Page 57 of Once a Hero

“You know she will kill you like she killed her own husband.”

“I thought they were divorced?” John Doe chimed in.

Beatrice ignored him. “My dad wanted the Amber Room too. It was going to be their nest egg. Millions of dollars earned if sold in the black market.”

Oswald grunted.

“You signed a contact with Molyneux, didn’t you?” Jake asked. “You’ll honor your part, of course. You’re an honorable man. But she won’t honor hers. Look what she did to me.”

“You were a traitor.” They had gotten Oswald talking.

“I wasn’t earning enough in the bureau. I told you that three years ago, didn’t I? I wanted some extra money for a new Lambo.”

“No kidding.” John Doe bought it all.

Well, Jake wouldn’t mind driving a Lamborghini, and it worked well as a cover story when he had applied for the job on Oswald’s team.

Beatrice made a face at Jake, as though she couldn’t believe he was that shallow.

Jake had to keep up the story. “When Molly found out I was pretending to be undercover, she couldn’t believe I actually cashed the money and bought a Lambo.”

“She doesn’t believe anyone.” Beatrice waited for Oswald to say something. “She’s a liar all the way.”

Oswald straightened up. “You may be lying yourself. Like mother, like daughter.”

“Adoptive mother. Biologically unrelated. I don’t know who my mother is.”

“You poor thing.”

“But I learned a thing or two about Molly.” Beatrice straightened up. “I don’t work for her. In fact, I’m her rival.”

It made Oswald chuckle.

“She wants me because she wants the map to the final resting place of most of the panels from the original Amber Room,” Beatrice said. “Do you know how much that is worth? And don’t think you’re going to get any of it. Have you ever seen anyone selfish become suddenly generous?”

Even in the small light above the driveway, Jake could see that Beatrice had cast doubt in Oswald’s mind.

She seemed to be good at this.

It made Jake wonder if she might be related to Molyneux after all. Or at least, she would make a great undercover agent.

No, I’m not recruiting her.

“You do know that the map is hidden in a three-piece brooch collection,” Beatrice continued, not that she had Oswald’s attention. “One brooch is in San Francisco in a safe deposit box. I have the third brooch in my right pocket.”

“No, Bee!” Jake shouted. “Why did you bring it with you?”

“Do you know where the two-amber brooch is?” Beatrice asked. When Oswald’s face changed slightly, she continued talking. “I see you do. I told you I’m her rival. I will split it with you.”

Oswald pointed to Jake. “You forgot your boyfriend.”

“You made mincemeat out of him. You think he’ll live? So let’s discuss our business transaction here. Do you want a share or not?”

Oswald turned to Jake. “She’s cold. My kind of gal.”

Jake winced. Gritted his teeth.

“I have the three-amber brooch in my right pocket,” Beatrice said. “I can’t reach it since my hands are tied. I need some assistance.”

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