The Pearl Thief

by Fiona McIntosh

  Daniel nodded, impressed. ‘It’s the question I’ve racked my mind to answer. Here’s my theory. I think his move to rid himself of the Pearls is because he’s seriously ill and I suspect he is putting his matters to rest, tidying up loose ends.’

  ‘Tidying up —’ Edward repeated and then stopped. He’d been shifting his chair back to stand and now sat down heavily once more. ‘Put your spy talk into layman’s terms,’ he demanded.

  Daniel lifted an eyebrow. ‘Katerina is a loose end, Edward. He’s been living his life somewhere safe. He’s surely got a new identity, could be married, possibly has a family oblivious of his past. He has created a whole new way of life and I’m sure has convinced himself that his past is now buried in history and he no longer resembles the man he once was. But then he gets sick or realises an ongoing illness is now life-threatening and I would imagine that the only factor in his existence that can now link him to being a war criminal or simply to being Ruda Mayek from Czechoslovakia is Katerina’s Pearls.’ He paused to let that sink in.

  Edward nodded. ‘Go on.’

  ‘How is he to rid himself of this distinctive piece? He could break it down, turn it into many items of jewellery, but frankly, most of the world remains supremely touchy about antique jewellery with no easily explained provenance. Even a bracelet made of those old pearls would be suspicious to any expert. He could never rid himself of the stone – that sapphire is far too special. Besides, he may not have the connections or the energy to set about remaking the Pearls into a series of unrecognisable pieces.’

  ‘He could bury them.’

  ‘Yes, he could. But then his family cannot benefit from them. I think he still holds faith that he can profit from them and he’s devised a cunning plan to gift them to arguably the most powerful museum in the world. Working through agents – that is, overseas solicitors and then your firm – he has kept himself at a distance, can remain anonymous and give the impression this was an item acquired during the war years for which he has simply been a caretaker.’

  ‘But then what?’

  Daniel smiled. ‘He’s a gambler, I’m reckoning. He’s playing the odds by risking that no one knows their provenance. Katerina told me this is a highly secret piece – her mother publically wore them once and her grandmother before that perhaps also only once. Katerina never did get to wear them properly. No one has seen the Ottoman Pearls in Bohemia more than twice since the turn of the century and most of those people would be dead now. Previous to that … well, you probably know the history that Katerina shared about their emergence in Russia a couple of centuries ago. They were probably never seen outside of the harem itself or the Topkapi Palace in Constantinople of the middle centuries. So there are no experts for this piece who would recognise them. Ruda Mayek would know this – he’d been around that family since he was a boy.’

  ‘And he’s presuming there’s no one living who can recognise them and provide the truth,’ Edward said with a dawning of realisation.

  ‘Exactly. The last living person who knew those Pearls he believes he personally shot dead and laid atop the rest of her murdered family in deep forest in a tiny forgotten hamlet of Czechoslovakia.’ Daniel became suddenly animated, waving his hands, his voice rising. ‘He was there! He fired the bullet! Heard her call out in the darkness … he heard her drop, watched her lifeless, blood-soaked body dragged back to that frozen pit in the ground and witnessed all of the Kassowicz family buried.’

  His mouth twisting in revulsion, Edward nodded. ‘So …’

  ‘Even with this burning confidence he is taking the precaution of first dipping his toe in the water by offering them for exhibit by the museum. They would attract so much interest.’

  ‘But surely people with expertise in antiquity might connect them to stolen property.’

  ‘They might. But he will have a ready story for how he came by them – and now he wants to give them to the world to enjoy. Maybe he’s even gone so far as to accept he may have to lose them, but he’s going to try to profit from them.’

  ‘So after a few years he’ll come to the arrangement he has proposed to the museum.’

  ‘Exactly, in five years or so, when those Pearls feel like a piece of furniture around the museum and it wouldn’t like to part with them because they always attract interested patrons, they will officially acquire them. Dead or alive, Ruda Mayek gets his price and provides it to his family. If he had no family, I doubt he would be going to this trouble. If that was him I saw yesterday evening, then looking at him even in shadow I can say he’s not going to live long enough to enjoy the proceeds.’

