The Life & Death of Jorja Graham Read online

  I turned around to see her glaring at me with her arms crossed defiantly in front of her chest. I sighed heavily, then conceded. “I need to grab my laptop and then we can go.”

  Cat finally smiled for the first time this morning and helped me gather the papers and documents I had scattered all over my dining room table. Two trips back upstairs, one to grab reference books from my office, then another to grab my larger briefcase and we were ready to leave…almost.

  I flung open the door but had turned to tell Cat I was ready when I heard a deep smooth voice greet me. “I thought you were under the weather.”

  I turned around to see Corbin standing there with flowers in one hand and coffee in the other.

  “She is, but she’s incredibly stubborn and refuses to listen to people,” Cat said over my shoulder.

  I bit my lip and sighed, waving my arm towards my foyer. “Please come in, Corbin.”

  He stepped through the front door, handing me the coffee instead of the flowers. The flowers he handed to Cat. “It’s nice to see you both again, but I do hope you plan on providing an explanation as to why you felt the need to lie. Sleeping in isn’t a crime, so what’s the real reason you didn’t show up for our appointment?” Corbin took his usual stance, legs about a foot and a half apart and his right hand clasped over his left wrist.

  I shot a look to my best friend, one I hoped she’d read loud and clear. If she told him about the bruises and scratch marks I was going to have to kill her. Corbin was the last person I wanted to be talking to about this. Yes, he may be standing in my foyer with well wishes but I did not know this man and I had no intention of letting him into my life any further than he already was.

  Cat returned my dirty look with one of her own before she turned with a smile to Corbin. “The flowers are lovely, thank you.” She pushed away from the door and walked towards the kitchen.

  I gave Corbin a shrug. “I was up late and I’m tired. She’s overreacting. Some food and we can start our day. I’m sorry I missed our appointment but I’ll make it up to you.”

  Corbin gave me a knowing look. “And how exactly do you plan on making it up to me?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Seriously, didn’t we cover this yesterday?”

  “You stated your opinion, but I’m still trying to show you an alternative point of view and now you owe me.”

  Cat snickered from the other room and I mentally cursed her name but found a quick remedy to her amused attitude. “Cat and I were just about to grab some breakfast, would you care to join us?”

  “You have a chaperone now; I’m heading home to make a few calls before my trip tomorrow,” Cat called out. “I’m leaving to go to Paris and then Milan after that, so Corbin, you’re gonna have to try and keep her on the straight and narrow,” she said as she walked back to the foyer with the flowers in a vase.

  My shocked expression was palpable. “I don’t need help from either one of you. I’ve survived quite well on my own for years, thank you.”

  Corbin put a clenched fist to his mouth trying to stifle a chuckle. “Maybe not but I’d love to be the one to try.” I guess he found great humor in listening to Cat and my vague argument.

  “Maybe I will join you for breakfast. This might be too amusing to miss.” Cat clapped him on the shoulder before she set the vase on the table in the front room. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen Jorja this ruffled. It’s humorous to watch her try and deflect your advances.”

  “Cat!”

  “What? You could’ve stayed home and in bed but you chose door number two.” She shrugged and turned her back to me. “I know this really great diner down the street, you’re gonna love it.”

  My stomach churned as I watched Cat link her arm under Corbin’s. I wasn’t jealous or mad really, but I did feel ruffled just as Cat had said and I couldn’t understand why? Because you barely got any sleep, your arms looking like you were in a MMA match and that man unnerves you, that’s why. I sighed and headed out the door behind them. I wanted to be upset with my best friend but we’d been friends since the dawn of time and I knew she was just looking out for me. Cat’s retorts were her way of making a point, but I had to wonder if what she said was true, would I have stayed home if it had been any other client?

  Breakfast, or rather brunch at this hour, was actually nice. We chatted about our backgrounds and dished about current events. And in true Cat form, she managed to finagle answers from Corbin, questions I’d convinced myself I didn’t really want to know. He apparently was a collector, of what exactly still remained a mystery. He only divulged that he collected rare objects, things others missed the beauty in, but that he himself considered treasures.

