Page 133 of The Curse Breakers

I hesitated. “I’m not feeling very chatty today.” I started to take a step back.

He lifted the gun and pointed it at me. “Don’t underestimate my willingness to shoot. You’ve been a pain in my ass for weeks, and I’d as soon shoot you and be done with it. Just give me a reason.” The look on his face told me he meant it.

Forcing myself to take slow, steady breaths, I walked inside.

“Shut the door.”

I cast a quick glance over my shoulder. The one time I wished Tom was hanging around and nagging me to talk, he was nowhere to be found. Figured.

“Have a seat.”

I took my time sitting on the sofa, staying as far away from him as possible. Why did he have Daddy’s watches? He must have been snooping in my closet.

“Tell me what you know about the Ricardo deal.”

“I don’t know anything.”

He leaned forward, his face reddening. “I’m not a patient man. So, let’s try this again.” His eyes narrowed. “What do you know about the Ricardo deal?”

Why was he questioning me here instead of taking me to Marino? I wasn’t sure what that meant. “I don’t know anything. The first time I ever heard of it was when I met Marino, and Collin refused to give me any details. Officer Helmsworth told me it was a collection of antiques that had been stolen. That’s all I know. I swear.”

“Then what are you doing with these watches?”

“They were my father’s.”

He shook his head with a disgusted look and banged his hand on the table next to the box. “Try again, Ellie.”

I jumped, fighting the sob that was building in my chest. Where was Mishiginebig when I needed him?

He opened the lid and pointed to the older watch. “Where did you get this?”

“I told you; it was my father’s.” I forced myself to take a normal breath. I had to control my fear.

Reaching down to a bag next to his chair, he pulled out a folder and set it on the table before sliding it over to me. “Take a look at that.”

I opened the folder with shaky fingers, trying to make sense of the photos inside. Then I realized I was staring at the contents of the Ricardo Estate. Maybe I would learn something I could use if I survived this encounter.

I flipped through the photos slowly, hoping I wasn’t being too obvious with my cataloging. Swords and daggers made of gold and silver were displayed on tables. Some were intricately carved, others plain. The next photo held candlesticks and silverware, but the third photo was what had made him suspicious. Pocket watches were mixed in with buttons, brooches, hairpins, necklaces, and rings.

“Take a closer look at that one. Upper left corner.”

I picked up the photo and tried to figure out what he wanted me to see. When I saw it, I gasped. The watch was identical to the one sitting on my coffee table, the one Oscar had told me would need its own insurance policy. But how could that be? These watches had been in Daddy’s family for years, centuries even.

“Now you know that I have evidence of your involvement, so let’s stop fooling around. Where did you get the watches?”

I obviously didn’t have the answer he wanted, and he obviously had information I could use. I had two choices. I could keep insisting on the truth, or I could take a lesson from Collin’s playbook. “Collin gave them to me,” I said after a moment.

He eased back in his chair and gave me a condescending grin. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Why did Collin give it to you? As payment?”

“Payment for what?”

“Come on, Ellie. Once I figured out who you were, it didn’t take much digging to put two and two together. Your mother was known for her expertise on Elizabethan and Jacobean antiques. And your father—”he leaned forward “—he was an expert in all things about the colonies.Of courseDailey would find you. Most people see his looks and charm and dismiss his cunningness, and he definitely uses that to his advantage. The question is how long did he string you along before you realized what hereallywanted?”

Was there any truth to his question? Had Collin given any thought to who I was besides the fact that I was the other Keeper? I was desperate to know more about the Ricardo deal, particularly now, which meant I had to give this guy something to keep him talking. I gave him a bitter smile. “It was a carrot. He gave it to me to get me intrigued.”

A real smile lit up his face. “And did it?”

I lifted my eyebrows. “What doyouthink? You said it yourself—he has the looks and the charm.” I lowered my chin. “Let’s just say he used every trick he had to get me involved.”

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