’s flowered shirt strained across his belly and his sandals slapped the marble floor as he traversed the entry hall to welcome their guest. “Comrade Chermimenko, welcome to Bahamas,” he said as he led the young man into a gaudy sitting room. Chermimenko’s long, sun-bleached blond hair glistened under the crystal chandelier.
“Will you have a drink, Karl?” Uri rose from his chair and reached for a glass at the bar. “Tell me, have you heard anything about Alexei Korsakov?”
“Alexei? I hear he is enjoying hospitality of Russian jail. Newspapers claim he steals Seven Stars of Siberia. Chief of Antiquities says he killed young Chermimenko. Seems they are finding body in Los Angeles airport bathroom with dead agent’s papers.” Karl tapped his chest. “A toast to poor Chermimenko. So young to die!”
“To your death!” Minsky and Pinsky sang out in unison.
With all three glasses aloft, Cherimenko added, “By the way, I am now Karl Cook and have started lessons to get American accent, dude. You like?”
Vladimir slapped him on the back. “Karl Cook, is good name. Very American, maybe we should do same.”
“You are looking like lazy American surfer already,” Uri added.
A deep tan highlighted Karl’s sparkling teeth as his lips curved in a broad smile. “You have my money?”
“Of course. You deserve it. Without you this could not happen. Good thing you saw us escaping from burning warehouse.”
Karl Cherimenko ran his fingers through his mop of hair. “
Da. Da,
when stupid Dumkovskys set that fire I am afraid all is lost until I see you two running from side of building.”
Uri splashed more vodka in Karl’s glass. “At first I am thinking you will arrest us.”
The young man smiled again. “Ah! That is what Alexei wants to do. But the minute I see you, I think this is my chance to get something for myself. I tell Alexei you must know where Seven Stars are, and we should get permission to track you so you will lead us to gems.”
Vladimir laughed, his belly bobbing up and down like a huge bowl of Jello. “Was perfect partnership. We let those stupid
bolváns
track the gems for us, you convince Alexei to make government play our game, and when you turn gems over to us, already we have buyer lined up with big bucks. Now, all three of us are ‘dead’ and gone to heaven right here in Bahamas.”
A crocodile tear rolled down Uri’s cheek. “Poor sister and cousin, not so much like heaven where they are.”
Cherimenko nodded. “
Da
, I do feel bad about stiff-necked old Alexei, but not at all sad for Dumkovskys.”
Vladimir Minsky opened another vodka bottle. “I will have a little more to drown sorrow.”
Uri grunted as he got up, then removed a case from the hall closet containing enough money to ensure a life of luxury for the new Karl Cook. “So Karl, how you are managing to get Alexei to board plane while you stay behind?”
The young man laughed. “He was so easy to fool. I am the one with gems safely hidden in belt. I tell him to go aboard first, check security. I will wait at end of line until he comes back to doorway with all-clear signal. I let him see me in line and wait until he goes back in plane. Then I leave. I wonder what he must think when they, how you say, button up plane and Karl has disappeared!”
Uri chuckled and handed the case containing the money to Cherimenko.
After checking the contents, Karl nodded and closed the case. They all shook hands. Before he reached the door, he turned back toward Uri and Vladimir. “Was pleasure doing business with you, comrades. Thanks to the Romanoffs, we will all have good, rich life. Is truly amazing how much seven shiny stones are worth.”
Karl took two more steps and lurched forward, clutching his stomach. Uri relieved him of the money box as he fell face down on the marble floor, his handsome features contorted in a deathly grimace.
“Yes, comrade, and worth even more when split only two ways.”