Earth Enchanted (23 page)

“What’s going on, Devin?”

“Remember the name you pried from me. It belongs to him. This is Christophe LeFleur. What the hell do you want? The feds are dredging the lake for your bloody diamonds. You can take them to your boss and tell him to shove—”

Jack interrupted Ryan’s tirade. He was pacing the room and waving accusing hands at him, Irish temper in full swing. “You. It’s not possible. You got Serena involved. Who are you?”

“Calm down, Jack. She was already involved. I didn’t know she was yours until it was too late to do anything, but I tried.”

Jack gave a half laugh. “You tried. Liar.”

“If I gave you the truth of it, I wonder if you would believe me? Shall I tell you the whole of it then?” Devin flicked a finger toward the fireplace, which burst into flame.

Both Jack and Ryan stared as the fire licked the logs already laid there.

“I see I have your undivided attention, gentlemen. I suppose I should begin at the beginning.”

Ryan walked to the desk and pulled a bottle of brandy out of the drawer, poured three glasses, and sat down after passing them around. “I have a feeling we’re going to need this.”

“First, Jack, I’ll say I truly am sorry, for both the deception and the death of Serena. If there had been anything within my power, which is legion, I would have done it. I’ve had few true friends over the years, and I always considered you that. I wonder, has your Irish lady told you of her legend? Surely you know of it, Ryan.”

Both men nodded and looked at each other questioningly.

“The half-nixie Daemon McLoch who loved the healer Briella Farrell was a cousin of sorts to me and another friend, both in battle and out. It was himself who nurtured the gift for power I was born with and had to hide in shame. He was cast from the clan because of it.”

Devin created a ball of fire in the palm of his hand and tossed it to Jack. It sat as cool as ice in Jack’s hand, then fizzled and burst into tiny sparks.

“I should have asked what are you, instead of who.”

“I’m a witch, hereditary, and a jewel thief, a very good one. But I digress. I was telling you a story. You know how the legend goes, Ryan. She found my cousin after he’d been forced to leave our clan. You see, my father was laird and the MacGavins were planning to rise against us. He felt my time better suited to battle and royal duty than women’s frivolities such as magic. As heir I had responsibilities, he was prone to bluster. The day the spell was cast, the rival clan came down on our land and men threefold. My father fell along with most of our men. Only a few remained with myself leading the advance, but something happened as I was about to be killed. I had a vision, as if I were there, I saw the spell cast and my part in it was clear, but it gave me a powerful boost to the shield I was trying to cast around our land. I became locked out of my own keep, exiled from my own land. I waited, wandered, learned, and honed my magic. I didn’t think it would take so long to break a stupid spell. A thousand years and yet I continue to live.

“I’ve been stealing diamonds for a man named Niccolo Gueraldi for about two years now, longer than you have been on the case, Jack. At least that’s what he thinks. I actually copy them, magically, so that they are in fact diamonds.”

“So, what becomes of the museum pieces?” Ryan asked.

“I use them, and then I put them back where they belong. Gueraldi has his diamonds. I get rich and still get to use them for my own purposes. The museums get their pieces back. No body gets hurt, until—”

“The name rings a bell. Italian business mogul, right?” Jack asked.

“Yes, and not too happy with Christophe the jewel thief right now, hence the switch of identity.”

Ryan finally spoke. “What does any of this have to do with finding Liv?”

“You have been working for him too, Ryan, and I doubt he was thrilled that his little trap fell in on him. He probably has Olivia. God help her. Has she reached out to you, Jack?”

“Yes, how did you know she could?”

Devin smiled cannily. “We had a private mental conversation the night we met at your place. She’s talented. I think I can help you, if I can get her to communicate with me.”

Jack got up to pace back and forth. The roller coaster ride he’d been on for the last twenty-four hours had thrown him for loop. To find Olivia safe and sound, he would have taken the devil himself along for the ride.

“Dev, I feel like I just stepped through Alice’s looking glass. Tell me what I need to do.”

So they began to plan.

Chapter 22

Jack groaned and raked a hand down his face while Devin and Ryan grinned at him in the darkness. “I cannot believe you two actually talked me into this. I was a cop for God’s sake! How in the world did I get mixed up in all this mess?”

They stood in a darkened corridor of the Smithsonian where the Hope diamond was housed. It had been Devin’s idea to take the legendary jewel, only this time there would be no replacement. They were going to use it as a bargaining chip and when Gueraldi had his stone and they Liv, a call to Agent Spiller would be all it would take to have the man in federal prison. The trick was to not get caught stealing it, of course.

Devin shushed him and flicked his eyes to the security cameras in the next passage. He sent out the heat of the fire that lived inside him. The circuits sizzled and they went inactive.

Ryan watched him in awe. “You’ve got to teach me how to do that. I’ll never use it of course, but that is very cool.”

Devin considered him as if he were serious. “You could be taught, I suppose. It’s true you have magic in the blood.” He grinned. “Cousin, I am evidence of that.” He felt someone in the shadows, someone extra. He threw out a hand to stop his companions from following. He never touched them, but Jack felt like he was trying to push through an invisible wall. He saw a black form slip around the display case.

“Damn, I should have known it.” Devin growled and tackled the figure, then yanked off the black ski mask. She was as shocked to see Devin as he was her.

“Christophe!” Her breath came ragged and her eyes.

“You shouldn’t be here, Nicolette.” Devin grimaced.

“I am here. I’m not leaving without what I came for. Get off of me.”

