“Unless the thief is a complete idiot, this was a brokered job.”
“What if he is?” She rose, circled the board. “He’s an idiot. You said the job itself was simple, basic. So lack of experience could be a factor. Hell, maybe it was his first job.”
“You can’t discount it, I suppose. That’s considerable and fantastic luck on his part.”
“Not if someone told him how to do it. Someone told him about the vault, maybe helped him gain access.”
“Someone in the household again.”
“Going back to dead Henry, yeah.”
She saw the steps and how the steps could work.
“Somebody lets it slip, and somebody else decides they want a piece of that. Can’t wait long, either, not if they know the Barristers are making arrangements to give it all back.”
Hands in pockets, she studied the board. “Something to play with. Take me through the broker angle again.”
“The client engages the broker. Alternately, the broker learns of something worth moving on. Either way, he then selects the thief, offers him a fee. This is sometimes a percentage of the resale value, or a flat fee.”
“And the thief wouldn’t know who the client is, or if the broker himself is the client.”
“He wouldn’t, no. Unless the broker is a complete idiot. For a take of this scope, it feels highly doubtful.”
“Most criminals have a wide stupid streak.” She glanced at him. “With some noted exceptions. But okay.”
“With this scope, it’s also very possible the broker doesn’t know the identity of the client. That’s risky, but this take? So tempting. Arrangements are made. Fees, payment schedule, drop-off details. The thief, barring idiots, takes the time to study, research, case it out, practice and so on. Once the job’s complete, drop-off, authentication, payment.
“For something like this, as I said, you’re not going to pop out the stones, reset them or sell them loose, and bottom out the value. So the client either has a private collection or intends to go to private auction.”
“Let’s hope it’s the second.”
She rubbed her eyes, blinked them open to stare at the board. “Need to talk to the exes.”
“And that’s for tomorrow. Come now, shut it down. Some solid sleep will give you a better start on it.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She blew out a breath. “Yeah. Thieves and emeralds and Interpol.”
“Oh my.”
Laughing, she rubbed her eyes again. “I know that one.”
So saying, she went back to her command center to shut down.
Chapter Ten
He saw the tension in the way she rolled her shoulders, circled her neck.
“Knotted up, aren’t you then?”
“Yeah, some.”
After cupping a hand on the back of her neck, he judged it more than some. He knew ways to untie those knots.
“How about a swim?”
“Ah… yeah, actually. I could use it.” As they walked to the elevator, she looked at him. “Even if you just want me wet and naked.”
“Well, of course, but I also enjoy you dry and dressed. For example,” he said, and when they stepped into the elevator, turned her back to the wall and covered her mouth with his.
