by Amy Atwell
“Did you ID him?”
Mickey shook his head in frustration. “He didn’t match any of the photos. I feel like I’ve seen his face before, but I can’t place him. Another city, another job, I don’t know. I got Millie to do a composite sketch. It’s all over the APBs now.”
“And it took you over twelve hours to get us that info?” Hunter contemplated him over his cup of tea.
“I was a little tied up.” Mickey raised his brows. “Literally.”
Hunter’s lip curled into a semblance of a smile. “Yeah. I liked that part of Iris’s story this morning.”
“She told you?”
“Sure, she told me all about Mickey Kincaid. Lover, liar, con man, thief. Where are they?”
Mickey tugged Edgar’s collar from his jacket pocket and tossed it onto the white tablecloth. In the daylight, the gems were green. Not that olive green like the simulated copies he’d delivered yesterday. These were really green.
Hunter was nonplussed. “They look like fake emeralds.”
“Yeah? You got your flashlight on you?”
Hunter extracted a Pocket Mag while Mickey tented the newspaper to create some shade. When the flashlight beam hit the first stone, it turned red.
“Holy shit.” The beam wavered as the two men made eye contact beneath the newspaper tent. “You think these are what they’re all after?”
“Iris says they’re easily worth ten million. Men have killed for less.” Mickey refolded the paper and laid it atop the collar, hiding it from view. “You’ll need to take that into the lab and have it tested. If they’re real, Iris should be arrested as an accessory to grand theft.”
Hunter raised his brow. “Yeah? Theft from whom?”
“I’m more interested in for whom.” Mickey leaned back in his chair, frustrated as hell with the day so far. He’d spent the night with a woman he’d been fantasizing about for days, only to discover this morning that she’d been keeping secrets from him. Ten secrets, to be exact. He’d wanted to squeeze her for the truth, but then her fiancé showed up.
Even Mickey would have been hard-pressed to come up with an excuse for why cousin Mickey was sleeping at Iris’s two nights in a row.
He downed some more black coffee, its bitter flavor reminding him how he’d stolen out of her apartment like the thief he claimed to be while she talked to David in the kitchen. He’d wanted to spare her the indignity of an emotional scene. He’d wanted to be sure he didn’t fall prey to the urge to pop that self-important dildo in the nose.
Either she was in on this theft with Cosmo, or she was innocent—in which case she needed to have the freedom to live her planned-out future with David. Life, liberty and the pursuit of limited imagination. Limited passion. Mediocrity. God, she deserved better. But then, she’d set the parameters—one night, no strings, no promises.
“Mickey, listen.” Hunter’s voice dragged him back to the table. “We have ten million in gems that Cosmo claimed he stole, but no one’s ever reported the gems missing.”
“They’re killing people.”
“I know. But arresting Iris Fortune isn’t going to help find the killers. In fact, I think leaving Iris Fortune on the street may be our best bet.”
“She’d be safer locked up.”
Hunter tapped a staccato beat on the table with his forefinger. “So, do you want her arrested for breaking the law, or do you want her in protective custody?”
“She lied to me, Justin.”
“Come on, what did you expect? She thinks you’re a thief.”
Mickey ducked his head. The first time they’d come together in impetuous passion, all physical need. Hell, he knew the adrenaline rush that came with cheating death. She was high as a kite on it last night. But the second time they’d lingered over each other. He’d never forget the glow of her tawny eyes. God, she’d been magnificent all night—from the moment she came back to rescue him until nearly dawn. “Thief or not, she thought I was a good person.”
Hunter barked a short laugh. “Well, you shot that to hell this morning when you took the collar. How did you know?”
“Edgar hopped into a sunbeam and bam. At first I couldn’t believe it, and then I heard David come in.”
“And you ducked out.”
Mickey bristled. “Dammit, she’s got a life planned with him, and I’m just a blip on the radar. So yeah, collar in hand, David in the kitchen, I got the hell out of there.”
