Page 127 of Gave Proof Through the Night

She finally surfaces enough to string a sentence together. “Magnificent,” she says, still not looking up. Her hands are actually shaking. “Do you understand what this is?”

“The Ommeren cache,” I say, and I let that sit for a second.

Ginger and Ivy both look at me with their eyes wide. But it doesn’t ring a bell for the rest of the crew.

“It’s basically Nazi buried treasure,” I explain succinctly.

“Like… a pirate map? With X marks the spot and everything?” Tanya asks.

“I mean… sure.”

“So how’d you find it?” Rue asks.

“I traced it to our friends in Argentina.” I don’t elaborate on how many nights that cost me. “Along with the Ommeren loot, I also stumbled upon investment stones and statement jewels, probably acquired in shady transactions over the years.”

Rue whistles low. “So we just stole from Hitler.”

“Not really. Hitler wasn’t a diamond guy. Just a garden-variety psychopath.“

“You can say that again,” Suri says, not looking up from the loupe.

“My hands are sweaty already,” Ginger says, flexing her fingers.

“When will you go to Tel Aviv?” I ask her.

“In about a month.”

Suri turns one of the stones between two fingers, studying it. “Seems a shame to cut these down.”

Tanya says what everyone is thinking. “I feel weird about this.”

Zoe levels her with a look. “It’s ninety-nine million dollars in diamonds. You’re not supposed to feel like Gandhi.”

“Listen,” I explain. “I couldn’t have gotten close to the Friendship Jewel without you guys. But that’s not your payout. The diamonds are, and it was the only way I could pay you all what you’re worth. I’m not taking any of the cut for myself.”

“Wait.” Rue frowns. “You’re not getting a cut? But the necklace is fake.”

“I’ve got a bigger prize in mind.” I don’t elaborate.

“You having second thoughts, Tanya?” Ivy asks gently.

Tanya looks around the room, then to Dale for support. “I mean, what’s the difference between the diamonds and the Friendship Jewel? Both belonged to someone’s grandma once upon a time.”

Suri sets her stone down like she suddenly lost her appetite for chocolate. She glares at the little velvet pile, then at Tanya. “Thanks for that, Tanya.”

“What?”

“Now I’m picturing an actual grandma,” Zoe cries. “I had a whole speech in my head about how this is basically finders-keepers.”

Rue stares off into the middle distance. “Well, there goes my good night’s sleep.”

“Okay.” I hold up both hands before this turns into a full support-group circle. “We are not doing the twentieth century’s exit interview at eleven o’clock at night. We table it.”

“Table it,” Ivy repeats.

“I concur,” Ginger agrees.

Zoe buries her face in her hands. “Aww heck.”