Page 44 of Where Secrets Lie

Ed glanced at Dominga. “We thought about calling last night, but it was after midnight when I dropped her off from the game, and we thought that might be too late.”

Savannah hid a smile at the realization they were dating. She set her mocha down on the table and gasped as she studied the artifact, which would have been used by Incan priests. “This silver appliqué is really rare and looks authentic. Let’s make sure we win, and I’ll book a flight right away.” Her thoughts ran through what she could wear to impersonate the buyer.

Hez’s hand came down on hers. “It’s way too dangerous for you to go, Savannah. Let’s call Hope and let her send an officer to impersonate the buyer. The smugglers might recognize you, and the whole plan could blow up in your face.”

She frowned and shook her head in spite of his worried expression. “And that’s exactly why it needs to be me. Our target is connected with TGU, and if he recognizes me, I’ll recognize him and the arrest can happen instantly. Besides, a random officer couldn’t impersonate a buyer realistically. I know artifacts. I’ll be able to discuss types of art and time periods. But this smuggler is smart. He’ll recognize a fake in ten seconds and bolt before we can spring the trap.”

Hez fell silent, and his fingers played with the ring on her hand for a long moment. “You’re right, but I don’t have to like it. Who else do we know in the history department we can trust?”

“No one. It has to be me. I can wear a wire like you did last time.”

“We were nearly killed last time.”

He had a point, but she wasn’t going to let anyone dissuade her. Her gaze wandered to Will again, and the sight of Simon’s favorite person reminded her of her promise to her sister. “Jess asked me to watch Simon for a couple of days while she attends to some business. Could you take him?”

“I’m always happy to have our awesome nephew. We can order pizza, play video games, and he can help keep me calm while you walk into the lion’s den.” He grimaced. “I really wish there was someone else who could do this.”

Dominga turned the laptop back around to face her and Ed, who didn’t move his chair away. “How much should I bid?”

The artifact was exquisite and should command a high price. “Can you see existing bids?”

Dominga squinted. “The high bid right now is just over twenty thousand.”

Savannah took another sip of her mocha. “Let’s double that.”

Dominga nodded and tapped at the keyboard. “Now we wait a few minutes. I wouldn’t mind a beignet.”

Ed jumped up. “I’ll get some.” He strode off to the counter and got in the pastry line.

Hez still had his hand on Savannah’s, and she could feel his unease. She turned her palm up and laced her fingers with his. “I’ll be fine. I’m sure the meeting place will be public, and they wouldn’t dare to try anything where they’d be caught.”

“I hope you’re right,” he muttered.

She studied the healing incision on his head. The shaved area gave him a rakish, dangerous appearance, and for the first time since his injury, her thoughts wandered to that wine bottle in his trash. She desperately wanted to believe his assertion that someone had planted it, but the best she could hope for was that he’d had a blackout. And now that the blood was drained off, maybe it would never happen again.

They sipped their coffee and ate beignets while they waited for the auction to end. At eleven o’clock Dominga’s computer dinged, and she pumped her fist. “Yes! We won, and there’s an email.” She read out loud the directions to meet at Mad Dog & Beans at two on Thursday. “There will be a reservation in the name of Priest.”

Savannah’s pulse accelerated. She toyed with her bracelet, pulled out her phone, and opened her travel app. “I’ll fly in on Wednesday night, and I’ll go to the restaurant early so I can watch for the smuggler’s arrival in case it’s someone I know.”

Dominga was still working on her laptop. “I’ve got the IP address from Bruno’s tracking program.” She looked up with worried dark eyes. “It’s very close to us. Either right here in Nova Cambridge or at TGU.”

The reality was a punch to the gut. Though it was exactly what Savannah had suspected, she’d held out a smidgeon of hope that the auctioneer wasn’t someone she knew. But who? And why would they do something like this to TGU?

Chapter 25

Hez took a deep breath and walked into the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office, an unassuming one-story beige building in Bay Minette. Hope greeted him in the reception area and took him back to her office. She looked as polished and professional as ever, but he caught the stress in her tight smile and tense shoulders. And she could probably see the same taut nerves in him.

Two days ago, he and Ed had met with her here. She’d been very interested, and the three of them called Hernando from her office for an impromptu interview. After that, she thanked them and shooed them out, saying she would have a lot going on. That was the last Hez had heard from her. He understood, of course—he’d been in her shoes plenty of times. But that didn’t make the radio silence any easier to bear, especially with Savannah now on her way to New York. So in the Uber on the way home from the airport, Hez had called Hope and asked if he could buy her a cup of coffee. She’d replied that she couldn’t leave her office right now, but he was welcome to stop by. And here he was.

Her office was a utilitarian box with a view of the sidewalk outside, but she had added some personal touches—shells anda jar of sea glass from her regular beach trips, family photos, and a blown-glass vase her uncle had made. Her desk bore a brass paperweight inscribed withDrake’s Dragon Slayersand a depiction of a heroic knight killing a dragon. It was a “morale-boosting” gift from her boss that always had to be on display, especially if reporters might be stopping by.

Hez lowered himself into one of her government-issue office chairs. “What’s the word?”

“Busy,” she replied without hesitation. “The word is definitelybusy. We’ve been scrambling nonstop, but things are going well so far. We interviewed Hernando again and got our warrant the same day we met with you.”

“Wow, that’s great. I had no idea.”

She gave an apologetic smile. “Sorry I didn’t loop you in. He was willing to talk to us directly and time was of the essence.”

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