by Nina Loard
“Not really.,, It’s just better that I have a companion with me. It’s not an event one would go alone to. New Year’s Eve is also a big chance for my start-up venture, and I could use your assistance.”
“What start-up venture?”
“Evelyn, back when you were with us, we toyed with the idea of beginning a service of sorts. It never happened, but it has influenced the type of jobs we have taken over the last couple years. I learned crime early and it was all I knew for a long time. The others as well. It isn’t an excuse, but it’s harder to leave behind than you might think. When you are really good at something, it’s hard not to want to do it. Anyway, I believe with the right promotion, the six of us could really begin our business more formally now.”
“What business?”
“Well, the name we owe to the Queen, but I want us to actually become purveyors. We would seek out and return irreplaceable items for our clients. Royalty, governments, businesses, people… everyone loses something they can’t get over. We find it for them and take it back. In floating the idea amongst a couple of people, I already have requests for my services from three clients. It won’t be completely without some danger. Anyway, I can’t take credit for the idea. It started years ago, with you.”
“What do you mean, with me?”
“After you helped us get back the Royal Rose Collection and we had the knighting ceremony, you proposed the whole thing at the lunch. ‘We should become official purveyors and hunt down only wonderfully fantastic things, and return them to our clients’, you said. We all joked about it, but you and I discussed it on and off. Bounce and Brinks are already on board. I haven’t really discussed it with Finn yet, and, well, Raven has more of a compulsion for crime than a choice. However, if everyone is in, I think it could be quite lucrative.”
“So, I would help you how in all of this?”
“I need someone to interview potential clients, assist on the trips, traveling with the team, providing some surveillance as needed, and, of course, all other duties as assigned.”
“So, you need someone to help you and the others potentially risk your lives discovering and stealing back priceless items?”
“Correct.”
“Can we consider this Paris trip a probationary period before I agree to more? This is all pretty overwhelming right now.”
“Of course, Evelyn. You can be a part of all of it, or none of it. It’s up to you.” His voice had been full of some excitement during the reveal of his plan, but he turned back to his note taking with a hint of disappointment.
“What you describe though, the restoration of things people love, I see the value in that.” Despite my inability to fully understand the proposal, I didn’t want to discourage the idea.
“It’s my path; others can come along if they choose.” He glanced out the window and began putting his things away.
“Why are you doing this? Changing so much?” I was trying hard to get him. I realized I was coming in at the middle of the story, not remembering the past or fully understanding the present, but it all seemed sudden, even to me.
“I prefer to see it as evolving. I have no desire to commit the same crimes of my youth. Saving things feels more… inspiring.” He zipped up his case, smiling at me.
We were close to my island now. There had been some snow, so I drove slowly over the bridges and through the streets of downtown. My house looked like a picture postcard covered in white, but someone had been kind enough to dust off the steps. Ari got our bags out of the car and brought them inside.
“Can I make you some coffee? It won’t take me too long to get ready.” We had a couple of hours before we were meeting the jet.
“Yes, thank you.” After taking off his coat, Ari wandered through the living room, picking up picture frames and perusing my modest book collection. My house seemed a lot smaller with him in it, somehow. Just as I turned on the coffeemaker, there was a knock at the door. I turned to Ari, unsure of what to do.
“Are you going to answer that?” He waited for me to make a decision.
“Is it okay to, I mean, with you here?”
“Yes, I’m your employer, remember?” I looked out the window, it was Jasper. It was good to see him. I probably did need to tell him about going to Europe for a longer period, but I hadn’t figured all of that out yet. No time like the present.
“Hey, Jasper, come on in.” I held the door for him. He was dressed for play, not work, in a sweater and jeans.
“Evy, you look great, all flushed and fierce, what’s going on?” He hugged me and then walked into the living room, coming to an abrupt stop when he saw Ari.
“Jasper, this is Ari Cameron. Ari, this is my friend, Jasper St. James.” They regarded each other for a moment and then shook hands.
“Jasper, Ari is a collector in Europe. After meeting my mother at the museum, he has hired me to be his personal assistant for a few months.”
He turned from Ari and looked at me with the wide eyes of someone who approved wholeheartedly.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Jasper.” Ari inclined his head with a smile.
“It’s nice to meet you as well, Mr. Cameron. Please forgive me, I didn’t know Evelyn was back and then I saw her car. I should have called first.” Jasper slipped into his professional persona.
“No, I’m glad you came, I wanted to say goodbye before I left.” I tried to get him to relax.
“When are you leaving?” He looked at me with surprise.
“In about an hour and a half, we are going to Paris today.”
Jasper smiled at me wildly.
Ari looked at each of us, “Evelyn, why don’t you both go get some coffee or whatever and visit. I’m fine to wait here. I have some calls to make.” He must have sensed this was all happening quickly for my friend. I appreciated the chance to be with him privately.
“If you don’t mind, that would be great. Jasper, do you want to go get some coffee with me?”
“Yes, very much. Mr. Cameron, it was very nice to meet you. Evy, I’ll be outside when you’re ready. We can walk down to Witch’s Brew.” Jasper shook Ari’s hand again and winked at me as he walked out to the curb.
