Jason was relieved to see the orphanage come into view. He was glad they advised Ms. Donning to return to the kids in Morghana City after they found Gus. She didn’t need to be bothered again today. They’d explained what little they could to her, and she didn’t hesitate packing up and heading to the ferry.
They filed out of the SUVs and headed for a side door entrance to the basement. Drakos unlocked the door and led them inside.
Descending the basement steps, Jason registered six figures in his peripheral vision. He reached for his weapon, but before he withdrew it, he realized his mistake. They weren’t combatants. Not living, breathing ones anyway. The figures, six complete suits of armor, stood at attention in the middle of the room.
Drakos noticed his reaction and snickered. “Ah, yes, yes. They do look menacing, don’t they?”
Jason catalogued the room. Six suits of armor, ten large crates and eight smaller crates—each secured with a digital padlock.
Drakos scurried from crate to crate, inputting the lock code and verifying the contents. He looked relieved each time. Apparently, nothing was missing.
Jason massaged a knot in his shoulder. “If someone came in here, they either didn’t try to bust the locks, or they had the codes.” He looked at Drakos. “Which is more likely to you?”
“Maybe they didn’t come in at all. Maybe when they encountered your associate, Mr. Branch . . . maybe they changed their plan?”
Leland looked skeptical. “How certain are you that no one has the codes to those locks?”
Drakos paused. “Ninety percent sure.”
Jason swallowed his groan. And reminded himself to stay professional. Because what he wanted to say to Drakos wasn’t very professional. “Okay, Drakos.” He waved a hand around the room. “What is all this?”
“Mine. That’s what it is.”
Jason glared at him. “And yet?”
“Yes, well, like I told you, there is a man, Frederick Kost, who would like to take possession of these treasures.” He raised his hand toward the crates with great reverence. “Priceless art, rare coins, artifacts—all things that should be owned by those who truly appreciate their worth.”
Jason had a bad feeling about these treasures. “Drakos, I want you to look me in the eye and tell me none of these items were stolen.”
“They are mine,” he said.
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled a long breath. “Mr. Drakos, give me a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no.’Beforethese items were in your possession, were they illegally acquired?”
“I don’t know.”
Jason was starting to understand why someone might want to shoot at this man.
“Tell us about Frederick Kost,” Leland said.
Drakos’ face screwed up like he’d tasted something sour. “He is the son of my late dear friend, Boris Kost.” He looked around the room fondly. “Boris appreciated nice things. All of this belonged to him. And he told me he wanted me to take possession of these collections after hedied. Because he knew I had taste!” He practically yelled the last statement.
His dramatics elicited a baffled look from Tayla. Leland grunted. Drakos’ bodyguards didn’t react. Jason suspected they were immune to his theatrics.
“Frederick,” Drakos continued, “has gambled away everything his father ever gave him. Boris knew if Frederick got his hands on any of this, he would simply auction it all off and burn the money on frivolous things. So, in the event of his death, Boris wanted me to have it all. He knew I would appreciate it, and if I were to sell any of it, he knew I would be very selective about who I sold to. Poor Boris died six months ago. And, of course, Frederick wantseverything.”
“There wasn’t a will?” Tayla asked.
Drakos hesitated.
“No,” Jason answered. “None of this was recorded in a will, or anywhere else, because it’s allstolen.”
Drakos shrugged. “I have no idea how Boris accumulated any of this.”
Jason straightened one of the ancient knights’ swords. “You mean all these fascinating valuables you appreciateso much? You admire them with no interest in where they came from?”
Drakos smiled. “I will . . . how do you say, in your country? I plead the fifth.”
Jason ground his teeth, harnessing the words he knew he shouldn’t say.
