“Why?” asked Dakota.
“Because back then,” Slate interjected, “when a woman died, everything she owned immediately became her husband’s property.”
“Okay, let’s move on from 1560,” Logan said, as he pulled out the next document. “This one is dated 1676.”
“Yeah, another bill of sale by a wealthy merchant who sold it to a Frenchman who sold it to a Spaniard who sold it to an Irishman,” Reif recounted.
“Holy shit, that’s one well-traveled diamond.” Zane chuckled.
“I don’t see those last two sales reflected in your research.” Logan said, glancing through the remaining documents. “These are all dated after 1850.”
“Right,” said Reif. “Only the sale to the Frenchmen. I searched for months but couldn’t find any trace of it. I told the man the whereabouts of the green diamond had been lost and asked him to have me and my people released since, despite being diligent in my mission, the diamond couldn’t be found.”
“Obviously that did nae happen,” Brian murmured.
“A week later,” said Reif, “the man came back and told me about some other sales, and said I should go to Dublin and search there.” He glanced around the table before continuing. “I went and found a cache of papers referring to the Serpent’s Teardrop, a green diamond sold to a wealthy Scotsman who lived in Loch Ness.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” said Logan. “How could someone live in the lake?”
“I couldn’t figure it out either until I got here and found a sea serpent shifter,” Reif said, turning to look at Brian “I figured the document was referring to you so when you came across my scent, I was searching for your house under the water.”
~/~/~/~/~
Fionn was bored, as the testimony of the midwife droned on, but was impressed with how Penn questioned her leading to the last one—when she swore it was the same certificate she filled out after Fionn was born. After Penn sat down, his uncle’s lawyer rose, and Fionn sniggered at his pompous shuffling of papers in front of him before addressing the witness.
“Mrs. Penelope Hudson, when was the last time you saw the baby named Fionn?”
“Two days after his birth. There was some abnormal bleeding so I stayed until Mrs. MacDùghlas had recovered.”
“Have you seen Fionn since then?”
“No.”
“Do you know if he died?”
“No.”
“Is the person whose birth you assisted at…as stated in Exhibit A…currently here in this courtroom?”
Fionn watched as Mrs. Hudson glanced his way, then, gritting his teeth he knew what was coming.
“I don’t know.”
Fuck!This was what Penn warned him about, but it didn’t help when it happened. Bouncing his leg, Fionn balled his hands, trying to push back the anger threatening to erupt. It certainly didn’t help any when he saw Walker give Penn a shit-eating grin. Fionn felt Dylon’s hand on his thigh, reassuring him at the moment he needed it most.
Silently letting out the breath he’d been holding, Fionn looked at Dylon, giving a faint nod signifying he was in control of himself. As he turned back, he noticed his uncle was carefully watching him.Probablyhoping to see me freak out. Fuck him!Schooling his face so no emotion showed, Fionn sat quietly, resuming his focus on the proceedings.
“Mr. Anderson, is your next witness ready?”
“Yes, Your Honor.” Penn helped the bailiff move a large video screen into position so it was visible to everyone in the courtroom. Then dialing a number, he waited until it connected, showing a man in a suit sitting facing them.
“Thank you, Mr. Mallison.” Penn said to Fionn’s family attorney. “I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule.”
After the bailiff swore Mallison in, Fionn listened with fascination as each of Penn’s questions built on the last one, leaving no room for Walker to claim the gifts were meant for anyone other than he. Sneaking a peek at his uncle who was whispering furiously with his attorney, Fionn frowned as a sense of foreboding settled in his gut. His uncle definitely had something up his sleeve. Nudging Dylon, he tilted his head towards his uncle.
Taking a quick glance, Dylon leaned over, whispering, “A two-asshole love fest.”
“My uncle’s planning something,” Fionn murmured.
