Page 12 of Cozen

“The kind of thief that can apparently do a job very quietly,” Pearl said.

“I am,” Cozen agreed. “Like I was never even there to begin with.”

“Good. If you return it to me before the year is out, I will make sure you never need to even think about money for the rest of your life, Cozen. How much did your last job pay?”

“Three million.”

“Add two zeroes to the end of that, darling.”

“That’s a lot of money,” Cozen said quietly.

“It is change in our bank accounts.”

“Richer than the Queen, huh?”

Pearl smiled—old, bitter, and yet still beautiful. “Far richer than the Queen.”

“I’ll get the ring.”

She didn’t know how.

Not yet.

That was part of the job.

“Make sure of it. I have waited long enough to finally get it back. And to make sure it is the real ring, and not some fabricated piece, there is an A inscribed on the bottom of the ruby.”

Cozen straightened in the chair. “Doesn’t inscribing the jewel make it somewhat … well, worthless?”

“It may be worthless to everyone else, but not to an Astor.”

Huh.

Three hundred million for a ruby only valuable to someone with a particular surname.

This was going to be interesting.

“I noticed something,” Cozen hedged.

Pearl’s sharp gaze drifted back to her again. “And what was that?”

“Your great-grandson—Fourth—he doesn’t seem to think I am the right person for this job.”

“If this were up to him, you would not be the thief he picked for this job, no. He is more a … well, he would just go ahead and blow the side of Jett Griffin’s home off to get my ring back. And while I appreciate the sentiment, I know in the long run that it won’t do us any good.”

“He doesn’t think I can steal,” Cozen added.

Pearl lifted her brow. “Oh?”

“I can tell.”

With that said, Cozen moved the cardigan that had been keeping one of her hands, and her arm hidden from view. She opened up her palm, and showcased the items hidden inside.

A signet ring with a cursive A decorated by plumage. A diamond earring. And a Rolex watch incrusted with diamonds.

All it had taken for her to steal from Fourth was a distraction of his attention, and quick, soft movements of her hands and fingers. Did it take time and patience to learn how to thieve quickly, and without notice? Yes, but it also took talent.

A thief was nothing without talent.