I turned to Ari, “Thank you for that. He’s probably about to burst with all sorts of inappropriate questions.”
“Take your time.” Ari unpacked his briefcase.
“Packing won’t take long. I barely unpacked from the last trip. Here’s the remote for the TV if you need it, and everything else is relatively easy to figure out.”
“Evelyn, I’ll be fine.” He took a seat on the couch. I turned a couple lights on for him and placed a mug by the brewing coffee.
Before I hit the pavement, Jasper attacked. “Evy, are you kidding me? You’re leaving for Paris with that? You’ll be pantless before takeoff.” He put his arm through mine and we walked down the wintry sidewalk.
“Jasper, it’s not like that. He’s engaged.” I laughed at his colorful imagination. I could see what he was so subtly alluding to, but Ari was taken.
“Engaged isn’t dead, I’m just saying.” He cringed after I punched him in the shoulder, laughing loudly. We sat in the window at Witch’s Brew and I told him the whole story about how he had appeared at the museum and my mother immediately befriending him. Jasper thought it was incredibly romantic, minus the fiancé of course. He was very envious over me going to Paris on a private jet. The conversation was easy, and again, I felt really good being able to introduce two friends to each other.
“He is gorgeous. Don’t lose your heart to him. Maybe he has a brother.” Jasper looked at me with hope in his eyes.
“No, but about a hundred cousins. I’ll keep you posted.”
“He looks almost familiar. I’m probably confusing him with some Calvin Klein underwear model.”
“You wish, but just because meeting one is your life-long dream,” I teased.
“Listen, I’m happy to take you guys to the airport, it’s just down the road. Do you want me to
check on the house while you’re gone? I still have a key.”
“Yes, that would be great. Brutus is with my mom, but I’m nervous about leaving everything alone for so long.” We talked about other household things and I told him I wasn’t sure if I’d be gone for months or not.
“I’ll call Cecelia and tell her about everything after she gets home from Florida.” I knew Jasper would probably call her immediately, but I felt I could wait until she was home and I knew more about my future.
“She’s not going to believe this. All of it, Evy, it sounds perfect for you.” We walked back to the house discussing Jasper’s hotel drama. Ari was still on the couch with a mug of coffee beside him when we entered.
“Jasper has offered to drive us to meet the jet. We’re going to go upstairs and get me packed. Do you need anything?”
Ari looked up and smiled. “No, I’m fine. Thank you, Jasper. That’s very kind of you.” He returned to his notepad while we climbed the stairs to my room. After Jasper’s extensive help, which was more like thinly veiled criticism of most of my wardrobe, I had two bags packed and was ready to go. He started sifting through the shoes at the bottom of my closet and I realized he was awfully close to the gym bag gems.
“Jasper, do you mind taking these downstairs for me? I just want to freshen up before I go.”
“Sure, sure.” He straightened quickly responding to some of the urgency in my voice, and began lugging my bags down the steps. If he was going to be checking on the house, I wanted to make sure I hid the stones someplace better than my closet. Taking a cue from The Princess and the Pea, I placed them between my mattress and the box spring. I tested to make sure you couldn’t feel them. After brushing my hair and teeth again, I was ready to embark on another trip, this one potentially a good bit longer than the last.
Ari and Jasper had the bags loaded into his Ford Explorer, and we were off to Newport Airport. I noticed Jasper glancing at Ari in the rearview mirror. He caught me catching him and smiled. There wasn’t much conversation, as there wasn’t one of us who knew exactly what to make of our trio. Out of politeness, I imagined, more than real interest, Ari attempted to make a start.
“So, Jasper, what do you do?”
“I’m the Guest Relations Manager at a local hotel, the Harbor View. Evelyn and I worked together. She hired me her second week there. We were friends pretty much instantly.” Jasper retold how we met.
“Ah, well, here we are.” Ari quickly closed the subject as we turned into the airport entrance. Jasper wished me a happy new year, telling me to get some for him, while he slapped my behind when Ari wasn’t looking. Vince arrived to collect our bags, and I hugged Jasper one more time before making my way to the plane.
“He seems like a good friend.” Ari waved back to him as we walked together behind Vince.
“Yes, he is,” I responded.
“Never more than that?” Ari didn’t look at me or he would have seen my face give him his answer.
“Ah, no. Never more than that at all.” It was so absurd to think about, I didn’t even try to explain further. We were at the plane and Ari and Kelly embraced. I went back to the seat I had sat in before. It had been dusk when I flew with Finn. So much of what waited for me then had been hiding in the dark… a mystery. A desire to understand the past had given me the courage to try. This time, looking out at the shining winter day, I knew most of what lay ahead and was excited to discover more. As Ari strapped himself into his seat across from me, I smiled at how good it felt, for once in a very long time, to look forward to the future.
Chapter 20. City of Lights
It was just after midnight in Paris as we began our approach to Le Bourget Airport. The flight had been enjoyable with Ari. He was very good at making conversation and keeping any incriminating information out of it. During part of the flight, he questioned Kelly more about the day of my accident. Kelly told him basically what he had told me, adding that I arrived via cab and tipped the driver when he helped me with my luggage. Nothing had stood out to him as being odd.
