The Ruby by C.A. Cordova
"I found myself thoroughly enchanted by this book."
A genre-bending cozy mystery filled with adventure and romance
4.7⭐ on Amazon
4.0⭐ on Goodreads
Chapter 1
ThursdayMalorie shuffled a few papers over her desk, looking for the Briggman file. She had written a mass of information onto three Post-its and needed to transfer it over. She had been a legal secretary at Johns and Firk Associates for the last five years and knew that she was being considered for a promotion. As she came upon the file, she was preoccupied with the changes she would make as part of the senior staff. She was excited at the prospect of overseeing a few of the ladies. Malorie had recently considered their workload deplorable and was anxious to rearrange how her department was organized. As she muttered to herself about phone calls and returning emails, Jackie popped over into her cubicle. Jackie, a lanky strawberry blonde with pursed lips, announced that she was going home for the evening. Malorie barely lifted her head.“Mal?” Jackie asked again.Malorie continued to jot down notes and grumble under her breath, her usually well-kept hair slowly becoming less manageable as the workday was coming to a close. Chocolate bangs began to break free from her tight bun and her pink lips swelled to a pout. Her brown eyes flickered as she scrolled through her annotations.“Mal!” Jackie shouted.Malorie’s head jerked upward, “Oh . . . you scared me!” She exhaled loudly, “I’m sorry. I was lost in thought.”Jackie gave a warm smile in return, “Are you okay? You seem stressed.”“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just nervous to find out, that’s all,” Malorie replied.“Don’t worry! We both know Kevin would be crazy to promote anyone else. You know more about the company than anyone here. You got this in the bag.” Jackie shook her head with such force that Malorie believed her. “Now, like I said, I’m headed home for the night. Did you need anything? You want me to wait for you?”“No, no! Go home and tell Erik I said hi. Where were you guys headed again? Vermin something?”“Haha, very funny. Virginia Hill. It’s that B&B just outside the Catskills. You know, that cute one we wanted to go to the last time we drove to Albany for that case . . . um . . . Newberg.”“Man, I totally forgot all about it!” Malorie smiled.Jackie swung her purse over her shoulder, “What about you? Big plans for the three-day weekend?”
“It’s not a three-day weekend for me. I have a lot to catch up on and I have some resumes to sift through for that clerk opening.”“Mal, seriously? The boss gives you a three-day weekend and you’d rather be here instead? I know you want a promotion, but you have got to get out too. Maybe you should get a pet. Then you’d at least have a reason to go home,” she teased.Malorie smirked, “Well, not all of us can be blessed with the perfect marriage.”Jackie gushed, showing her newlywed glow, “No, I guess not.” She rolled her eyes, “Alright, I’m out.” She gave a quick wave before sauntering down the hallway. She stopped abruptly as she walked past the mailboxes. “Mal?” she shouted.“Yeah?”“I forgot to tell you earlier that a package arrived for you. Check your box.”“Cool! Now get the heck out of here!” Malorie shouted back.“Night,” Jackie called out before exiting through the double glass doors.Malorie continued to work for a few more hours. Her stomach began to growl, making her realize how long she had been sitting at her desk. Slowly, she leaned back in her chair and stretched. As she did, a loud pop radiated from her upper back. “Ugh, I wish I could get a massage,” she mumbled to herself while rubbing the sore spot. Malorie stood and rotated her neck from side to side, trying to make the pain dissipate. Suddenly, she was acutely aware of how empty her surroundings were. She always did like the office more when it was quiet. It seemed like she was able to concentrate better without cackling secretaries and lawyers dealing with cases. Quickly, she organized her desk and began packing her bags. Her stomach grumbled again, reminding her of her missed lunch.Malorie quietly made her way from the back rooms to the front of the office. Three rows of cubicles and a mass of green and orange carpet surrounded her. As she approached the front, she noticed the package in her mail cubby. “Oh, right, I almost forgot.”She gripped the small box and tossed it into her purse before making her way over to the alarm. A beep sounded as she armed it and ran for the door. Malorie had barely closed the glass when she could hear its final warning, a last double chime, signaling that the motion sensors were on. She locked everything up tight and headed for the first floor of the twenty-story building.She exited one of the elevators and found a plethora of people shuffling back and forth on their way to various destinations. Continuing through the bustle, she waved at Tony, the night guard.“Have a good weekend, Mal,” Tony said.“Thanks, Tony. Don’t work too hard.” Malorie smiled as she pushed by a few people to enter the revolving front doors. A splash of fresh air hit her face and helped to revive her after too many hours of sitting. It was a lovely summer night, not too humid, so she decided to walk and get some food before heading home. She ambled toward Mr. Lin’s noodle shop and poked her head in to see how busy he was. Surprisingly, only a few customers were sitting and enjoying themselves, so she continued toward the register. She passed the lengthy tank of small fish and other sea creatures. Up ahead was Mr. Lin, a kind older gentleman with white hair that had black flecks sprayed throughout.“Ah, Miss Malorie, I thought you might stop by.” He shouted to his daughter, who quickly prepared her order: a bowl of noodles and three egg rolls. The Lins must have been waiting for her because her order was rushed out of the kitchen almost instantly.