Page 13

A month ago, I’d been blissfully unaware of Cass Temple’s existence.

Two weeks ago, she’d outsmarted me and stolen millions of dollars in jewels.

Today, she was in a photo on my desk.

Of course she was disguised in the photos but now I’d printed the one on my phone, and added Lucas’ surveillance shot, side-by-side, there was no mistaking the sweetheart face.

What the hell was going on?

I was pretty sure there was one person in Montgomery who could join the dots together and unfortunately, his name rhymed with Schadam Schaddocks.

Even more unfortunately, his nosiness suggested he might already have suspicions of his own about the case. So why hadn’t he shared his suspicions? Why was he sniffing around, pretending to simply be curious?

He’d asked me to share any news of Cass Temple. Yet, he hadn’t done the same.

Now I wondered how long he’d been sitting on the information that she’s returned to town…. and was he thinking the same thing about me?

Except I’d tipped him off about Hotel Ingrid in Germany… the country Maddox was supposed to be visiting in pursuit of a criminal. What were the odds we now searched for the same person? “High,” I muttered to myself. “Damn high.”

That left me with two choices: ask Maddox what he knew and then request his help. Or mess with him.

It was hard to say which one I found most appealing.

Practicality, however, would need to win out. If I stood a chance to find Cass Temple in the next few days, assuming she was even in town, assuming it really was her, I needed help. Lucas might be tracking her vehicle but there were countless places she could hide it. She could even abandon it or switch the plates, replacing them with the originals only minutes before the drop off. Although the likelihood of her going to all that effort just to avoid losing the deposit made in a fake name seemed ludicrous. Something told me Maddox could fill in the gaps.

As I was contemplating my next move, the phone rang.

“Hi, Dad.”

“I’m at Reynolds’,” he said. “I have a shiny badge with my name on it but they’re not sure about giving me a code to the jewelry cases.”

“Do you need it?” I asked.

“Not really. Either Jonathan, Alan, or Tansy will be with me the whole time. I’m just the muscle.”

“Aww.” My dad probably had been the muscle once. Now he was the muscle memory.

“You doubt that but I box at my golf club. I can still pack a punch.”

“Of course you can,” I said.

“You sound like your mother,” Dad grumbled.

I held back a laugh. “What’s up?” I asked.

“I saw Maddox just now.”

“He came to Reynolds’?”

“Not exactly. He was walking past, stopped to look at something in the window, saw me and waved. I was going to go out and say hello when he came in.”

“Huh.” It sounded exactly like he was walking past on purpose.

“He asked if I was taking on some post-retirement work. I told him, as one professional to another, I was doing some consultant work for you. He was impressed.”

I narrowed my eyes. Maddox knew my case revolved around a stolen ring. “I’ll bet he was.”

“He was curious about how a jewelry store was involved and guessed I was undercover. He said he’d catch up with you about it sometime and told me to thank your mom for the lasagna she dropped off.”

I shook my head, not quite in disbelief, but more at Maddox’s blatant attempts to wheedle information from my dad. Then I recalled what Dad had just relayed. “Mom made him… oh, never mind. Of course she did!” I huffed. I’d pay good money in a bet that Maddox had used the opportunity to extract all the information my mom had.

“Her lasagna is very good. You know that. Anyway, I smelled a rat. What’s Maddox up to?” Dad asked, surprising me with his shrewdness.

“That’s a very good question. What made you smell a rat?”

“He was too nonchalant. Acting like he didn’t really care meant he absolutely cared. I’ve known him long enough to recognize his behavior.”

“Yeah, I think he’s up to something too.”

“Is he helping or hindering?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you want me to throw him off the scent? I can make up some crap if you want me to.”

“No, that’s okay. Let me find out what he’s after first. He might be willing to help.” I glanced at the photos. If Maddox knew Cass Temple was in town, then surely he knew what she was doing… but if he knew that, why was he sniffing around my case like a dog at a particularly stinky tree? In an instant, it came clear. He knew she was here but he didn’t know why. At least, he wasn’t one hundred percent sure. Perhaps he suspected she was involved in my case but couldn’t confirm it. Yet he was trying. “I’ve got a good idea but I need to verify it,” I decided.

