This isn’t good.
The kitchenis dirty but empty. The living room and dining room, the same. The office and observatory—
“Hello.” An enormous man emerges from the shadows, clad in black and confidence. His shoulders nearly brush the edges of the doorframe as he traps me in the observatory. He’s got to be close to fifty with his peppered gray hair and the wrinkles around his eyes, but it only makes him more intimidating. He makes a bodybuilder look like a toddler.
I bring my fists up, prepping for a fight. It’s going to be a dismal one, but whatever it takes. “You need to leave.”
“I don’t think so.” He speaks with an Australian accent. I’ve run into many other thieves on ops, but never this one. I would have remembered. “I’m looking for something, and you’re going to help me find it.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are, or that beautiful girl of yours goes over the side of the building.” His lips split in a menacing grin.
Maya? Or Bella? “Where is she?” If he hurts either of them, I swear I’ll kill him.
I make a move to the back doors, but the man stops me with a click of a gun.
“She’ll be just fine. You will, too.Ifyou play along.”
“Who sent you?”
“We all work for someone.” His nonanswer confirms my suspicion. I should have called the police on Mrs. Morrison. I underestimated her. I didn’t realize just how badly she wanted the painting. Now she’s using Mr. Hartwell’s money to pay thieves to rob him. Cunning old lady.
I clench my jaw. “I don’t have what you want.”
“Nowhowdo you know what I want?”
“Because you’re not the first person to come looking.” My eyes fly over him, searching for a weakness. He’s leaning more to one side… maybe a bad leg? I could take him. I’m sure.
More like 40 percent sure. He’s got a gun, and a bullet travels far quicker than I can.
“But Iamthe one who will be leaving with it. Now, show me where it is.”
My options are limited. I should have called Liam much sooner. Now I’m too late, and Maya and Bella may suffer for it. I screwed up.
“I don’t know where it is. Onlyshedoes,” I say, not wanting to use a name, anything this man might use to hurt us worse.
“Why would she?”
“Because she hid it from me.”
His eyes light up with interest. “Because you want it, too. This just got more interesting. It seems we now have a chance to prove who is the better thief.”
“Trust me, you won’t find it.”
“We’ll see about that. Now move. I’m growing weary.”
“Perhaps you should retire.”
“I’m not decrepit,” he snaps.
“Then try to keep up.” I speed up, hoping to lose him somewhere in the house. I formulate a plan as I walk. His words were cryptic, but I assume he has Maya or Bella tied up somewhere on the balcony. It’s nearly freezing, and she won’t be okay for long. If I can lose him, I can double back and find her. But I also need to keep him far away from Bella, who I’m hoping he hasn’t found.
The library. He’ll get drawn in by the mess of art, and I’ll be able to sneak out through the secret passageway. At least I hope it’s a passage and not a room.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“I thought I’d practice my model walk. What do you think?”
