Page 16 of Once a Hero

He lost the three-amber brooch. Someone had taken it back at the café. Was it Beatrice Glynn? Was it her bodyguard?

Why did Beatrice need a bodyguard? Was she rich or in danger or both?

Speaking of Beatrice, why had she been in disguise at the café but not the next evening outdoors?

If she had taken the brooch, why did she do it?

Why would a sniper try to kill her—them?

It was unclear who the dead sniper was. What was clear was that Raynelle would probably not be charged for the killing. There were hundreds of witnesses who saw the sniper shoot at the crowd. Besides, she had a multi-state license to carry a concealed weapon.

The SFPD wasn’t forthcoming to civilians about criminal investigations, of which Jake was one now. They didn’t answer to him.

How quickly he had fallen from being undercover to being suspended and now fired.

“What are all the wrong questions?” Earl parked the vehicle at their hotel. “Ah, like you said, we’ll sort it out in the morning.”

Jake nodded as he began to suspect that San Francisco had taken him further and further away from his target: Molyneux.

She was probably plotting another terrorist attacking Europe.

And there was nothing Jake could do right now to stop her.

Unless he could find her first.

He was confident there was a connection between the treasure hunter and Molyneux. From all his years of working undercover as part of Molyneux’s organization, he knew that she was looking for the Amber Room. Not for history’s sake, but to sell the panels to the highest bidder so that she could fund more atrocities.

If Beatrice and her bodyguard were also look for the Amber Room, they might run into Molyneux.

Perhaps he should join forces with Beatrice.

Hmmm.

He’d have to think about that.

She might not be a friend at all. What if she was hired by Molyneux to look for the Amber Room? Many mercenaries and treasure hunters worked for her that way.

Still, why wouldn’t they keep what they found for themselves?

Which side was Beatrice Glynn on?

“Hey, Earl?” Jake thought of something else.

“Yeah?”

“Hugo still in Brussels?”

“Uh-huh. Living the life.”

“Can he check on Javier et al in jail? Maybe they could shed some light on what Molyneux might be up to regarding the Amber Room. You know how she’s been raising funds through the sale of stolen artwork and jewelry.”

Earl nodded. “Good idea. Maybe between Hugo and Helen, they could get us more information.”

“And see if the name Beatrice Glynn shows up anywhere near Molyneux.”

“You worked for her for three years. Never heard of this woman?”

“Nope.” Jake shook his head. “I don’t know how many people work for Molyneux or who they all are.”

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