“Hi Mai.” Malorie gave a small wave in her direction.Mai's feet sped over to her, “Guess what?”“What?”“I got us two tickets to see Shen Yun next month. You said you wanted to go still, right?” She smiled happily.Malorie grinned, “What? You shouldn't have done that! How much do I owe you?”“Owe me? Are you kidding? No way, your money is no good here. Just clear your schedule for the 28th, OK?”Malorie shook her head, “No, I have to do something . . . How about I take us to dinner before the show?”Mai tilted her head and frowned, “Nope, that night is my treat. You paid last time.”Malorie could see Mai would not budge, so she agreed and paid for her noodles. She would have stayed longer, but two large parties strode through the door prompting her goodbyes. Malorie walked onto the street and listened to the hum of the city. Honking horns and shouting soon filled the area and she couldn't wait to be home. Malorie strolled a few blocks before deciding she'd just cab it instead of taking the subway. She had allotted money for a ride home a few times a month, and this was definitely one of those days.Malorie edged forward and shot out a hand. “Cab!” she shouted.A driver promptly pulled over while she rushed to hop inside. Wafts of cumin radiated toward her nose, and suddenly, she wished she had stayed to eat her noodles. “30 Park Place,” she told the driver, who dipped in and out of traffic. Malorie relaxed for a few moments, slightly dosing off. She must have been in the car fifteen minutes, but it only felt like two or three.“Lady!” the cab driver shouted, causing her to sit up straight, “Twenty-four dollars and ninety cents.”She pulled thirty-five from her purse and handed it over. As she exited, she saw the night doorman approaching. “I'm sorry, Ms. Albright,” he exclaimed, “I was dealing with Mrs. Eviant.” His eyes grew wide and Malorie could tell it had been a stressful conversation.“No worries, Eddie. Like I told you before, I am perfectly capable of getting my own door. Plus, I’ve run into her before.” She winked then walked with him toward the grand entrance. He held the door open for her and they chatted for a few minutes. Malorie made her way past the black-and-white labyrinth floor to the elevators. She normally stayed in a small apartment in Brooklyn with her four roommates. But, as luck would have it, a friend of one of the partners at the firm had been looking for a house-sitter while he was in Europe.Oliver Cauldwell was an investment banker who had earned his millions by never taking ‘no’ for an answer. Cauldwell was in his mid-fifties and looking for a no-nonsense kind of sitter to make sure his property wasn’t damaged. His friend, Richter, happened to work for her law firm and was willing to ask the staff if they were interested in the job. Malorie and a whole slew of girls from the office put in their applications. But Malorie won the position when he had heard she worked harder and longer hours than anyone else in the office. Plus, she had a reputation of being “boring”, which was exactly the kind of person he wanted caring for his six-and-a-half million dollar home. He was gone eight months out of the year, and for those eight months, Malorie was lucky enough to stay at The Four Seasons Private Residences. He recently had asked her if she wanted to stay in her room permanently, provided that she ‘assist’ with personal tasks, errands, and hiring of staff when needed. Naturally, Malorie jumped at the chance. So, in the last three days, she had just moved all her things over.Oliver’s place was on the nineteenth floor and had an amazing view. Malorie often stared out the giant glass windows down onto the busy city below. The expanse was a little under 3,000 square feet and had more than enough room for both her and him. When he was home, it was quite cozy and the two of them had fallen into a pattern of an old married couple. They would eat meals with one another, watch TV, and do other small tasks together. He had taken to buying her jewelry on special occasions and asking her to attend gala events.When the elevator chimed, Malorie looked up and surveyed the inside of the apartment. She heard whispering and felt a chill going down her spine. She knew he wouldn't be home for another three weeks and had given the maids time off. “Had Eddie let someone into the building?” she pondered as she grasped for her cell. Malorie tiptoed forward into the living room and was just about to dial 9-1-1 when she saw Oliver sitting on the leather couch. He was talking to his computer, which was recording his verbal notes.“Ollie!” she exclaimed, out of breath. “I'm sorry I didn't have everything ready for you. I wasn't expecting you back this soon. I had marked down that you weren't returning until the 9th. How did I manage to get that wrong?”“I came back on an early flight this morning and handled some business.” Oliver smiled and turned to her. He could tell she was about to zip around the house, cleaning and organizing, so he stopped her and gently asked her to sit. Malorie looked confused, almost as though she would get fired, and that made him smile even larger. He made himself comfortable on the seat cushion next to her.“Have you enjoyed your time here, my dear?” he asked inquisitively.“Of course, you know I have.” She grinned awkwardly. Malorie hoped she wouldn't get booted this quickly, especially since she had just moved in.Oliver bent down in front of her and held open an etched maroon box. Inside lay an immense square diamond flanked by blue sapphires. She sat there motionless and stunned. Her mouth dropped open.