She held her fingers three-quarters of an inch apart. “About that much. Oh. Wait. I have a picture…”
She forwarded everyone the photo she’d taken on our previous visit. Even so, we soon found ourselves at an impasse.
“What did Gordon want when he kept you back?” Marius asked, changing the subject.
“The usual orders to keep a close eye on the rest of you,” I bluffed.
Bene patted my shoulder. “You always were his favorite.”
No, I was the one he deemed least likely to make a move on Gen. How ironic, because my tiger was totally fixated on her.
My human side too. I loved her scent…her verve…her upbeat, indomitable spirit.
Dinner arrived, and we ate in silence, each lost in our own thoughts — or fantasies.
“Gordon said, ‘yoursearch,’” Marius observed.
I nodded. “I caught that too. Why doesn’t he investigate it himself? He has contacts in all the right places.”
“Meaning thewrongplaces,” Mina muttered.
“Maybe he doesn’t want anyone to know it’s missing,” Bene tried.
“I’ll say. Being robbed by his former assistant isn’t a good look,” Marius snickered.
I nodded in agreement. “Gordon has many admirers — and an equal number of enemies eager to exploit the smallest vulnerability.”
“This could even work in Celeste’s favor,” Mina said. “If she gets away with this, she’ll be another step up the ladder she’s so desperate to climb.”
“You mean, one step down. Closer to hell,” Gen muttered.
“It’s a provocation,” Henrik decided. “She’s provoking Gordon and you.” He looked at Gen and Mina.
“I never even met her!” Gen protested.
I touched her shoulder, andzing!Sparks zipped through my veins. “Don’t take it personally. That’s how Celeste operates.”
“It also speaks to the idea that this is connected to Claudette,” Mina added, thinking it through. “It’s not unreasonable for Celeste to hire someone to pressure Claudette into providing intel on us or to hire the thugs who attacked Gen and Roux. Meanwhile, she lashes out at Gordon by stealing something of great value to him — and us.”
Gen looked dubious. “Kind of a lot to juggle at one time, don’t you think?”
Marius huffed. “Not for Celeste.”
“Okay, that’s one theory. Shouldn’t we consider other possibilities too?” Gen suggested.
For the next hour, we tried, but we kept circling back to Celeste. She had the motive, the means, and a mind twisted enough to conceive of such a plan.
“So much for theorizing,” Mina decided. “Now, we need to investigate.”
“Now?” Gen pointed to the clock.
Nine p.m. wasn’t that late, but late enough for honest souls to settle in for the night.
Criminal minds, on the other hand, would just be starting their shifts.
“Where exactly do we start anyway?” Gen asked.
“I’ll begin with my contacts.” Henrik stood, headed for the door, then U-turned to snarl, “Allow me to remind you. Do. Not. Touch. Anything.”
