Father and Ben moved from the protective cover of the trees. Still the sense of unease remained. I scanned the area again and saw a figure flit past a window, ducking low to avoid detection by the residents of the house.
Both Father and Ben froze, seeing what I’d noticed. The figure darted around the corner and disappeared from sight. As one, we melted back into the cover of the trees.
“Who the hell was that?” Father summed up the situation in a few terse words.
“Common garden thief?” Ben asked, scanning the area where the mystery person had disappeared.
Father’s frown ran the width of his face. “We need to find out.”
“Okay, what’s the plan?” Although I was now the Shadow, I didn’t mind taking advice. Father and Ben had years of experience between them, handed down by my grandfather and Ben’s father and their fathers before them. If I had to take over the family mantle, I intended to do a good job.
“We need to get closer. Watch and assess the damage. Once we know what we’re dealing with we can go from there.” Father fairly vibrated with the need to investigate.
“Let’s go.” I took one step from the shelter of the trees and stopped. “Take care.”
We merged into the shadows, separating again on the open lawn area.
There was a camera under the eaves in front of me. I made a note of the location on the map inside my head. A pleasant jingle-jangle buzzed through my veins when I edged along the scaffolding and eased into the shadows. The soft sound of a foot scuffing the ground alerted me to a presence heading in my direction. I hunkered down and waited.
A man flitted past, not more than a few feet away. Dressed in black and wearing a mask that covered his whole face, he could have been my twin. My heart sank. This was no amateur. The way he held himself, the way he moved with confidence told me he’d researched the property and knew it intimately. I noted the small nylon bag he carried. It bulged. The cat had completed his night’s work.
I waited for ten minutes until I was sure he wasn’t going to return, then darted along the side of the building.
An open window on the ground floor signified the cat’s method of entry. Surely he wouldn’t be so stupid as to leave it open? That would attract attention. An owl hooted and a shiver worked down my spine even as I cupped my hands around my mouth and made an answering call. Father and Ben joined me minutes later.
“Did you see him?” Father asked.
“The cheek of him, horning in on our territory,” Ben fumed.
I didn’t have the heart to remind him that we ranged over a wide territory. The other man probably didn’t know of my existence, especially since I thought the police assumed the Moning thefts related to Perdita’s murder. The cops certainly hadn’t mentioned the window I’d broken to enter the Monings’ home.
Father and Ben continued to mutter. I cut in with a reality check. “We might as well continue with the skullduggery. The cat’s left us a window of opportunity.” I gestured up at the open window with my head. “What do you think? Should I go in?”
Father stared up at the window, his eyes narrowed in consideration. Although I’d already made my decision—I was going in—the show of tact made Father and Ben feel like a valuable part of the team.
“I think you should,” Ben said.
Father nodded agreement. “We don’t know what the man took. It’s possible we could salvage something and come away with a prize.” His eyes gleamed, and I held back an answering grin. “I’m guessing the lights are on timers. That will make your sortie easier.”
“Let’s do it,” I said, the slow burn of adrenaline making itself felt. I worried about addiction to the thrill and forced the thought away to immerse myself in the situation. I needed to apply everything I’d learned from Father and Ben.
The inside of the gutted home was every bit as bad as the outside suggested. Strips of the Victorian-period rose wallpaper lay in tattered piles on the floor. White sheets shrouded the remaining furniture. Cautiously, I slid my leg over the sill and slipped into the room. Immediately, I became aware of a faint thumping—the sort of noise stereo speakers make when someone switches them up too loud.
I crept into a passage. As I neared the end, I realized the thumping was my hosts practicing. Up close, the music didn’t sound much better, but at least it was keeping the occupants busy. I drifted through a series of rooms, adding details to my mental map. At the bottom of a flight of stairs, I hesitated. If I met someone walking down, I was in trouble. No, I’d risk it. The longer I dallied inside, the greater the danger of discovery.
