Page 83 of Gem Warfare

“I’m with Lily.”

“She can’t come.”

“I heard that,” said Lily.

“Am I on speakerphone?”

I darted a glance at the phone, just to check, then to Lily. “No?”

“No,” said Lily.

“Ears like a bat,” said Garrett. “She still can’t come. I only got you and me on the schedule and I only got that because I really piqued the warden’s interest.”

“What am I supposed to do?” asked Lily.

“Can you watch the Dugans’ house?” I asked.

“Surveillance?” I thought Lily’s face would fall with disappointment but her mouth split into a broad smile. “I can do that! I have snacks and water already in my car. Drop me back at my house and I’ll head over.”

“Okay,” I said, confused at how easy that was.

“Your mom can help,” she added.

“Great idea!” I gushed. Not only would my mother love that but she would also feel involved in the case she’d landed in my lap. Plus, she knew everyone in the neighborhood so if a single stranger stood out, she’d notice. Even better, Mom would be involved in the case far from where she could do any damage.

“You can tell me why Lily and Mom are doing that when you get to me. Meet me at the station,” said Garrett.

“Police station?”

“No, the train station. Of course the police station,” Garrett grunted before he disconnected and before I could tell him about the fake Joe Junior’s lies to Bea.

“Glad I’m not spending all that time in a car with Detective Grumpy,” said Lily, pulling a face.

“You volunteered to be with Mom.”

“And a bag of candy,” Lily reminded me. “And I already have my binoculars in my car so I’m good to go. Can I borrow the fancy camera the agency loans you for these kinds of tasks?”

“Yes.”

Lily beamed. “My day is made.”

“Do you know how to use it?”

“I will by the end of the day.”

I wished my day had been made but so far, it looked like it was unraveling. The possibility that Gideon Black was in town was disconcerting and I knew he had to have more up his sleeve than simply finding out what happened to his dad. Of course, it could be that he just wanted to bury him but I’d met Gideon in his Ben Rafferty guise. I’d read the dossier Garrett put together of his other identities. If there was a sniff of big money, there was no way he’d disregard it.

No, he had to be here for the jewels.

They had to be what he’d told Bea he was here to claim. Since he’d made up a ruse to visit her, I had to wonder if he’d try and infiltrate the Dugans’ home too.

Thankfully, the jewels were safe in MPD’s evidence locker where Ben couldn’t get to them. Or could he?

He’d stolen from under my nose before. There was no way I should underestimate him.

Yet I was certain he was up to something and I was going to stop him.

Right after I found him.

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