Daniel looked sheepishly at Kieran, turned to Julie, then back to Kieran. Julies like a sister to me, he said defensively. And her scumbag husband deserves the worst. Kieran, he couldve killed those poor dogs, not to mention the emotional crap hes been putting Julie through!
Daniel was obviously a Finnegan. Everyone in the family had some shade of red hair. Declans was a medium-reddish brown, Kieran and Kevin were a darker auburn, while Daniel had the lightest coloring among them. Her uncle had once said that visiting the hospital after the twins, and later Daniel, were born seemed pointless, since hed gone to see Declan and theyd all looked like the same baby.
At the moment Kieran figured she really did resemble her youngest brother. Her expression was pretty much the same. She completely shared his indignation at the man who had hurt Julie in so many ways.
But sheunlike her brother and, apparently, Juliehad acquired some common sense.
Julie had an excuse; she was an emotional mess.
As for Daniel...
The diamond was still in his pocket. Kieran was aware that all three of them were now in on the theft of a flawless stone worth at least half a million dollars.
Let me rephrase this. What the hell were you two thinking? Youre talking grand larceny! Kieran said.
But I dont want the diamond! Julie insisted. I dont intend to keep it. I just want to get him in trouble for stealing it. Or losing it, if his boss feels like giving him the benefit of the doubt. Petite Julie, with her short blond hair and big brown eyes, looked as innocent as a newborn babe as she stared at Kieran. You know how his store works. Each sales agent is responsible for a certain collection of diamonds and other stones. Any of the associates can show them, but the sales agent has to count and log them in at the end of the day. I justI just wanted Gary to suffer for a while. I wanted him to sweat it out. When theres a count, it wont be there. Hell be in major trouble. I couldnt care less about the stone itself.
Oh, God! Kieran said, sitting back and crossing her arms. Theres been a rash of jewelry store holdups. Dont you two idiots see? Youre in the same category now.
Dont be ridiculous. Ive never been armed, Daniel protested. I didnt hold anyone up. I just pocketed the stone.
It has to go back right awayas in now, Kieran said. She scowled at her brother. How exactly did you manage to take it?
He shrugged. Well, I said I was there to see Julies scumbag almost ex
You said that at his place of work? Kieran asked.
No, of course not, Daniel said indignantly. I knew he wasnt in at the time, since he was here. At the pub, I mean. So I asked Neil Davis if I could see Garys stones in particularafter, of course, acting disappointed that he wasnt there. I know Davis is the king of the lazy asses because Julies told me about him. Hed just want the sale, and he wouldnt count until the end of the day. I said Id heard Benton had some great stones that could be set in the design of my choosing and that I wanted to create the perfect ring for my fiancée. And he did the usual jeweler thingdisplayed the unmounted stones on a velvet cloth on the counter. Then I told him he had a fleck of something on his chin, and when he turned to the mirror, I pocketed the stone.
Youll be on a security tape filching that diamond, Kieran said, her heart sinking. How the hell was she going to get him out of this one?
Dont be ridiculous. I made sure my back was to the camera and that my head blocked it.
Theyll still come after you. Theyll go through the security tapes and see that youre the one hiding his face. Neil can describe you, and Gary will know exactly who you are, Kieran said. Give it to me. I have to get that stone back before they realize its missing.
No, Kieran. Ill take it back there, Julie told her.
Dont be a fool. You have no finesse when it comes to doing anything dishonest, Daniel said. Youll look guilty as hell, and youll wind up confessing, saying you did it. Gary might have you arrested, not to mention what his boss might do.
I left the house, trying to give him space to screw anyone he wanted, and what did he do? He nearly killed my dogs! Julie said, tears rising to her eyes.
Asshole, Daniel muttered, placing his arm around Julie. He doesnt deserve you. There are good guys out there, and youll find one, I swear.
Kieran lowered her head, listening to the two of them. They just didnt get it.
