Page 91 of Cross & Crown

diamonds. It would literally be priceless.”

Nick found himself nodding. He could understand even

the rumor of a treasure like that inspiring a certain type of

individual. “Okay. I follow. But what does that have to do

with the Irish Crown Jewels? Why are they after those instead

of this cross?”

“The main piece in the Irish collection was the Diamond

Star of the Grand Master,” Julian said. He laid his paper out

and pointed to one of the pieces. “Four square inches of pure

white diamond, with a ruby cross and an emerald trefoil in

the forefront. Itself worth millions in today’s market, but

nothing compared to the value of the golden and rosy cross,

if it exists.”

“Right. But the Irish Crown Jewels were stolen a hundred

years ago, and the Continental treasure and this pink cross

disappeared over a hundred years before that. So I say again,

where’s the connection?” Nick asked.

Julian tapped the photo of the Irish Crown Jewels. “This

is a map.”

“The brooch?” Kelly asked.

“Star. Technically.”

“Yeah, well I say ‘star’ and it gets all confusing.”

Julian scoffed. “Are you trying to say you’re not confused

already?”

92

“This is a map to the missing Continental treasure?” Nick

asked, tapping the grainy picture.

“I mean are we talking about the Big Dipper or are we

talking about jewelry?” Kelly asked. “It’s a fucking brooch.”

“Your entire Recon team must be insufferable,” Julian

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