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She got out of the vehicle and walked into the barn. Evangeline had Mia strung up, stretching so that she could barely touch the ground with her tiptoes. Claire could feel her blood begin to boil.
“Take it easy,” murmured Fletch in her ear. “We can read her vital signs. She’s fine.”
Claire latched onto the soothing sound of Fletch’s voice, reminding her that she was part of a team and they had this. Evangeline was going down and stringing Mia up was just one more thing she’d answer for.
“Cut her down, Evangeline,” said Claire in a voice that was as cold as the venom in a snake’s fangs.
“What, no greeting? No outrage?”
“Sorry. This is business. Now cut her down. If you’re not going to hold up your end of the bargain, I’m done. I’ll take the note you left at my cottage to Scotland Yard, and they can deal with you. You said you wanted to talk and that you’d let Mia go if I came here. I’m here. Cut her down.”
“That’s my girl,” purred Fletch in her ear. His voice really was like a warm hug.
“Well, well, well, it would seem the street urchin has learned how to negotiate.” Evangeline approached Mia with the knife she’d tried to use on Claire.
“Get out, Claire,” said Mia as Evangeline cut the bindings that had held her captive.
“No can do. Head back to the cottage. Take the Range Rover and go. I’m sure Evangeline and I can come to some kind of meeting of the minds. Wait for me at the cottage; I’ll walk back. If I’m not there within thirty minutes, call Fletcher and his team. Then get the hell out of there.”
“I’d listen to her,” sneered Evangeline.
Mia rushed to her. Claire put her hand on Mia’s arm. “I’ll be fine. Evangeline doesn’t want me dead. That little incident at the mill house was just to get my attention. Go on now,” Claire urged her friend.
She needed Mia out of the line of fire if the whole thing went to rat shit. Mia looked between the two adversaries and then at Claire. “It’ll be all right. I promise.”
Mia nodded. “Okay, but at thirty-one minutes I pull down this house of cards.”
Claire heard the door to the Range Rover close before the engine started and the tires made their familiar crunching noise as the vehicle pulled out and headed back up the road.
“All right. You’ve got my attention. What is it you want?”
“It’s quite simple. I want you to work for me.”
Claire would have been less surprised if Evangeline had suddenly sprouted a second head. “Me? Work for you? You must be daft or think I am. Why would I do that?”
“Because I can prove you and your beloved grandfather are thieves. But you have a talent I can take advantage of. It seems daddy dearest has been going through the family fortune. I suppose mistresses and hookers are more expensive than they used to be. And he’s a dreadful gambler. I mean seriously, the man can’t win for losing.”
“I fail to see what that has to do with me.”
“I know all about your attempts to be some kind of freaking Robin Hood.”
Claire shrugged. “I have empathy for what they’ve lost. I feel it’s the least I can do.”
Evangeline shook her head. “It’s just stupid. It was so long ago, and no one gives a damn anymore.”
“They do, and for what it’s worth, so do I.”
“Fine. You’ve had your fun, but now it’s time to go to work. I know where all the good stuff is hidden. I want you to steal the more valuable pieces and then fence them for me.”
Claire shook her head. “You’re serious. You want me to come to work for you, stealing and fencing things so you have more money?”
“As I said, my father is a bit of a wastrel. The family coffers aren’t what they used to be, and a run for parliament is an expensive proposition.”
“So, you weren’t trying to kill me at my mill house?”
“Heavens, no. I didn’t even know you lived there. Well, okay I knew, but you weren’t the target.”
“Then who was?”