“And you’re the one talking about trying to keep her safe.”
“Look, Hunter, I do what I have to do to solve the case. I saved Iris’s life last night, and when I left her this morning, she was unharmed. So what’s your beef?”
“The harm isn’t always physical, you know. You can’t always be thinking of the job first.”
Mickey stilled as more of Suze’s words came back to smack him. You Kincaid men—always the law first, protect the innocent, save lives, but never any thought given to your families, your wives. You selfish bastards. His sister-in-law had always been honest and forthright.
Hunter paused over his tea. “She broke her engagement with Grantham.”
“What?” Mickey sputtered. No way had that been an accident—Hunter had purposely waited until he was trying to swallow a mouthful of coffee. He mopped at his chin with a napkin. “I have to go see her.”
“You can try, but she was screaming for your blood this morning.”
“You didn’t tell her the truth about me?”
“How was I supposed to know you wanted me to? You stole the one thing she believes might save her father, and then you took off. I’m not a mind reader.”
“Shit.” Iris must be so pissed at him. “But even if she thinks I’m a thief, she knows she can count on me to help Cosmo. I’ve been telling her that all along.”
“Actions speak louder than words, Mick.”
“When did you get so judgmental?”
“You didn’t see her this morning.” Hunter sighed. “She’s at her shop. Go talk to her. There’s a Bellagio security guard keeping an eye on things until Foote takes over at noon. I’ll tell him to check when he arrives and make sure she didn’t have you detained.”
“You wouldn’t leave me cooling my heels with Bellagio security all morning,” he scoffed.
“Are you kidding? You waited twelve hours before following up on a lead, you slept with a potential witness, you stole evidence from her apartment without any kind of warrant. You did just about everything you could to compromise this investigation. You’re lucky I’m not asking for your badge.”
Mickey stiffened under the lashing. “Why don’t you? If that’s how you feel?”
Hunter stared at him then slowly shook his head. “Because you look like shit. And there’s nothing more heartbreaking than watching a strong woman not cry. Now go fix it.”
“How?”
“Only you and she can decide that.”
***
Cosmo stood in the center of a spacious suite, humming “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” while he waited for his hostess. After leaving Roxana, he’d changed from janitor to Tasteful Tourist, with chinos and a polo shirt sporting a designer label.
Marko and Viktor wasted no time in making themselves scarce. Muttering something about coffee, they’d beat a hasty retreat upon Cosmo’s arrival. Viktor claimed Sergei was still asleep, but Cosmo had seen the boy hailing a cab out front. No doubt Sergei was eager to seek some adventure in this city. Though a Monday morning was pretty dull.
He looked over the suite with its bold colors, intricate woodwork and plush fabrics. The Bellagio had gone all out. But then the interior had to compete with that amazing view of the little villas, the wooded hillside, the lake with its stone bridges allowing traffic out to Las Vegas Boulevard. A little bit of Italy right smack dab in the middle of the desert.
God, he loved Vegas.
“Cosmo? What was that trick you pulled last night?” Tatiana entered the suite’s living room from one of the bedrooms using only a cane to guid
e her ungainly walk. She wore a pale pink skirt and white cotton blouse with a high ruffled collar, which only emphasized her patchy skin and turkeylike neck. The once-dramatic eyes were a little cloudy now, but despite any fatigue from her global journey, Cosmo could only hope that when he hit eighty, he’d have her energy.
“And where are my gems?” she demanded.
Not to mention her singleness of purpose. He awaited her advance without cringing, though he was poised to duck that cane if she swung it suddenly. He hadn’t forgotten the colorful threats she’d made when he’d first told her he was marrying Irina.
“Greet me properly.” She motioned him to embrace her, and when he did, she grasped him with surprisingly strong fingers around the shoulders and pulled him into a hug. Then she kissed him on both cheeks while he tried not to choke on her flowery perfume.
“I thought you were angry with me.”