  It made me wonder what his collection looked like. His tastes were fairly standard as far as I could tell. The Mahogany federal-style sideboard from the 1800s and the Steinway parlor piano he tagged, were both stunning pieces, but neither one were what I would consider “rare.” There were at least a dozen things I could name off the top of my head that would be considered treasures but I had yet to see anything like that at Rhetta’s estate. The items there were remarkable but not exactly rarities.

  My head snapped up when Cat asked Corbin how long he’d be staying in town. I tried to play off my reaction by pouring a bit of cream into my coffee cup, clinking the spoon as I did, but I doubt my cover was actually successful. Corbin played it close to the vest when he responded, not a shock considering how he withheld most of what he was really thinking under that cool demeanor. He casually shrugged saying he hadn’t planned an exit date yet, that he was still hoping to find something specific and wouldn’t be leaving until he did. The statement made me even more curious. What could he be looking for?

  Corbin shifted his attention to me and I wondered why he always seemed to respond to my internal thoughts as if I’d said them aloud. You’re ridiculous and a smidge paranoid don’t you think? I used to think my mother could read my thoughts too but that was nothing more than her constant disapproval than an actual gift of telepathy. A simple reach for a pack of gum in a grocery store warranted a glare that could turn anyone to stone. I always knew exactly what she would’ve said had we not been in public. “Do you have any idea what it looks like when you chew gum, Jorja?” I’d always shake my head, not wanting to actually verbalize my response but knew an insult was sure to follow. “You’d look like a cow chewing cud and I will not have it.” That would have then been followed up with a sharp slap to the wrist as she put the gum back on the shelf. And God forbid if I’d actually showed any sign of disappointment, because that was punishable with a switch. Mother had her rules and expected them to be followed at all times.

  “Well, I have to head out. I know you two have a ton of work to do,” Cat said as she extended her hand to Corbin. “Thank you for a lovely brunch. I thoroughly enjoyed it.” He graciously thanked Cat for her company as she moved behind me, wrapping her arms around me in a loving hug. “And you, please take it easy today and call me later. I’d like to talk before I leave tomorrow.”

  I patted her arm and promised I’d be in touch. I even offered to bring over dinner before I went home because I knew that in the next few minutes, she’d be on the phone with her mother telling her all about my nightmare last night and asking what it all meant. Hell, I’d be lucky to make it through the night without a visit from Lucille by the time Cat was done relaying the story.

  c h a p t e r

  NINE

  The afternoon went as expected, more tagging and organizing as we waited for the cleaning crew to arrive. Corbin was uneasy with the idea of the eight person crew wandering about the house freely but I’d assured him that I’d used them many times and there was nothing to be concerned about. He finally yielded but only as far as having Lucas trail the group as they moved from room to room. It took almost five hours for the cleaning staff to dust the furniture and polish the floors. I assumed it would’ve taken longer but their efficiency was one of the reasons they were on the top of my “b
est in the biz” list.

  I continued to scour the rooms in search of Corbin’s mysterious treasure. I’d asked him several times what it was he was hoping to find, but he’d only respond, “I’ll know it when I see it.” My aunts had stopped by to show us the linen choices and the menu from the caterers, two tasks I had no interest in handling. Everything was ready for the auction except for the last bit of research I needed to do on the hall tree and the Empire secretary desk. I wanted to make sure to add the time periods to justify the price.

  When my phone began to buzz I assumed it was the auctioneer confirming the time but instead it was a series of texts from Cat with detailed instructions of what I should be looking out for while I was in the house and what I needed to do before I left. I sighed heavily and shoved my phone into my back pocket. I didn’t exactly have time to go find a stack of red bricks and grind them into dust to spread on the entryways, not to mention the fact that Corbin would be all over me wanting to know why I’d lost my mind.

