“It was his night off, and the power to my alarm system was cut,” Gordon grumbled.
Two obstacles Celeste would have known how to circumvent, I realized.
“Was anything taken?” I asked.
“Part of my art collection is missing. Perhaps more.”
First, the nagas. Then, Claudette. Now, this?
“I will need Messieurs Anand, Aecher, Velchynsky, and Bembridge to travel to Paris immediately to investigate,” Gordon continued.
Everyone tensed. We’d been expecting Gordon to assign them one last task, but yikes. No one had imagined a case regarding Gordon personally.
I looked nervously at Roux. “I’ll pass on the message. Any way I can help?”
Everyone in the room shook their heads vehemently.
Don’t even think about it!Mina hollered in my mind.
“As a matter of fact, I was going to request your help, and your sister’s,” Gordon said.
Everyone stared in shock.
“Oh?” I peeped.
“I’m afraid so. Something very precious to me has been taken. Something precious to you as well.”
Mina shook her head.No way. No matter what it is, you and I are not getting involved.
But I was definitely hooked. Precious? To me?
“Your father’s painting of the château,” Gordon finally said.
Mina’s jaw dropped. Mine too.
“The one painted that Easter?” I squeaked.
“I’m afraid so.”
His secondafraid. Well, I was afraid too, because Gordon’s fury was obvious, even over the phone. Fury and…something else. Deep concern — too deep to be warranted by the painting’s sentimental value. What, then?
On the periphery of my vision, I saw Roux, Bene, Marius, and Henrik shaking their heads.No.Do not risk getting mixed up with Gordon again.
But I kept my eyes locked on Mina’s, and a moment later, she nodded, resolute.
Marius groaned, and Roux muttered.
“What did you say?” Gordon asked.
I gulped and spoke up. “We’ll leave for Paris first thing in the morning.”
Chapter Twelve
GENEVIÈVE
Our discussion dragged on for a good hour. Correction — there wasn’t muchgoodabout it, least of all the arguing over who should — or shouldn’t — travel to Paris and why.
The guys were all for charging over to Paris and leaving us womenfolk back at our little home on the prairie.