“I am angry with you. But you are family.” She threw him a look as she settled herself onto the sofa with the grace of a ballerina. She’d once been a bareback rider with a circus. And he wasn’t buying that wheelchair act. Even at her age, she could probably still kick the shit out of him. If that proved too strenuous for her, her nephews would see to it that he never walked again.
Dammit, if Mickey hadn’t interfered, he might have had this all wrapped up by now.
Tatiana motioned for him to sit, so he sat. “You took them, didn’t you.” It wasn’t a question.
He nodded.
“Those gems have been in my family since before I was born. They are a talisman to ward off evil. And you would take that from us?”
“You said yourself they were copies.”
“Of the highest quality. They are a treasure. I want them back.”
Cosmo thought hard and fast. But the truth was, he’d been stalling ever since Sergei had warned him the family was flying out here. Things hadn’t gone as planned, and now he couldn’t think up any lies fast enough that would satisfy this dragon.
Tell them the truth, Roxana had said about his daughters. What the hell. Maybe it would work on Aunt Tatiana, too.
“I…I stole them because I thought it was the only way to get you to come all the way to Las Vegas. I wanted Iris to meet her family, to see for herself that craftsmanship with gems is her heritage.” Hell, he never had been any good at telling the truth. Maybe this lie would do the trick.
“I would love to meet my grand-niece. All you had to do was ask.” She bounced her forefinger off her chin a few times while a distant smile lit her eyes. “Ahh, but the great Cosmo Fortune never asks, does he. He takes. Like you took my Irina.”
“She was your niece, not your pet,” he said testily.
“She was the best jeweler born to our family in three generations. She came to America, and she never looked back.” Tatiana pursed her lips as she shook her head sadly. “She loved you. She said you made her happy.”
Cosmo’s throat tightened. Eight years hadn’t lessened the pain of losing Irina so suddenly. “I did my best.”
“Very well, give me back my gems, and all is forgiven.”
“As to that—” Cosmo leaned forward, “—how about if I bring Rissie by tonight?”
Her features grew sharper with suspicion. “Last night you said we could meet this morning.”
“Yes, well, um, Iris was engaged this morning.”
This lit Tatiana’s face. “She is to be married?”
Another slip of his tongue, but Cosmo ran with it. “Yes, as a matter of fact, she’s engaged to marry an attorney. He’s planning to go into politics.”
“Then I am glad I came. There are traditions. As her family, we must prepare her a bride gift.”
“I don’t recall you giving Irina a bride gift.”
“You ran away with her. You didn’t deserve a bride with a bride gift. You’re lucky we let you keep your bride.”
Cosmo suspected if Tatiana ever got wind that he’d already had two other wives when he married Irina, he would have been lucky to keep his genitals.
She attempted to rise. “Take me downstairs to see her shop. I want to meet her.”
Cosmo hopped to his feet while she continued to struggle. “Oh, Aunt Tatiana, reconsider. Her first meeting with you shouldn’t be in a public place, not while she’s working. Iris will have clients, orders, merchandise. Mondays are very busy days for her.” Perspiration moistened his brow, but he didn’t dare draw her attention to it. Damn, the old girl always had made him break out in a sweat. She was as close as he’d ever come to having a mother-in-law in his three marriages. He’d make this right for her—for Irina’s memory and for Iris’s future.
After some consideration, and probably because she refused to ask for his help standing, Tatiana relaxed back onto the sofa. “Very well, I’ll arrange for dinner here tonight. You will bring Iris and her fiancé.”
“Right, yes. Of course, I’ll have to check and see if he’s available. Thank you.” He backed himself out of her presence as if she were royalty, then made a tactful dash for the door. Opening it, he found Marko waiting outside.
“You will bring the gems with you when you return,” Marko said.
Cosmo smiled with all the self-assurance that had long since jumped ship. As he walked toward the elevators, he tried to calculate the odds that he’d ever get the gems back in his hands, much less return them. What had been even money was looking more and more like a long shot.
