Lucie’s face contorts, disgust etched into every line. “It’sincredible what women will just give away for free. Astounding. What does that douchebag have to do with any of this?”
My throat and stomach are still tight with rage twinged with irrational jealousy. I’m furious that this man who ripped my tender heart to shreds and crumpled my ambition in his hands is now the reason all of this will fall apart. But it’s not just for him. Stella too. Stella let me go on and on about my affair with Pascal and never once mentioned knowing him or bringing him into this.
“He’s one of the experts Stella reached out to, that she trusted as part of her inner circle, who she thought would be willing to help her prove the paintings in the Orsay were fakes.”
“Pascal? Why wouldn’t she tell us? She knew about you and him.”
“Exactly. Why wouldn’t she?” I say. “And why bring him into all this? It’s sloppy. He went to Caroline, but he had no idea what Stella was planning next. That’s why Caroline needed me.”
“Needed you to what?”
I whisper it, because once it’s out there, everything we’ve worked so hard for may just disappear. “To bring her here.”
“She’s here? In Amsterdam? Is her father here?” Panic frays the edges of Colette’s words.
“I don’t think so, no. This is where it gets strange.”
“Everything to do with this family is strange.” Lucie throws her hands up. “I don’t even know if you could surprise me with anything any longer, though Pascal is a real curveball.” Her voice softens. “How do you feel?”
“Oh god.” I press my palms against my eyes, hard enough to see stars. “Honestly I can’t feel anything about it or him. There are too many other feelings to have. Namely terror that we’re all going to jail. But Caroline doesn’t seem to want to tell her father. I got the sense that maybe she hates him as much as Stella does. She came after me in order to bring her here, to Stella.”
Lucie paces, her heels clicking against the floor like a ticking clock. Her arms wrapped tightly around herself, knuckles white.
And then I hear her.
“Did Caroline come with you, my love?” The endearment that floats down the stairs feels like a threat.
Stella stands at the top of the whirling staircase, a silhouette against the dim light, watching us. Her tone is casual, as if we’re discussing who is coming to a dinner party.
“I thought you were sleeping,” I manage, my voice strangled. “Did you hear everything?”
“I did.” A smile stretches across her lips, too wide and too pleased. She claps her hands together and glides down the stairs with unnerving grace. Suddenly, she doesn’t look tired at all.
“Yes. This is wonderful. It’s all going splendidly. Exactly to plan.”
My stomach drops. Every suspicion I had about her is confirmed.
“I can’t wait to see her,” Stella continues, practically purring. “When is she arriving?”
I want to lunge at her, grab her and shake her. We’re not players in this game. We’re pawns.
“What the hell is going on here?” I scream, my voice echoing off the walls. I don’t know what to ask first. “You want her here?”
“She’s been part of my plan all along.” Stella’s eyes gleam with a manic light. “Why do you think I bothered with Pascal? He isn’t nearly as good at his job as he thinks he is. We need Caroline and I knew he would run to her and tell her about you and me working together. I suspected she would then come to you in order to learn more.”
“Why not just go straight to Caroline?”
“Because I know her too well. She’s a woman who likes to put together a puzzle, to cipher things out for herself. And besides, this has all been easier with me dead until now. Caroline is going to be our secret weapon.”
I can’t control my rage. I get right up in Stella’s face, but she doesn’t back away. “How dare you fuck around with us like this! Our lives are at stake, and you’re keeping us in the dark about half of your plans!”
I expect her to deny it, to deflect with some cleverly crafted excuse or witty retort, but she says nothing. The silence only feeds my fury.
“Your granddaughter locked me in her goddamn bunker without food or water for two days.” My voice trembles with barely contained rage. “I thought she was going to murder me. We’ve stolen for you. We’ve lied for you. And you repay us like this?”
She finally takes a step back, crosses her arms in front of her. “I didn’t think that is how she would go about speaking to you or reaching out.”
“Did you know my mother wasn’t dead, Stella?”
