Page 13 of To Catch a Sub

“I’m no gem expert, but I assume we can verify that this is the item in question?” Anu asked. “Without Ms. Beaumont?”

“Yes.” Landon had been studying her with that intensity that made her feel trapped.

He finally looked away from Colette and she was able to take a deep breath.

“The makeup of the gem, specifics about the cut, if it has any markings, exact sizing details… That should all be in the theft case file,” Barry said.

“Then we’ll do that,” Anu announced. “Ms. Beaumont, thank you for returning this, we’ll take it from here.”

“Will you?” She smiled to hide the way her heart was racing. They couldn’t kick her out.

“Agent Malik, get her contact information and that of the current owner, then escort her out.” Anu pushed back from the table.

“You mean Mr. Grizzard, who is definitely a character in a book about a jewelry heist?” Barry asked apologetically.

Anu’s gaze was hard and cold on Colette, who arched a brow and said nothing.

“We could charge you for wasting our time by making up a false report,” Anu said.

“It’s hardly my fault if my client lied about his identity.”

“Where did you get the diamond, Colette?”

She liked the way Landon said her name, even if there was warning and threat threaded through the words.

“We could verify its authenticity, and if it is the Saudi diamond, just say it was dropped off anonymously,” Barry said.

Anu frowned at Barry. “You’re proposing Interpol lie to a foreign government?”

“Er, no.”

“I didn’t think so.”

“And you’ll need the case file, to get the specific information and details about that diamond, in order to authenticate.” Colette felt the heavy weight of all three gazes. “I wonder… Once you pull that file, will the Saudi NCB ask why? And even if they don’t, if I’m right about what that gem is, don’t you think that people, specifically other governments, as well as your own bosses, will want to know exactly where you got it?”

There was a long stretch of silence as everyone thought through the situation.

“The diamond isn’t enough. We need information.” Landon eyed her. “I can get the information we need.”

“Threats, Agent Malik?” Colette forced herself to smile and raise a brow, but her heart was slamming against her ribs.

Landon sat forward, and she fought the urge to scoot her chair back to put space between her and that intense stare. His dark eyes pinned her in place, and the intensity of his focus seemed to wrap around them, sealing them together. “You came here, to me, because I know who you are,” he said.

Yes. I know you, and I trust you.

She kept that thought locked down tight so it wouldn’t show on her face.

“You brought this diamond as a bargaining chip, because you want something. And you’re not going to tell us where or how you got it until we give you whatever thing it is you want.”

“It all sounds very reasonable to me.”

“I bet. So the question is: what do you want, Colette?”

The trap was set, the walls of the cage she’d built in place. It was time, but she had to swallow before she could speak. “Protection.”

FOUR

Landon studied Colette, as if by looking long enough, he could figure her out. The corners of her lips were pulled in and up, that faint smile hovering around her mouth. But her eyes were wide and stark. She looked…scared. Scared and trying to pretend she wasn’t.