“Let me know if you want backup.”

“That’s kind of you. I’m sure I’ll be just fine without you.”

“I was thinking of sending your mom. She loves Maddox but she loves you more. If you want him interrogated, she’s your woman. At worst, she’ll simply withhold food.”

I laughed. “Anything to report from Reynolds’?”

“Absolutely nothing. Let’s hope it stays that way.”

“There’s nothing to indicate it won’t.”

“One-off thefts can often turn out to be trial runs for something bigger and the Reynolds’ store front can easily be rammed and raided,” said Dad.

“Seems an excessive step-up for a sleight of hand theft.”

“It’s a good thing I’m here. Saves agency manpower getting too stretched. I’ll hang out until closing time, then head home.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“One more thing before you go!”

“Yes?”

“The guy with the accent came back. Jonathan recognized him. I subtly questioned him and checked out his alibi. I sent everything to your email but I’m certain he had nothing to do with anything.”

“Good work, Dad!”

We disconnected and I took a deep breath before calling Maddox.

“Hey!” he said, answering quickly. “I just bumped into your dad.”

“You did? No way!” I feigned ignorance. If Maddox could do it, so could I.

“It’s great he’s consulting for you. The man is a class act.”

“Isn’t he?” I agreed. “I’m so pleased he’s come out of retirement to help us out on this case.”

“I think he’s pleased too. We really undervalue the older generation.” There was a pause where Maddox took a sip of something, then he asked, “So what can I do for you? Everything okay?”

“I wondered if you were free? I was thinking about what you said and I’d really appreciate some insight on my case.”

“Oh? How so? I’m sure I can make time.” There was that breezy nonchalance Dad had mentioned. He was too compliant, too charming.

“It’s thrown up a couple of things I didn’t expect and since you work with major crimes, I thought you’d know more.”

“This is the ring theft? With your dad undercover, I figured it was stolen from Reynolds’. How’s it going otherwise?”

“I think I’m closing in,” I said. “I’ll tell you more when we meet. Where’s good?”

“I’m at the coffee shop at the end of the block from Reynolds’. The one on the same side, near the deli. Not the one opposite. I’m in no hurry to go back to the office and my partner has the afternoon off for a dental appointment. Why don’t you meet me here?”

“I’ll be there in thirty minutes.” I disconnected, pleased with how effortlessly that had gone. Maddox hadn’t offered any information but he hadn’t pressed either. He was far too cool for that. I knew that would be a different matter once I met him face-to-face although I still wasn’t sure how to play it: feign ignorance to his machinations, drop clues until he broke, or play with him.

I drove downtown rather than braving the unabating, stifling heat and pulled up a block away, walking back to the coffee shop. By the time I pushed the door open, standing back to let two women walk out through the doorway, a trickle of perspiration was making its way down my back and I had the horrible feeling my face was a lot redder than I wanted it to be.

Maddox was at the corner table, his back against the wall, reading on his phone, a half-drunk tall glass in front of him. He looked up and waved, smiling.

“You look… pink,” he finished as I approached.

“It’s hot!”

“I know. That’s why I’m sitting in a building with AC and drinking an iced coffee.”

I looked at the drink. Even my gaze seemed to be melting the ice cubes. “I’ll be right back,” I said, and headed to the counter.

Five minutes later, I pulled out the chair opposite Maddox with one iced caramel latte for “Recksi” in my hand.

“How’s it going?” asked Maddox. He slipped his phone into his pocket, giving me his full attention. “Any strong leads?”

“We know we’re looking for a woman.”

“Oh, very good. That narrows it down to… would you say half of Montgomery’s adult population?”

“Less than half,” I snipped lightly, knowing he was teasing from the glint in his eye. “But since she was in disguise, it’s hard to tell who she might have been. Where does a person get a disguise anyway? Prosthetics? Wigs?” I watched him closely.

