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“You mean it? You’ll help me like that?” I asked.
She nodded. “I will.”
“Thank you, Calliope.” I almost threw my arms around her, except she didn’t look like a hugger, and I was trying to at least pretend to be professional.
“Which name shall I list you under?”
Oh, right. “Uh, name, a name,” I said as I drummed my fingers against my chin. “How about Lillian?”
I’d always wanted to be the next Lillian Gish. Now was my chance, at least in name.
“Very well, and last name?”
“Lilian…” I glanced at the tasteful bracelets decorating Calliope’s arms. “Lillian Gold.”
That would work. At least I wasn’t likely to forget it.
“Of course.” Calliope waved as she moved off deeper into the gallery. “Everything will be set up for you, and I’ll text you the address when they send it.”
Why is she doing this for us?Cain suddenly asked, and I could feel his suspicion.
“Can I ask why you’re going out of your way to help me so much?”
Calliope smiled. “It’s what I do—help people.”
I was too jazzed to question it further and, who knew, maybe there were people out there who did just want to help—people who didn’t expect nothing in return.
I doubt that,Cain grumped.
Well, I was going to give Calliope the benefit of the doubt and figure she was just a real nice lady. Then I turned my thoughts to the fact that Cain and I now had a real, honest to goodness lead. That was exactly what we needed.
“Thank you again.”
I was halfway back to my car, and trying to figure out what I should wear to an illegal art auction, when my phone rang.
I fished it out of my bag and didn’t recognize the number. I answered it with a shrug.
“Darla Rowe, how can I help you?”
“What have you managed to find out about the idol?”
Sophia’s voice was so cold, that even under the sun in the early days of spring, I felt like I needed to check my fingers for frostbite.
“Oh, Ms. Erepto. Ma’am. I didn’t realize it was you.” I was reeling, trying to get my thoughts in order. I’d been feeling like the cat’s meow, since finding a lead, but now I was crashing right back to earth. And that left me a little winded.
“Really?” The word should have left ice on my phone. “You didn’t think that I’d be calling? After you ran out of the wake without a word. You didn’t even get the picture you bothered me over.”
I winced. “I’d gotten a description of the idol, and I felt that it was distinct enough that I would know it when I saw it. I apologize, Ma’am. I just didn’t want to bother you in these trying times.”
She made a little huff of irritation. “Yes. They are trying. I will ask you once more: what have you found?”
I squared my shoulders, which didn’t make a lick of sense since she couldn’t see me, but it made me feel better. “I actually just tracked down a lead. It seems that the person who stole your idol sold it, and it’s going up for auction soon.”
“Auction?!”
“But don’t worry, Ma’am, I’m going to get it back for you.”
“Miss Darla, Miss Darla!”
