Page 93 of A Real Good Bad Thing

With impressive timing, we’d reached the office, and I heard Eli’s voice through the open door. “Perfect. So glad the deal is working out.” He was on the phone from the sound of it. “She’ll simply be thrilled.”

Clarissa pushed the door farther open and I went in. Eli’s back was to me, and I took the chance to inventory the walls. There was only one piece of framed artwork, and the frame didn’t look too heavy. I stifled a quiet sigh of relief. I could do this.

I patted my purse absently as Eli turned around in his chair. His blue eyes twinkled when he spotted me, and he waved, his lips curved in a broad grin.

I should feel guilty for smiling to his face and then hoodwinking him. But, oh, wait, that was what he’d done to Mom.

So I didn’t feel so bad about it after all.

Eli hung up and then raised his wrist to look at the face of his Rolex. “Am I late for lunch? Did I get the time wrong?”

I waved off his concern with a bright smile. “Nope. I’m just early. I was doing some shopping in the neighborhood and thought I would pop in to see you in your element.”

Eli strode across the plum-colored carpet of his office and wrapped me in a big embrace. “Sit,” he said when he’d released me, and he patted a plush black leather couch. “It’s good to see you regularly like this. How was shopping?”

“I went with my friend Tommy,” I improvised. I didn’t think I’d need more of a cover story than “shopping,” but this worked out fine since “Tommy” would be calling in a matter of minutes. “He’s helping me on my tour in a few days.”

“You should have invited him along for lunch!” Eli said. “I’d love to meet your friend.”

Somehow, I managed not to choke at the thought. Jake, AKA Tommy, would love that.

“He’s checking on some of the equipment we need for the tour. He’s very particular. A little high-strung.” I leaned over and clasped Eli’s hand, giving it a squeeze. I had my own smoke-and-mirror show, and the clock was ticking slowly to eleven-thirty. “So that gives us plenty of time together to catch up.”

“Why don’t we head to the restaurant?” he suggested. “I’ll drive, and we can see if Tristan can seat us a few minutes early.”

“Oh no!” I exclaimed, and at Eli’s surprised stare, I laughed airily, hiding the way my heart skittered. “I couldn’t possibly leave without seeing the Lynx paintings.”

Or, more accurately, I couldn’t leave until eleven-thirty.

I pointed to a design on the wall, about twelve inches square. “Is this one?”

“Yes.” He smiled proudly as if he’d painted it himself. “I heard you stopped by the gallery the other day but couldn’t stay. Willow told you what happened, right?” he asked, dropping his voice to a whisper, and he pointed to his neck as if gesturing to an invisible piece of jewelry.

“Yes. She did,” I said. “That’s just awful. I can’t believe they took it right off her neck.” I gave a convincing shudder. “Do you have any idea who could have taken it?”

He shook his head. “I’ve been on nonstop calls with the insurance company since it happened.”

“You reported it to them already?”

“Of course,” he said, dropping his hand to the leather in a slap for emphasis. “You can’t let thieves get away with anything.”

For someone who loved drama, he had no sense of irony.

“No, you can’t,” I said, more seriously than he could know. “You definitely can’t.” I had no intention of letting the thieves get away with snagging my diamond either.

The office phone rang, saving me from more playacting. I glanced at my watch. Eleven-thirty on the dot.

A few seconds later, Clarissa rapped gently on the door. “I have a phone call for Ruby. It’s Tommy. He sounds…distraught.”

I adopted a look of utter surprise and confusion. “Why isn’t he calling me on my cell…” I fished around in my purse as if hunting for the phone, which was silenced at the very bottom.

Leaving it there, I turned to my stepfather. “I forgot my cell. Is there any chance I could just…” I nodded to the landline on his desk.

Eli rose and gestured grandly. “Of course. Take as long as you need. Let me know when you’re done.”

“Just hit line nine,” Clarissa added, and they left the room and closed the door behind them to give me privacy with my friend. I’d told Jake to act like it was a crisis, and apparently, he’d nailed it.

As soon as the door clicked, I raced over to lock it, then marched to the desk and picked up line nine.

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