Page 25 of One Last Step

“Oh.I’m afraid not.She’s speaking with a detective from Interpol.I assume it’s regarding the theft.”

As I say the words aloud, I wonder why Interpol is involved in this case.Regardless of the dollar amount, they rarely involve themselves in cases of theft.

Unless the true crime here is different from simple theft.

Lukas blanches and mutters,“Mein Gott.”He swallows and gives me a nervous smile.“Well, I certainly hope it’s nothing too serious.Poor Elena.”

I frown.“Do you have a reason to believe that it could be serious?”

He shrugs, but after reacting the way he did, I’m not fooled by his air of nonchalance now.“I mean, Interpol doesn’t pay social visits.But it’s none of my business.”

“As long as it’s not related to the museum’s finances.”

That causes him to pale again.He runs a shaky hand through his hair and glances at the open archway of the exhibit.“Well, I’m sure she’ll be fine,” he says absently.“She’s a tough woman.”He smiles at me.“Will you be joining us for lunch today?”

I open my mouth to accept, but I utter a refusal instead.“Actually, no.I’m afraid that the detective needs to speak to me too.”

“You?”

I lift my hands.“I suppose they want to interview everyone who was here when the pocket watch was stolen.”

“Oh.Yes, of course.That makes sense.”

He seems profoundly relieved.I really should get to the bottom of this.Lukas is not acting in an ordinary manner.It’s as though he’s hiding something.

But Claudia looks like Annie.She could be my niece.She could hold the answer to the greatest mystery of my life.I simply cannot pass up this opportunity.”

So when he shakes my hand goodbye, I watch him leave.Sophie waves at me, and Lukas promises to have her back before dinner.She and Luc hold hands as they follow his father away from the museum, and I count to fifteen before turning to leave so that it’s not obvious how desperate I am to talk to Annie.

Claudia.To talk to Claudia.Oh my God, this is just too much!

I head back for the exhibit, my heart trembling.Could Annie still be alive?Claudia doesn’t look like a woman mourning her mother, but what would a woman mourning her mother look like?Annie could have died twenty years ago.

Or she could be alive.

“They’re mistaken.”

Elena's voice is sharp, and it cuts through my shock and pulls my attention to the present.I find myself just inside the arched entrance to the exhibit, watching the two women talk.Elena has her back to me and doesn't see me.Claudia's eyes flick up to mine briefly, but she doesn't react to my presence.She keeps her attention on Elena and says, "I'm sure you understand that they're not the sort to take a person's word at face value."

Her calm strength seems to unsettle Elena.She takes a step backwards and says, “What could they possibly want from a museum that sells old clocks?I mean…” She places her hands on top of her head.“That war ended eighty years ago.Even if thereweresomething here, what could it do?Surely they don’t thinkI’ma Nazi.”

I have to stifle a gasp at that word.A Nazi?Why would Interpol suspect Elena of being a Nazi?And what does this have to do with a missing pocket watch?

“They haven’t told me they do,” Claudia replies to Elena.“But theydobelieve the watch to be the one they’re looking for.”

“Well, the watch was stolen,” Claudia says curtly, “a few days ago.It’s not here now, so if they want it, they should find the person who stole it.”

Claudia lifts her hands placatingly, but her eyes are hard as diamonds.“No one is accusing you of any wrongdoing, Dr.Rousseau.That being said, youwerethe last person to possess the watch.”

“We’re done here,” Elena says.“If Mossad wishes to talk to me, then they can come talk to me themselves, not send an errand girl.”

I stifle another gasp.Mossad?The Israeli intelligence agency?What could they possibly want with an old pocket watch?What sort of mystery have I stumbled across?

Elena shrugs as though to say,I tried.“I hope for your sake, Doctor, that it doesn’t come to that.Mossad sends Interpol after harmless remnants and harmless people.“At the moment, you’re only suspected of holding contraband.That won’t be a problem unless you refuse to turn that contraband over.If you don’t turn that contraband over to me, then things will go very badly for you.”

Elena flinches as though struck.She points directly at me, and my blood freezes until I realize she’s just pointing to the exit.“Get out.Getout!”

Claudia looks at me, and I gasp and rush back into the foyer.I see Gustaf and the female employee staring at me, and heat climbs to my cheeks.They’ve just caught me spying on their boss.Ourboss.

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