“What kind of quality are we talking? High end, you said?” Maddox watched me equally closely.

“The best you can get. The type a person could wear and their companions wouldn’t even begin to think it wasn’t their own face.”

“Special effects prosthetics like that can run thousands of dollars.”

“Is there anyone here who could make something like that?”

Maddox sat back in his plastic chair and sipped his iced latte. “No. There isn’t much call for that kind of stuff here. Plenty of freelancers elsewhere. Movie and theater industry types, either in the business, freelancing, or doing that kind of thing as a business can be easily commissioned.”

“That’s disappointing.”

“It’s good money.”

“No, I meant, it’s disappointing there’s no one here like that,” I said. That would have made my case a lot easier but instead, Cass Temple—if it really was her—must have brought the disguise with her. She could have bought it weeks or months, even years, in advance, knowing one day it would come in useful. Just like I did with shoes.

“I didn’t say there wasn’t. Just that I don’t know of anyone.”

“How long would it take to make something like that?”

“An entirely custom job? A few weeks.”

I shook my head. “She couldn’t have planned it so far in advance. The Reynoldses didn’t take possession of the ring until five weeks ago.”

“A pro could have had something like that commissioned in the past, waiting for the right moment,” said Maddox.

“That’s what I figured. So, my thief gets the job and she already has the right disguise ready and waiting? All she needs to do is pack and catch a flight. The rest of the details can be worked out when she’s in the vicinity.”

“Catch a flight?” Maddox asked, latching onto that.

“Our suspect hired a car at Boston airport. I figured she flew in.” As I sipped my drink, I watched him from under my lashes. His face was impassive, but his eyes told me he was deep in thought. “She’s scheduled to return it,” I added. “The car, I mean.”

Maddox looked up. “When?”

“A few days from now.”

“That’s great!”

“I have a photo of her without the disguise.”

Another flicker of interest, quickly subdued. “You do? Do you want me to run it for you?” he offered.

“Why don’t you take a look at it and tell me?” I produced the printouts and placed them on the table in front of him, neatly dodging a small puddle of liquid formed by the condensation slipping down our glasses.

Maddox picked up the photos, studying them, his face carefully not showing a thing.

When he didn’t say anything, I pounced. “You knew she was in town,” I said.

“Who?”

I tapped the top of a photo. “Cass Temple.”

He hesitated and when he did, I knew I had him. He didn’t want to lie, but he didn’t want to admit to it either. And the evidence was in his hands: the DMV’s Sally Smith and the driver leaving Harmony Village.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, unsure if I was annoyed, irritated, or curious. Maybe all three. Although, this was certainly easier than interrogating Special Agent Sadiq Farid.

“You didn’t need to know!”

“She’s the chief suspect in my last case!”

“And that case is closed!”

“And in my current case!”

“Clearly.”

“Does she still have the Queen’s Ruby?” I asked, leaning in, keeping my voice low enough that the neighboring table of a laptop-working couple couldn’t hear.

“No.”

“How do you know?”

“She’s not stupid enough to hang onto a piece as hot as that.”

“But she’s stupid enough to stick around town?”

“I don’t think it’s that…”

“Oh!” Realization dawned on me. “She wasn’t here for the Queen’s Ruby in the first place. She was here for something else, perhaps doing the reconnaissance before her heist. She was here for this! The Queen’s Ruby was what… a convenient side quest?”

“Side quest,” snorted Maddox.

“Cass Temple was already here and she heard about the ruby because some jerk leaked it to the newspaper and she figured ‘Why not steal that too?’ and make a deal.”

“I think she would call it repatriating.”

“Whatever,” I said, drumming my fingers on the table as the puzzle pieces clicked into place. “But she’d already arranged to steal the ring so she left, making us think she was long gone, only to turn around and come back. Now that she’s got the ring, she’s going to run.” That was it. This was my last shot, our last shot. Cass Temple had taken a huge risk in returning; I doubted she’d be back once the handover was complete.

