Tamar Myers - Monet Talks: A Den of Antiquity Mystery

10 I closed my eyes and balled my fists.

Let me... 114 11 I took the phone hesitantly. Who is it?

I asked, 129 12 But dont let her see you, I whispered. 142 13 That doesnt sound like a man in love,

Abby. That 154 14 It was hard to focus at Hocus Pocus

because they 168 15 I hit the floor every bit as hard as a 181 16 Mamas crinolines weigh only a few

ounces each, but I 197 17 Agnes, darling, what a surprise to hear

from you. 215 18 Stretch limos are not an uncommon sight

in Charleston. Movie

Im in love.

Could those possibly be Mamas pearls? Mama never took them

261 Please believe me, I wouldnt have dreamed

of destroying an 301 The crowd of wedding guests was thinning

when I arrived, 313 I called my brother, Toy, from the emergency

waiting room

bought the Taj Mahal for ten thousand dol lars at an estate auction. A slew of people bid against me, but I kept my cool, and when the auctioneers gavel pounded, closing the sale, I was the proud owner of Indias most identifiable landmark. The crowd applauded.

Afterward, a number of people came over to congratulate me. Way to go, Abby, they said, way to go, but every single one of them sounded jealous. All in all, it was a very good day, even though I had one heck of a time fitting the Taj into the back of my Volvo station wagon.

It wasnt the real Taj Mahal, of course, but a handmade wire and sheet-metal replica that was actually a birdcage. The bit of information that came with it claimed that this piece had been commissioned by a British officers wife back in the days of the Raj. The strange black bird that came with the cage was a more recent addition. Other than that the birds name was Monet, and what he liked to eat, there was no further information.

My name is Abigail Washburn, by the way. Im an antiques dealer, the proud owner of the Den of Antiquity, on lower King Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. My assistant is C.J.a.k.a. Jane Coxwhich stands for Calamity Jane. She has a genius level IQ, is a brilliant businesswoman and a dear friend, but she is one beer short of a six-pack, if you get my drift.

When I arrived at my shop with the Taj Mahal in tow, C.J. was all atwitter. Ooh, Abby, hes beautiful, she said referring to the bird. Where did you get him?

He came with the cage. The auctioneer called him a, uhwell, Ive forgotten. Sorry, but Im not up on my birds.

Hes a Gracula religiosa intermedia.

Excuse me?

A Greater Indian Hill Mynah. Theyre a member of the starling family. What are you going to do with him?

I havent really thought about that. I was just so interested in buying this cage. Dont you think this cage is beautiful, C.J.?

Ive seen prettier.

But look at all that work. Whoever made this had to bend all these wires to create these filigree bars, and just look at all the bezel-set semiprecious stones on these sheet-metal domes.

It must have taken hundreds of man-hours to make, and Ill bet some of these larger stones like that amethyst, for exampleare worth something by themselves. I hope to double money on this with the right buyer.

C.J. shrugged. The amethyst looks cloudy to me. Abby, can I have the bird?

Well

This species of mynah is about the best talker in the whole world, Abby. They can sound just like a human, or a cat, or a fire engine, whatever they want to imitate.

Is that so? He hasnt said a word yet.

Then I can have him?

There is nothing like someone else lusting after your property to make it suddenly seem desirable. I gave the bundle of feathers a second glance. He wasnt much to look at; mostly black, with dark orange-brown shadings. There were featherless patches on his neckwattles Id guess youd call themthat were bright yellow, but I certainly wouldnt call them attractive. A mockingbird might have made a prettier pet, a blue jay surely.

At any rate, neither C.J. nor I heard the man sneaking up behind us, which is why we both jumped when he spoke.

Whatcha looking at? he demanded. We whirled. There was nobody there.

You looking to pick a fight, buddy?

C.J., this is freaking me out. The voice reminded me of my long-dead daddys, only without his Upstate drawl.

Maybe its a ghost, Abby. Have you ever had your shop exorcised?

They prefer to be called Apparition Americans these days, and no, I havent had it exorcised. Ive never had any problem with ghostApparition Americans.

Dennis, Dennis, a woman shrieked, bring me a fresh pot of tea.

Im four feet nine. C.J. is five feet ten. The thing that kept me from leaping into her arms was the look on her face.

C.J., what is it? Besides the fact that this shop suddenly has more spirits than the state liquor store.

Much to my horror, the big gal started laughing maniacally. I wouldnt have been surprised to see her horse-size head start spinning la Linda Blair. Between guffaws she tried to speak, but wasnt getting anywhere.

If you dont stop laughing this minute, Im going to have you exorcised.

C.J. sobered pronto. Abby, its not one of them thats your culprit. Its him! She pointed at the mynah.

Say what? I told you they were good talkers, didnt I?

Didnt I? Didnt I?

If I hadnt been staring at the bird, if I hadnt seen its throat bob up and down, I wouldnt have believed my ears. It sounded

exactly like C.J.

Now do you believe me?

Yes, I

Betty bleaches her toe hair? The new voice was high and sweet, with a breathy quality. Get out of town!

Ooh, Abby, you gotta let me have him. Please, pretty please.

Iwas abouttosayIwould giveher thebird when the bells hanging from my shop door jangled, and in walked two of Charlestons grand dames. I wont mention names, but they both wore wrinkled linen suits and chunky jewelry. Their shoes came to roach-killer points and their handbags came from Moo-Roos. Yes, I know, that description fits half the women living South of Broad, and a good number of Junior Leaguers everywhere. Mama calls them Linen Ladies.

Will you look at that!

Ladies, I apologize! I cried, absolutely mortified.

Thats one hot mama, guys.

Linen Lady One walked straight to the Taj Mahal. What a clever bird.

Linen Lady Two followed suit. Dahlin, I believe it was referring to me.