  ‘Or maybe he’s absolving himself of his sins.’

  ‘He can’t. I won’t let him. Neither will Katerina.’

  ‘All right. So he’s flushed out Katerina.’

  Daniel nodded. ‘A huge shock, I have no doubt.’

  ‘That’s my fault, of course. Mr Partridge told me and I alerted my client and one presumes they alerted him.’

  ‘You said her name?’

  ‘I told them what the museum told me. A visiting expert from the Louvre claims that this is a piece stolen from her family in 1941 and that we would have to do due diligence now and explore that claim if she formalises it.’

  ‘So she’s flushed him out of hiding. He likely couldn’t believe what he was hearing and needed to see for himself this ghost supposedly risen from the grave. By the time he arrives at the museum she’s already fled to Paris. I’m guessing it took him a while to get on her trail because she wasn’t officially back at the Louvre when she and I met. By the time he hunted her down, I was in the picture. And I didn’t leave her alone for a second. She was too precious to me, especially as I had a feeling she was being observed. I spent one entire night in a doorway watching her apartment to be sure she was not disturbed, and then we came to London. Which brings us full circle. I think he made his way to Lincoln’s Inn that day already knowing we’d show up. But I was looking for him by then.’

  ‘Then I owe you an apology. You’ve been protecting her as much as admiring her.’

  Daniel lifted a shoulder with a sad shrug.

  ‘How can you be one hundred per cent sure it’s Mayek?’

  ‘I can’t. Katerina is the only person who can recognise him for me. And I agree, there must be no doubt. I can’t just approach this stranger in case it isn’t him; if it’s not Mayek, then this fellow could warn Mayek that we’re onto him.’ He sighed. ‘My line of work is always cat and mouse. And a cat is interminably patient when hunting prey.’

  ‘Tell me about last night’s sighting.’

  ‘I was close. I couldn’t see his face fully because it was dark, although I caught an impression of it when he lit a cigarette, but the limp is now unmistakable. I heard his cough – he is not a well man; he is weaker than his age suggests. I heard his voice. Definitely European, despite the easy use of English.’

  ‘Where did you see him?’

  ‘Directly opposite Katerina’s flat in Bloomsbury.’

  Edward looked thunderstruck.

  ‘He was hidden. But I was better hidden.’

  ‘Why didn’t you follow him?’

  ‘I should have. It was a mistake not to. But the reason I saw him was because I was watching her flat to ensure she returned home safely.’ He watched Edward finish the dregs of his cooled tea and he swallowed the last of the whisky, which hit his empty belly in a fiery cascade.

  ‘So we’ve lost them both?’

  Daniel lifted a shoulder. ‘For now. Don’t forget, he’s the scared one. He’s rethinking carefully laid plans on the run; he needs to be sure that this is Katerina Kassowicz and not an impostor.’

  ‘How would he recognise her?’

  ‘How many people do you know that have eyes like Katerina’s?’

  Edward sighed in exasperation. ‘Indeed. How stupid of me.’

  ‘He only has to walk close enough to her on the street to mark her. He’s followed her to Paris so he’s had plenty of o
pportunity to confirm it’s the woman he thought he’d never see again. Now I suspect he’s watching her, planning carefully, so he can make his move.’ Daniel nodded. ‘He’s having to be so careful not to be noticed by her and he’s lucky he didn’t give himself away in his shock at realising his nemesis was alive.’

  ‘Daniel,’ Edward began, standing and running both hands back through his hair. ‘We know he’s prepared to kill. Do you think he’s going to make another attempt on Katerina?’

  ‘Yes, of course I do.’ How naive was Summerbee? But then this was Daniel’s world and few understood it.

  ‘You should know that I will not permit you to use Katerina as bait.’

  ‘I won’t have to.’

  ‘Good.’

  ‘She’ll not wait for him to come to her, Edward. She’s got every intention of finishing this part of her history on her own terms and neither you nor I will have any say in it.’

