Played

by Barbara Freethy

  Folding his arms across his chest, he leaned against the wall, watching and waiting.

  “And now we move on to Lot Sixty-four,” the auctioneer said. “A painting by Biagio d’Antonio, entitled Madonna and Child in a Landscape, on the turntable now.” He paused as the panel slowly turned to reveal the painting on an easel. “This is a beautiful example of the Florentine Renaissance style and reveals the strong influence of Pesellino and Fra Filippo Lippi,” he continued. “Let’s open the floor at fifty thousand. Who will start us off?” He pointed to a gentleman at the front. “Fifty thousand on my left. Do I hear fifty-five? Yes, we have fifty-five in the room. Sixty on the phone,” he continued, calling out the escalating bids. He looked to the room, then to the bank of employees working the phones and the two women monitoring the Internet bids. Finally the bidding began to slow down. “All done then?” he asked. “Fair warning -- I’m selling now to the lady on my left for ninety-two thousand.”

  A smattering of polite applause followed his words. Then he moved on to the next lot.

  Evan checked the catalog in hand -- six more items and then the diamond. It was time to make his move. He walked out of the showroom and turned down a long hallway. The door at the end was marked Private. He didn’t hesitate to open it, and not one of the people he passed gave him a second look.

  Chapter Ten

  Christina tapped out the number for Barclay’s on her cell phone as J.T. drove them across town. They’d left her car at the pier, figuring it would be faster to go together. Unfortunately, the midday traffic was slow and heavy, making her painfully aware of the passing seconds. “Answer,” she muttered.

  “Put it on speaker,” J.T. said. “I want to hear what’s going on.”

  She punched the speaker button just as Kelly Huang answered the phone.

  “It’s Christina,” she said.

  “Oh, my God, where are you?” Kelly asked. “Alexis is going crazy. We’ve been calling you for hours.”

  “I know. I got stuck somewhere. It’s a long story, but I couldn’t get to my phone.”

  “Are you all right? When you didn’t show up this morning, we all wondered if something had happened to you. Did you hear about David? He was killed last night -- right in front of the auction house. A hit-and-run. The police have been here half the morning. There are so many rumors about what happened I can’t keep up with them all.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like maybe David was having an affair with Alexis. Can you believe that? Oh, and I also heard that David was trying to steal the diamond and someone ran him down so he couldn’t do it. I don’t know what’s going on. When are you getting here?”

  “Hopefully in the next ten minutes. How is the auction going?”

  “Very well. It’s standing room only. I have to go.”

  “Wait. The diamond hasn’t come up yet, has it?”

  “Not yet. I think there are about six lots to go. I hope you can get here by then.”

  “Me, too,” Christina said, ending the call. She glanced at J.T. “Lots of rumors, huh?”

  “Makes me wonder who is starting them,” J.T. said. “If Evan is working at Barclay’s, he could be stirring the pot, using David’s accident to his advantage.”

  “Or Evan might have been the one who ran David down.” Now that she’d heard Evan’s evil laugh and had a taste of his madness, it was easier to believe that he was capable of murder.

  “I’m not discounting anything,” J.T. said tersely. “I just want to get to the damn auction house before Evan takes off with the diamond.” He slammed his hand down on the steering wheel as he hit another red light.

  J.T. was all business now, grim, determined, and annoyed -- with her as well as himself, she suspected. If he hadn’t followed her to the fun house, he wouldn’t have gotten caught in Evan’s trap. She’d been so sure the meeting at the fun house had been another one of her father’s dramatic, clandestine meetings that she’d been stupid enough to go into an abandoned building. Now she was in danger of being fired. She had to get to Barclay’s before the diamond went up for bid so that she could...Well, what would she do? Did she let the diamond go up for auction? It seemed the easiest course at this point. And the fact that Evan had trapped them in the fun house implied that the diamond at Barclay’s was the real thing. She felt marginally better at that thought. She still had big problems. If the diamond was real and Evan intended to steal it, how were they going to stop him? Evan had a huge head start and obviously a detailed plan in mind.

  “Who do you think Evan is impersonating?” she asked J.T. “If you had to guess. If it’s someone at the auction house, who would it be?”

  “Evan told you that he’s spoken to you at work. Does that ring any bells?”

  “I talk to a lot of people at Barclay’s every day -- the security guards, the department specialists and their assistants, the auctioneer and his staff, the front-desk staff, the guys in shipping and receiving who unload the trucks, who package items to be shipped....” Her voice trailed off as she became overwhelmed with possibilities. “It could be any one of those people.”

