Suspicious (On the Run) by Sara Rosett Read Free Book Online Page B

smuggle the real ones out in the plaque.” Zoe tapped the plastic bag. “This could be a distraction.”
    Alessi’s frown eased as he leaned back in his chair. “A red herring, you mean? As in a crime novel? No, I am afraid that thieves are rarely as clever in real life as they are in fiction.”

    ***

    After two more rounds of the same questions, Alessi left and a paper with her statement was produced. She signed it and was escorted into a long hallway where a woman barreled out of one of the doors and plowed into Zoe. The woman looked familiar and amid the apologies, Zoe took a closer look and realized it was Melissa Davray. Without her hair coiffed around the diamond-studded combs, it fell flat and straight around her face, which looked plain without the dramatic makeup highlighting her eyes and lips. Her boxy gray suit and plain white shirt were about as far as you could get from the mermaid gown, stylistically speaking.
    She apologized in Italian, then recognized Zoe. Her expression froze, and she broke off mid-sentence. Switching to English, she said, “So clever, turning one of our own against us. But I will not forget this. You have taken advantage of our gratitude and embarrassed us.”
    “Wait a minute. We had nothing to do with—”
    She stepped forward, forcing Zoe back against the wall. She was so close that Zoe could see the yellow flecks in her hazel eyes. “Alessi may not be able to prove what you did—yet.”
    Zoe’s escort, a compact woman with her hair clipped back in a no-nonsense bun, stepped forward to intervene, but Melissa held out her hand and snapped a few words in Italian that made the woman pause.
    Melissa turned back to Zoe, “Your business is built on the ‘help’ you gave us. I promise you that I will personally see to it that Safe Haven is completely dismantled. You will never have another client after I’m done.”
    She turned and marched away, her sensible low-heeled pumps clacking on the tile floor.

    ***

    Jack was waiting outside at the foot of the marble steps. Zoe’s police escort watched from the top of the steps as Zoe descended. Jack reached out, and Zoe threaded her fingers through his as they strode away from the building at a quick pace.
    Jack leaned close. “Did you mention Harrington’s suspicion about the thefts?”
    “No. You?”
    “No.”
    “Good. I knew you wouldn’t.”
    He shot her a glance, his eyebrows raised as they navigated around tourists consulting a map.
    “Don’t look surprised. I may not have you totally figured out, but I do know a few things about you. You’re quite skittish where the police are concerned.”
    “With good reason.”
    “Yes, I’ll give you that. So I knew you’d give the least complicated version of the truth and get out of there as soon as possible. I just hope Alessi didn’t send someone back to search our room again.”
    “Why?”
    “Because the bracelet from the Flawless Set was in my jewelry bag in the bathroom.”
    Jack stumbled. “What?”
    Zoe recounted how she’d found the bracelet and where she’d hidden it.
    “You’re sure it was from the Flawless Set?”
    “The clasp is broken, just like the one at the exhibit last night, and it had the mark, the R in the oval.”
    “That sounds like the real deal.”
    “I know. Did Alessi tell you that they got a tip this morning that you and I and Harrington stole the Flawless Set?”
    “No, he didn’t. No wonder he’s leaning so hard on us.”
    “It can’t be true,” Zoe said. It was impossible to imagine proper and buttoned-down Harrington stealing.
    “No, of course not,” Jack said. “But I’m even more worried about him now.”
    “I know,” Zoe said. “I can only think of a few reasons he’d go missing.”
    “Yes, and none of them are good.”
    “Maybe he’s hurt or sick. Or he could have been in an accident.” Zoe rubbed her hand across her forehead. “Listen to me. You know the situation is horrible when the thought of someone being