While the apartment was filling with the aroma of fresh coffee, she pressed the button to open all her curtains. Golden morning light shone in, lighting even the darkest corner. Gretel opened the door, grabbed the newspaper that was delivered every morning, and then filled her cup with black coffee.
She was slowly waking up, feeling more human.
After her second cup of coffee and a dose of bad news from the paper, she put a bagel into the toaster. While that was heating, she headed to her closet to find something to wear. She chose a simple black dress that was neither too low nor too figure hugging. It stopped just above the knee. She teamed it with simple black patent leather shoes. Then she went back out to spread cream cheese on her bagel.
Just as she had popped the last morsel of bagel into her mouth, a knock sounded on her door. She glanced at her wristwatch to see it was ten minutes before nine.
After checking the monitor, she opened the door to Jack. He put one foot in the door and then a booming voice from behind him sounded.
“Hold that door.”
Gretel froze and Jack put his hand down beside his pistol. When they got closer, Gretel saw two uniformed officers.
“We’re looking for Gretel Koch.”
“What’s this about?” Jack asked.
“Who are you?” one of the policemen asked.
“Special Agent Jack Fletcher, FBI. I’m sorry but Gretel can’t speak to you. She’s working on a case and she can’t compromise that.”
“I’m Sergent Silva and this is Officer Williams. Can we see your badge?”
Jack pulled his badge out of his back pocket and flashed it at them.
“We’re here about the disappearance of her sister. Would that have anything to do with your case?” Sergent Silva asked.
“I’m sorry, I can’t say. If you’ll excuse us, we’re getting ready for a funeral.”
“Her sister is missing. We thought she might like to answer some questions.”
“She’ll talk in a couple of days. I’m sure her sister will be back by then. Probably just had an argument with her boyfriend and needs some space.”
Officer Williams chuckled, until Sergent Silva frowned at him. Then he stopped and cleared his throat.
“Good day, gentlemen.” Jack walked into Gretel’s apartment and closed the door on them.
Gretel sighed with relief. She wouldn’t have known what to say to them. “Thank you for getting rid of them. I wonder if they knew anything.”
“I doubt it. If they knew anything about Hazel’s whereabouts, they wouldn’t be here asking you pointless questions.”
“I guess you’re right.”
He sniffed the air. “Coffee smells good.”
“Want a cup?”
He glanced at his wristwatch. “I’ve got time for a quick cup.”
While she set about making him a cup of coffee, she said, “This is the second funeral I've been to with you and I’ve only known you for a few weeks.”
“Hmm. I always think of that saying, it never rains but it pours. It's like that sometimes. I went to five funerals in three weeks once. That's my record.”
She shook her head. “Depressing.”
“It was a bit. At least I've gotten some use out of my suit.” He brushed the sleeves of his dark suit.
“Oh yes, your funeral suit. I think you wore that last time. How is it different from your other suits?” It looked exactly the same but she remembered the last funeral they went to he had mentioned he was wearing his special funeral suit.
“It’s black. My others aren’t totally black, they just look it from a distance.” He looked her up and down. “Nice dress.”
“Thank you.” She handed him a small cup of coffee.
“And thank you for not wearing a ridiculously large hat like last time.”
“You remembered. I'm flattered.”
“Don't be flattered. It was just a very bad hat.”
Gretel smiled as she took her own dishes to the kitchen and placed them in the dishwasher. “Are you a fashion expert now?”
“I know what I like, let's just put it like that.”
“I was thinking of wearing it.”
He shook his head. “No hat needed.”
“Have you heard how Monica is today?” Gretel asked.
“You'll be upset to know that she's recovering.”
Gretel giggled. “I am pleased, really. I've got nothing against her. She's the one who doesn't like me. I can't believe she thought I broke into her apartment and stole her gun and earrings out of her locked safe.”
“Yes, it was a crazy assumption, but she did think she saw you.”
“She must've had too much to drink when she went out to dinner.” As soon as it slipped out of her mouth she regretted it and immediately went on to talk about something else, but Jack had noticed.
“She was out to dinner that night her place was broken into?”
Gretel shrugged her shoulders. “I don't know. I just assumed. Where else would she be if she was out at night? Dinner, or a nightclub, or dinner and the club. I suppose she could've gone to a concert, the Opera or seen a show, but she doesn't seem the type to do anything like that. She seems too serious. I'd say she normally works eighteen hours a day at her job and then goes home, grabs a quick bite to eat and that's it.”
“So you're saying she's like me and from your description just now it seems you think she's boring and you must think I'm boring too.”
“I never said such a thing.”
“You didn't have to spell it out.”
“When was the last time you went out for dinner, or on a date?”
He gave a low chuckle. “My personal life is none of your concern.” Then he emptied the cup and left it on the sink. “Are you ready? We need to leave now.”
“I am.”
“Oh, and the white vehicle that’s been sitting outside your apartment isn’t there.”
Gretel looked at him. “It was there earlier this morning. Half an hour ago. Should we be worried?”
