Cat Burglar in Training

by Shelley Munro

  Father chuckled at my frown. “What? Doesn’t she fit the stereotype? Does she look like a scatterbrain?”

  Touché. “Point taken,” I said dryly. “On the plus side, the cops might think they know the identity of the thief and relax a little.” I thought about the chocolate episode at an earlier ball. She’d acted the part of debutante well. She’d fooled me, which made me uneasy.

  “As long as she doesn’t return,” Father said. “We need every advantage we can get.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Early the next morning, the phone rang. I shoved my head under my pillow and pretended not to hear the strident demand.

  “It’s for you!” Ben roared from the bottom of the stairs.

  Unable to miss the thunderous summons, I climbed from bed, rubbing the sleep from my bleary eyes. This had better be good. I’d worked into the wee hours on a foolproof plan to snare a ruby necklace and was feeling the lack of sleep.

  I stomped down the stairs and snatched up the phone. “Hello.”

  “Eve, it’s Rufus.”

  “What are you doing up so early?”

  “Sorry. I’m off to Australia on business, and I’m not sure when I’ll be back. I’ve tried to ring your mobile a couple of times.”

  “I dropped it the other day, and it’s not working.” I couldn’t afford to replace it yet, not when we had more important bills to pay, so I was making do with Hannah’s mobile.

  “Oh, that will be why I couldn’t get hold of you. I’ve got the guy’s surname for you. I had to wait for my brother to fly back from the States. He said it was Matthew Beauchamp.”

  I drew in a sharp breath, my hand tightening around the phone. Rage engulfed me and I wished my hands were throttling Matthew Beauchamp instead of the phone.

  “Are you there?”

  “Yes.” Anger pounded my brain in waves of red and black. The lowdown rotten… The man had flirted with me up in Edinburgh, propositioned me, and hadn’t let on he’d known me in a carnal manner. Part of me wanted to tear off to confront him. A mistake. I needed proof—then I’d nail the bastard’s hide to the closest wall.

  “Do you know him?” Rufus asked. “From what I hear, he’s a bit of a womanizer. Married, but that doesn’t seem to stop him.”

  I hadn’t recognized him even though something about him had struck me as familiar. “I met him recently.” And I intended to meet him again soon. On my terms.

  “You…you’re not going to do anything silly?” Rufus asked.

  I grimaced. I’d attempted to keep the hate from my voice but had obviously failed. “I’m not going to murder him in his bed.” But I might chop off his masculine equipment and turn him into a eunuch.

  “What are you going to do?”

  A good question. “Gather my facts,” I said after a long hesitation.

  “Okay.” Rufus’s response lacked confidence. He didn’t believe me. “Thanks for helping me the other night. If I hear anything else, I’ll give you a call.”

  “Thank you.” I hung up abruptly, the receiver crashing back into position with a thump. There was no way I could go back to bed now. The need to strike out, to act immediately, sang through my blood with a heady adrenaline rush. Revenge. I craved it bad.

  Hannah and Ben were at the table, an early cuppa brewing in the china teapot.

  “What’s wrong?” Hannah demanded.

  “Nothing,” I muttered, unwilling to explain my desperate need for payback. A part of me had always felt so naïve for being duped, and I wasn’t about to explain the depths of my stupidity after all these years.

  “Are we going to do a preliminary recon tonight?” Ben took me at face value, but I noticed Hannah’s thoughtful expression and knew a grilling lay ahead.

  “Yes.” I collected three china mugs from the cupboard and placed them on the table in front of Hannah. “I thought I might take a drive past now since I’m wide awake. What is the time anyway?”

  “It’s just gone seven,” Ben answered.

  I groaned. “Way too early to be awake.”

  “Who was on the phone?” Hannah’s grilling commenced.

  “A friend I met at the ball the other night. I haven’t seen him for years.”

  Hannah finished pouring the tea and shunted mugs in our direction. “Strange time for him to ring,” she mused, watching me steadily with hawklike intent.