“I know you are twenty years younger than me,” he started, “and we don't seem like the usual couple, but I have come to love our time together. I know you don't love me, yet, but I do think I can make you happy . . . that is . . . if you'll give me the chance.”Malorie stared into his face and felt like she was seeing him for the first time. He was always so confident and assured, she never even considered he might be looking for companionship. She surveyed his green eyes, which seemed more stressed than usual. His graying hair had become slightly unruly, and she realized that he was nervous at the possibility she might say ‘no’. He sat staring at her, waiting for an answer.She smiled, “Are you sure this is something you want, Ollie?”He let out a sigh, “I'm sure, but is it something you want?”Malorie considered to herself that she would never meet a man like him again, and he did love her very much. She had always been very practical, and this choice seemed to be the next logical step. Not to mention, she wasn’t getting any younger. The men her age just seemed to bore her. So, she shook her head in agreement and her cheeks flushed, “Yes.”Oliver smiled, revealing his pearly white teeth, and pulled the ring from its case. As he slipped it onto her finger, she realized it was a perfect fit. How had he known? He saw the expression on her face and said he had his assistant, Mark, rummage through her jewelry and find the small onyx ring her grandfather had given her – she wore it on her ring finger nearly all the time. She was flattered that he had taken so much time to consider things.“I hope you're not upset that I asked him to look through your things,” he questioned.“No, not at all. I don't have anything to hide.” Malorie happily gazed back at him.Oliver leaned over the side of the couch and produced a bottle of champagne and two glasses. “Here,” he handed her one of the glasses, “a toast to us.”They sipped happily and chatted about dates and planning. After, Oliver explained that he did have to return to London, but he had come home because he couldn't wait any longer. She smiled at him in a motherly sort of way. Malorie liked the idea that he flew home just to see her.“When do you have to go?” she questioned.“I'm leaving on the red-eye tonight, but I am hoping I can finish up before the end of the month.”“Oh,” she replied, trying not to sound upset, “that's a long time.”“I know, I know. But if I finish this deal, then I can take a long break from work, and you can have my undivided attention for a bit. How does that sound?”Malorie knew she really had no choice in the matter, so she consented and asked if he was hungry. He agreed that he could eat a little something. She popped up and reached for the paper bag. Her hand lifted the noodles out as she headed to the kitchen. She placed the plastic container in the microwave and got out two bowls from the cabinet. Before the microwave had finished, Oliver’s cell phone began ringing. From the other room, she could hear his tone become stoic. “No, I wouldn't sell then. No . . . no, I'm on my way back tonight. No, I can talk to him tomorrow. It's fine. Alright, bye.”Malorie sighed, knowing what was coming next, “Was that Mark?”“Yeah, seems I have to stop by the office before I catch my flight.”She stepped out of the kitchen, “Do you have everything you need? Enough clothes?”Oliver smiled and walked toward her, “Yes, I have all I need now.” He looked briefly at the ring on her finger, “Can I kiss you before I leave?”Malorie's heart rate began to speed up, but she didn’t object. She leaned in close and gave him a soft kiss. Oliver held her momentarily before walking to the dining room and clutching his old mahogany briefcase. “Sorry about dinner.”“Don’t worry about it. I know you have to work.”“I'll call you when I land, OK?” he answered sweetly.Malorie shook her head and before she knew it, he was gone. It had been a whirlwind day and she no longer felt hungry. Instead, she opted to get into her pj's and curl up on the couch with a good book. She released her long locks from her bun, briefly rubbing her sore scalp. As Malorie opened her novel, she couldn't help but feel like she was taking advantage of Oliver in some way. He knew that she didn't love him, and he had told her so; she tried to justify her thoughts to herself. She kept repeating that she would come to love him, in time. Realizing she wasn't reading at all, she put the book down. Malorie noticed she had left all her work, supplies, and her bag right next to the couch. She pursed her lips and frowned. Malorie gathered her items, prepared to just throw the heap onto her bed, when a little box fell out of her clutch and onto the floor. “Oh, that's right,” she muttered aloud, “that package.”
Malorie set her things down and retrieved the package. A label on the top read ‘Biscuit’, a name her dad affectionately gave her as a child. It had been just the two of them for as long as she could remember. Her mother had skipped out when she was a baby, and her dad had played the role of both parents. She was lucky though; her Pop-Pop and Nana lived next door, so she always had two houses filled with love to bounce between. Malorie thought it was strange that he would have sent her anything without a phone call. She held the number two speed dial on her phone, and it went straight to his voicemail. She considered leaving him a message but wanted to tell him about her engagement in person. Malorie disconnected and called Pop-Pop and Nana; then, realizing how late it was, hung up quickly before it had a chance to ring. She decided to just rip open the brown wrapping.Inside was a white jewelry box taped shut with black electrical tape; the words, ‘keep safe’, were scribbled on the lid. Malorie's stomach clenched momentarily. What had her father meant by ‘keep safe’? She pulled the tape off and plucked open the lid.
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