  He could feel the solicitor’s vexation like a third person, stalking around the kitchen. ‘This is not going to happen. Tomorrow I am going to alert Scotland Yard and no doubt Interpol will be brought in —’

  ‘You have no evidence and you have no suspect, Edward.’ He watched his companion begin to bluster. ‘Mossad will take care of this. He is our prize. He has always been my enemy and I will deal with him. What I need you to do is to help me prevent Katerina from doing something ill-advised.’

  ‘Ill-advised? You mean a revenge murder?’

  ‘I believe that’s her intention, not that she’d know the first thing about how to plan a kill.’ He spoke on, ignoring the fresh look of disgust on the solicitor’s face. ‘But together we will not let that occur. I will give you my promise that no blood will ever be on Katerina’s hands if you promise to keep silent.’

  ‘So Mossad can put him on trial?’

  Daniel stood and looked away. ‘Something like that.’

  ‘If you can be sure this is the monster Ruda Mayek, then frankly I don’t care what you do to him.’

  ‘Then we agree and you don’t need to know any more – just keep the British authorities out of this. As to your client, we can work that out later. Katerina can follow the right protocol to put in a claim.’

  ‘She doesn’t want the Pearls.’

  Daniel shrugged. ‘I don’t care either way. What I need is for Katerina to recognise Ruda Mayek for us.’

  ‘I thought you’d just take over now and hunt him down —’

  ‘No. She intends to have her chance to look him in the eye and show her defiance, her contempt for him. This is why she is now in mortal danger.’

  Edward raised a finger. It was levelled at him. ‘And you’ve let her out of your sight.’

  He resisted saying So did you, because Edward was blameless. Instead he put a hand on his heart and nodded, ashamed.

  ‘If she hasn’t gone home, how are we going to find her?’

  The notion of teamwork wasn’t lost on Daniel. He was glad Edward now felt accountable too. ‘We wait.’

  Edward stood, flustered. ‘For all your clever spying experience, that’s your best suggestion?’

  ‘It’s the only course. We’ll watch her flat tonight and tomorrow. If he’s hoping to trap her, we’ll see him first. Remember, he doesn’t know where she’s gone either and he certainly has no clue she was with you last night.’

  ‘She left just before ten.’

  Daniel nodded.

  Edward began thinking aloud. ‘Where does a foreigner go at that time of the night, if not the one place she calls home?’

  ‘A hotel.’

  ‘Fair enough, but why? She’s not suspicious that she’s being followed, right?’

  Daniel shook his head.

  ‘Then she’s moving to a new plan.’

  ‘Such as?’

  Edward threw up his hands with a gusting sigh. ‘I don’t know, I’m not a spy. But given it was a cool, somewhat clinical end to an otherwise warm conversation, she’s given up on me, so tell me what other options she might have.’ He suddenly looked at his watch. ‘Oh, hell. I have to make a call.’ At Daniel’s bewildered expression, he added, ‘It’s for her. Might be the single item of news that could change her direction.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Give me five minutes. Help yourself to another Scotch.’ Edward disappeared.

  Daniel didn’t want another drink. He wanted a clear head. He stood while he waited, prowling Summerbee’s parlour, helplessly admiring the pale green kitchen range that was keeping the downstairs so toasty. He could see a chicken casserole was bubbling on the stove; no wonder sitting here had made him feel sluggish and hungry.

  Edward pushed through the door again; his face was flushed and he was half smiling.

  ‘You look like you won first prize,’ Daniel remarked.

  ‘I have news.’ He told Daniel about the Kindertransport discovery.

  ‘Katerina’s brother is alive?’

  Edward frowned. ‘Well, I do need to confirm that, but there’s every chance, yes. Presumably he would be in his early twenties. What we do know for sure, though, is that Petr Kassowicz did not die in Prague in 1939. He was put on the Kindertransport in a pressured decision to take the place of a boy around the same age called Hersh Adler. Heaven only knows why her parents kept this secret but the point is, he arrived here well and in the arms of Mrs Jeffers, whom I’ve just spoken to.’

  ‘Hersh Adler,’ Daniel repeated. ‘Do we know where he was sent?’

  Edward grinned and shook a page ripped from a notepad. ‘I’m going to find him for her.’

