“So that’s why you hired Marvin.”
“Yes. We’d been trying to hire a high-level gem empath for a long time – under the table, of course – but we couldn’t find anyone who would work for us.”
“Well, there’s a reason that Marvin was willing to work for you, obviously. He’s not a high-level gem empath. It would be hard to find one who would risk losing his license and going to prison for you.”
He nodded somberly. “I have to ask, Kelly. Is there any possibility that the Dragonsblood would cure her? If, say, you used your powers on it?”
She sighed. “No, unfortunately. If it would work, I’d do it. I’d heal her in exchange for you giving me back the jewel, and I’d return it without saying how I got it. But I sensed the Dragonsblood the other day in the castle. I didn’t sense any healing powers from it. I’m not exactly sure what it does– I’d have to handle it personally and get to know it – but it doesn’t heal.”
“What do you mean, you sensed it?” He stared at her suspiciously. “There’s no way you touched it.”
Time to come clean. “I can sense power gems from a distance, if I focus really hard. I can’t do it for too long or it makes me sick, though. That’s why I’ve been having these headaches.”
He scowled. “So. That would explain why you were so eager to tour the castle.”
At that, she felt a flash of anger. “Hey. You know who I am and what I do. I told you from the minute I met you that I was after the ruby. Excuse me if I didn’t disclose my methods. And don’t get on your high horse with me, Mr. Jewel Thief.”
He still looked disgruntled, but he nodded and said, “Fair enough. And you didn’t turn us in.”
“Well, I couldn’t be one hundred percent sure that it was actually the Dragonsblood, and I didn’t even know if I could get a warrant. And I didn’t know where you had it hidden.” She glanced at him. “And if I’m being honest with myself, I don’t really want to see you or your family in prison.”
As a grin quirked his gorgeous mouth, she smacked him.
“Stop looking so damn smug! Anyway. The only jewel that I know of that might have the specific healing powers you need is the Sunrise Citrine. It’s in the Mildenhorff Museum in New York City. My firm insures that gem, in fact.”
“We’ve heard of that gem and its reputed healing powers.” Gabriel’s brows drew together. “My father was in the building next to the museum when he got busted – right before he managed to break in. Calder had found out what my father was planning, and reported him.”
“Even though Calder knew what it was for?”
Gabriel’s expression hardened and his eyes flashed red with anger. “He sees things as very black and white. And now security around that particular gem is so tight that even we can’t steal it. And that’s saying a lot.”
She groaned. “Don’t brag about your thieving skills to an insurance investigator! I’ll do some research, see if I can find out about any jewels that could specifically reverse mental illness in a dragon.”
After hours of research, of phone calls to personal contacts, of poring through her files, she hadn’t found anything.
There was someone who might possibly know, somebody with many more years in the field than her. Her mother. And Kelly did have a bargaining chip.
She called up her agency.
“I knew you’d change your mind,” her mother sneered.
“I haven’t changed my mind. I still quit.”
“Then why are you calling? Have you found the ruby?” her mother demanded.
“I have a pretty good lead, but I don’t know exactly where it is, and trust me, searching this castle won’t turn it up,” she said. “However, I know how we can get it back. We need to find a gem that could heal madness in dragons.”
She explained in a general way what had happened to Gabriel’s sister, without telling her that the jewel that had caused her madness had been stolen. “I think there’s a good possibility that if we could get access to a healing gem, then I might be able to locate the Dragonsblood.”
“In other words, Gabriel’s family does have it.” Her mother’s tone was smugly triumphant.
“Not necessarily,” Kelly said. “And it doesn’t matter who has it, frankly. If we return it to the Rossi family, you don’t have to pay for its loss.”
“Since when are you trying to protect criminals?” her mother snapped at her.
Since we were hired by criminals whom I don’t feel particularly motivated to help,she thought with annoyance.
“Just see what you can find out about healing jewels,” she said, keeping her tone calm. She was sure that her mother would do her absolute best. She found money highly motivating.