My lips curled upward in a mocking sneer, the dark humor directed inwardly. Hopefully I wouldn’t meet another dog. The teeth marks on my butt were still visible—an embarrassing reminder, and I’d no desire to repeat the undignified experience.
The second floor was untouched at present. Victorian wallpapers still covered the walls. The visible furniture appeared modern. Lighting was poor, and I slowed to allow my eyes to adjust. Several doors led off the landing. I chose the second one at random. A strong perfume assaulted me—something heavy and seductive, reminiscent of the Orient. I held my nose until the tickling in it faded. Not the time to sneeze. Taking slow, easy breaths through my mouth, I stepped through the door and pulled it to after me so it was slightly ajar, ready for a quick exit.
My eyes adjusted rapidly. An empty bed. I flicked on my torch and shone it across the dresser. A jumble of expensive makeup containers and perfume bottles littered the surface.
I slid a drawer open and came up empty. Our mysterious friend had already relieved the inhabitant of her glittery baubles. I switched off my torch, blocked another sneeze and edged through the door, back onto the landing. I checked the rest of the rooms. All were empty apart from the last one where a baby lay in a crib. I checked my watch. Already, half an hour had elapsed. Father and Ben would be restless. I decided to do a quick sweep of the downstairs rooms farthest away from where the musicians were playing and call it a night.
I approached the stairs with caution and hurried down once I knew the foyer and the landing were clear. I ignored the room with the open window and tried the others. The kitchen. A small pantry off the kitchen. The door at the far end of the passage past the kitchen was closed. I hesitated, unsure of whether to proceed or not. Not a scrap of light shone under the door but that didn’t reassure me. The door handle was metal. I bent to one knee and peered through a keyhole. Shit. I couldn’t see a thing.
Tightening my lips, I reached for the handle. The loud creak made me whisper a curse. In the almost silent house, it sounded like the crash of thunder. Tense, I opened it.
Eep! A broom jumped out at me, hitting me on the shoulder.
“Bloody hell.” I shoved the broom back, hands jerky with nerves, and locked the door.
I ghosted into the formal entranceway, my soft-soled shoes noiseless on the Italian marble tiles. Once again, the lights were on. I approached with caution, sliding against the painted wall and peeping around the corner before I stepped into the spacious dining room.
Holy Hannah! Queen Victoria would turn in her grave or at least run screaming for bolts of material to hide the naked nymphs cavorting on the walls. The interior designer had taken inspiration from Italy, using terracotta tones, furniture with spare lines and sculptures. I scanned the walls. Apart from the wall with the mural, they were bare. Strange. I took a closer look. Two small tacks were embedded in the wall—about the right distance apart to support a medium-sized painting. The burglar hadn’t taken the framed pictures with him, but I’d bet he’d appropriated several rolled canvases.
I glanced about the room, trying to work out what else he might have taken. Jewelry from the bedrooms, maybe. The paintings. I walked around a leather couch and paused by a round pedestal table. The top was empty apart from a business card. I bent closer and picked it up with my gloved hand. My brows rose, and a grin tugged my lips. How interesting. The business card was black with a silver cat embosse
d on the front. I turned it over but the back was blank. My grin widened. At least the card confirmed our suspicions. We had a competitor, and one with an ego.
Had I missed anything? No, our competitor hadn’t left a thing. Another glance at my watch alerted me to the passing time. I’d search the room next door then leave.
Easing the door open, I listened for foreign sounds. Nothing. I slipped inside and pulled out my torch. The thin beam played over a laden bookcase and a large oak desk. An office. Once I’d ascertained the office was empty, I switched on a desk lamp. Where to start? I rifled through several desk drawers. Bingo! Our pop star was a collector. Medals filled each of the drawers on the right-hand side. The neat labels inside verified their age. I lifted out several of the medals awarded during older campaigns and used some of the velvet lining to wrap them.
The urge to whistle a jaunty tune sprang from nowhere, and I barely restrained myself. This would ease a little of the Fawkner financial burden and bring a smile to those in charge of the children’s charity I’d chosen to benefit from my escapades.
