Page 96 of Marked By Moonlight

He tugged at his collar. “I’m sorry to have involved you.”

Was he, though? And how many times had he secretly involved me in much worse?

“We were also discussing how to proceed with the other buyers,” Roux added.

Gordon motioned everyone to the table, then gestured to Bene. “Fetch Celeste, will you?”

I’d spent the subway ride considering possible murder suspects. Now I added one more. Celeste.

Then my imagination served up another suspect, and I stared at Gordon, my heart hammering.

Marius’s dark eyes flashed, telling me he was thinking the same thing.

“Ah, Gordon. Thank goodness you’re here,” Celeste announced upon entering.

And wow, what a transformation. Around us, she was coy and cunning. Around Gordon, she was usually calm and efficient. Now, she played upweakandhelpless.

I rolled my eyes. Obviously, she’d missed her calling in Hollywood.

“All right, everyone. Gather around,” Gordon ordered, moving to the head of the table.

Bene’s eyes went wide, and he lunged forward.

“Oh, Gordon?” I called sharply.

His head whipped to me while Bene snatched the pizza box Gordon had been about to sit on.

“Yes?” he asked sharply.

“Um… Would you like a coffee?” I answered a little meekly.

His brow furrowed, but he nodded. “Yes, please. Thank you, sweetheart.”

I turned away to make the coffee, cursing myself. How had I never noticed the special treatment Gordon bestowed on me? He barked at the men, while I always got a soft, indulgingsweetheart.

No wonder Celeste hated me. And, oh. An even uglier thought hit me. No wonder I’d never questioned what Gordon did for a living. My sweet, generous godfather would never get involved in anything murky, would he?

But the truth was, everything about him reached Loch-Ness-level murkiness. How could I have been so blind?

Still, I was in this now and just as invested as anyone.

My mind went over the situation. What if the police arrived to question us about the highly unusual, valuable, and secretive art deal we’d been attempting to broker? Neither Anastasia northe buyers would wish to be named, and she certainly wouldn’t want her painting to make the evening news. On the other hand…

Perfect opportunity to getThe Tower of Blue Horsesout in the public eye, the devious part of my mind noted.

I squirmed in my seat. Did I dare? Should I?

An uncomfortable hour passed, most of it taken up by Gordon blustering and thinking out loud. He hardly let anyone get in a word edgewise, and no one risked drawing his ire.

We’d barely settled on what version of the truth to share — and which details to omit — when another knock sounded on the door. Gordon frowned at Bene, who jerked a thumb at Roux, whose eyes flashed with a look that asked,Why is it always my fault?

I went to the door before they broke into another one of their fights. Then I peeped out and took a deep breath.

“Police,” I whispered.

Gordon straightened his tie and motioned for me to admit them.

“Metropolitan Police, ma’am,” the head officer announced as three others fanned out around the room. “We have a few questions.”