***
“What was his story?” Marko asked Tatiana when he entered the suite’s living room.
She struggled to her feet before he could reach her. Waving him off, she leaned on the cane and walked slowly to stand tiny but erect and stare out the large window at the view.
Marko knew the delay allowed her to catch her breath, so he didn’t press her.
“He claims he stole the alexandrite to bring us here to meet Iris. A lie of course, and not a very good one.”
“He is slipping.”
“I think he is frightened.”
“Then why does he not return the gems?’
“He fears something or someone more than he fears me.”
Marko considered the sadness in her words. His aging aunt still grappled with the loss of her power to intimidate men with a single look. They were all getting older. “What may I do?”
She turned and walked unassisted to the sofa where she eased down. Though she fought to hide it, she still tired easily, and the long flight had worn her strength to a thin veneer. Still, her faded yet sharp eyes met his. “I think we will get more honest answers from Iris. You and Viktor fetch her from her shop and bring her to me.”
“I thought Cosmo was bringing her here for dinner tonight.”
She shook her head. “I predict he will make an excuse. Besides, I think it’s better if we talk to Iris alone.”
Chapter Thirteen
Mickey strode across the pedestrian bridge that connected Bally’s with the Bellagio. Hunter had taken the collar to have the gemstones authenticated at the UNLV geology lab. But Mickey didn’t care about the gems anymore. His main concern was to stop Turner and the Boss before either of them could harm Iris.
He tried to blame the black coffee for the unsettled feeling that gripped his gut, but quickly faced the truth—he wouldn’t be content until he learned what Iris was really up to. She’d kept an important secret from him, and now she’d broken off her engagement. Was it just the stress of this situation with her father’s disappearance? Had their lovemaking made her see things differently? He wanted to believe it, but he couldn’t overlook the possibility that she’d broken up with David because she’d planned to disappear with those stones and meet up with her dad.
If that were the case, she wouldn’t be any happier to learn that Mickey was a cop.
Boldly, he marched along the corridor of shops, into her store, past all the twinkling displays, straight for her workroom in the back. She sat at her table and peered through a large magnifier, so engrossed in her wor
k, she didn’t hear him. She wore her customary tailored jacket and skirt, this time in a golden shade. But Mickey couldn’t help noticing she wore her hair down, the loose curls tickling her shoulders. Was it an omen?
The sight of her jolted him and conjured other images of her in his mind. That cool reserve of hers had melted to a puddle in the intense heat between them. The sound of her laughter still rang in his ears. Recalling it, his lips flirted with a smile.
It was the happiest sound he’d heard in six months. A sound that touched his soul, gave him hope life wouldn’t always be the bleak landscape he’d sentenced himself to since Brian’s death.
Mickey’s smile slid into an easy grin, recalling how she’d looked naked, russet curls mussed in wild disarray, eyes gleaming with need, bow-shaped lips urging him, “Now, now.”
“Iris.” He spoke her name softly.
She swiveled her stool around, those brandy-colored eyes wide as she searched his face. Hope and fear warred across her features for brief moments before she hopped off her stool to approach him.
Then she struck like a tornado, both hands slapping at his chest and face. He nearly had her under control when her pointy-toed shoe connected with his shin.
“Dammit, cut it out.” He retreated three steps, wary of her next move.
She held her ground like a vengeful goddess as she controlled her breathing. “Get the hell out of here.” As quickly as her anger had erupted, it evaporated.
Mickey watched her in silence, the grim reality of what he’d done to this woman settling upon his shoulders. Gone was the magic of last night and, from the look of her set jaw, there was no hope of rekindling it.
“I had to make sure you were all right.” Damn, he hadn’t meant to sound defensive.
“Cut the crap, Mickey. You haven’t cared about anything except those stones from the word go. You’ve got your copies, and now you’ve got the real thing. What more could you possibly want from me?” She turned away from him. “I’ve got nothing left.”
“Nothing but yourself and, crazy as it sounds, I want you more than those gems.”
