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many cases, yes. But I was always butting heads with useless bureaucrats. When I pushed to question witnesses and do field research that might lead to actual clues, they preferred to do wiretaps, amass information, and do a data dump.” He snorted. “They wanted to write a
report
.” He said the word
report
as if he was referring to camel dung. “A lot of good that does.”
    â€œSo what now?” Drayton asked. He sounded a little frustrated. “Now what do we do?”
    Tidwell gave a tight grimace. “I’d keep a close watch on that jeweled egg of yours.”
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    â€œDid you hear any of what we were talking about out there?” Theodosia asked Haley. She was in the kitchen, leaning up against the butcher-block table, enjoying the aroma of fresh-baked scones and muffins, and watching Haley stir a big pot of corn chowder.
    â€œI kind of did,” Haley said. “Drayton said something about a Fabergé egg? What’s
that
all about?”
    â€œThe Heritage Society borrowed it for their Rare Antiquities Show. A Peter the Great egg.”
    â€œPeter the Great from
Russia
?”
    â€œThat would be the place. And apparently this egg is the real deal.”
    Haley twiddled her wooden spoon and gave the counter a
tippety-tap
. “I’d say the timing on that fancy egg is seriously wrong. Can they hold off on displaying it?”
    â€œDrayton tells me it’s the key piece in their show. All their big-buck donors are coming Saturday night just to get a peek at it.”
    â€œWhat if somebody else shows up to take a peek at it?” Haley asked. “Like the same clowns who showed up at Brooke’s shop last night?”
    â€œThen we’ve got a huge problem.”
    â€œWe? No, no.” Haley looked startled. “Just leave me out of this, please. I’ve had enough robbery to last me a lifetime.”
    Theodosia realized that Haley was still deeply shaken by the robbery. And, of course, Kaitlin’s death. “Yes, of course we will. Apologies if I upset you. Especially since I just came in to get today’s luncheon menu.”
    â€œWhew.” Haley looked relieved. “Hopefully we’re back to our regular routine, then. Okay.” She dug out a three-by-five-inch index card from her apron pocket and handed it to Theodosia. “Here you go.”
    Theodosia studied the card. “So lemon scones and your corn chowder as a starter.”
    â€œYup. And a choice of three entrées today,” Haley said. “Individual chicken potpies, zucchini quiche, and three kinds of tea sandwiches with either chicken salad filling, tomato slices with Cheddar cheese, or strawberry cream cheese. For dessert we’ve got toffee bars and chocolate brownie tortes.”
    â€œIt all sounds perfect.”
    â€œWith the cooler weather moving in, it’s fun to come up with some heartier offerings.” Haley smiled. “Heart-healthy ones, too.”
    â€œAtta girl.”
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    Lunch was busier than Theodosia thought it would be. She greeted customers, poured tea, and took orders. And with the cooler temperatures moving in, customers
did
want heartier lunches. She brought out bowl after bowl of corn chowder and was beginning to fear that they’d run out of chicken potpies. But, somehow, through Haley’s magic, they still managed to have a few left.
    When one fifteen rolled around, Theodosia found herself with a slight break in the action. So she grabbed a carton of scone mixes from her office in back and carried it out to the tea room so she could restock her shelves.
    Theodosia prided herself on her little retail area. There were two antique highboys chock-full of tea strainers, tea towels, DuBose Bees Honey, and shiny blue bags of Indigo Tea Shop tea. This time of year, Drayton’s proprietary blends included Cranberry Razzle-Dazzle, Black Tea