“What took you so long?” Father demanded.
“We can discuss this later. At home,” Ben said. “We’ve spent long enough in this vicinity. The hairs on the back of my neck are a-pricklin’.”
“Let’s go,” I agreed. I, too, experienced a sensation of approaching danger. I didn’t intend to dally to discover the source.
As one, we moved stealthily across the lawns and melted into the shadowy darkness of the trees. Once there, some of the tension in my shoulders receded. We made good time to the car. At the edge of the trees, we paused by mutual consent to check that nothing out of the ordinary lurked for us. I whipped off my ski mask and peeled out of my jacket, throwing them on the back seat of my Mini.
“What happened?” Father asked once we were driving down the road.
“How much do medals fetch on the black market? First World War and earlier.”
Father’s head whipped around so quickly it was a wonder he didn’t suffer whiplash. “Medals? Did you find some?”
I allowed smugness to slither across my face. Probably wasted with the dim light inside my car, but I savored the act of surprising my father. “Yeah, I did. Do you have a contact to shift them? They’re inside my jacket if you want to see them.”
“Better not,” Father said, finally. “Just in case we get pulled over by the cops. Best keep them hidden until we arrive home.”
I concentrated on driving at the speed limit and avoided the main roads. I let Father and Ben off at the front door and drove the Mini around the back to park in the garage.
When I walked into the kitchen, Father and Ben were already seated around the table. I pulled out a chair and slid onto it.
“Tea?” Hannah asked.
“Please.” I unwrapped the four medals and handed them to Father and Ben. The metal crosses and coin shapes depicting the monarch of the day looked tarnished but the writing was still visible. I waited until they’d studied the medals and asked, “Worth selling?”
“Good work, Eve,” Father said.
High praise indeed. “There was something else,” I said.
Father and Ben looked up from perusing the medals, Hannah from her mug of tea.
“This.” I handed over the calling card with flourish. “The burglar left it.”
“A business card.” Father flipped it over to study the back. “No note on it anywhere.”
“They’ll be annoyed when the cops don’t mention their calling card,” Hannah said.
“Yeah.” I looked at Father, waiting for his reaction.
He set the card on the table in front of him and scratched the bald patch on his head. “The competition is going to make life difficult. Everyone will tighten up on security. We’d better increase your training, Evie.”
“Oh, goody,” I said. “Just the way I want to spend my spare time.”
Chapter Nine
The night of the Harlequin Ball I climbed out of the cab and joined Seth. I’ll admit I wasn’t in the best frame of mind to attend a ball, since I’d rather continue with my investigation into the mystery child. But, no. I didn’t have time to myself. Father and Ben had me in intense training during the day when I wasn’t working for Ruth. Each night we went to check out prospects Hannah found on the net or Father or Ben heard about via word of mouth. In short, I bore bruises on top of bruises and ached all over from the constant fitness training and the physical toll of checking out jobs.
Last night I’d managed to procure a fine diamond necklace, and I wondered if I’d hear about the theft tonight.
Seth and I drifted into the private ballroom in the outskirts of London. He touched my left arm and guided me around a group of guests who’d stopped to chat. A woman stepped back straight into my path. Seth jerked me to a stop to avoid a crash. Pain rippled down my arm. I gritted my teeth but a small protest emerged.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Seth tugged me over to a piece of clear wall space, grave concern on his tanned face. “You all right? You look pale.”
“I tripped over one of Amber’s many dolls,” I said, with barely a blink at the lie. “Do you have plans for tonight?” I could hardly tell him I’d fallen early this morning while breaking and entering. My father had already scolded me for incompetence.
“I thought I might duck out early.”
“Okay.” Suited me. Tonight I needed to find a target. Actually, several targets would be better since another batch of bills had arrived today. So tonight, I was the party girl. The ditzy blonde who flirted, laughed a lot and danced with as many men as possible. Joy. Right at this moment, I’d prefer to soak in a scented bath filled to the brim with bubbles.
