Page 123 of Marked By Moonlight
I didn’t know what that said about Szabo’s fate, and I didn’t want to know. I was just relieved that they were safe.
“Coming?” Jensen beckoned from his limo.
I hurried over with Henrik, promising Roux I would call soon. The river was just a short drive away. Henrik and I would be free to rejoin the others in no time.
The limo driver took off. I found it strange, sitting in a space that small — well, big, even for a limo, but still — with people Ididn’t relish spending time with. Henrik. Jensen. His stunning personal assistant. And Celeste.
Not exactly time to turn up the music and party.
I focused on my mission. The clock was ticking.
“As I understand it, you’ve hit certain…hurdles in your efforts to…um…” I waffled for a minute, trying to think of a better way to sayYour efforts to put local enterprises out of business and steal as much data from innocent customers as possible. Finally, I came up with, “Your efforts to offer your services to the people of Switzerland.”
Jensen nodded, and I went on with my pitch. But the limo stopped less than a minute later. We were already at the river.
A sleek speedboat with tinted windows awaited Jensen — of course — and he headed straight up the gangplank, asking me questions. How long were paintings typically loaned for and on what terms? Had I been speaking broadly, or was I actually in touch with high-level players in Switzerland?
“I’m not, but I’m sure Gordon is,” I said truthfully.
I gave myself a mental pat on the back, because I was finally learning to stay out of trouble. If Jensen wanted to pursue my idea, he could do it through Gordon, and I would have no part in it.
I hurried up the gangplank, ignoring Henrik’s muted protests, because boats didn’t just shoot away from docks. I’d once joined friends for a day trip on a canal boat, and even the smallest maneuver had taken us ages.
Except, oops. This crew proved a lot more adept, and we zoomed away from the dock faster than you could say,Watch out, Switzerland.
“Just to the other side of the river,” Jensen said, catching my wild-eyed expression. “Go on, then.”
I continued my spiel as we rounded a bend in the Thames. Minutes later, the boat bumped up against the dock inGreenwich. I chased Jensen off the boat in the same hurried manner as I’d boarded, desperately making suggestions and fielding questions.
Amazingly, he actually paid attention. He even eschewed his waiting limo (because who didn’t keep at least two limos in each city?) in favor of walking, and I tagged along, trying to keep pace with his long, clipped strides.
It was only when we were four blocks inland, approaching a row of swanky townhouses on a side street, that he dismissed me.
“Well, thank you, Miss Durand. A fascinating proposition.”
I pursed my lips, tempted to correct him. I wasn’t proposing anything — nothing that involved me anyway. I was just…er, insistently suggesting.
“I’ll let Gordon know if I decide to get in touch with such a foundation,” he finished.
“Just one thing,” I blurted.
Jensen waited impatiently.
I flashed my meekest smile. “I was just wondering… As a person who admires your success in the world…”
A lie, but heck. My soul was probably already on its way to the devil.
“…why go with a middleman in this instance? Given your oft-cited advice of avoiding them, I mean.”
Jensen flashed a smug smile that said how adorable I was for hoping to learn from him.
I tried not to gag as I waited.
“I was tempted, believe me.” He shot a glance Celeste’s way.
And oh, if I’d only had a body cam to reportthatto Gordon! That was proof — okay, strong circumstantial evidence — that she was working behind her boss’s back.
“But one has to consider whether certain middlemen might prove useful on a later occasion,” Jensen finished.