  I was headed out right behind Corbin and Lucas but as I sat in my car checking off my “completed” list, I decided to look one more place before I gave up for the night; the carriage house. As I walked down the path, I thought about the letter I'd found that Rhetta wrote when she caught her husband cheating. I wondered which of the trees she’d hid behind to spy on his indiscretion.

  It was dusk and the sun was setting quickly. I fumbled around in my bag for the ring of keys Corbin had given me earlier and pulled out my flashlight as well. I had no idea if there’d be electricity in the carriage house or not. The main house had been updated with central ac and given many modern conveniences so I’d hoped the same would be true out here as well. I ran my hand along the wall just inside the door and found the light switch. I flipped the toggle and frowned. I’d prayed the room would be fully illuminated but there was only a dim glow from the side table lamps. I could tell from the half dozen candles scattered about, their wax drippings melted onto the surfaces they were sitting on, that Rhetta must’ve preferred something more soothing than a standard three-way bulb.

  From the outside this looked like a typical out building but on the inside, it was a place that appeared to be trapped in time, a snapshot of an era gone by. It was quaint and held more of a woman’s touch than the main house. Ivory curtains with soft red and pink roses covered the windows, while cotton throws looked as though they’d been neatly folded and delicately placed over the back of the sofa. There was a simple rocker sitting next to the soot stained brick fireplace and a Shaker style sewing basket on the floor near the brass log holder. I wondered if it was filled with antique notions or if it contained yarn and knitting needles, either way, it was an odd scene considering what I knew about Mrs. Rhyland. Had this been her secret hideaway, a place for her to be herself where no one would judge her? I could relate to needing a place to just exist without presumptions. Maybe that was what tipped the scales for her, this was her private space and Carver had used it to bed his mistresses. I could only imagine that with the evident care and tidiness of this room, she would’ve been beyond furious. He’s lucky she only wrote about it in her journal instead of burning this place to the ground with him and his lover in it.

  The wood floor creaked as I walked towards a door leading to another room. In true Rhetta style, this was also filled with exquisite pieces. In the middle of the bedroom sat a plantation bed complete with a canopy and mosquito netting. It too was overtly feminine with its floral wallpaper and matching coverlet. Maybe all the stories about Rhetta were fabrications because this did not look like it belonged to an evil woman hell-bent on destroying everything in her path.

  I pulled out my phone and swiped the screens until I found the camera app. I needed to take pictures and send them to Corbin. Maybe some of the furnishings in here were among the list of unique pieces he’d been searching for. The camera flash lit up the room with each click of the button, five shots later and I had the gist of the room captured. When I went to send them to Corbin though, I noticed odd orbs of light in the background. “Crap, the flash is too bright.”

  Scurrying sounds came from behind me and I spun around to see what it was. Tick–tick–tick, tick–tick–tick, in short staccato bursts. I knew that sound and cringed…rats. That was my cue to leave. I’d have to bring Corbin out here tomorrow because I don’t get paid enough to deal with vermin. Besides, I’ll get some clearer shots in the daylight anyway. I’d photographed almost every item in this house for posterity. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll write a book and feature all the fabulous antiques my aunts and I have encountered over the years…a coffee table book with stunning images of our history in furniture.

  I closed the door to the carriage house and wished I’d thought this out before I walked all this way. It was now pitch black, the moon only a sliver in the night sky, and all I had was this dinky flashlight. My phone began to vibrate and I jumped. When the hell did that switch to vibrate? The text was from Cat. “Where are you? I’m hungry. I called in sushi take-out so stop by and pick it up on your way home. The wine's already open.”

  I texted back, “Give me ten and I’ll be leaving the estate. See U soon.”

  Leaves crunched beneath my feet as I walked back towards my car. The temperature seemed to have dropped, once again chilling me to the bone. I stepped onto the porch of the main house to make sure I’d secured the front door when I heard a sound in the trees behind me. My heart began to race and I inwardly chided. It’s just an animal in the woods. When I turned around, there was nothing, at least nothing I could actually see. The tiny hairs on my arms were now standing at full alert.

