The Pearl Thief

by Fiona McIntosh

  ‘Come in,’ came the reply.

  They entered and a man stood up to walk around his desk. Katerina blinked as he extended a welcoming hand and a broad, bright smile that landed on her with authentic pleasure. Not old, then. Not stuffy either, as she’d imagined judging from his superbly tailored single-breasted suit that hung off his shoulders with dash. Everything about its shape was ‘today’ but he’d couched his fashionable taste in a sartorial dark fabric to perhaps fool his peers.

  ‘It’s not often we have French visitors to Lincoln’s Inn. Welcome to you.’ His tone was as bright as his name and the daring thin red stripe she noticed in the charcoal worsted fabric; Edward Summerbee was a surprise. He shook Daniel’s hand before gently taking hers and she thought for one moment he was going to kiss it but he politely held it. ‘Enchanté, Mademoiselle Kassel. Mr Horowitz.’ He regarded her without any obvious sense of embarrassment at holding her gaze for a heartbeat longer than most men could. There was nothing suggestive in that look but he smiled deeper as though he sensed her taking stock of him. ‘Please, do sit but let me take your coat. Miss Bailey, some tea for our visitors, perhaps?’ He glanced at Katerina. ‘Just got in a lovely Brackenridge First Flush.’ He returned his attention to the secretary.

  ‘Of course. Er …’ As she turned, Katerina got the impression that Miss Bailey would prefer her to decline, and while she had no idea what a Brackenridge First Flush was, she nevertheless did the opposite, out of a sense of mischief and to amuse Daniel.

  ‘Thank you, Miss Bailey. Black, please.’ She slipped off her coat to reveal a plain mid-grey dress that hugged her silhouette and was deliberately worn to catch the attention of the man who now cleared his throat and looked away as he took her coat and hung it on a nearby stand.

  ‘Same for me, thank you,’ Daniel said.

  ‘Er … and some lemon, if possible,’ Katerina added, timing it perfectly as the secretary turned, and enjoyed the terse glance Miss Bailey snipped at her.

  The secretary left and Edward gave a low chuckle. ‘Bravo, mademoiselle. You’ve done in minutes what I have dreamed for years of doing.’

  ‘What’s that?’ she enquired.

  ‘Oh, now, don’t be coy. Getting under the skin of Miss Bailey is a feat. You’ve got her measure. She’s a dreadful bully. There are times when I feel like I’m still at school, half expecting her to give me a detention.’

  The tone in his voice was helplessly enjoyable. It had a smiling quality; the sort of voice that should be on radio, talking about biscuits or confectionery to make people want to run out and buy the products.

  ‘Mr Horowitz has a landlady just like Miss Bailey, don’t you, Daniel?’

  ‘Oh, she’s not that bad,’ Daniel said with a single amused tut in her direction.

  ‘Brothers in arms,’ Edward said, winking his way.

  The reference brought her sharply back to why they were there. ‘I appreciate you seeing us without an appointment,’ she began.

  ‘Don’t mention it,’ he said in the words of a perfect gentleman. She could imagine he had deadlines dropping on him like bombs but he would likely still act as though she and Daniel were the only reason he’d bothered to come to the office today. ‘Anything that interrupts writing advices for barristers is welcome in my day. How was your journey from Paris?’

  While they made small talk Miss Bailey arrived back in the office with a tray and laid it down before them.

  ‘Would you like me to wait, Mr Summerbee?’ She gestured at the teapot beneath a handsome tartan cosy.

  ‘No, no,’ he said, with a small wave of slightly gnarled hands that surprised Katerina now that she focused on them. They were like an aberration in his otherwise impeccable appearance. ‘I can be Mother.’

  Daniel chuckled. ‘An expression my father has adopted.’ At the solicitor’s look of puzzlement, Daniel explained how his family came to be in England.

  ‘Marlow’s so beautiful,’ Summerbee agreed as Miss Bailey closed the door. ‘But you choose Paris? I can’t blame you. The city of love.’ He glanced at Katerina. ‘Are the two of you …?’

  ‘No. Daniel and I are friends; he’s helping me with my enquiries.’

  ‘Good,’ he said, and she was unsure of his meaning. ‘So, tell me what brings you here and how our firm can help?’