  “He’s off to Australia. I guess he’s heading to the airport.” I took a mouthful of tea and nearly spat it out. The liquid scalded its way down my throat, bringing tears to my eyes.

  “When’s Amber going to France?” Ben asked.

  “I rang Renee last night. She’s fine with Amber staying for a few weeks. I thought I’d drop in on Alistair and Grace later this morning and be back in time to help Ruth set up for the function this afternoon.”

  “I haven’t seen Grace for a while,” Hannah said. “Why don’t I come with you?”

  Checkmate.

  She’d fenced me in neatly. I sucked it in, rolling with the punch. Now I’d have to do the recon just as I’d told them. “Can you be ready in half an hour?”

  “No, on second thought, I’d better stay here. The boys are picking beetroot today, and I want to make my prizewinning pickle for them to sell at the stall. My contribution.”

  Suppressing my cheer, I managed a restrained nod. “If you’re sure.” Please don’t change your mind. I picked up my mug and blew before taking a cautious sip. I glanced at my watch and stood. “Last chance to change your mind.”

  “Maybe next time,” Hannah said.

  Yes. I plucked my keys off the hook in the pantry and hurried upstairs to change. A pair of jeans and a black T-shirt were the first clothes to hand. I bunched my hair in a ponytail and fastened it with a black fabric scrunchie.

  My plan…well, I didn’t have one. But I was a quick study. I’m sure I’d come up with the perfect punishment. Confronting the man would be a start.

  On the way out, I stopped to check on Amber. She lay curled on her side, her hair spread over the pastel pink pillowcase. I tried to superimpose my memory of Matthew Beauchamp over her face. It didn’t work. Apart from the same color hair, Amber didn’t look much like him. To my mind, she had her own identity.

  I smoothed my hand over her brow and pressed a kiss to her cheek, a wave of love for my daughter making my throat clench. Despite the circumstances of her conception, I didn’t regret motherhood.

  In the end, I decided to drive via the Buxton premises. I wouldn’t put it past Hannah to quiz me on my return. The Victorian house was about an hour drive from Oakthorpe. Large oaks and beech screened the house from the road. Good for privacy, not so good for security.

  I followed normal procedure and parked my Mini a five-minute walk away in the town of Bradbury-on-the-Water. It was after eight-thirty by the time I reached the driveway. I marched past the imposing brick post box without giving it a second look, my pumping arms and legs making it appear as if I were a woman intent on a rigorous keep-fit regime. A hedgerow ran parallel with the road, creating a natural barrier. I kept moving, maintaining my brisk pace. To any onlooker, I’d seem focused on my goal. And I was because I intended to steal the Buxton jewels.

  Quashing a pang of guilt, I passed a small thatched cottage with whitewashed walls and a more modern bungalow. At the curve in the road, I jumped a ditch and ducked through a wooden gate leading to a field. If the maps Hannah unearthed were correct, a shortcut across this field should end in the Buxtons’ back garden. I peered through a convenient gap in the hedge where one of the plants had died. Right on target.

  The first thing I looked for were dogs. No kennels visible. No rubber balls or chew toys, but I wasn’t about to take chances this time. I made a thorough investigation of the grounds. I’d thought surveillance cameras might scan the garden area, but they were only out the front recording visitors at the entrance to the property.

  By the time I left, I was confident I’d have the knowledge to answer any question Hanna
h threw my way. Pick a question. Any question. Number of trees. Type. Windows—number thereof.

  A smug grin curled my lips as I climbed into my Mini and headed for London. First stop Alistair and Grace, and then I intended to stalk Matthew Beauchamp.

  Matthew Beauchamp lived in a luxurious apartment building bordering Holland Park. I parked the Mini to enable me to observe the comings and goings. This time, I didn’t care if he saw me or not. In fact, I preferred him to know I was watching.

  I exited the Mini and strode up to the front door. Taking a calculated guess, I pressed the buzzer for the penthouse apartment.

  “Yes?” A tinny-sounded voice squawked from an intercom on the wall.

  “It’s Lady Eve Fawkner. I’ve come to see Mrs. Beauchamp about the Wishes children’s charity luncheon.”