He hauled her up off the floor, none too gently.

Nicolette glowered. “So you replaced us? That was why you wanted us gone. I hope they catch you. I, however, will be long gone with the Hope by then.”

“You really have no idea, at all, do you? They are…” He considered for a moment. “Family. I need a scapegoat, Nicolette. Regrettably, you put yourself in that position.”

“I’m going, Christophe, we can just forget I was here.”

“No, we won’t.” He smiled at her, but his eyes were cold fire. “Time to learn, time to teach, the one who won’t be taught must learn to reach. Hold her here till I see fit and we’re at the end of it.”

She gave a startled little cry when she tried making a run for it, but was unable to move no more than an inch in any direction. She beat against the shield with futility and frustration.

He took the Hope from its resting place on the velvet and then dangled it in front of her.

“You can’t cause trouble, now can you? I have need of this prize at the moment. The life of a dear lady rests on this gem, and you, lover, aren’t worth the price.” He kissed her firmly.

“Goodbye, Nicolette.” Devin left her fuming in the dark hall empty-handed.

“Are you just going to leave her there?” Jack asked. “What did you do to her anyway?”

“Yes, and it’s no more than she deserves, a little spell is all. When the police come, they’ll find her. Make no mistake, she’ll sing like a canary. I want her to. I’d rather your agents look for Christophe than Devin. Nicolette will make sure of it.” Devin shrugged. “Don’t worry. The shield I cast cloaked you and Ryan. You aren’t in danger of discovery.”

He waited until they were a block away to set off the alarms.

When they were back in Jack’s car, Ryan reached into his pocket for the cellphone he carried there. Agent Spiller had given it to him. He handed it to Devin, who put the phone on speaker after he dialed. They listened in fascination as he slipped into heavily accented French.

“You’re a dead man, LeFleur. My diamonds are at the bottom of a lake,” Gueraldi said with a cold fury. “We’ve discussed incompetence before.”

“Are they now? Then what do I have in my possession? Those were copies. I have the necklace.”

“If you bring it to me, I might kill you quickly rather than drag it out.”

“Patience. I intend to bring it to you, but I wish to make a bargain, Gueraldi. I think you have acquired something very valuable to a friend of mine. I’d have it back.”

“No.”

“I have in my possession the necklace along with a bonus. I’ll give them to you for Olivia Corrigan. I know you have her.”

“What could make you think I would even consider dealing with you?”

“How would you like to own the Hope Diamond?”

“You’re lying.”

“I have it. I’ll be there within the hour. I’ll show you mine. You show me yours.” Gueraldi hung up the phone and picked it up again almost immediately.

“What if he won’t take the bait? I just wish I knew Liv was all right.” Jack’s words held a wealth of despair. After the screw up at the museum, he didn’t have a lot of faith in Devin right now. He’d just left that woman. Jack had watched their tussle on the floor. Whether it was the writer in him or the cop, he noticed things others took for granted. She had been or was Devin’s lover. That was just cold. So why did he care one way or the other what happened to Liv?

“He’ll deal. I know it, once he sees what I have. Now just follow the directions I gave you, Jack. I need quiet.” He saw Devin stretch out in the back seat in his rearview mirror, doing whatever he did to mentally scry someone.

“Hey, wizard boy, tell her I love her and I’m on my way. Okay?”

* * * *

Gueraldi stalked his study and waited impatiently. He should kill Christophe the moment he showed his face, but then he might not get his diamonds. Oh, but he wanted to though, slowly, viciously until he was begging for release from life. So he wanted to make a trade, hmm. If he proved truthful, the woman might be worth the jewel, but it would be more satisfying to have both.

A discreet knock came at the door. He’d been expecting it for some time.

“Yes, Ashton?” He addressed the ancient man who opened the door.

“Christophe LeFleur to see you, sir.” Ashton smiled wickedly and added, “Along with two companions.”

Gueraldi lifted a brow and considered. Absolutely perfect. “Names, Ashton. Don’t disappoint me.” He clipped the end off one of his expensive Cubans, lit it and drew deep. The diamond ring on his pinky winked in the light.

“A rather motley crew, sir, a writer by the name of Jackson Roarke.”

Gueraldi’s smile went feral.

“Of course, the brother of your special guest accompanies him as well.”

“How does lovely Olivia like her accommodations?” He imagined she would still be tossing things into the windows and trying to escape. They were better when they were fighting.

“The lady is looking for a way out as we speak. She woke about an hour ago, but was vilely ill when I left her tray. Perhaps Muscles was a bit rougher with her than you intended?”

“I intend to get a lot rougher with her myself. See my guests in, Ashton, and guard the door once they are. If they walk out of this room before me, kill them.”

“Of course. Shall I put another guard on Miss Corrigan’s door?” He looked pleased with the aspect.

Gueraldi nodded and watched his majordomo leave. The ancient exterior belied his true nature and abilities. He wasn’t as nearly as old or decrepit as he appeared. It was the man’s finest weapon.

* * * *

They stood in the foyer under guard, literally. Two bulky men with assault rifles trained on them watched their every move. All three were dressed in black from head to toe. Devin noted Jack leaned against the wall, a cocky few inches from a painting worth a small fortune. He was dark, in looks and mood. Devin knew Jack could feel Liv close by and wanted her safe with him. He was anxious and ready to brawl, at the same time taking in all his surroundings and filing it away, the cop, the writer, and yet another part that was both pirate and knight.