“Tell me about the Isle of Skye,” I requested tentatively after Sara placed our lamb chops in front of us and returned to the galley. After a moment, he began.
“Imagine a Scottish countryside from centuries ago; imperfect stone walls, green and purple hills, castles overlooking the deep blue sea. That is what it looks like today, frozen in time, in a way.” He gazed into my eyes with a smile.
“Have I been there?”
“Yes.” He quickly returned to carving into his lamb.
“When?” I felt like I was trying to coax a wounded animal closer.
“You and the others accompanied me on a trip to check on the estate once, about three months before the Edinburgh job, while we were planning it. I toured everyone through the countryside and we stayed there for the night.” He broke off after that and pushed some meat around on his plate.
“I don’t remember it, of course.” I drank some of my red wine as I considered all the memories that still lay dormant within me.
“Well, you can start over when you see it again, after Paris.” He smiled as he raised his own glass as if toasting to a new beginning. We ate silently after that and then he went back to scribbling in his pad, which he had explained to me were details for the Louvre. With all that Brinks had put together he was feeling very confident about their chances of pulling it off.
As we soared over the City of Lights, I turned my attention to being with Finn in the immediate future. Although it was late, I was sure he would come see me. We had talked often during my time at home, and, although neither of us had mentioned it, it appeared like our current relationship had stretched as far as it could, as is. I wasn’t sure what the future held for either of us, but I felt my excitement escalate as Paris came into view.
“Evelyn, I have no right to this, but I have a favor to ask, if you’ll permit me.” Ari looked out onto the shimmering skyline.
“Of course, what can I do?”
“What we are going to try in Paris, it is going to take some real focus from all of us. We won’t be as carefree as we were in London, or as the night you remember here, on your birthday. I’m asking that you consider all the consequences of your actions while we’re here, with Finn especially.” He kept his eyes on the blurring night.
“You’re asking me not to distract him?”
“Precisely. Your assistance to that end would be much appreciated.”
“I’ll do my best.” His meaning was clear, but I was too embarrassed by the discussion to press further. I had just been thinking the same thing before he spoke. Was my dilemma over listening to my brain or my libido written on my face?
Soon, we were in a taxi on our way to the hotel. Paris at night was breathtaking, its golden lights sparkling like jewels.
Hotel Vencome was abuzz with activity, despite the hour. Ari handled our arrival while I watched the crowd pass by. I remembered the well-adorned lobby and caught a glimpse of the gray walls in the restaurant. It felt incredibly good to arrive to a place that I could actually recall. As I smiled at Ari, I noticed more than one woman stare at him with interest. He was tall, dark, and handsome personified. It would be hard not to notice him. He approached me with our keys and a bellman, but he didn’t share my good humor.
“Finn has requested you call him after you are settled.” Ari handed me my key without commenting further. Anticipation and apprehension each took a side of my heart and pulled. I knew I was going to call him, but I wasn’t sure what I was going to say. I thought of all my options as we rode the ornate elevator car. Ari escorted me to my room first, inspecting it to make sure it sufficed. It was romantically decorated in deep red tones, golden fixtures, and an enormous crimson covered bed with coordinating, tasseled pillows.
Ari lingered for a moment and then bid me goodnight, sharing that we were to meet downstairs for a late breakfast tomorrow at 10 AM. I thanked him for the last couple of days as I closed the door, returning to the task at han
d. I unpacked all that needed to be hung up and waited for any other possible distraction to present itself. There was nothing. Excitement won out over nervous procrastination and I called Finn. He was knocking on my door two minutes later. After a quick check in the mirror, I let him in. He rushed in, taking me up in his arms before I had a chance to speak. His warm, firm embrace caused all the passion I had been feeling for him in London to flood back to me. It was wonderful, but overwhelming all at once.
“Welcome to Paris,” he said as he ended our embrace.
“Thank you. It’s good to be with you in a place I kind of remember. It makes everything feel more real.” I let go of one of his hands and brought him into the room toward the conversation area. I sat across from him, drinking him in. The way my whole body responded to him was almost animalistic. He was so physically present, so undeniably attractive sitting there, smiling at me.
He inhaled deeply and inquired, “Did you have an interesting Christmas?”
I laughed in response as he already knew the answer. “Yes, it was unprecedented, that’s for sure.”
“I assume Ari got along with the family,” he continued with a fading smile.
“Ridiculously so, yes.” I shook my head in amusement, but Finn didn’t seem to think it was as funny.
“Evelyn, tell me about what Kelly said.” He leaned toward me with acute interest. I told him everything I had learned. He sat considering it for a minute with his head bent in thought. “Whatever it means, we’ll find the answer.” He lifted his head and smiled at me confidently.
“That’s what Ari said.”
In response, Finn shifted forward in his chair, staring inquisitively at me. “What else did Ari say?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, for a start, explain how you became his employee.”
“He invented a need for one and it got me here easily. That’s all that matters right now.” Ari had shared his plan with me, but he hadn’t spoken with Finn in detail yet, I didn’t want to say anything I shouldn’t.