You idiots, she said. This wasnt just juvenileit was criminal. Yes, Garys behaved like the worst and most despicable jerk on earth, but, Julie, if you want to get even, get over him! Finalize the divorce and learn to live a better life on your own. And, Daniel, how could you, you dunce? Youve stayed out of trouble for years. Youre working. You have a life and a career ahead of you. Think. Youve risked your whole future. Both of you have to think about yourselves. Forget about Gary. Do you understand?
They both reddened, nodding their agreement.
Give me the stone, Kieran said to her brother.
No, Ill get it back where it belongs, Daniel said.
No! If something goes wrong, theyll have you on tape twice. Ill go. And you cant go with me, Julie. If Scumbags there She cut herself off. If Gary is there, I can say Ive just come to ask him to start behaving civilly. If hes not there, Ill...Ill let it fall on the floor when no ones looking, pick it up and just hand it over. What you did is serious. I mean years-in-prison serious, grand-larceny serious, you
She stopped herself. She wasnt going to call them idiots again.
Even though they were, shed made her point.
Daniel very casually reached into his pocket and handed her the stone. Casual was the way to do it. She should know. Theyd all been proficient at pilfering little things during those difficult early years. Gum, candysmall stuff. Now she understood that theyd been bitter and unable to handle the death of their mother, so theyd acted out.
Theyd been good at it. What wasnt good was that theyd never been caught. They hadnt been hauled down to juvenile court, then threatened with their fathers wrath and whatever the system could do to them.
Im terrified that you dont realize what you did. Grand larceny. You could be put away for years and years. Honestly, this is no joke. And no liesometimes the sentences for theft are longer than the ones for murder, she said sternly.
They both looked contrite, but what scared her was that they still didnt seem to comprehend just how foolish theyd been. How dangerously foolish.
She pointed a finger at her brother. You promised me. No more stealing.
But I wasnt stealing it. I was just...borrowing it for a while.
My company works with the police, she retorted. Aside from everything else, think about the position youve put me in.
Youre a psychologist who works with a bunch of doctors, Daniel said.
Who work with the police, she finished. You
Julie broke in. It was my fault, she said.
Yes, in a way it was, Kieran said. And then again, no. Daniel is responsible for his own behavior. Daniel, I need you to promise me, once and for all, that youll never steal again.
Kieran... he murmured, glancing away. This was an exception. I did it for
Daniel.
All right, I promise. She could tell by the way he looked at her that he knew she doubted him. Never again. I swear it on our parents grave.
That, to her brother, was a solemn vow.
I wonder if theyll even miss it, Julie said. The diamond, I mean.
You wonder if theyll miss it? A flawless stone worth a half a million or more? Kieran asked incredulously.
Like you said, theres been a rash of jewelry store holdups in the city.
Yeah. Armed men come in and wipe out half a store. Do you think Garys boss and coworkers wouldnt notice if theyd been held up by men with guns?
She checked her watch. She had to leave now if she was going to make it before the store closed for the day.
What do you want me to do now? Daniel asked her.
Cover for me at the pub.
Ill help him, Julie offered.
No, you wont. Youll go home and walk your dogs. That way Daniel can say Im dealing with something for you and it wont be a complete lie. Declan will understand. She stood. And dont you evereverput me in this position again. She stared at them hard. I cant believe what Im about to do. Im heading off to unsteal a diamond.
She turned away. She had to hurry because time was against her now. Pretty soon the staff would be counting receipts and logging the days sales as well as inventorying the jewelry and stones theyd shown that day.
She prayed she could keep Daniel out of jailand not land both of them in the arms of the law.
CHAPTER TWO
WALLY ONEILL, a civilian tech employed by the FBI, was working with Craig and Mike, viewing the security footage from the jewelry stores. They could have looked at the videos alone, but Craig was glad they had Wallys help. He was a whiz when it came to cameras, computers...anything digital.
The security footage showed that all the robberies had been carried out in much the same way.
Quickly, for one.
Three menor they looked like men, anywayin dark jeans, hoodies and ski masks suddenly converged on the door and entered the store. They burst in with guns out. Not one of the recording devices allowed for sound, but Craig was certain that the first man to break in roared that no one had better set off the alarm or someone would die.
