The Chocolate Falcon Fraud Read Online Free Page A

August.
    Then I got another hug. “Oh, Lee! I’m so glad to see you!” Tess stood back and looked all around the lobby. And she dropped a little bombshell.
    â€œWhere’s Jeff?” she asked.
    My heart sank to my knees. “Oh no! Tess, I was sure you’d know where he is. I’m looking for him, and Alicia—I’m sure you know Alicia—is looking for him frantically.”
    Tess rolled her eyes. “Jeff might not answer her calls.”
    â€œHe hasn’t been answering mine either.”
    â€œHe usually picks up for me.”
    We sat down in the breakfast area, and she pulled out a cell phone in a cute zebra-striped case. She smiled complacently as she called up her contacts list, and she winked at me as she punched the phone.
    â€œI’ll find out where that bad boy is,” she said.
    Her smile slowly faded as she waited. And waited. I could hear the rings. Five of them. Then I heard Jeff’s voice. “Please leave a message after the beep.”
    â€œHe’s not answering,” she said. “I’ll
get
him!”
    I looked at my watch. I needed to leave for Warner Pier within fifteen minutes. I had to try to find out what was going on in that time.
    â€œTess,” I asked, “what are you and Jeff up to?”
    â€œUp to?” Tess’ eyes and voice were as innocent as the proverbial newborn babe.
    I steeled my resolve. “Yes, Tess. Why have the two of you come to Michigan? You’re not in some weird kind of trouble again?”
    â€œOh no, Lee!” Tess giggled. “It’s nothing
serious
! Jeff doesn’t even know I’m here. Anyway, it’s just a game.”
    â€œWhat kind of a game?”
    â€œWell . . .”
    I made my voice stern. “I have to be back in Warner Pier in forty-five minutes. I don’t have time to beg. You’ve got to tell me. And Alicia Richardson better not have been bugging me all morning over a game.”
    â€œOh, Lee. It’s going to seem silly to you, but it’s real important to Jeff. And to me. See, we’ve both been interns at the Texas Museum of Popular Culture, the Dallas branch. And they’re having a competition. Film collectibles. Noir nostalgia.”
    â€œNoir nostalgia? As in noir films?”
    â€œRight! I knew you’d understand.”
    â€œI understand what a noir film is. The Warner Pier Film Festival is saluting noir movies this summer. But what’s the museum competition about?”
    â€œMemorabilia. The person who brings in the most significant piece of noir memorabilia wins a prize. Five thousand dollars.”
    â€œFive thousand dollars! Where is a museum getting that kind of money?”
    â€œIt’s a grant. From the Grossman Foundation.”
    â€œAnd what is the Grossman Foundation?” I asked the question, then realized I was getting off the subject. “Never mind that,” I said. “Did you and Jeff both come up here on the trail of some movie souvenir?”
    â€œSort of. I admit I followed Jeff. But I also came because of the Warner Pier Film Festival. Lots of collectors and traders are going to be here. Jeff came because he heard about something that he thought might really take the prize.”
    â€œWhat was it?”
    â€œSomething to do with
The Maltese Falcon.
” Her gaze wavered again.
    I decided to let her off the hook. “Never mind. It wouldn’t mean anything to me.” I checked the time again. “Tess, Joe and I are living in the old cottage where you stayed with Aunt Nettie and me. We’ve even put in a second bathroom! Upstairs! Why don’t you come and stay with us?”
    â€œI don’t want to impose. Is Jeff staying there?”
    â€œNo, he’s registered here. At this motel. But, Tess, grad students are traditionally hard up. I’d hate for you to pay for a motel when you can have a room and private bath with us for free.”
    She laughed