“What in the hell are you supposed to be?” she asked.

“Charlie Chan!” he answered irritably.

“Charlie Chan wore suits. You look like a walking White Sale. Are those drapery tassels on your head?”

“It’s a traditional Chinese costume. At least I don’t look like a flasher.”

“Okay break it up,” Braden said, like a good Director.

“I have a question,” Cam broke in and we all looked at him expectantly.

“How do we get him to invite us into the study, especially since Caitlin will be there and he knows she would recognize the painting.” Damn. He had a point. We all looked at Gabrielle.

“I’ve given this some thought,” she began.

“Of course you have,” Adam interrupted.

“As long as he invites us into the house, and doesn’t specifically say the study is off limits, we should be okay. So, I say we wait until everyone is asleep and then we head down there. If anyone stops us or catches us, we’ll say we were looking for something to read.”

“All of us together?” I asked. This plan sounded kind of lame.

“You and Beth do things together with the Roth’s,” Bruce said with a smile at Lily who gave him a death glare in return.

“What are they going to do, accuse a senator’s son and daughter of attempted burglary or something?” Gabrielle asked.

“Maybe we should take a picture of the painting while we’re there,” Jess suggested and Cam gave her a proud look. He was rubbing off on her.

“Good idea,” Beth agreed. “Now Caitlin, you’re going to have to be really careful, because Gerard will probably be watching you.”

“I don’t think it will be a problem,” she replied. “Like you said, he’s got lots of hummus.”

“Hummus?” Adam asked, looking confused.

“Hubris,” I said with a smile and he nodded with understanding.

“I guess we have a plan. I think it’s Go Time,” Braden announced, and we all turned and headed out to solve The Mystery of the Nitwit’s Stolen Painting.

Chapter Fifteen

Beth

6:45 PM

When we arrived at the Gerard estate, the usual group of reporters and photographers were there to capture the moment. Well, not the Oompa Loompa obviously. I noticed that her companion, the walking oil well, was there again, though. When we got inside, we saw that the reception was well underway. There were about twenty other guests all together, dressed up in all kinds of costumes.

As waiters made their way around the room handing out champagne flutes and hors d’oeuvres, Caitlin gave everyone the lay of the land and we tried to memorize where everything was. We would have to watch out for any servants that might be wandering around, and Gerard himself. That was something we hadn’t considered, what if he was in his study? We would just have to take our chances.

Looking over at Mark, my mind moved onto other subjects. He looked so cute in his Sherlock Holmes costume, and the thought of being with him somewhere new and different excited me. I couldn’t wait to get him alone later. I was surprised that Braden was acting so nonchalant about actually being present in the same house where Mark and I were sleeping together, but I suspected that Gabrielle had encouraged him to behave himself. Bruno was being a very good little doggie, as Gabrielle held him tucked under her arm. I assumed that he would be staying in their room as a lookout when we went on our little nocturnal adventure.

At seven on the dot, we were invited in to dinner. Bruno got his own little bowl on the floor, which seemed to make him quite happy. The food was quite good and a small chamber music ensemble played off to the side of the room. It was a shame that Gerard was such a sleazebag because he really did know how to throw a good party. At one point he stood up and proposed a toast.

“Here’s to great detectives. Maybe while you’re here, you’ll get to become ghost hunters too. The spirit of one of my long departed ancestors haunts this place at night.” A mumble went through the crowd and there were a few nervous laughs.

He was acting the part of the perfect host, moving from table to table, chatting pleasantly with his guests. How could he be so casual around Caitlin after what he had done? I wondered what had happened to the jealous former lover. I hoped she had dumped him.

He eventually made it to our table where everyone addressed him with cool politeness and I tried not to look disgusted. When he moved on to the next table Bruce spoke up.

“Well, he’s pretty smooth. He doesn’t seem fazed at all that his former teenage girlfriend, whom he burglarized, is sitting right at this table.”

“Hummus,” Caitlin said with a solemn nod.

8:00 PM

When dinner had been cleared away, we began the mystery portion of the evening. Mark and I got our clue card and looked over it together.

“I’m tall when I’m young, and short when I’m old. What am I?” I read.

“Tall when I’m young…” he mumbled, knitting his brows. “I know! A candle, when it burns down it’s short.” I smiled, feeling impressed. He was so smart.

“There are two big candles on the table in the entry,” I pointed out and we were off on our mystery adventure.

As we traced the clues one by one, I noted other couples moving around throughout the house. Finally, two hours later, Gerard called time. We would get another hour the next morning after breakfast to wrap it up, but it was time for cocktails before bed. All of us gathered together into a little circle as everyone headed for the billiard room.