Page 22 of Passion and Deception

“Yeah,” a second voice replied. “I have them here.”

“Can I see them?”

Todras chuckled. “Not a chance. You haven’t bought into the project.” He snickered. “These trophies are for members only.”

“Come on, dude!” the voice whined. “Just a peek!”

“Nope!” Todras replied. “You don’t have enough money in your trust fund for a peek.”

Maggie couldn’t help herself. She turned her head, pretending to survey the room. She noticed two men sitting in brown leather club chairs to the right of her post. They had their heads close together and they were looking around warily, as if trying to ensure that their conversation was not overheard. Quickly, Maggie looked away, but not before she noticed that the man had tapped his jacket pocket over his heart. That was Humphrey Todras, she realized. Humphrey had been with Barney several weeks ago. That miserable night that Barney had attacked her was still painfully vivid in her mind.

Because it was also the night that Ramit had seen her and done nothing to help her!

Reminding herself that Ramit was no longer in her life, and shouldn’t be allowed to take up space in her thoughts, she focused on the present. She’d read the news and discovered that he’d gone back to his country.

Shifting slightly, she angled her body so that she could see the two men more easily in her peripheral vision. The idiot rubbed his chest again, as if he needed to feel the object hidden in his pocket to assure himself that it was still there.

Interesting! So…the man had something in his jacket pocket. Because it was Humphrey, she wondered if the hidden object had something to do with what he and Barney had been talking to Ramit about on the darkened patio on that fateful night.

“You keep the…trophies…with you?” the other man asked. Maggie didn’t recognize him, and assumed he must be Humphrey’s guest.

Humphrey laughed and Maggie kept her body as relaxed as possible. Obviously, they weren’t talking about actual trophies. At least, not the plastic kind handed out to kids after they won a soccer tournament.

Maggie looked around as Emily walked through the room. Maggie drifted slowly away from her place on the wall and intercepted Emily at the far end of the bar.

“What’s up?” Emily asked quietly, looking down at the papers attached to the clipboard she carried.

In a low voice, Maggie explained, “There’s something in Humphrey’s pocket. I think we should get a look at whatever he’s hiding.”

Emily looked up and smiled, also pretending to scan the room. “Why do you think so?”

Maggie grinned. “Because he’s calling it a trophy and, I know him too well. He was with what’s-his-name, Barney Mathis, that night that…well, the other night.” She shuddered at the memory.

“Wasn’t Barney the guy you had to knee a couple weeks ago?”

“One and the same,” Maggie confirmed.

Emily nodded. “If you suspect Todras of conspiring with someone for nefarious purposes, that’s good enough for me.” She carefully surveyed the room. “I’ll get Ann to help out. Standby. She’ll be through in a few minutes. We’ll do the coat-switch.” She looked down at her clipboard. “Any idea how large the item is?”

“Nope. It’s in his right front pocket and it’s not creating a bulge.”

Emily grinned, a shimmer of excitement sparkling in her eyes. “No worries. We’re on it.”

Maggie nearly laughed as endorphins surged through her. Or was it adrenaline? She wasn’t sure, but knew that the excitement caused by these kinds of “raids” was always a little thrilling.

Maggie returned to her place beside the wall when Ann rushed into the room. She looked around as if searching for a particular person, her eyes looking a bit frantic, and her tray held a single drink.

The woman was a good actress! Maggie smothered her smile as she pretended to look inquiringly at Ann.

“Do you know where…oh my gosh!” Ann gasped as the drink tumbled from her tray onto the shoulder of the man in question.

“What the hell?” Humphrey yelled, standing up and looking down at the liquid dripping down over his jacket. With his arms held out by his side, the man glared at Ann. “What kind of idiot are you?”

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Todras!” Ann gasped, doing a great impression of a flighty woman. Emily and Maggie knew that Ann was extremely intelligent!

Maggie hurried over with a rag that she’d grabbed from the bar. Dabbing at the man’s sports coat, she tried in vain to mop up the liquid.

Maggie stepped back, shaking her head at the mess and tsking her co-worker. Ann was standing a few feet away, looking appropriately chastised. “My apologies for my co-worker’s clumsiness, sir,” she said. “If you give me your coat, I’ll procure another one for you for the evening. While you finish your game of pool, we’ll have this one cleaned and pressed so that it will be perfect before you leave for the evening.”

---