Page 115 of Savannah Royals
“My fingers aren’t twitching. This is a big ask. This is dangerous.”
“It’s no more dangerous than the job at Astor Manor,” Paul counters. “Actually, I’d argue this islessdangerous. It’s a simple bait and switch. You’ll make a forgery, and the night of the ball, we’ll pull the swap. We’ve done it a million times. No one will even bat an eye.”
I stare at him, thinking. Looking for a way out that won’t bring Paul’s notorious wrath down on me. Or worse, on Matthew.
“You know you and I can easily do this together,” he says.
He’s right; I do know it. That’s exactly the problem.
“This is the necklace, Kat.” Ray passes me a society newspaper clipping with a photograph, and I give it a cursory glance. It’s a picture of Matthew’s parents dancing at their wedding. The necklace is massive, a traditional loop of diamonds interspersed with five ovular rubies. Vertical spokes drop off each blood-red gem, more diamonds alternating with two more rubies. Per spoke. Times five.
“There arefifteenrubies on this necklace. It’s massive. I need a lot more information than this photograph to pull off a forgery for a piece like this. I need specs and reports and a million more photos…” I lift my hand to my forehead, overwhelmed.
“Well, lucky for you, I have the specs,” Ray replies.
“Horsefeathers.” I snort. “It’s impossible—that piece is on its third generation.”
“My grandfather was commissioned for that necklace in England, Kat. It was one of the biggest pieces he ever made, and it put him—and our family name—on the map. The rubies came from Queen Victoria’s collection. I have all the original reports in my files. You’ll have everything you need.”
“See?” Paul slaps his hand on his thigh. “I told you we can do this.”
“There are going to be dozens of security guards and ahundred people at that ball, Paul. How on earth are we going to steal that necklace?”
“Oh, I don’t think it’ll be challenging at all.”
“Really?” My tone turns biting. “You think you’ll just waltz out the front door with it?”
“Yes.” He sticks his hands in his pocket and peers at me.
“How can you possibly believe it will be so easy?”
“Because someone at that ball is going to be wearing the necklace, Kat. And I’m fairly confident your little boyfriend will make sure it’s hanging aroundyourpretty neck.”
Matthew.
“And if it’s not?” My voice is deadly soft now.
Paul shrugs. “You’ll find a way to make sure it is. I know you, Kat. It won’t even be hard. You can charm the dew right off a honeysuckle.”
I raise an eyebrow. “If I refuse?”
“Ray, would you give Kat and me a minute?” Paul says, glancing at the jeweler.
Ray shifts his weight, uneasy.
“I just want to talk to her privately.” Paul raises his hands.
“You okay, kid?” Ray checks with me.
I cross my arms. “I’m fine. Go.”
“Katarina.” Paul sighs once Ray departs. “Why is everything such a struggle lately?”
I shake my head. “I want out, Paul. We used to take controlled risks because we needed to. Then we upped the stakes because we wanted to. But it’s not fun anymore, and it’s far from necessary. I don’t want any part of this.”
“If it wasn’t the DaMolin family,” Paul says, glaring at me, “you’d be singing a different tune. You accused me of being too close to this, but the truth is,youare. You’re blind to this opportunity because of your feelings.That’s a rookie mistake, Kat. The oldest in the book. You’re too skilled for me to stand by and watch you make it.”
I drop the newspaper clipping on my desk. “A forgery like this will take inordinate time and resources. And for what? Say we get the necklace, what then? Those rubies would be too hot to even consider moving. How would you ever find a buyer?”
