Coles gaze shot back to the Thunderbolt. Hed seen it dozens of times. It looked the same. It always looked the same.
But she was sounding alarmingly credible, and he couldnt for the life of him figure out how lying about its authenticity would help her get her hands on it. His stomach sank. He had to allow for the possibility that she was telling the truth.
Her voice went up an octave. Cole, youre not reacting.
He lifted it, holding the glittering gold to the light, speaking to himself. Who would fake it?
We need more information, said Sydney, squinting at the jewel. I have a friend whos a conservator. She could pinpoint the date more closely, give us somewhere to start.
Ah. Okay. There it was. He could see the scam now.
You have a friend, he mocked, palming the brooch.
Gwen Parks. Shes worked at the Laurent for-
And your friend is going to come out and value my brooch?
Sydneys eyes narrowed. Shes not going to value it-
Cole let out a chopped laugh. Let me guess. He took a pace forward. Itll be worthless. Youll offer to take it off my hands. And the next thing I know itll be on display in New York.
Sydneys expression lengthened in apparent horror. Cole, Id never-
Never what? He stepped closer to her again. Never try anything and everything to get your hands on the Thunderbolt? Never lie? Never cheat? Never marry me or sleep with me?
She clenched her hands into small fists. I really dont give a damn what you think of me right now. But the brooch is a fake. Get my expert. Get your own expert. Take it to the Louvre. But if you dont find out when it was faked, youre never going to find out why it was faked, you are never, ever going to have a hope in hell of getting the real one back.
Cole stared at her in silence. Was she serious? She looked serious.
He opened his palm and inspected the brooch.
Think about it, Cole, she stressed. Run it through your suspicious, little mind. How could I possibly get away with it? How, in the world, could I think for one minute that I could get away pretending the Thunderbolt was a fake?
Cole closed his hand again, letting the points of the brooch dig into his palm.
She was right. But who would fake it? Who could fake it? And who could do it so well that nobody had ever noticed?
There were no pictures of it in circulation. It would have to be somebody who had access to it for more than-
A light bulb exploded in his brain. He stomped his way to the office door, flinging it open.
Joseph! he bellowed.
The lawyer appeared almost immediately, bustling his way down the corridor. Mr. Erickson? His voice betrayed his obvious concern.
Cole stepped back into the office and closed the door for privacy. We need an appraiser. Now.
A conservator, said Sydney.
Both men turned to look at her.
A museum conservator, she repeated. One who specializes in gems and jewelry.
Is something wrong? asked Joseph Neely.
The brooch has been faked, said Cole, watching the man closely. Somebody at the firm could easily be the culprit.
Neely was silent for a long moment. He didnt look guilty, but his lawyer brain was obviously clicking through the implications. When he finally spoke, his voice was a rasp. I dont see how it could have-
We need to find out when and how and why, said Cole, accepting that Sydney was telling the truth.
This was a catastrophe.
His chest tightened at the thought of his grandmothers distress. He had to help her. He had to protect her.
No matter what happened, she could never find out.
In Neelys office eight hours later, the words on the newly penned conservators report blurred in front of Coles tired eyes. Joseph had offered the use of the facilities as long as they needed them. It was probably half generosity, half concern for the firms liability. Cole didnt particularly care which one. He just wanted some answers.
After gauging the level of expertise at the local museum, hed given in and flown Sydneys colleague Gwen Parks down from New York. The two women had talked technical for a couple of hours, quickly losing Cole. But it didnt matter. The only thing important to him was the final verdict.
Gwen had just confirmed that the brooch was indeed a reproduction, and that it was made sometime between nineteen fifty and nineteen seventy-five. It didnt tell them who, and it didnt tell them why, but it did tell them that they had at least a small hope of finding the real one.
I can put out some feelers, Gwen was saying to Sydney while Joseph put the brooch back in its box to be returned to the safe.
Cole dimly wondered why he bothered. Sure the jewels themselves were valuable, but they were also replaceable. A fifty-year-old ruby, emerald and diamond reproduction was hardly something to lock up in titanium.
He clenched his fist, crumpling it around the report.
If anybodys ever sold it, or offered it for sale Gwen continued, leaning against Josephs wide mahogany desk somebody out there will know something.
Gwen might be dressed in blue jeans and a Mets T-shirt, but the woman had convinced Cole she knew her stuff.
You got a way into the black market? asked Sydney.
Gwen nodded her pixie blond head.
Both women were silent for a moment. Sydney didnt ask any questions, and Gwen didnt offer an explanation.