  Yes, I was on the committee. I hoped my ruse worked and she’d let me inside. I’d swing the conversation around to children with little trouble since that was what the charity was about. In fact some of the jewel proceeds had ended up in their funds kitty. And if the Beauchamps had photos of children on their walls, maybe I wouldn’t have to use subterfuge.

  “I’m sorry. Mrs. Beauchamp isn’t feeling well. She’s unavailable at the moment,” the voice squawked down the intercom.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” I said, infusing sympathy. At least I’d guessed the correct apartment. “I’ll ring in a few days.”

  “Thank you, Lady Eve.”

  I stepped away from the door and ambled back to the Mini. I studied the bay windows on the lower floor and the windows on the upper floors. Hmm. No security cameras here. I caught a flash of white curtain when I returned to the car. Neighbors might be a problem, but nothing a good cat burglar couldn’t handle.

  “Kahu rang,” Hannah said, the minute I walked in the door after helping Ruth. My boss had wanted me to work in the evening too, but despite needing the money, I’d declined. I needed to sort out Amber first.

  “Bother, I forgot to give him the number for your mobile. What did he want?”

  “I don’t know,” Hannah retorted. “Why don’t you ring him back and ask?” Once again, it appeared as though she could read my mind and knew of both my joy and trepidation at hearing from him.

  “I’ll use the mobile,” I said. “Upstairs in private.”

  “Oh, phooey,” Hannah said, a big grin stretching from one side of her face to the other. “You’re no fun at all. Is Amber still going to France?”

  “Yeah. Grace jumped at the chance to visit Renee. I’m going to spirit Amber out tonight and drive her down to London. Alistair is organizing flights for them and will see them to Heathrow.”

  Hannah sighed. “As much as I’ll miss her, I’ll feel a lot better knowing she’s out of reach of that goon. He rang again, about an hour ago, to discuss the weather, he said.”

  “Shit.” I hated the thought of not seeing Amber. But even more, I needed to assure myself of her safety. “Was the threat specific or was he just being annoying?”

  “Both.”

  I nodded, knowing I was doing the right thing in sending Amber away until our lives settled. “I’ll go and start packing for Amber. I’ll have to keep it to one bag in case Vincent has posted surveillance.”

  “Renee will take her shopping,” Hannah said dryly. “She’ll adore the excuse to shop.”

  And that meant I’d have to find a bit more money from somewhere. Not that I hadn’t considered the money angle, because I had. Money worries were a daily occurrence.

  “I’ll be upstairs in Amber’s room.”

  “Don’t forget about ringing that nice young man,” Hannah said. “I don’t want him thinking I don’t pass on messages.”

  “I won’t.” How could I? Kahu constituted part of my problems. I wanted to take the relationship further. I felt right when we were together. I even trusted him, but I was frightened too.

  I trudged up the stairs, the weight of my thoughts both heavy and worrying. Thoughts of Amber, of money, of holding the family together. And the biggie.

  Revenge.

  No one could ever say my life lacked for excitement. I started packing for Amber while I gave myself a strong pep talk about Kahu.

  The phone rang when I’d almost done with the packing.

  Hannah shouted from the bottom of the stairs. “Evie! Your young man is on the phone.”

  Damn, I shouldn’t have put off returning his call. I walked out onto the landing. “Why don’t you tell the whole village.” From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Father and Ben making a move toward the kitchen, ostensibly for afternoon tea. I wasn’t stupid. I knew they intended to eavesdrop. “Tell him I’ll ring him right back.”

  I retreated to my room and dialed. “Hi, Kahu.”

  “Did I get you at a busy moment?”

  “No, not really. I’m using Hannah’s mobile at the moment because mine died.” I rattled off the number. “I should have given it to you earlier.”

  Kahu’s laugh soothed my ruffled mood, heating me from the inside out. Damn, he was good.

  “Would you like to go to dinner tonight?” He paused, almost hesitating. “It’d have to be here in London, but you’re welcome to stay the night at my flat.”

