Page 54 of The Prize

That small inner voice warning something isn’t quite what it seems, eliciting a sense of uneasiness when you look at it.

“Tell me so I can fix it.”

I handed him my glass and walked toward the door. “Good afternoon, Mr. Wilder.” At least when I fell asleep tonight my conscience would be clear.

CHAPTER SEVEN

SITTINGONTHEedge of the wall I stared beyond at the monastery within walking distance, those ancient pillars looked like they’d barely survived the surrounding city. It saddened me to see the weather had ravaged the roof and caused tiles to fall away.

I drew in a wary breath of early morning air, glad for my parka with its fur hood and my Ugg boots. My heart beat faster when I heard Clara’s dialing tone and my fingers tightened around Tobias’s phone.

He stood a few feet away and, though he’d offered to let me chat with her alone, I’d told him I felt comfortable having him overhear us. He looked relaxed in his jeans and was now clean shaven, making him extra suave in that black blazer and scarf.

He’d not mentioned our conversation last night over the flaw I’d found in his hologram, though despite the subtlety of Mona Lisa’s expression eventually he’d see it.

I went to hang up.

“Hello?” Clara’s voice sounded reassuringly familiar.

“Hey, it’s me.” I forced the cheeriness.

“Are you okay?”

A rush of homesickness came at me and a well of guilt for disappearing without a word.

“How are you?” I kept my voice even.

“For God’s sake, tell me you’re not in any danger?”

“I’m fine. What do you know?”

“You may be connected to the suspect Icon who has been mentioned in the news. He sounds dangerous, Zara. I’m worried about you.”

“Clara, I’m fine.” I glanced up at Tobias. “I’m working on the Icon case and it seems our paths have crossed.”

“Come home.”

“I’ve been hired by a client of Huntly Pierre on a very special commission. I’ve done nothing wrong. Please don’t worry. The money’s fantastic.”

Tobias rolled his eyes with amusement.

“Give me a sign you’ve not been kidnapped,” she said.

I hated being a source of worry for her.

“Zara,” she snapped. “What have you gotten yourself into? Abby Reynolds wants you to call her.”

“I can do that.” Though when I looked at Tobias he was shaking his head.

Everyone was overreacting because my job was waiting for me when I got home, and after I got my paintings back we’d all laugh about this...

Same old lie.

Her silence lingered. “Remember, you did this last time to me? Scared the shit out of me.”

I tried to drag that memory back. “When?”

“You pissed off to Tunisia without me.”