Page 25 of Merciless Heir
“You broke into my email account.”
She sighs and spins a little in the leather chair as I throw myself on the sofa opposite the bookcase of boring books that serve me well for various business purposes. I tuck a cushion behind my head.
“I’m afraid my skills don’t go in that direction.” She smiles a little wider. “Lucky for me you didn’t close out your account.”
That should make uneasiness sink into my bones, but it doesn’t. For some reason, I don’t think she came in here to read work emails and personal emails. And if she did, she’s going to be disappointed as there’s nothing of interest to her in any of them. Nothing juicy.
“Lucky you.”
“Aren’t you going to ask why I’m here?”
“Aren’t you going to tell me?”
She taps her finger on the notepad. “Your detective did bare minimum. Police reports and the like. I’ve been spending the day looking into other things. Talking to the right people, some of those you’d call the wrong people, and looking at things that aren’t reported.”
I sit up at that. “What do you mean?”
Talk about the fucking cat who drank the cream.
“What I mean is do you know where the tiara was held? I do. Not Jenson’s office. That’s his name, right? The lawyer? Well, there are things that haven’t been reported. Like that break in. Which was noted. A month ago.”
I’m frowning. “That’s when my brother told me…”
“So maybe we should start there. What do you say?”
“You know I’m saying yes. But is that it?”
“No,” she says. “I have a plan. How about a mini-road trip? See who and what is behind this.”
Chapter Eight
Sadie
Icast Kingston a glance as I drive the vintage Jag I’ve borrowed.
He hasn’t said much since I picked him up at seven. Not to me, anyway. The first part of the drive through the city towards the Bronx he’s on the phone. It sounds boring and work oriented and I tune out. As we hit the start of Hillside Park, he hangs up and rubs a hand over his face.
A different watch glints in the sun. I’m not sure of the make, as I only catch a glimpse and I’m driving, but I smile.
Yeah, I gave him back his Breguet last night, but I expected him not to wear one today. Seems like he wants to taunt me. I’ve half a mind to steal this one, but I also wouldn’t put it past the man to have managed to put on it some kind of alarm.
And stealing his watch means touching him again, something I don’t think I should do.
“Sorry about that. Apparently, they can’t do without me.”
“It’s nice someone wants you, Kingston.”
“You’d be surprised.”
The dryness makes me laugh and I can feel his gaze on me. I don’t turn to look at him. Just keep my eyes on the road in the bright and crisp morning sun.
“You’re not going to ask where we’re going?”
“Not really,” he says, “I don’t think it’s some dark place to kill me, or even some kind of roadhouse to shock me. So I’m thinking…White Plains.”
“I could be taking you to Valhalla.”
“The town or the Norse place for the dead warriors? But no, White Plains. Some of the most expensive real estate in the country’s in White Plains.”