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“There, done,” she declared, sending him an email. “I’ll go and wait in the lobby for the guards.”
“Hey, Steph…?”
“Yes, Benny?”
“You did good.”
“Thanks,” she replied, sensing she’d just won him over.
Picking up her laptop and leaving the room, she started down the hall, but the moment she entered the foyer, the thick brown rug covering the hardwood floor captured her attention. Immediately placing her computer on the round walnut table in the center, she dropped to her hands and knees and began ferreting through the lush pile.
“I see you’ve already starting looking?”
Raising her eyes, she saw Brent looming over her.
“This seemed like a place to start,” she replied as she stood up. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all, it’s a good bet, but we have to go about this methodically. Stu, go into the room and check in there, especially around the baseboard.”
Stu nodded and immediately marched away.
“Does he ever speak?” Steph whispered.
“Occasionally, after a couple of beers,” Brent replied with a grin, “but back to this rug. Start at the corner and work in a straight line. When you reach the other side, turn and come back. You do this end, I’ll do the other.”
“Actually, I just had an idea,” she said thoughtfully. “Why don’t I retrace the man’s steps? If the item was dropped and kicked away, it probably happened while he was walking down the hall to the front door.”
“Sounds like a plan. You do that and I’ll start on the rug.”
She began walking slowly down the hall, but as she studied the polished floor, it occurred to her the wood glowed from constant care, and the rug would be vacuumed regularly. Dropping the cufflink made no sense. It would be spotted or sucked up.
Lifting her gaze and looking ahead, she noticed a half-moon table set against the wall holding an abundant fern. Calling for Brent as she hurried forward, she moved both hands into the copious fronds spilling from the planter.
“What’s up?” Brent asked, striding toward her.
“I don’t think Oleg would have dropped the damn thing,” she replied, moving her fingers around the base of the container. “These floors are polished all the time, and the rug would be…” But her voice trailed away as her fingers touched something small, smooth, and hard.
Staring at Brent with wide eyes, she grasped the mystery object and pulled it out.
“Holy crap, I found it,” she whispered, staring at the glossy black cube set in polished gold.
“You’re a genius,” he declared, touching the pod in his ear. “Benny, the item’s been found. We’re on our way.” Then placing his mouth against his wrist, he said, “Stu, we’ve got it. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“We? What’s this we business?” Steph demanded as they hurried to the security room.
“It was a group effort,” he retorted, then started laughing.
She shot him a grin, but they’d reached the door and she heard the telltale click.
“This is where we part company,” Brent declared as she pushed it open, and before she could say goodbye, he turned and marched away.
“Here you go, Benny,” Steph said triumphantly, entering the room and handing it to him. “Shit, my laptop. I left it on the table at the front door. I’ll be right back.”
Leaving him studying the cufflink, she made her way back to the foyer, but as she picked up the computer, her thoughts turned to Marco.
He’d soon be nearing the farmhouse.
A chill pricked her skin.