“No. We’re tailing it.”
She knew by the way he said it that she shouldn’t ask more.
Chapter Twenty
As they drove to the funeral, Gretel asked Jack, “Where’s the funeral being held?”
“Same place as the last funeral we were at.”
“Ah. I'm guessing it's the same graveyard, too?”
“You're right.”
When they parked the car a few blocks up the road, Gretel was overcome with a feeling of panic. “You go in without me.”
He frowned at her. “Why’s that?”
“I feel uncomfortable, out of place.”
“Gretel, what's wrong?”
She started breathing deeply to calm her racing heart. “I’m just upset. I feel like people will be looking at me blaming me for his death. Look at them over there. Close family members. I don't want them to look at me and think I was the cause of Damian dying.”
“They won't think that. It was just a drive-by shooting. It was nobody's fault.”
“Are you sure no one will blame me?”
He laughed. “You’re worried about nothing, Gretel. I shouldn't laugh. I’m not laughing at you.”
“That's okay. If you’re laughing you're not crying, and that's a good thing.”
“No one knows about your sister. Only a few people and they haven’t made the connection between the Tosh and Monica shooting, and the abduction of Hazel. We don’t even know if we’re right about it.”
She nodded. “That’s true. There’s no proof yet, is there?”
“No.” He held out his hand.
“I’m worried about my sister.”
“We’re doing everything we can.”
She put her hand in his and he helped her out of the car. They walked closer and there seemed to be hundreds of Tosh’s friends and relatives, and members of law enforcement in and around the building where the service was to be held.
Then Gretel heard a bagpip
er. That music always made her sad, which didn’t help her state of mind.
When they moved further into the building, they found all the seats were filled. All they could do was stand in a spot by the wall with all the other people who were too late to get a seat. Then, Gretel’s eyes were drawn to the front where the coffin sat. It was a dark cherry wood with gold-toned fittings. A large wreath of lilies lay atop, nearly spreading the length of the coffin.
Then she saw someone who must’ve been Tosh’s wife, sitting in the front row between two older women. Gretel watched as his wife dabbed at her eyes.
It was sad.
Feeling like she would pass out at any moment, Gretel stood through prayers, and three tributes to Tosh from his friends.
Then it was time to go to the graveyard. The coffin was picked up, hoisted onto shoulders and walked out of the chapel.
Gretel closed her eyes tightly and hoped this wasn’t her fault. Tosh’s wife, flanked by the two older ladies, walked out behind the coffin. She looked far too young to be a widow.
At the cemetery, Gretel and Jack walked across the grass toward the freshly dug grave where the crowd had now gathered. The wind kicked up and nearly blew Gretel off her feet. Jack was there to hold onto her elbow to steady her.
“Thank you.” She could only manage a whisper
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“You haven’t said a thing in ages.”
She rubbed her forehead. “I don’t like funerals.”
“Hey, no one does. I just thought it would be nice if agents saw you here. We’re a close-knit bunch and it might make them more accepting of you.”
Gretel knew that was never going to happen. At least Monica was forthright and honest in her disapproval of her. When they moved closer, Gretel saw the coffin was covered in a flag.
The flag was ceremoniously folded and presented to Tosh’s widow. She took it with shaky hands and held it close.
It took all of Gretel’s strength to stay there until the coffin was lowered into the ground. Slowly, everyone moved away.
It was then that Gretel thought about a wake. She guessed they were going to that too. That was something she wasn’t going to put herself through.
“Jack,” she whispered. “Are you going to the wake?”
“No. I thought I’d visit Monica instead. I’ll do that on the way to taking you home if you don’t mind.”
She nodded. “That’s fine.” It was preferable. Anything was.
Gretel was sitting in the coffee shop at the hospital when she had a great idea.
She couldn’t do anything to help Tosh, but she could do something for Monica. She could take her earrings back. She’d break into her apartment once more and leave them somewhere.
Hopefully, Monica would think she’d misplaced them and hadn’t put them in the safe like she’d thought. And, with the robbery of the Purple Promise looming, she had to go back to Monica’s apartment tonight.
Chapter Twenty-One
Gretel had organized everything while she’d been in the hospital waiting for Jack to finish his visit with Monica. Tonight, with Kent and Marty’s help, she’d put Monica’s earrings back in her apartment. Of course she couldn't put the gun back, she needed that as future insurance against Monica. She figured somehow she might be able to use it as leverage, if she ever needed it. Somehow, she thought she would.
Five hours after Gretel had come up with the idea, Marty met her in the usual spot down the road from her apartment.
She opened the door and got into the passenger's seat, thankful he’d brought a plain black car rather than his bright yellow Lamborghini. “Thank heavens you listen to me this time.”
“What do you mean?”
“The car.”
“Oh that. Often the best place to hide is in plain sight.”
“Yes, hence the reason for the black car not the yellow… Whatever the other one was.”
“Lamborghini.”
“That's right.”
“Are you okay, did that bump on your head do any real damage, Gretel?”