No alarms had been set off, but in the last two robberies, people had died anyway.
Okay, Mike said, since theyre dressed alike, maybe they come from different directions or time it so each one is slightly ahead of the next guy to avoid calling attention to themselves. I mean, half the kids in America walk around wearing hoodies with their heads down and hands shoved in their pockets, but the ski masks are a real attention getter. Im betting they dont put those on till the last minute.
Mike was probably right about that, Craig thought. In New York City, with crowds everywhere and people walking in every direction, their own agendas in their heads, there would be no particular reason to notice someone dressed like that. And Jersey? Pretty much the same story.
They dont split up when they leave, though, Craig pointed out.
Theres gotta be a getaway car idling somewhere nearby.
They committed the murders in Jersey. Theyre either getting bolderor theyre not the same crew.
That again, Mike muttered.
I might be right.
You might be wrong.
Yeah, I might be. In fact, I hope I am, Craig said.
Wally cleared his throat. Uh, guys? What do you want me to do now?
Roll the last two, Craig told him.
Wally hit a key and brought up the crime-scene photo from the alley. He quickly apologized. Sorry, pushed the wrong button.
Its all right. Were going to have to go over that, too, Mike said.
They all stared grimly at the photo. The woman was dark haired and wearing a cover-up over her clothingher way of staying clean while she swept and dusted, Craig thought.
She was lying on her side, almost as if she were sleeping. Except that a pool of blood billowed out from beneath her hair.
Mike looked at his folder. Ana Katrina Martinez, forty-seven. Small-caliber bullet fired at point-blank range right through her forehead. Cartridge not found and the bullet is still in her brain. The ME will supply it to ballistics right after the autopsy.
Craig felt a swell of emotion. Ana Katrina Martinez wouldnt care what kind of bullet had killed her, and neither would her family. They would only care that her killer was caught. Even dead in a pool of blood, she had a kind face. Craig thought she had smiled frequently in life. Why her? he muttered angrily.
Because someone was a grade-A sociopath with no concern for anyone other than himself, Mike said. Youd have to be, he added gruffly, to kill someone just because she was no longer useful. Hell, they were probably still in their ski masksshe couldnt have identified them.
Wally cleared his throat. Stay with this image or roll the footage?
Roll the footage, Mike said.
So in the city they leave everyone alive, Craig said. Then they go to Jersey and leave a woman dead in an alley.
And a man dead at his desk, Mike added.
I cant help but think its different perps.
Just different states. Ill bet you a twenty. No, Ill go a hundred.
Its a bet I hope I lose, Craig said.
What are your thoughts on the matter, Wally? Mike asked.
Wally looked up at them with surprise. Craig figured that his expertise was often sought, but not his opinion.
Ive enhanced the footage as much as possible. If theyre copycats, they have the clothing and the ski masks down perfectly, he said. I dont knowI just dont know.
Lets watch againthen we can start with the interviews, Mike said.
Whatever you want, Wally said.
What about the murdered jeweler? Craig asked.
Youll see that on the footage, Wally said.
They didnt see the death of Ana Katrina Martinez on the computer screen; no camera had captured that.
They did see the death of the elderly owner of the first store. He looked up, said something and appeared to be willing to do whatever the men wanted.
Then he was shot, and he crumpled over.
Mike looked at the files again. Arthur Kempler, eighty-four. He owned and managed Kemplers Fine Jewelry for over fifty years. Never had so much as a parking ticket.
They didnt need to kill him, Wally muttered.
Neither Mike nor Craig disagreed with him.
Go back to the first robberies, Craig told Wally.
Wally nodded. Right away.
In the earlier heists, they saw the thieves exit by way of the front door, the same way they had come in.
Only in New Jersey had they used the rear exits, at least so far.
In those first five robberiesas the cameras showthey went back out into the street, Mike said. And they were casual about it. I figure within a few steps they had their ski masks off, and in another few steps the hoodies were gone and no one would have known theyd been wearing them at all. They didnt hide from peoplethey used them. They melted in with the crowd until they got to their getaway car or the subway and left the area.