“Okay, let’s say that’s what I think happened too. What’s so important about the ring?” asked Maddox, leaning in, his forearms resting on the table.

“What about Ben Rafferty? Is he here too?” I asked, ignoring his question as I tensed, bracing for the answer.

Maddox gave a quick shake of his head. “No, he’s long gone, along with his real identity.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“We have surveillance of him getting on a flight at JFK bound for Paris. He tried the usual ballcap and beard disguise but, lucky for us, his cap was knocked off just at the moment he turned to face a camera. The shot is clear.”

“Really?” I couldn’t help but be skeptical.

“We’re giving it ninety-five percent it’s him. Interpol have been notified.”

“And in Paris? Are there photos of him arriving?”

“There’s a man in the same clothing but we don’t have a clear shot of his face. We did get a copy of the passport he’s using. It’s in the name Benjamin Thomas.”

“That’s similar to some of his other identities,” I said, relaxing now.

“Yeah, we picked up on that too.”

“How long ago was this?”

“Three days after his father’s funeral.”

“Do you know where he’s been since? Or what he’s done?”

“No clue. We lost sight of him once he left the airport so I figure he’s gone to ground. He’ll lie low for a while, then he’ll probably resume his usual activities.”

“Romancing women out of their money,” I filled in.

“Yeah, but with an added ooh la la .” Maddox winked.

“Assuming he stays there. He could already be back in the country.”

“It’s possible but we know he has prior connections to Paris and he’s fluent in French. I think he’ll wait out any heat before he makes a return. Even then, I doubt he’ll come to Montgomery. He got what he came for here.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “That is, he found out what happened to his father, but he didn’t get the jewels.”

“Side quest fail,” said Maddox, smiling again. “Don’t leave me hanging. I’ve told you what I know and what I suspect. Now you tell me what’s so important about the ring. We can work together on this.”

“I’m not sure you’ve told me anything,” I said. “I think I figured everything out for myself. How about you tell me something and I’ll tell you something. Then we can see about working together.”

Maddox contemplated that. “Okay. What do you want to know?” he asked.

I wanted to know everything. The problem was where to start.

“When did you know Cass Temple was back in town?” I asked.

Maddox’s guilty look told me everything before he said, “Almost straightaway.”

“How did you know?”

“I had an idea where she might have a safe house. I’ve kept an eye on the place until I caught a glimpse of her a few days ago. I wasn’t sure at first so I’ve been making spot checks. I’m reasonably sure it’s her.”

“Did she see you?”

“I don’t think so but I can’t be sure. As much as I hate to admit it, she’s usually two steps ahead.”

“And the safe house? Did you go inside?”

“Not yet. I didn’t want to get too close in case she spooked. I’ve been figuring out how to get in there and take a look around while I tried to figure out why she was back.”

“What…”

“My turn,” he said. “You’re sure it’s her?”

“You saw the photos. Hair’s different, and her clothing, and the big sunglasses only cover so much. Her face shape is the same. The eyes are the same if you ignore the glasses in the DMV photo.” I’d seen her up close. I was sure of the resemblance. Plus, Maddox wasn’t arguing. He was adding more missing pieces to my puzzle. He’d seen Cass Temple and so had I.

“Anything else to tie her to your theft?” he asked.

“Unfortunately, no.”

“And she only stole one item?”

“Yes. Dad’s undercover in case she comes back. As you know,” I said, subtly pointing out I was aware of the real reason for his visit to Reynolds’.

“She won’t come back.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“She won’t return to the same scene now the job’s done.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because she’s never done it before. Whatever she stole, that was her target. Reconnaissance, in and out. What about…”

“My turn!” I interrupted. “How long have you been tracking her?”

“A long time.”

“How does she know you?”

“What makes you think she does?”

“Oh, c’mon! I saw how she looked at you after she clunked Ben Rafferty over the head with a retractable baton. She knows you. You know her.”

