Page 11 of The Twilight Theft

“I’ve worked with them before.” Twice. Once successfully, and once screwed up so badly by Jayce that we’d had to toss our plans out the window and run.

“Lucky you.” He grinned and rounded the table, his fingers brushing over Scarlett’s neck as he passed her. A faint smile crossed her lips. The way she looked at him when he sank into the chair next to her telegraphed a close relationship.Hissmile told me it was sexual.

Did Evelyn approve of something like that? Did he sleep his way into the company? That made little sense when he had a business in the States. Unless it was more than sex. In love? Malcolm Sharpe? Surely not.

In their line of work, on their more covert ops, a relationship between team members would be a weakness. They’d be too concerned about the other’s safety to do their job properly. Although she’d been working with her brother for many years, so maybe caring what happened to each other was part of their strength.

“Anyone else joining us?” I asked as I took my seat.

“This is the full team we’re sending,” said Evelyn. “I’ll read tech support in later. Scarlett?”

Scarlett took over. “I’ll be brief. This is a short timeline. You all know I don’t like those, but Drew and the team from Bishop have provided us with enough information that we’re going ahead. Next weekend, Gideon Tremaine, the head of Tremaine Industries, will be hosting a charity gala in Washington, DC.”

Emmett’s glance at Jayce was hard to miss. He must not have known about the location, and he was tying the news to… to what? Their visit to Gideon’s office earlier today? Or something else?

“We’ll be working for Bishop and Associates on this one.” Scarlett looked at Jayce this time, as did Evelyn. “Forthem. We’re contractors with a specialized skill set, and Drew’s point on this.”

Jayce’s shoulders visibly dropped. She recovered quickly, pulling the box of chocolate-covered pastries closer and shoving one into her mouth whole.

They looked delicious. But were big enough they should have required two bites.

“Drew? Want to take it from there?” asked Scarlett.

I nodded to her and stood, approaching the television. “This is a prototype of a data storage chip—inside a protective housing—which Gideon says will revolutionize information management. He’ll make the first public demonstration of it at his gala on Saturday, and he’s received several threats that someone will steal it during the event. Since there haven’t been credible threats against any of his research labs or production facilities, we suspect the goal is to embarrass him publicly.”

At my nod, Evelyn tapped her tablet, and the image on the screen shifted to a floor plan, split into three parts.

“Gideon’s wife, Liana, is organizing the event. They’re hosting an art auction and there will be a VIP room where non-auction items will be on display.”

Jayce lifted a hand to cover her mouth, talking around another mouthful of food. “Why’s he unveiling tech at an art gala?”

“Liana’s a sculptor and will be…” I was unsure of the details. This was the part Gideon hadn’t even known. I hadn’t met his wife, but from my research, art was more important to her than anything else, and if she wanted to make a show of things, it would be grand. “One of her pieces will be in the VIP room and the chip will either be on it, in it, or attached to it.”

Jayce lifted in her seat, curling a leg underneath herself. “You don’t know?”

I glanced at Scarlett, checking for a hint of her ‘I don’t like rush jobs’rejection. Nothing. Good. “The venue is a high-end restaurant on the Potomac River, which they’ve rented out for a few days to install everything. You can see here”—I began pointing out high points—“there’s a main dining room, where most of the artwork will be on display. This adjoins a banquet room which will function as the VIP display. There is also a second-floor mezzanine which overlooks the main dining area and a three-tiered outdoor balcony.”

Jayce tipped the white box toward herself and frowned. How much sugar had been in there when she arrived? “Sounds swanky.”

Emmett nudged her.

She turned to face him, so all I saw was the back of her head as it rolled, but no doubt from an exaggerated eye roll. The woman had no control.

“It will be. Black tie, three hundred in attendance at five thousand a ticket, live music, and a technology-assisted silent auction. All proceeds are being split between his charity, which gives children an opportunity to explore STEM, and hers, which sponsors artistic residencies.”

Scarlett added, “Drew’s provided personnel details, including all private security, and a partial list of attendees.”

“We should have the full picture in a couple of days.” One missing piece of the puzzle was a target list. Who was most likely to want to see Gideon—or Liana, since she was the host—fail?

“Good.” Scarlett surveyed her team. “I know this is short notice, but happy Monday folks. We’ll be flying to Washington tomorrow afternoon, and the gala is on Saturday.”

“Only five days to prep?” said Rav, in his low, French-accented voice.

“Five days.” Scarlett leaned toward Evelyn’s tablet and tapped a few buttons. The television switched to display the guest list, and she highlighted the first attendee. An expanded view of the man’s career profile, marital status, and family information appeared. “The Bishop team has provided an excellent starting point, and they’ll work with us. Our team will do independent vetting of all attendees and staff.”

“What’s our job?” asked Malcolm. “Figure out who’s behind the threats? Consult on the security?”

Scarlett’s lips curved into a grin. “We’re going undercover.”

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