I glanced at the attendees ambling past us. A matching sapphire-and-diamond tiara and necklace grabbed my attention. My gaze shot to the woman’s face. She looked like one of the Gibsons. I turned away, even as I marked the jewels a distinct possibility. “I don’t know many people here tonight.”
Seth shrugged, unperturbed. “Let’s go and find a drink.”
He cleared the way, and I hobbled after him. In the short time I’d stood still, my muscles had grown stiff. The aches and pains were becoming worse as the day progressed. I’d have to take one of the painkillers Hannah pressed on me. I hated drugs of any kind, but tonight I’d need to compromise or likely keel over with pain.
We made our way down the crowded passage and into the ballroom. Crystal chandeliers cast light over the occupants, and the one right in the center of the ballroom ceiling sparkled like hundreds of stars. Red velvet curtains shielded the windows while greenery and white roses filled the enormous vases that the decorators had placed in corners and along the wall. The sweet scent of the flowers filled the air. At the far end of the room, a string orchestra played soothing music. At least they looked like they’d stick to the slow stuff. My poor, abused body wouldn’t handle anything faster than a slow waltz.
“No bar,” Seth said, turning to study our surroundings.
“There’re probably waiters circulating with food and drink.” I peered at the various exits from the huge ballroom. “I wonder where the ladies’ room is located.”
Seth grinned. “Can’t help you. Why don’t I wait over there?” He pointed to a grouping of empty chairs. “I’ll round up drinks and food while you go exploring.”
Never a truer word spoken because exploring was exactly what I intended. “See you soon.”
I moved off, attempting to keep my gait smooth and easy without abrupt stops. My gown tonight was a white sheath with a slit to ease walking, but even so, small steps were all I could take. In hindsight, probably not the best gown to wear if I needed to move quickly to avoid detection during my exploration of the mansion. Since money was tight, my gowns were constantly recycled and remade to look different. If I ended up hiking up the dress to my hips, then so be it. My underwear was the practical cotton type.
I drifted through the crowd as the orchestra started
playing more modern tunes, keeping an eye out for jewels and Kahu Williams.
“You keep away from that cop,” Father had ordered in a terse whisper when Seth picked me up. “You stick to a dependable man like Seth who won’t give you any grief.”
Little did he know, but I wasn’t about to inform Father otherwise. He was old-fashioned that way.
“Eve.” Like a genie summoned, Kahu appeared in front of me. His husky voice sent awareness swirling through my aching body.
“Kahu.” His woodsy scent with a hint of citrus surrounded me, making me a trifle lightheaded. Definitely slow-witted. “I…um…I’m looking for the…um…loo.”
A slow grin curled across his lips, echoing in his eyes. “You’ve come to the right person. Didn’t your mother tell you to ask a policeman for directions if you were lost?”
“You know where it is?” I didn’t like the breathless quality in my voice, but at least I’d managed to string several words together without stuttering.
Diamond necklace at ten o’clock. Maureen Glasson. Hmm, matching bracelet and earrings. Kahu leaned closer. My attention wandered back to him. His lips.
“If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to kiss you.”
“Seth’s here,” I said. More as a warning to me than Kahu.
“Tell Seth you’re going out with me.”
Now that would really be thumbing my nose at Father. Although tempted, I wasn’t stupid. “Seth is my friend. I don’t want to hurt him.”
“But you’d hurt me?”
“I really need to find the loo.” I edged away from the suppressed emotion snapping in his eyes. I was unable to hide a wince as I turned away.
“Are you hurt?” Despite my rudeness, concern shaded his voice.
“A bit stiff. I fell over one of Amber’s dolls.” The lie fell easier the second time.
“This conversation isn’t finished.” He reached over to smooth a lock of hair off my face, tucking it behind my ear with such gentleness it brought a lump to my throat.
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