Page 73 of Diamonds

The housekeeper—I assume—softens her stance a touch.“Oh, of course.Mr.and Mrs.Gimble adore the symphony.”She peers inside the house.“I’m afraid Mrs.Gimble is out to a society tea, though I’m sure you’re already aware of that.But Mr.Gimble is in.”

“Would you mind getting him for us?”I ask.“We won’t be a moment.”

Uh-oh.Frida Manx probably doesn’t have a British accent.Oh, well.Mr.Gimble will realize we’re not the Manxes the moment he opens the door anyway.

I’m not sure what we’ll do then.

Maddox said to follow his lead, and that’s what I’ll do.

“I’ll see if he’s available.”The housekeeper disappears into the house.

“Where did you come up with those names?”I whisper.

“They were in the program.You said them out loud while you were looking through donor names.”

“My God.That’s quite a memory you have.”

Maddox shrugs.“You don’t forget a last name like Manx very easily.”

“What’s the plan?”I ask.“Are you assuming that he only knows the Manxes by name alone and won’t recognize that we aren’t them?”

He cracks a small smile.“That would be the convenience of the century, but no, that’s not the plan.”

“But whatisthe?—”

Maddox places a finger to his lips.I shut my mouth and return my gaze to the door.

The housekeeper has returned.She smiles at us.“Mr.Gimble will be with you shortly.”

“Thank you,” Maddox says.“And what was your name?”

“I’m Kendra.The housekeeper.Pleased to meet you, Mr.Manx.”

Maddox nods.“Of course.”

Kendra leaves the doorway and within seconds a tall man in a gray suit walks into the frame.The scowl outlined by his graying goatee is the same as when he was looking at us last night at the symphony.

“Who the hell are you?”

Quick as a flash, Maddox reaches inside his jacket and draws out a gun.

My heart leaps into my mouth, and I gulp.

Maddox places the pistol against Mr.Gimble’s forehead.

“We’d like a few words with you.”

23

MADDOX

This gun is a find from Wanda’s Wonders, the antique shop down the street where I picked up some pieces for the haberdashery.It’s an aged brass pistol with intricate engravings and a dark wooden grip.

It’s not loaded.I doubt it would do anything even if it were.

But it looks like a gun.And I’m hoping that’s enough to freak Gimble out.

I really should get myself a real gun.I’ve been thinking about getting one for years to keep behind the register at the shop in case someone tries to rob me.I’m sure my old man is rolling in his grave knowing that I can’t properly defend myself.