“What bump on the head?”
“Don't worry about it.”
“Maybe if I had a bump on the head, it would’ve knocked some sense into me and I wouldn't have broken into her apartment in the first place.” She looked across at him as he moved into the line of traffic. “And if I had any sense I’d get some new friends.”
“Gretel, I'm only here with you now because you’re paying me. We’re not real friends.”
“Hmm. Flattery will get you everywhere.”
He frowned. “That doesn't even make sense.”
“It does to me. Now drive.”
“I’m driving, woman.”
“Good. Then drive quietly.”
“Won’t they be watching your enemy’s apartment? Are you sure this is going to work?”
“It'll have to.”
“It doesn't have to.”
“Yes, it's going to work. What do you want, a written guarantee?”
“The pressure getting to you?”
“Never. I'm not stealing; I'm putting something back. Isn’t that a good thing? Karma might smile upon me.”
“Maybe it would if it was real.” His forehead wrinkled. “I didn't think you believed in higher forces, universal or God-like forces, or anything like that.”
“I believe in myself.”
He chuckled. “Well, time will tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing.” He reached in the back and handed her a bag. “Here, put this on.”
She looked in the bag and pulled out a uniform. It was a security firm’s shirt. She pulled it on over her white singlet top. “This is good. Thanks.”
“I’ve got the whole deal, not just the shirt and you’ll have to put it on and the red wig.”
“Red, eh?”
“Yes. I’ve matched the security tag ID to the red wig so don’t say you’re not going to wear it.”
“I’ll wear it. I sure don’t want to be spotted.” She pulled trousers out of the bag.
“I can't put the trousers on here in the front seat.”
“Wait until we stop and then duck in the back. Your shoes are in the bag in the back seat anyway.”
“Did you get the right size?”
Marty rolled his eyes and stared at her.
“Watch the road,” Gretel screamed, as he was just about to smash into a vehicle that had stopped for red lights in front of them.
“Steady on.” Once he stopped, he glared at her. “That about made me deaf.”
“Well, watch where you're going.”
“What?” He tapped on his ear, and she hit him on the shoulder. “This is exciting. Life’s always exciting with you, Gretel. I never know what’s going to happen from one moment to the next. I didn't know I'd be helping you 'unsteal' something when I woke up today.”
“It feels good. I'm doing a good thing. An unselfish thing.”
“So you should. The poor woman took a bullet for you.”
“Not for me. I didn't have anything to do with it. We don't know for sure if that had anything to do with me and what was going on with the Purple Promise.”
“I sure would like to see that diamond. Hold it in my hand for just a moment. It’s a piece of history. One of a kind. Nothing will ever come like that again. It’s a freak of nature, almost.”
No one wanted to see and hold that diamond as much as Gretel. “We'll see.”
“I hope so.” The lights turned green and Marty’s car roared into action.
Gretel knew the car was more than just a black car. It sounded like it had a plane’s engine inside.
They pulled up a couple of streets away from Monica’s apartment.
“Those trousers might be a bit big. Put them on over your jeans.”
“If you say so.” Gretel moved to the backseat and into the security uniform trousers. “I wonder if I’ll fool anyone.” She adjusted her collar.
“Probably not, that
's why I made you this.” He handed her a wig. “Put it on.”
“So bright?”
“Just put it on.”
After she pulled on the wig that was already tied in a low ponytail, he handed over a security badge with her photo on it. He’d altered the photo of her so she was wearing the red hair and the uniform. “Wow. Good job.”
“I told you more than once, I'm more than just a pretty face.”
“I can’t believe how quickly you got it organized. That’s the last compliment I’m giving you today. You’ll get a big head.”
“I don’t need your compliments, Gretel. I know my true worth. I’ve been thinking, I’ve never known you to do a good deed for someone, especially for someone you’ve only ever complained about.”
“I just feel bad for the pain she’s suffering.”
“You're not growing soft are you?”
“Me? Of course not. Don't be absurd.”
He burst out laughing.
Gretel put one hand on the door handle.
“Wait. Are you sure you want to do this? Remember those men who did the Hatton Garden heist? They made a movie about them.”
“Yes. What about them?”
“When they drilled that hole through all that concrete and couldn’t get through. They left. Their big mistake was going back. That’s when they got caught. And now, you’re going back. I have a bad feeling.”
“This is a totally different situation. Besides, if they’d never gone back they wouldn’t have gotten anything. All that hard work for nothing.”
“My point is, my crooked friend, is that they went back. Just sell those diamonds you took from your frenemy. Better yet, give them to me. It’s not worth getting caught over. Kent tells me you were nearly caught the first time you hit that woman’s apartment. She eyeballed you.”
“Yeah well Kent shouldn’t open his big mouth. Don't move from this spot.”
“I can’t stay here forever. What if you get caught?”
Gretel sighed. “I'll be back in thirty minutes if not before. I shouldn't be later than that. If I'm any later, leave.”
Controlled (Gretel Koch Jewel Thief Book 2) Page 10