  My heart stuttered before bounding into a rapid beat to make up time. I tightened my grip on the receiver. “I…ah…that sounds good,” I said in a rush. “I have to drive to London tonight anyway. What time and where should I meet you?”

  We arranged details and I hung up. I added the last items to Amber’s bag and walked down the stairs to join the terrible trio in the kitchen. As usual, they were sitting at the table. I dropped onto the chair beside Father. “I surveyed the Buxton property earlier today. Have we ascertained which security system they have inside?”

  Father straightened, as did Ben. Their grins faded into a businesslike mien.

  “I’ve got the blueprints and rest of the details in the office,” Hannah said. “Charles, are we getting our tea before nightfall?”

  “It’s Ben’s turn.”

  “Oh, for goodness sake!” I jumped to my feet. “I’ll make it. I only have half an hour before I need to pick up Amber from school.”

  That was all the time I had to come up with an explanation for Amber. She was her mother’s daughter and wouldn’t take kindly to me shipping her off to France. I’d have to think of an original slant before I reached the school.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “It’s Renee’s birthday,” I said. “And she especially asked that you be allowed to stay with her.”

  “But what about school?” Amber’s button nose crinkled as her chubby hands pushed the seatbelt home with a loud click. “I like school.”

  My daughter got her stubbornness from my father. Ben and Hannah played an equal part in forming her need to know the why of everything. I scowled in the driver’s mirror.

  “It will be a holiday. Renee is looking forward to seeing you. And Aunt Grace.”

  “I like Aunt Grace. She gives me chocolate.”

  She’d given me chocolate too. “Good chocolate,” I agreed. I backed the Mini out of the small garage.

  The terrible trio stood inside the house. I knew they were watching because I saw the curtain in the front room flap. We’d said our goodbyes inside since we didn’t want to alert anyone to our departure.

  My gaze traveled often to the rear vision mirror. No one following that I could see. I merged with the motorway traffic, still keeping a wary watch. The nerves lurching around my stomach didn’t subside until I pulled up outside Alistair and Grace’s house.

  The hunter green door flew open, and Alistair hustled us inside.

  “I’ll get Amber’s bag.” I returned in minutes, fairly sure no one had witnessed our entrance to the flat.

  I found Grace and Amber in the kitchen. Telltale chocolate marks outlined Amber’s face already.

  “You look nice,” Grace said in approval.

  I should do. Even though the final result l
ooked casual, I’d spent two hours going through my wardrobe, discarding one outfit after another. I recalled the jumble of clothes on my bed with a slight frown. Hannah didn’t need to be a psychiatrist to pick up on the message in my bedroom. Make no mistake—I was nervous about my date with Kahu.

  “Mama’s going out with the cop.”

  Grace’s gasp rivaled thunder. Right now, dozens of neighbors were peering out their windows searching for black clouds. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the storm to hit.

  “You’re going out with a cop?” Grace’s double chin bounced up and down to highlight her agitation.

  My eyes popped open. I sucked in a calming breath. “Yes.”

  Keep it simple. Grace didn’t need to know the facts.

  “Alistair.” Grace’s arms flapped through the air, and I took a step back out of the range of fire. “Evie’s dating a cop. I mean, of all the men in the world, why would she pick a copper?”

  Alistair gave an uncharacteristic grin. “I know.”

  “You know?” She clapped her hands over Amber’s ears and whispered loudly. “What sort of example is that to set for a young, impressionable cat…ah, child?” The end of the sentence came out as a loud wail.

  “I hardly think it’s the end of the world. In fact, there are things Evie could learn from a copper.”

  “Ah! Pillow talk.”

  “Mama, what’s pillow talk?”

  I winced. What was the fascination with my sex life? I mean, heck, I didn’t actually have one.

  “Mama, what’s pillow talk?”

  “Grace will explain it to you.” I shot a take that at Grace, and she greeted my words with a grimace.

  “Would you like another chocolate bunny?” she asked Amber. “Then we’ll go upstairs, and I’ll show you where you’re sleeping tonight.”