Page 35 of To Catch a Sub

As soon as the words were out of Landon’s mouth, he looked at Rolf. That might…

Rolf’s eyes were narrowed in thought. They’d have to talk about this later.

“For now, let’s go upstairs,” Landon said. “You can see where we’ll be staying.”

“And where you’ll be working.” Andrei hopped down and sauntered over, eying Colette with exaggerate interest. “I can’t wait to see you in uniform.”

* * *

“So what do you steal?” Andrei asked as they exited the main part of the club back into the hall.

“I’ve never stolen anything.” Colette smiled at the agent, who matched her energy with his return smile.

Beside her, Landon snorted.

“She walked into the UK NCB, right through security, with the Saudi diamond.”

Andrei whistled. “You’re not going to like Saudi prison.”

“I’ve never been to prison, but it sounds like you speak from experience?” Colette simpered at Andrei.

Landon let out a sigh as he gripped her shoulder. She felt instantly better.

“Stop for a moment, please.” Rolf actually physically stopped, turning to face her, then looking to Landon. “Why is it referred to as the Saudi diamond?”

Landon crossed his arms. “Because it was stolen from a Saudi prince.” He cocked a brow at her.

“Perhaps I should tell the story?” she suggested with a smile.

Landon’s gaze drifted to her mouth, and Colette’s smile widened.

He motioned for her to go ahead.

“In the early 90s,” Colette started, “a Thai man was living in Saudi Arabia, working as a housekeeper and gardener in the home of one of the princes. He figured out that the prince often left his in-home vaults, of which he had several, unlocked. The man needed money to pay off gambling debts, so over the course of several weeks, he took items from the vaults and smuggled them out with the cleaning supplies and garbage.”

Landon, Rolf, and Andrei were all watching her silently. It was a little unnerving, so Colette smiled, forcing herself to project casual confidence.

“He shipped several hundred pounds of jewelry back to Thailand, before leaving the country himself. Not long after, the thefts were discovered, and it was relatively easy for Saudi officials to identify him as the culprit. Meanwhile, back in Thailand, the thief had no idea how to sell items of that value, and ended up selling them to a jeweler.” Colette shook her head in disgust at the man’s lack of professionalism. “Selling them for less than one percent of their actual value.”

Landon snorted.

Colette looked over at him, one brow raised.

“The face you made when you said that. It looked like the idea physically hurt you.”

“It did, it really did.” Colette sighed.

“Thief snobbery,” Rolf rumbled.

“I’m a gem expert. Seeing gems, especially rare ones, mishandled hurts. Nothing to do with stealing.”

Landon snorted again.

“But to continue, the Saudi authorities went to the Thai authorities, who gathered up all the stolen pieces and returned them.” Colette smiled. “Except that every piece was fake.”

“So the Saudi prince had fake jewelry in his safe?” Rolf asked.

“No, no, no. The Thai authorities…” Colette grinned. “…allegedly, hypothetically, kept the real jewelry and returned replicas. Apparently, assuming the Saudis wouldn’t question them. Several wives of high ranking members of the Royal Thai Police force were photographed wearing pieces of the stolen jewelry after everything was supposedly returned. There’s more to the story—murder, intrigue, corruption—but what’s important is that the real jewelry is still out there. And the most famous piece that was taken was a fifty-carat blue diamond. Hence, the Saudi diamond.”