Sydney turned her attention to Cole. I think we should go talk to Grandma now.
Cole jerked his head up. What?
Gwens going to try her contacts, but we need to get information from Grandma. The sooner, the better.
Were not telling Grandma. That point was nonnegotiable.
Sydney brought her hands to her hips. Of course we are.
Cole dropped the report on the desk. Do you have any idea how much this will upset her?
Sydney took a couple of paces toward him, gesturing with an open palm. Of course itll upset her. But never finding the Thunderbolt will upset her a whole lot more.
Cole clenched his jaw. Well find it without her.
She had it during the years it was copied. Shes our best lead.
No.
Cole. Be reasonable. She can tell us where it was, during what time periods.
The lawyers records will tell us that.
All they can tell us is when it was or was not in their safe. Grandma can tell us if it was ever missing, if anybody borrowed it-
My answer is no.
Sydney moved directly in front of him and crossed her arms over her chest. What makes this your decision?
A pulse leaped to life in Coles temple. He straightened to his full height, matching her posture. You will not go behind my back and talk to my grandmother.
The police might. A crime has been committed here, Cole.
Well take care of it privately. There was no way in the world Cole was losing control of the investigation, having it dumped into the lap of some overworked police precinct.
Cole, came Gwens voice.
Sydney and Cole both turned. Gwen straightened away from the desk, tucking her blond hair behind her ears and moving her small frame into the thick of the conversation.
Sydneys right. No matter who you talk to, who you ask for help, public, private or otherwise, the first thing theyre going to want to do is talk to your grandma. And if they dont, you should fire them for incompetence.
Sydney spoke up again. Shes our only lead.
It didnt matter. Shes seventy years old.
Shes tough as nails.
The stress could kill her.
Sydney spoke up again. Shes our only lead.
It didnt matter. Shes seventy years old.
Shes tough as nails.
The stress could kill her.
Sydney stared at him levelly with those penetrating green eyes. Its not going to kill her.
They were intelligent eyes, Cole acknowledged. Clear-thinking, logical eyes. Hed never doubted she was smart. Never doubted she was capable. And this was definitely her field of expertise.
Damn.
If he wanted to keep the police out of it, he needed to keep Sydney and Gwen in, which meant he needed to take their advice.
He hated it, but there it was.
Okay, he said. Fine. Well talk to Grandma.
Tonight? asked Sydney.
Tomorrow, said Cole. He wasnt waking Grandma out of a sound sleep to give her bad news.
Gwen plucked her purse from the desktop. In that case, Id better get back to New York.
Cole quickly crossed the room and held out his hand. Thank you very, very much for coming on such short notice. He was a lot more grateful to Gwen than hed probably let on.
Thanks for chartering the plane, said Gwen with a shake.
Whatever you need, said Cole. You just call me. Anything. Anytime.
Gwen nodded. For now, Ill just be making phone calls. But Ill keep you guys posted. She glanced at her watch. Itll be morning in London by the time I get home.
You think the brooch is overseas? asked Cole, his stomach hollowing out all over again. They were looking for a needle in a haystack.
Im going to check every possibility, said Gwen.
Sydney moved between them to give Gwen a hug. Thank you, she whispered.
Happy to help, said Gwen, glancing sideways at Cole and giving him a final once-over. Talk to you tomorrow.
As Gwen left the office, Sydney sucked in a deep breath, blinking her exhaustion-filled eyes. But instead of complaining, she touched Coles shoulder. His muscle instantly contracted beneath his jacket.
Well break it to her gently, she said.
Cole felt the weight of forty generations pressing down on him. I dont see how well manage that.
Grandma greeted Sydney with a hug in the octagonal entryway. Well? Did he do it? Did he pop the question?
Grandma, Cole warned.
I hope he had a ring.
He didnt have a ring, said Sydney.
Grandma glanced from one to the other. But Katie said it was love at first sight. Id hoped that was the point of this special trip.
We are getting married, said Cole, although Sydney couldnt imagine why he bothered keeping up the charade. Katie knew their secret, and the Thunderbolt might never be found. A quickie wedding sure didnt matter anymore.
She hadnt let the full impact of that sink in yet. The odds of finding the Thunderbolt in time for the show one month away were almost nonexistent. Shed have to call it off. Shed lose her job, and her reputation would be ruined. Shed be lucky to get a position as a tour guide.
I knew it, said Grandma, clasping her hands together. I could tell by the way you looked at her.