  ‘It’s not your law practice so much as you, Mr Summerbee, who might help me,’ she said.

  He nodded as he poured their cups of tea. ‘That sounds intriguing.’ She half expected him to wink. ‘Do go on, please.’ He plopped a slice of lemon into her tea.

  Katerina took the cup and saucer from his crooked fingers and lifted a shoulder slightly. ‘Mr Summerbee, um, I was recently seconded to work at the British Museum from the Louvre.’

  ‘How marvellous,’ he said, as he handed Daniel his tea. ‘Both favourite haunts of mine. I could envy you,’ he admitted.

  Katerina explained her role, choosing her words with care as they all sipped and she drew Edward Summerbee into what she hoped was an invisible and helpless bond. He was paying close attention to everything she said while she scrutinised his face for telltale signs of anxiety. She hoped Daniel was watching his body language, which might clue them in to what the solicitor wouldn’t want to reveal. She tiptoed closer, knowing he had likely not yet understood that the Katerina Kassowicz he had briefly spoken to weeks earlier was the same person sitting before him, using her pseudonym. She was acutely aware of ambushing him.

  ‘Of course, I had no idea what I was about to be shown. I wasn’t ready for what was lifted from the velvet bag.’ She thought she was building the story at the right pace so that he wouldn’t fail to hear it all but when his objection came, it arrived firmly.

  His expression blanched instantly, both hands raised, palms forward in polite submission. ‘Please, mademoiselle, I have to stop you. Oh dear, I realise what this is about and I absolutely insist you don’t speak another word about those Pearls, or we’ll all be in trouble.’ He stood.

  ‘Wait, Mr Summerbee —’ she tried.

  ‘Please hear her out, sir!’ Daniel added.

  ‘Forgive me. No.’ He meant it. While his kind demeanour had not changed, she could see in the jut of his chin he would not budge. He breathed audibly. ‘I must explain that my reluctance is not through choice. You must understand that legally I am bound and I cannot hear any more. I am a solicitor acting on behalf of a client who possesses that item. It’s my client’s interests that I am legally bound to protect. I’m sorry.’ He offered a sympathetic glance that she could feel was genuine. ‘The piece you speak of is known to me, of course, but I am not permitted by law to discuss it any further with you, most especially if you are about to claim a vested interest and … I deeply suspect you are.’

  She tried to assure him but he looked spooked and she suspected he would unlikely hear what she was saying even if she could get him to pay attention.

  She returned her teacup, still steaming, to its saucer and Daniel did the same.

  ‘You’re welcome to finish your tea,’ the solicitor said, although she could tell there was no point.

  Katerina stood. Again Daniel followed suit.

  Summerbee moved a step away from his comfortable chair towards the door; his fine English manners at war with his legal obligation to toss them from his office. ‘Now, Mademoiselle Kassel …’ He suddenly frowned. ‘Clever. I was told the claim was from a Katerina Kassowicz.’ He shook his head. ‘We spoke …’

  She nodded, caught in her ploy. ‘Yes, briefly.’

  ‘And Severine Kassel?’

  ‘Is how everyone knows me; has known me for the past twenty —’

  He shook a hand as if doing a royal wave to stop her. It wasn’t meant to be rude. She suspected if he were a child he’d be calling out La, la, la, la. ‘I don’t need to know.’

  ‘Maybe you should put your fingers in your ears, Mr Summerbee?’ she offered.

  While he looked taken aback by the remark, she saw amusement
flare deep in eyes she’d thought were grey but had changed in the light … or maybe it was mood. It didn’t matter, she’d caught him off guard. He possessed a sense of humour. She’d store that away because she had no intention of letting Edward Summerbee escape her. Not now.

  ‘Your experience would have taught you any sort of claim must be done via the right procedures.’ His voice took on an appeal. ‘There are protocols and I think you should observe them and no doubt I will be advised accordingly via the museum but for now I … I simply cannot speak with you on this topic.’ His gaze flicked between them but Daniel was clearly taking his lead from her, waiting for Katerina to make the decision to retreat behind her line or advance for battle. She chose to give the solicitor some space and themselves a chance to regroup. She opened her handbag and took out her gloves and the scarf that had been neatly folded around them.

