Page 36 of Merciless Heir
“I’m not paying you to do that,” she says, sitting back and dropping both hands on her desk.
I come up and sit on the edge of the desk. It’s borderline insolence, but there’s a gleam in her eyes as she takes me in and it reminds me of her son. It tells me she’s also a force and one that shouldn’t be ever taken at face value.
“Yes, but you don’t want the tiara gone. Do you?”
“Of course not. I have my reasons for wanting it dragged out and Kingston hiring you on his own is perfect.”
I don’t move. It’s not that she knows, it’s how she says it, like there’s another plan she’s had, and somehow I’ve stepped into it. I shake off the thought.
“You’ve both told me there’s a lot riding on this.”
“There is. Kingston is…” She sighs and gets up. “I worry about him. He’s so self-contained, so certain his way is right, that there’s nothing more than making money and he classes value in one way.”
“A lot of people do,” I say, choosing my words carefully. “He’s interesting.”
“You and he will clash, which is good.”
“Is it? I’m here to both keep him from finding this jewel too soon and helping him find it. But you know where it is.”
“I don’t think I can state enough how important this is that Kingston gets this done by his birthday. There’s a lot more on the line than he thinks.”
I nod, not quite sure what she’s up to, if anything at all. “Like what?”
“My hands are tied, but he stands to lose everything dear to him.”
“This is a conversation you should be having with him.” I rise and walk along the desk, coming up to the same end she is. Except, of course, I’m on the other side. “Not me.”
“I’m letting you know because he can’t. He needs to work out that out on his own. The tiara needs to be found and he needs…” She shakes her head and smiles, even though it only flirts with her eyes. “He needs to go on a sharp learning curve.”
“You make it sound like he needs a babysitter, not someone who’s an expert in tracking and finding jewels and stolen artifacts.”
It’s one way of putting it, I suppose.
She looks at me. “You’re the right person for the job.”
I don’t care what Faye Sinclair is up to. I don’t. And it’s her son we’re talking about, not someone she’s out to get revenge on. Whatever cards or games she’s playing aren’t any of my business. I need to do the job I’m here to do.
And if I dig deeper, locate the tiara ahead of her schedule, there’s no need to do anything about it, like tell Kingston.
If I want to get it forged, then…I’ll make that decision when I find the damn thing.
One thing I’d like to know is why she sought me out. In particular. I know why Kingston did. But his mother could have chosen one or a dozen people. Because I don’t think notoriety is high on her list of skills.
I’m the best in many ways, yes; but she wants a babysitter, a watchdog. She wants PI with who’s going to yes ma’am her.
I’m not any of that.
And my ex knows all of that, too.
“You know…” I glance about the room. At the over the top security most people, including most thieves, would miss. “This security is interesting.”
“I’m rich. We need to protect our things.”
I nod. “I know how it works. But you…” I gesture in the room. “You have taste and no need to show off with exceptionally showy pieces that are either collector items or easily taken to sell on the underground market. Yet you went to a bespoke security firm. You don’t need it.”
“You really are a match to my son,” she says. The smile stays, and grows. I’m immediately intrigued and suspicious. “I don’t need it, but I want it.”
“Or you went to Damon to get information on me.”