  I stomped on the porch, hoping the noise would scare the animal away, then shone the light in the direction of the noise. Again, nothing. I pulled the keys out of my pocket and held them defensively in one hand, while I used the flashlight to navigate the ground towards my car. Fifteen steps at best, Jorja. You can do this. I took the first few slowly, then picked up the pace. I opened the door and jumped inside so fast I jammed my hand on the steering wheel as I slid in. As the lock clicked, I exhaled. I don’t think I'd taken a breath since I left the porch. Note to self, no more walking in the woods at night.

  The drive home settled my nerves but only a bit. I don’t know why I let a little commotion in the woods work me up like this; it’s not like I was a sheltered little girl unfamiliar with the animals around here. It was probably just a raccoon or maybe from the sound of it, a gator trying to make its way back to the marsh.

  I parked and walked briskly back to my townhouse. I wanted nothing more than to strip out of these clothes and chug down a few glasses of wine. I needed something to calm my frazzled nerves and a wine sedative sounded like the perfect cure. As I rounded the corner, I saw my front door open and the porch light shining down on Cat. She was talking under her breath as she sprinkled something on my doorstep.

  “What are you doing?”

  Cat spun around, wide eyed. “You scared the shit out of me, Jorja.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to but seriously, what are you pouring under the mat?”

  “The red brick dust I told you about earlier. I knew you wouldn’t have time to collect everything, so I did it for you.”

  I rolled my eyes and then stepped into my house. “Okay but before you explain exactly what that text message meant, I need wine. It’s been a long damn day.”

  Cat shut the door behind her. “Roll your eyes all you want but you know what I’m about to say has merit. I’m not gonna be here to help you,” Cat said as she set down a mason jar filled with a reddish powder onto the counter. “I tried to reschedule my trip but there are too many people and things to rearrange, it just wasn’t possible. This will have to do until I get back.”

  I popped the cork on the wine bottle. “Wine first then talking.”

  Cat continued to rattle on despite my obvious attempt to halt her. She went on about how she’d been working on it since this morning. Apparently, it was red brick dust and
it has been used for centuries by various magical traditions for protection. The bricks are ground into a powder and then placed in a jar before they are blessed with a candle and prayer.

  “The candle went out about ten minutes ago and I decided to get started on dispersing the dust for you.”

  “So no vacuuming then?”

  “Stop with the jokes, Jorja, this is serious.”

  “I’m sure it is, Cat,” I replied as I pulled off my shoes and kicked them towards the wall. “I’m just exhausted.”

  Cat opened up the to-go containers as I pulled down the plates. “So what else did your mom say I needed to do,” I asked as I looked down at the yellowing bruises on my forearm.

  “Let’s eat first and then I’ll explain. I didn’t mean to blast you with all this first thing.”

  “It’s okay. I’m going to have another long day ahead of me tomorrow, too. The carriage house off the back of the property is filled with stuff I’m sure Corbin will be interested in…so much for wrapping up the project.”

  “I don’t think you really want to wrap things up because that means Corbin will go back to New Orleans.”

  “So? It’s not like he was moving into the estate.”

  “So, I think you are interested in him. I think he confuses you and you don’t know what to do about it.”

  “You are so full of shit, Cat.”

  “Am I? Then why do you get all riled up when your aunts or I point out anything about him?”

  “I don’t. You all are just nuts about him and I’m not. He’s arrogant and self-centered. I don’t have time for that right now, or ever, for that matter,” I snapped.

  She grinned as she looked over the rim of her wine glass. “Maybe, but you can’t deny that he is fine as hell. I bet he’s great in bed too.”

  “Then you sleep with him.”

  “I would but he seems to only have eyes for you,” she teased as she reached for the wine bottle. “More?”