Page 71 of Homeport

“Stealing it? Don’t be ridiculous.”

He grabbed her arm as she turned away. “You want to know the truth, don’t you?”

“Yes, I want the truth, but I’m not flying to Italy, breaking into a government facility, and stealing a worthless copy.”

“No reason we can’t take something worthwhile while we’re there. Just a thought,” he added when her mouth dropped open. “If you’re right, and we prove it, you’ll more than salvage your reputation. You’ll make it.”

It was impossible, insane. It couldn’t be done. But she saw the gleam in his eye and wondered. “Why would you bother? What would you get out of it?”

“If you’re right, it brings me a step closer to the original David. I have my reputation to salvage too.”

And if she was right, he thought, and The Dark Lady was real, he’d be a step closer to that as well. He’d find her. What a marvelous addition she would make to his private collection.

“I’m not breaking the law.”

“You already are. You’re standing here with me, aren’t you? You’re an accessory after the fact, Dr. Jones.” He swung his arm companionably over her shoulder. “I didn’t hold a gun to your head or a knife to your back. You took me in past your security,” he continued, walking back toward the house. “You’ve spent the day with me, fully aware I’m holding stolen property. You’re already in.” He gave her a friendly kiss on top of the head. “Might as well see it through.”

He checked his watch, calculated. “You go up and pack. We’ll need to swing through New York first. I have some things to tidy up there, and I need to pick up some clothes and tools.”

“Tools?” She pushed her hair away from her face. Better not to know, she decided. “I can’t just fly off to Italy. I have to talk to Andrew. I have to explain.”

“Leave him a note,” Ryan suggested, and pulled open the back door. “Make it brief, and tell him you’re going away for a couple of weeks. Leave it at that, and you leave him out of it if the cops get too nosey.”

“The police. If I leave this way before the investigation is complete, they might think I was involved.”

“Adds to the excitement, doesn’t it? Better not use your phone,” he murmured. “Always a possibility of the records being checked. I’ll get mine out of my bag. I need to call my cousin Joey.”

Her head was reeling. “Your cousin Joey?”

“He’s a travel agent. Go pack,” he repeated. “He’ll get us on the first flight out. Don’t forget your passport—and your laptop. We’ll want to finish going through those personnel files.”

She tried a deep breath. “Anything else I should bring along?”

“An appetite.” He pulled his phone out of his bag. “We should be in New York in time for dinner. You’re going to love my mother’s linguine.”

It was nearly six before Andrew managed to get home. He’d tried to call Miranda half a dozen times, but had only reached their answering machine. He wasn’t certain what shape he’d find her in—manic with temper or desolate with hurt. He hoped he was prepared to deal with either, or both.

But all he found was a note on the refrigerator.

Andrew, I’m sure you’re aware I’ve been ordered to take a leave of absence from the Institute. I’m sorry to leave you in the lurch at a time like this. I don’t want to say I don’t have a choice, so I’ll say I’m making the only one that works for me. I’ll be gone for a couple of weeks. Please, don’t worry. I’ll be in touch when I can.

Don’t forget to take out the trash. There’s enough roast left over from Sunday to keep you going for another meal or two. See that you eat.

Love,

Miranda

“Shit.” He yanked the note free and read it through again. “Where are you?”

fourteen

“Idon’t see why we didn’t just fly to Florence.” Miranda was well past second thoughts and into third thoughts by the time Ryan took the wheel of a natty little BMW and navigated out of La Guardia. “If we’re going to do something this insane, there’s no point in taking a detour.”

“It isn’t a detour, it’s a scheduled stop. I need my things.”

“You could have bought clothes in Italy.”

“I probably will. If the Italians dressed the world, it would be a much more attractive place. However, there are certain things I need that can’t always be easily bought in the retail market.”

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