“Fine. Okay. Yes, she knows I’m onto her. We’ve had several run-ins.”

“Why haven’t you arrested her?”

“Amongst other things, not enough evidence. Everything I have on her is circumstantial. I can’t arrest her until I catch her red-handed. Her saving you from Black was the closest I got to catching her with the goods on her.”

“Why did she risk that? Why did she risk saving me when she knew you could have caught her?” That was the one thing I couldn’t figure out. How had she known me? Aside from working the same cases, albeit from opposite ends, our only connection was Maddox. That told me, Maddox’s run-ins with her were… what? What wasn’t he saying?

“I think it’s my turn,” said Maddox. “What about the item she stole? You said it was a ring?”

“It’s a beautiful, and very expensive, vintage sapphire and diamond ring. Sounds just up her alley.”

“She rarely steals for herself. What’s so special about that ring?”

“Our clients bought the ring from a family with dubious connections. I’m not sure if the Reynoldses knew and the family definitely wasn’t forthcoming about it when I contacted them. I found some old photos online that proves it.”

“What did the Reynoldses say? Did it sound like they did their due diligence?”

“Yes, I think they thought they had. I had to dig to find the evidence I found. They could have found it too, but I don’t think they went looking.”

“Did they purchase anything else with the ring?”

“No, just the ring. The Reynoldses could show us photos, including some family photos the sellers gave them, but the family claimed not to have any receipts. They said the same thing to me when I spoke to them. I have concerns now that the sellers were trying to conceal the ring’s origins.”

Maddox gave me a long, curious look. “Tell me more.”

I took a deep breath. “The sellers had World War II Nazi connections. There’s a picture of the seller’s mom wearing what looks like the ring at an enemy ball during the occupation. I’m wondering if they wanted to sell the ring overseas to get the cash and distance themselves from it.” I paused, collecting my thoughts as I sipped the latte. The ice was almost melted and the caramel deliciously sugary. “You said that’s the sort of thing that appeals to Cass Temple,” I said, remembering. What had he called her? Someone who repatriated stolen goods.

A thief with a conscience.

“It could be exactly the sort of thing that appeals to her.” Maddox drummed his fingers on the table, lost in thought as he gazed out the window. When he returned his attention to me, he said, “The question is still what’s so interesting about this ring?”

“How well do you know her?” I asked, returning to the question he hadn’t quite answered.

“Who’s turn is it?” asked Maddox. “I thought it was mine.”

“It’s definitely mine. Answer the question.”

“I… we…” He hesitated again and that’s when I knew. It wasn’t just professional. It couldn’t have been the way Cass looked at him, or the look that crossed his face now. “You get to know someone well when you’re tailing them,” he finished lamely.

“Professionally?”

“I suppose you could say that.”

“How did she know who I am?”

“She did her research into me.”

“You didn’t tell her?”

“Why would I do that?” he asked, stern now as his eyebrows knitted together.

“I have no idea! Why would she research you and then me?”

“To find out who I know.”

I pounced on that. “Not to find out who you are?”

Again, the hesitation, then, “She knows I’m FBI. She knows it’s my job to track her down and bring her in. Know thine enemy.” He shrugged.

“That’s what she is to you? Your enemy?”

“We’re hardly on the same side. She steals stuff. I don’t want her to steal stuff.”

“Even though you called her something akin to a repatriation agent?”

“I think you’ve hit the most important nail on the head.”

It was my turn to frown. “What do you mean?”

“If she’s repatriating that ring… to whom is she repatriating it? And why? There’s another player here and you don’t know who it is.”

That stopped me. He had a point and it was more important than ascertaining whether Maddox and Cass Temple were making googly eyes at each other or not.

“Damn it. I figured she might have stolen it to order but I don’t know who told her to.”

“Want to find out?” asked Maddox.

I narrowed my eyes. Now he was being helpful? “How?”

“Now we’ve teamed up, it’s time we paid a visit to her safe house.”