  Daniel smiled with wonder. ‘This is what she needs.’

  ‘I also hope to know by tomorrow about her father’s will.’ He briefed Daniel.

  While he spoke, Daniel felt a shadow of guilt steal into the room and loom over him. While he’d allowed himself to waste energy thinking badly of the solicitor, it was clear that Summerbee, for all his naysaying, had been busy trying to help in ways that could improve Katerina’s life. Edward might just deliver to her a brother and the Pearls in the space of a few days. Meanwhile all Daniel could bring was grim news that shifted her deeper into the mire she had spent a lifetime trying to escape. He swallowed his shame at thinking so poorly of the man from Lincoln’s Inn. ‘You’ve done well, Edward. Truly.’

  ‘Well,’ he replied, his tone modest, ‘let’s reserve judgement until I can deliver. What’s your next move?’

  Daniel shrugged. ‘I’m going to wait for her call. She’s obviously angry, running away from you, from me; perhaps she needs time to think. I doubt she’d return to Paris … not yet.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because she’s determined to find him and deal with him.’

  Edward shook his head with disgust at the notion.

  ‘No, she’ll remain in England, I suspect, and —’

  ‘North!’

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘She mentioned that she … wait, how did she put it?’ Edward reached for the memory. ‘She quipped that she knew Yorkshire – had lived there – but gets lost in London.’

  ‘Yorkshire?’ Daniel looked unsure. ‘Who’s there for her?’

  ‘The Czech woman who helped her escape … can’t recall the name, although I want to say Mrs Biscuit.’

  Daniel nodded. ‘I see. You know more than I do in this regard. Well, now, that may well be where she’s headed. We can take some heart that she’s probably safer there than here. I feel sure she will phone me. Remember, she thinks I’m back in France, so I’m no threat to her plans.’

  ‘All right. Will you call me?’

  ‘Yes.’ He retrieved a card from his pocket. ‘Here’s a number. Ring it any time – day or night. They’ll find me.’

  ‘Thank you. Let me give you the number for here. Leave messages if you need with Miss Bailey at the office. What now?’

  Daniel checked his watch. ‘I’ll relieve my colleague watching Katerina’s flat.’

  ‘Why not just grab him
if you see this man you suspect?’

  ‘Because when we do grab someone, Edward, it’s for real. There’s no turning back from it, no apology, no second chance for him. So we have to be one hundred per cent sure it’s the war criminal we’re hunting. Only Katerina can mark him for us.’

  ‘You’re going to kill him?’

  Daniel shrugged. ‘Gladly. However, he should face trial as a war criminal.’

  His companion looked relieved.

  ‘Good night, Edward. Good luck finding the brother. Let me know if we can help.’

  Edward offered a handshake. ‘Night. And listen, Daniel, I’m sorry about —’

  His companion gave a grimace. ‘I had my chance. I’m not her type.’

  ‘She’s yours, though?’

  Daniel sighed. ‘In my line of work being single is a blessing.’

  ‘I thought you were retired.’

  ‘Spies never retire.’ Daniel found his sad grin, shook Edward’s hand and slipped silently out of the back door.

  26

  YORK, ENGLAND

  Katerina pressed the button on the ignition and the bluish-grey Morris Minor coughed into life. She hadn’t driven in a few months, and not in England for a long time. Nevertheless, Otto had assured her years ago via one of his annual letters that while the skill may go rusty, she’d never forget how to drive.

  ‘Just remember, left side of the road, Miss Kassel,’ the garage owner reminded her, hearing her accent.

  ‘I won’t forget, I promise.’ She smiled, giving him a gloved wave. ‘I’ll have this back to you by this evening.’

  ‘No one’s queuing for it and I don’t want you hurrying on my account. You’ve got a full tank of petrol too, so I doubt you’ll need to fill her up again.’

  ‘I won’t. I’m not going very far.’ She grinned as she wound up the window and despite an initial jerky take-off, she was smoothly into third gear by the time she’d left the vicinity of New Earswick, the comforting smell of the car’s red leather seats vaguely reminding her of happier days of childhood.