Page 200 of Cross & Crown

Detective, I like roses. Red ones.”

“How do you know who I am!”

“We were colleagues, Casey,” Alex said with a hint of

injury in her tone. “We find lost works of art and liberate

them from their prisons.”

“Wow,” Kelly drawled. “That’s the fanciest ‘I steal things’

I’ve ever heard.”

Nick hummed in agreement.

200

The woman laughed. “I imagine you think it’s along the

same lines as Mr. Cross’s ‘I deal antiques’ in reference to cold-blooded murder.”

Julian’s eyes widened. “You know me?”

“I know of you. I was warned you’d be out here.”

Nick recognized the signs of Julian coiling to attack, but

there was no way he could get to him in time to keep it from

happening. He wrapped an arm around Alex and turned

her, instead, putting himself between her and Julian. Kelly

intercepted Julian as he launched himself at them, wrapping

him up and trying to talk him into being calm.

“They have him!” Julian snarled. Kelly had his hands full

trying to restrain him.

JD edged away from them, a hint of a wild animal in his

eyes, which were darting from Julian to Nick and back.

“It’s them, they took him!” Julian railed.

They were drawing way too much notice from the crowds

of tourists. Nick tucked his sopping wet shirt in under the

badge on his belt so it would be visible.

“We didn’t take anyone,” Alex insisted. She looked over

her shoulder, and Nick turned a little so he could see Julian.

Kelly had him in a headlock, but he was trying not to hurt

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