Page 50 of Savannah Heat
As they all waited for the senator to begin talking after his cronies made their usual flattering remarks before they introduced him, Jenna spotted Dan off to her right. She kept glancing over to get his attention, as Marta Roseland stood to make her own tribute to her husband and to re-introduce him. Dan never looked her way, so she dared a text telling him Brock was gone, but she added a question mark. When she glanced over again as the senator began to speak, she spotted both Dan and Harper were looking at her. The look she saw on Harper’s face couldn’t be mistaken for anything but what it was—pure hate.
Jenna made herself turn away and at least pretend to pay attention to the senator’s words. She had dealt with people who didn’t like her for what she wrote, but she had never faced such undisguised, pure hate directed at her before. A chill ran up her spine as she realized Harper meant for her to see it. War was officially declared.
The senator’s speech was mercifully short. It was a Southern-style charming plea for more money for their campaign, and it was asked as only Southern politicians could ask. True to form, they did it in such a way the listener was left feeling as if it was an honor to give their money away. The senator and his wife seemed born to be politicians. Jenna learned to be wary of politicians over the years, but Senator Roseland was a good man, and he was good for Georgia. She wished him luck. Georgia could do far worse than have he and Mrs. Roseland in its corner.
Jenna risked a glance at Dan again as the senator ended his talk. She hoped his gaze so focused on his phone meant he was getting an update from his friend, Luc. She tried to concentrate on what the senator’s friend was saying as people began to circulate and go into their little groups, but she found herself ticking off the many things Harper might have in mind for them.
As the servers came around with coffee and brandy—a sign the evening was winding down, and a signal for some it was time to leave—Jenna felt the need for air. She walked back out onto the patio and looked into the now dark sky. She wondered how her life had gone so far off track from the young girl who used to spend her summers in Savannah.
As she turned to go back into the room, she saw Marta and the senator huddled together. She knew what this meant—they were getting nervous and were wondering if the thief would soon strike. Jenna felt her nerves on edge, too, because time was running out. If anything was going to happen, it would happen soon. The guests were thinning out. Some men were smoking cigars and drinking brandy on the patio, but most were filtering toward the door to wait on their limos to return them to the city.
Jenna’s gaze darted around the room as she tried to locate Dan, Harper, and anyone else who might be closing in on Marta Roseland and the necklace. She wondered how they planned to get the necklace off her. Why hadn’t they left the fake necklace in the safe with the real one? But she knew why. The thief wouldn’t strike unless they could do a fast lift-and-run. They wouldn’t risk fooling around with a safe. Too many people and too much security were present.
A diversion of some sort was in order. But she didn’t know what kind of diversion to expect, and the fact was setting her nerves on fire. When, where—and how? The senator and Marta took a seat in a corner opposite from the bar in a place where they could see anyone approaching from every side. A wise choice. Jenna could tell from the looks on their faces they needed some reassurance. She walked over to join them as she spotted Dan across the room.
Just as Jenna began to reassure the Roselands that security was in place and ask them to stay together, she saw Gail Wells appear at her elbow.
Ignoring her, Gail faced the senator and his wife. “Senator and Mrs. Roseland, I need to speak with you in private.”
“I’m sorry, who are you?” Marta reached for her husband’s hand.
“I’m Gail Wells, an insurance investigator, and I believe this woman here and her partner are here to relieve you of your necklace tonight.”
Marta gasped, and her hand went to her neck. “What are you talking about?”
All gazes turned on Jenna as she looked for Dan.
“Don’t listen to this.” Jenna saw Dan coming toward them, with Harper in tow.
Jenna turned to Gail. “Miss Wells, I assure you someone might well be here for Mrs. Roseland’s necklace, but I’m not your thief. Nor is Dan.”
Gail barked out a laugh. “You think you have everyone fooled, but you don’t fool me. I’ve been tracking Dan Kelly for five years, waiting on this day, and waiting to catch you with him, Jenna Myers, his accomplice then and now.” She pointed at Jenna as if stabbing her. “Here is the infamous black cat, or should I say one of the black cats? I hear you have begun again, and they found one of your hairs, so maybe we should call you the Red Cat now.” She pointed at Jenna’s hair. “Have you heard about the Red Cat burglar now operating here in the United States?” her eyes blazed as she turned to the Roselands.
Jenna heard the sharp intake of breath from both the senator and his wife, and her mouth went dry as she tried to form a response. The show was beginning. She sighed in relief as Dan, who was practically pulling Harper now, joined them and heard Gail’s last sentence.
Dan looked at Gail, his face set. “Miss Wells, while it’s true you have tried to pin the old Black Cat robberies on me for years, you have never proven anything nor uncovered one shred of evidence. As for Miss Myers, we are old friends and have traveled in the same circles over the years, as we all do. I think maybe you have become oddly obsessed with me. Maybe you could use a bit of professional help.”
Gail Wells stepped back as if she had been slapped, and her face turned red as she pointed at Dan and Jenna. “Lies,” she shrieked, making herself look more suspect and unstable.
Harper remained mute, and Dan’s grip on her arm held firm.
The Roselands stood, and the senator signaled to his security team.
The entire group was herded into a private room.
The senator took over immediately. “Listen, I don’t know what is going on here, Miss Wells, but I’ll not have you ruin our evening. Mr. Kelly has helped us make sure the necklace is secure because he thought it would be a target for this thief who has been in the news. Miss Myers here is something of an expert in the field, and due to the rarity of the diamonds and rubies in this necklace, she also agreed it was a prime target for the thief. She is here as a consultant.”
Gail Wells regained control of herself and stood straight, her arms crossed over her expensive designer dress. “Can’t you see, senator, this is all an elaborate set up? It’s their plan. They have done some sort of swap, and though you think your wife is wearing the fake, and if the thief does strike, that is all the loss you will have, but I think she is wearing the real one right now.”
The senator put a hand on his wife’s arm. “That’s ridiculous, and you are wrong. My security man and I supervised all of this, and we know which is the real one. I know she is wearing the fake.”
“Were these two people involved in the process, senator?” Gail pointed to Dan and then Jenna.
“Well, yes, Miss Myers and Mr. Kelly helped us set things straight.”
“Just as I thought. They have made a switch on you, senator. I know it. I’m sure your fake must be extraordinary and costly, but the real one is very much more so. If you hold them side by side, you should see the difference. I can tell you how to see the difference if you will let me show you now. This is my business, senator. I track down people such as these, and I verify what is real and fake. I am the real expert, not these two.”
Dan shook his head. “This is ridiculous. You’re manufacturing this to accuse me once again in the hope something, anything, might stick, and then collect your reward, Miss Wells. Senator, she is trying to cash in on this and take me down in the process. She has been obsessed with me for years. Don’t believe a word she says.”