Page 31 of Gifted Thief
Humming the theme tune toTheGuns of Navarone, I went back into the main bedroom, making a beeline for the wardrobe. I pushed it open and knelt down, examining the small safe. I almost laughed aloud; it was a typical cheap hotel version. Breaking into this would be a piece of cake. The standard keypad lock would take me mere seconds to open. You’d think that a hotel as exclusive as this – and a suite as expensive as this – would have a better system. I tutted to myself. Served them right for taking so much care over the luxury fixtures and fittings and skimping on the important stuff.
I tried a few quick variations, just in case Byron had been daft enough to use an easy to remember number. When 0000 didn’t work, nor 1234 or 4321, I pressed down on the ‘lock’ button until the LED display flashed. With my thumb, I jabbed in a series of nines and the safe buzzed. Hey presto. It really was that easy. I grinned. No crappy hotel safe was a match for me.
I reached inside. There were envelopes and papers and a slim, velvet-covered box. I took out the box and flipped it open. A dazzling necklace lay there, nestled against the black lining. Well, that was a nice little bonus. I lifted up one edge of it then I frowned. It was fake. The gems were nothing more than paste. I snorted. Some poor girl was going to be unpleasantly ‘tricked’ by good old Byron.
I tossed it back inside and squinted towards the back of the safe. Three seconds later I stood up and slammed my fist down on the top of it, making the contents inside jump.
No sodding way. Not again. The Lia Saifire wasn’t inside here either.
I cursed, closed the safe door and paced round the bedroom. I’d been so sure that’s where it would be. I took several deep breaths. It wasn’t the end of the world; it just meant that Byron wasn’t stupid enough to trust the safe. He’d either left the jewel in the main hotel safe downstairs – which would be a pain in the arse to get to but far from impossible – or it was somewhere else in the suite.
I pursed my lips and considered. If I were a Sidhe Clan heir with more money than sense, where would I keep a priceless gem? Under the bed, perhaps? I got down on the floor. Nope. Nothing there. Maybe in a cupboard. I checked every one I could find. No luck there either. Fridge? No. Under the sofa cushions? No. In the toilet cistern? No.
I spent a good thirty minutes exhausting every possibility. When I was certain the Lia Saifire wasn’t anywhere I could access, I plonked myself down in the centre of the room to mull things over. It would take another twenty-four hours to access the main safe next to reception and I didn’t want to waste that kind of time unless I absolutely had to.
Perhaps the wardrobe safe was a front and there was another one lurking somewhere, albeit better hidden? But how long could I waltz around here before Byron decided to come back?
I picked at a hangnail then grabbed my bag. It wasn’t ideal but if I played my cards right I might be able to wing it successfully. I slid out the letter opener and gave it a tap. When nothing happened immediately, I rubbed it against the fabric of my dress. There was an odd hiss followed by the familiar flash of blinding light and Bob appeared, standing on my leg.
‘I was asleep,’ he complained. ‘You ignore me for days and then, when I finally decide to get some shut-eye, you force me to get up.’
Exasperated, I folded my arms. ‘It was hardly days. It’s been less than ten hours.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yup.’
‘I just lose all track of time when I’m stuck in that thing.’ He looked around, realising he was on my thigh and grinned. ‘Hey girl. Nice legs!’
‘Piss off,’ I grunted.
He bent over, poking me experimentally. He was too tiny for it to hurt, but it was still irritating. ‘Nice muscle tone, Uh Integrity. Wait a minute though. Weren’t you wearing this before? Have you not been home yet? Girrrrl! You one bad lady.’
I willed myself not to react. ‘Bob…’ I said tiredly.
‘Huh?’ He glanced up as if confused. Then he shook himself as comprehension dawned and a look of pure glee transformed his face. ‘You’ve finally come to your senses! You want your first wish!’
I drummed my fingers against my arm. ‘Let’s say I’m thinking about it. It’s just…’ I let my voice trail off.
Bob frowned. ‘Just what?’
‘It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to offend you. Go back to sleep.’
‘No, no, no, no! You can’t offend me. Tell Uncle Bob what the problem is.’
I fidgeted. ‘How do I know you’re any good? I mean, I know there’ll be side effects from any wish I make but what if the wish doesn’t work? I get all the nasty stuff to deal with and none of the benefits. I’d like to make a wish but I’m not sure I can trust you to be experienced enough.’
Bob’s jaw dropped. He stared at me as if I were mad. ‘Not experienced enough?’ he shrieked. ‘Not experienced enough?’ His voice rose to an extraordinarily high pitch. Any choir would welcome that sort of soprano.
‘Okay,’ I said hastily, ‘maybe you do have lots of experience. But you could be really rusty too. You said yourself that you lose track of time when you’re stuck in the blade. Who knows how long it’s been since you last did any wish fulfilment? I’m not sure I can take the risk.’
Bob was clearly aghast. ‘I am a wish expert. In the world of wishes, there is none better than me!’
I shrugged. ‘Prove it.’
‘Fine,’ he snapped. ‘Ask for something.’ He waved his little arms in the air. ‘Make it something small, mind. I’m not giving away the big stuff for free.’
I blew air out through pursed lips. ‘So asking you to cure a fatal disease would be a no-no, then?’