  The men held the brief silence while she tied the scarf around her neck this time. She knew it looked perfect against her dress, against her complexion too; Summerbee could hardly not watch her and so watch her he did. Maybe she’d just got a little bit beneath his skin.

  ‘My sincere apologies, Mr Summerbee. It was not my intention to put you in an awkward position. It’s actually not what you think.’

  ‘Even so,’ he said, relief loosening his broadish forehead and flickering in eyes whose colour she now couldn’t help but compare to faded denim. She had a pair of bell-bottoms that were almost identical in colour to his worried expression.

  She released him and his lovely gaze. ‘Again, sincere apologies. Daniel, we should go.’

  Daniel gave her a glance of such scorn, she had to look away.

  Summerbee guided them across his office floor as she spoke. ‘I can talk to Mr Partridge at the museum again and seek some further help through him.’

  ‘That’s the way,’ Summerbee said, herding them both towards the door. ‘Miss Bailey!’

  Katerina churlishly let herself believe the secretary likely had her ear pressed to the door, she arrived so fast. ‘Er, thank you, would you kindly show Mademoiselle Kassel and Mr Horowitz out and let Miss Farthing know that I have a letter to dictate.’

  It was an excuse: a poor one, but he was rattled. Katerina understood and felt some sympathy. It had always been an ambush, which she felt badly for because he was a gentleman and even in the brief time they’d spoken, she’d found him impossible to dislike. She turned now and fixed him with a stare, aware that he was helplessly drawn to the curiosity of her eye. Whatever worked, she would use.

  ‘I realise that as a lawyer you set personal feelings aside and never judge your own clients, Mr Summerbee, but even in the brief time we’ve been together I can tell you are a good man. Let me warn you that your client is not, and this is the reason I could not risk giving you my real name.’ She hoped this caught his interest. ‘Be careful that you don’t live to regret representing his interests.’ She took Summerbee’s knobbled hand as if to shake it in farewell but squeezed it instead to impress upon him the emotion she was feeling, even if her careful words could not. And then she turned away and allowed him to watch her tall figure glide behind Daniel and seemingly out of his life.

  20

  On the gravel path she took Daniel’s arm. ‘Keep walking,’ she warned, remembering which view Summerbee’s window gave him. ‘He’s surely watching us.’

  Daniel obliged, patting her hand in a gesture as if to say Well, you tried, but his words to her expressed anything but that sentiment. ‘What are you playing at?’

  ‘Better to win the war than the battle, Daniel.’

  ‘I realise you deliberately left doubt in his mind but are you hoping he’ll make contact? If so, how?’

  ‘No, I plan to make contact again with him.’

  ‘Miss Bailey won’t let you through the gate.’

  ‘Miss Bailey is no match for me,’ she assured him. ‘The next time Mr Summerbee and I speak it will be in a more convivial atmosphere with no Miss Baileys in sight.’

  ‘I’m not sure I like your plan.’

  ‘You don’t have to. Edward Summerbee is my only pathway to Ruda Mayek and I am not about to walk away from that trail now I’ve found it.’ They moved beneath Archway again towards Chancery Lane. ‘Cheer up, Daniel. I promise you he will meet me again. Come on, let’s head back to Bloomsbury.’

  The fact that she’d left London in such a hurry meant Katerina still had her keys to the flat at Museum House and the rent was still paid for another few weeks. Daniel had slept on the sofa the previous night but now as they arrived back at the mansion house, she didn’t need him to say anything to sense the arrangements were about to change.

  ‘Coffee?’ she offered. ‘I’m sure there’s still some left.’

  ‘Katerina?’

  She kept talking, even suggesting they might go to the museum and look at the Pearls. ‘It would be unusual, of course, but not unthinkable that we could hold them. It would be good for you to —’

  ‘Katerina, I’m leaving.’

  She knew he was unhappy but his plan took her by surprise. ‘I thought you wanted —’

  ‘I did. I’ve changed my mind, though. I think I’ll return to Paris on the night ferry if I can get a berth this evening.’

  ‘But …’

  ‘You’re on that path you spoke of and I realise I can’t dissuade you. So, if anything, I figure I’m a burden. I need to go to my office and check in with Tel Aviv anyway.’