  J.T. hit the gas as the light turned green. “Something else worries me. Your father.”

  “What about my father?”

  “If you see him at Barclay’s, Christina, you have to tell me. You can’t keep it to yourself, can’t try to get him out of the way, or hustle him out the door without anyone knowing. Promise me. If he’s working with Evan, he’s not going to be any use to Evan after he has the diamond. Don’t think that letting your dad go is a good idea.”

  Christina hesitated. What he said made sense, but she had to protect her father, didn’t she?

  “Promise me,” J.T. ordered, a ruthless note in his voice.

  “Will you promise me you won’t arrest him?” she countered.

  “As long as he doesn’t have the diamond in his possession, I have nothing against him.”

  He’d thrown her a bone, and she’d take it. “Okay, then I’ll tell you if I see him. But I don’t think he’ll be there.”

  “I hope you’re right.” J.T. pulled the car into a parking spot a block away from Barclay’s. “It will be faster to walk from here. Everything looks packed up ahead.”

  They got out of the car and ran, not walked, down the street. When they entered the building, they found the lobby area as well as the adjacent exhibit room packed with people. She grabbed J.T.’s hand and pulled him into the showroom, desperate to see what lot they were on. The electronic board told them there were three more lots to go before the diamond. “We’re in time,” she said thankfully.

  J.T. glanced around the room, his sharp eye searching for anyone or anything out of the ordinary. She followed his gaze, almost afraid to look at the male faces, terrified she would see her father in the crowd. Unfortunately, it was difficult to identify anyone. There were too many people in the room. One thing was clear, however: No one appeared worried or stressed, at least not here on the main floor. There was an air of excitement and anticipation, but nothing else. She needed to get behind the scenes.

  “Let’s go around the back,” she said.

  As they left the showroom, Christina led J.T. down a long, narrow hallway and through a door marked PRIVATE. She had taken no more than three steps into the room when she came face-to-face with Alexis. The older woman’s face was pinched and pale and downright furious when her gaze locked on Christina.

  “Where have you been?” Alexis demanded. “I’ve left you a half dozen messages. I had to reassign all your duties. This is completely unacceptable, Christina.”

  “I know and I’m sorry. It’s a long story, but I couldn’t get to my phone. Is everything all right?”

  “No, it’s not all right. And why is your father calling me? You assured me when I hired you that your father was out of the country and would never in any way be connected to your work here.”

  “My father called you?” Christina asked in astonishment. “What did he say?”
<
br />   “He left me a message on my voice mail, something cryptic about putting things back where they belong. So help me, Christina, if your father tries to mess with this auction, I will have both your heads.”

  Before Christina could reply, Sylvia Davis interrupted them. “Alexis, I need you. Christina, you finally showed up, huh? We really had to scramble without you.”

  Christina would have offered another apology but the two women were already moving away. She had intended to tell Alexis about Evan, but the news of a phone call from her father had completely thrown her off track. Why would her father call Alexis? And what had he meant? That he was planning to steal the diamond? Why would he warn her in advance?

  “Christina.” J.T.’s sharp voice brought her back to the present. “Focus.”

  “Why would my dad call Alexis?”

  “Maybe he didn’t. Maybe it was Evan, giving Alexis one more distraction.”

  “That makes more sense than my father trying to warn someone,” she muttered, hoping J.T. was right. It still bothered her that Evan had been able to get her father’s voice on tape and leave voice mails on her boss’s phone. He really was clever. Was there any way they could stop him?

  “Where’s the diamond right now?” J.T. asked, his impatient gaze roaming the room.

  She looked around and saw a huddle of important men in one corner. “I’m guessing it’s right there.”

  As they approached, Russell Kenner stepped forward, giving them a tense nod.

  “Everything still all right?” J.T. asked.

  “So far,” Russell replied.

  Christina muttered hello to the three other men guarding the diamond, Luigi Murano, Stefano Benedetti, and Jeremy Kensington. Apparently no one was leaving anything to chance. She stepped forward to look at the diamond, which was protected in a glass case on the table. The yellow stone glittered in the light. For an odd moment she almost felt as if it were winking at her.

  She straightened and looked around the rest of the room, wondering if Evan was one of the employees standing just a few feet away, dealing with the items that had already been sold, finishing up paperwork, and preparing for packaging and delivery. She thought she knew everyone, but certainly not that well.

