Page 65 of Wicked Games
“It’s my mother,” I told the guys. “I’ll just take this in my room. Want to meet by the pool for a relaxing swim after I’m finished?” Dev pointed to his cast. “Um, Percy, would you like to go for a nice swim while Dev watches?”
Percy purred. “Kinky, I like it.”
I heard them bickering when I answered the phone and hastened to get away so my mother didn’t overhear them. I wasn’t sure how to explain Dev and Percy to her. “Hello, Mom,” I said.
“You haven’t called me mom in a long time,” she said softly. “I should encourage you to visit Miami more often. Are you having a great time with yourfriends?” She knew all the usual suspects I’d vacation with and probably deduced none of them went with me. I admired the restraint she showed by not asking.
“It’s been eye-opening,” I replied noncommittally. “Most of the trip has been amazing.”
“That’s wonderful to hear, darling. Listen, I have some big news I want to share with you, but I need you to promise me you won’t say anything to anyone until after the news conference tomorrow.”
“Of course. What’s this about a news conference?”
“Daniel Perez was arrested by the FBI today, and they recovered the fanyi ritual wine vessel. He’s been on someone’s radar for several years now, and they set up a sting operation to catch him.”
“Who’d you get the information from? The Inspector Somersby guy?”
“Agent Kiphart called me. Do you know what else he told me?” I had a good feeling I did. “He said Interpol has agents not inspectors, and they don’t send them out to solve crimes around the world. Can you believe it?”
“Then who does Agent Kiphart say this man is?” I asked.
“He thinks he’s involved in the sting operation. Maybe he was looking for additional dirt to nail Daniel’s coffin shut. The nice agents said they weren’t at liberty to discuss it with me, but they just wanted to give me a heads-up they’d made an arrest and would be holding a conference tomorrow morning. Isn’t it great news?” Mom asked.
“It’s wonderful news.” I’d tried to sound ecstatic but failed miserably.
“I expected you to be thrilled,” Mom said, sounding confused. “It means you’re cleared and can go back to work.”
“I am ecstatic the FBI recovered the vessel and my name will be cleared of any wrongdoing.”
“But?”
“I’m not sure I’m a good fit at the museum,” I admitted. “I loved the idea of working there because of our family’s longstanding connection to the museum, and I wanted to be close to you, Dad, and Iris, but I never felt comfortable there.” On the other hand, if I hadn’t taken the job, would Lucien and I have reconnected? Carmen and Lucien’s role would be unchanged. She was on a mission, and Lucky was her best weapon to achieve it. If not Cincinnati, their paths would’ve crossed someplace else. The question was: would Lucien have sought me out once he was free of Banks?
“I know they didn’t welcome you with open arms, but that was Daniel’s fault for creating an environment of mistrust and paranoia. Please give them a chance to get to know you.”
“I promise to think about it,” I assured her.
“It’s all I can ask.”
“Mom, do you remember how much we loved watchingRomancing the Stone?” I asked, changing the subject. “I watched the movie on the flight yesterday and thought of you.”
“Oh my goodness, yes. Jack T. Colton wastheman.”
“Remember how I wanted to be a romance novelist like Joan Wilder?”
“Then you wanted to be an archeologist like Indiana Jones.” She released a long sigh. “Did I squash the adventurer in you with my speeches about practicality?”
“What? I didn’t bring this up to critique your parenting skills, Mom. I just wanted to talk about a fond memory. Yes, you preached about choosing practical jobs and seeing the big picture, but you never called me or my ideas stupid.”
“Good to know I wasn’t too terrible,” she said. “I’m dying to know who you went to Miami with, but I refuse to press. I only want you to have good things in life. I want you to find your Jack T. Colton or Indiana Jones.”
“I have found him, Mom.”
“I knew it! This is the happiest I’ve heard you sound since Paris when that Sebastian jerk broke your heart.” I chuckled, which must’ve tripped her mother’s intuition. “You’re on a lovers’ getaway.”
“Yeah, you could call it that.” As much as I trusted Carmen and her technology, I wasn’t going to risk telling my mom any details over the phone, especially with so much hanging in the balance. I also wouldn’t tell my mother anything about Lucien without his prior approval.
“When can we meet him?” she asked.