  She nodded, genuinely disappointed. ‘I’ve overlooked that spies – even retired ones – have masters,’ she said, to let him off easily so he didn’t feel the need to make excuses for his caution around her … or, more likely, for his jealousies. She watched him look at his watch.

  ‘I might leave now for London Victoria, if that’s all right?’

  He looked on edge as he packed up his few items, glancing out of the window a few times, she noted.

  ‘What’s out there?’

  ‘I’m just counting taxis, gauging whether to stand on your street and hail a cab or head towards St Pancras.’ His excuse sounded contrived.

  ‘Walk the few minutes to the museum. There’s a taxi rank,’ she offered, returning to her kitchenette at the sound of bubbling coffee.

  Daniel glanced out again, not disturbing the net curtain.

  She re-emerged. ‘Did you want coffee, or …?’

  He shook his head. ‘I’ll go.’

  Katerina frowned at his urgency but didn’t feel she had any right to pry into his bruised feelings.

  ‘Care to walk me down?’

  She hadn’t expected the offer. ‘Yes, of course. Let me grab my keys. That door notoriously slams behind us residents.’

  As they opened the front door, Katerina saw it. ‘Oh, look, there’s one!’

  Daniel whistled and the cab driver looked out and wagged a finger once to say they’d been noted and drew to a halt. He turned back to her and she felt his soft gaze. In a way she wished she could give him what he wanted but Daniel would have to be happy with what she might be able to give him instead – Ruda Mayek.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she began, feeling an apology was necessary.

  ‘Don’t be. I can rejoin you if you need me but you might get further with Summerbee if I’m not around.’

  Inwardly, she knew it made sense to operate alone. ‘As soon as I know anything more or make any headway, shall I send a telegram?’

  ‘Phone me.’ He took out a card and gave it to her.

  ‘That’s in England.’

  ‘It’s monitored twenty-four hours. They can reach me quickly and then you don’t have to worry about going through the international operator. I can fly in if necessary.’

  She nodded, clasped the card and wrapped her long fingers around it. ‘Goodbye, Daniel.’ He looked like he could use a hug and she didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around him, even though it might appear unseemly in broad daylight on her apartment steps.

  He hugged her in return. ‘Be careful, Kat
erina.’ He stood back to regard her.

  ‘I promise,’ she said, crossing her heart to make him smile.

  ‘There’s a jigsaw piece outstanding. Describe the man we’re hunting. I might use the time while you’re here to once again go through the records if I have a description.’

  She shrugged. ‘Others have described him for you and it was no help.’

  ‘I feel I understand him more now through you. I know the evil I’m looking for … previously I was searching for a ghost. You will draw a mental picture better than anyone and then I’ll feel like I’m being productive.’

  The taxi purred at the kerb, the driver seemingly unbothered by the wait. He’d begun glancing through a newspaper.

  ‘All right.’ She blinked, hating having to recall his appearance. ‘Over six feet in his prime, flattish features in a squarish face and always clean-shaven while I knew him. His complexion ran to pink, and the last time I saw him he wore his yellowish hair cropped extremely short in the Germanic way so his scalp was almost exposed. He had a smile that was cunning – rarely any warmth in it. And his eyes were oddly disturbing.’

  ‘More than yours?’ he said in surprise.

  ‘Definitely. His gaze was unnerving in a cold, searching way. Unless Rudy has worked out how to swap his eyes, close up you can’t mistake his pale irises, whose circumference is encircled by a darker outline.’

  ‘Oh, that’s a new fact,’ he said in a tone as if tasting a delicacy.

  ‘They’re intimidating; the edging is a navy outline to far paler eyes. If you can find a photo in those excellent German records, you won’t be left wondering whether it’s Ruda Mayek, even if the name is different.’ She shivered from thinking about Rudy but also from the cold. ‘Your taxi driver will be getting impatient.’

  ‘No, he won’t. The meter is all that matters. Well, I want to hear you say that you will not physically chase down your prey without telling me first.’

  She met his stern, sad gaze. ‘I promise you, Daniel, that you will know first before I go after Mayek … if I can even find him.’