Page 164 of Cross & Crown

“A replica, of course, of the one stolen and smuggled into

Boston a century ago,” Paddy said cheekily. “I keep it to . . .

honor our Irish roots.”

“Right,” Nick grunted. He sat forward, looking but not

touching.

“What exactly is it you need from this?” Mikey asked.

Nick gave him a wary glance. “It’s supposed to point to a

location.”

“Like a treasure map?” Mikey asked.

Nick nodded.

JD slid off the sofa to his knees, his fingers gripping the

table. “May I touch it?” he asked. It was the first thing he’d

said since the elevator. He’d obviously forgotten he was scared.

Paddy merely chuckled. He waved for JD to go ahead.

They crowded around it, scowling at the priceless piece

like it was a Rubik’s Cube instead of a treasure that had

gone missing over a hundred years ago. The emeralds were

stunningly green, and they made up a clover in the center

of the field of diamonds. Brilliant red rubies formed an X

behind it. But there was nothing else. Just precious gems. No

message, no sign. Nothing that would point in any way to a

location or clue.

“I don’t understand,” Julian said. He was leaning over the

back of the couch, breathing down their necks. “They said it

would be there.”

165

Nick massaged the bridge of his nose. “Is it possible these

people wanted you to locatethisinstead of something more?”

he asked.

“Good luck to them, if that’s the case,” Julian said with a

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