Page 39 of Nothing Left

"Exactly! It is the one you described, without a doubt."

"Is the seller still there?"

"Sadly, no. But my assistant dealt with him."

"Hold on, Jose," Juliette said. "We're going to come through to your store now and get a description." She checked the map, feeling as if they had finally gotten what they needed in this case, as if there was finally hope to catch this killer.

"We'll be there in ten minutes," she told him.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Lights flashing, siren blaring, Juliette and the task force sped to the second-hand jewelry sales store, where the pendant had been handed in. Every second counted. Now, they were hot on the trail of the killer.

She pulled up outside, and she, Wyatt, and Sierra jumped out of the car and rushed up to the store.

It was guarded by a thick, steel-barred gate, but as they reached it, it was buzzed open, and they headed in.

The store was small, with glass cases that were filled with items of jewelry, ornaments, expensive glassware, and a few antique items. The bright turquoise of lapis lazuli gleamed from a row of ornamental vases. One case was filled with rows of earrings, another with necklaces and chains. One large cupboard was dedicated only to watches.

At the counter, from behind a barred railing that was fitted with bulletproof glass, Jose himself was watching them, his face solemn, although he had features that Juliette thought were more used to smiling. He seemed a cooperative and genial man with a large frame, a generous mouth, and rosy cheeks.

"Jose? We are the FBI team." Quickly, Juliette showed her ID.

"The item you were asking about was brought in an hour ago, just after I left," he said, unlocking the gate and stepping out from behind the glass.

"Did the seller provide ID?" she asked. Most important questions first. She was hoping so much for a solid lead. But, as Jose shook his head apologetically, she realized it wasn't going to be that easy.

"Unfortunately, we have a policy that we accept cash sales," he said. "Of course, we do check on the police databases that no items are stolen, and we also have insurance that protects us against that, should an item be found to be stolen."

And that hadn't helped them because of the police delays. If the police had done their job, and put the word out immediately as Juliette had begged them to, then things might have gone differently.

The Spanish police had been cooperative at first, but the station commander's insistence on believing that they had the right suspect in custody was now jeopardizing their investigation.

"Did the seller give ID?"

"He gave a copy of a passport," Jose said. "But my assistant did the deal. He is an excellent evaluator, but I fear he did not check the copy of the passport that the gentleman provided - he came in with a copy already made that he handed over. I have just had a look, and it is probably a fake."

He pushed the black and white page across the desk, shaking his head sadly. "I am sorry. We try hard to do things right, but this was one step of the process that was not checked."

Juliette nodded. The copy of the Spanish passport was blurred, and the photo was almost unrecognizable. The passport number could be read, and she quickly gave it to Sierra.

"Can you confirm if this matches up to anything?" she asked her urgently. "Check with Ebury, check on the local databases."

Sierra took the page and quickly headed out to do the checking in the privacy of the car.

Juliette's next question was as important. "Do you have cameras here?"

He sighed, looking regretful as he replied. "Our cameras are not positioned to pick up on the cash sales kiosk because it is protected by glass. We have cameras on all the display cabinets so that if anyone breaks into them, they will be seen. And at night, we activate alarms throughout the store." He tugged his hands through his hair as if overwhelmed that the circumstances of this store were making it so difficult for the task force. "I am sorry. Sometimes people feel more comfortable if they are not on camera while doing a cash deal. I realize that does not help you."

It was a massive blow. Two blows in a row. But they could, at least, get a description.

"Is your assistant here?" Wyatt asked.

He nodded. "He is in the back, working on a watch. Let me call him."

Jose hustled through to the back of the shop, and Juliette gave Wyatt a frazzled glance. Why was everything going against them in this case? It seemed that no matter how hard they tried, it was impossible to make progress.

Wyatt gave a sympathetic nod. "Chin up," he mouthed again as if trying to encourage himself as much as her.

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