  She stepped back from the group, studying the television monitor that was mounted from the ceiling in front of them on which she could see the action in the main showroom. They were getting closer to the diamond -- just a few minutes to go. She glanced back at J.T. He’d made a pass through the room, pausing to talk to one of the workers nearby. She made her way over to him as he finished his conversation. “Do you see Evan?” she whispered.

  “No. I don’t like the fact that there are so many people back here. Too much opportunity for distraction.”

  “Perhaps all these people will make it impossible for Evan to steal the diamond,” she said, feeling more confident by the minute. What could happen in this crowded room with so much security?

  “I doubt it. He’ll make an attempt; I’m sure of it.”

  She wished J.T. didn’t sound so skeptical. “Well, it’s almost over,” she said, watching the electronic board on this side of the wall. It showed the next lot up -- the Benedetti diamond.

  “So what happens?” J.T. asked. “Someone puts the diamond on the revolving door and then it goes into the showroom?”

  “Right.”

  “And the guards are all back here?”

  “There are guards at the showroom door and also the front door,” she said, wondering why he was still so tense. “It’s impossible, J.T. There is no way Evan can grab that diamond and walk out of here with it.” She paused. “You don’t think he’s going to pull out a gun and take the diamond by force, do you? I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

  “No. Too risky and too messy,” J.T. said.

  Christina looked up as the light flashed for the next lot. Russell opened the glass case and lifted out the necklace. “May I?” Stefano Benedetti asked as he stepped forward.

  Russell nodded and handed Stefano the necklace. Christina held her breath as Stefano examined the diamond. He held it up to the light and then slowly gave a nod of approval. He stepped up to the revolving door, waiting patiently as someone removed the previous lot. An assistant placed a black velvet oval display form on the turntable. Stefano attached the necklace to the display. It looked stunning and magnificent. The crowd would go crazy when they saw it.

  Christina glanced up at the television screen. The auctioneer called for the grand finale, the lady of the evening, the spectacular Benedetti diamond. Stefano hit the button to send the diamond into the showroom.

  Christina looked back at the screen. She could hear the murmurs of the crowd over the audio, but it wasn’t until the gasps of shock were followed by loud cries that she realized what they were seeing. The diamond was no longer on the display form. In its place was a candy necklace.

  “What the hell?” J.T. swore.

  Stefano and Russell rushed toward the revolving door, their hands coming down together on the button that would bring the turntable back into the workroom. Moments later the candy necklace was in Stefano’s hand.

  Russell barked into his radio transmitter to lock down the building, not to let anyone in or out until further notice. Christina was jostled as people rushed around the room in a mad, chaotic, and purposeless frenzy. She didn’t know what to do. The diamond was gone. It had disappeared right in front of them. Who could have taken it? How had they done it?

  As she looked around, she realized that Stefano, Russell, Luigi, and Jeremy had left the room. Even J.T. was gone. Where the hell did he go? Did he know something she didn’t? Had he finally figured out who Evan was?

  She headed out the door, down the long hallway, and back to the showroom. Pandemonium greeted her. Several buyers flagged her down, demanding to know what had happened to the diamond and why they couldn’t leave. Some of them had just authorized purchases worth thousands of dollars. They were furious and insulted, and she couldn’t blame them. But she also had absolutely no authority to let anyone out of the building. She placated them with useless promises that everything would be resolved shortly, when in fact she had no idea what was going to happen next.

  She ran into Kelly at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Did you see what happened?” Kelly asked, her eyes lit up with excitement.

  “I was in the back room when the necklace was put on the turntable,” Christina said. “I saw it go into the showroom with my own eyes. How could it disappear like that?”

  “I have no idea. I was in the showroom. It seemed to take forever for the door to turn, slower than usual, I thought. In fact, I wondered if we were trying to build excitement by slowing down the speed of the turntable.”

  Had it been slower? Christina wondered. There was a small space between the two rooms where the revolving door turned, but she couldn’t imagine it was big enough for a human being to stand in. She’d let the others figure that out. She had to concentrate on her end, which involved keeping her job and making sure her father wasn’t on the premises. “Have you talked to Alexis?” she asked Kelly. “What are we supposed to do now?”

  “I’m trying to find her. I think she and Sylvia went upstairs. I know Russell has the building in lockdown. No one is getting out of here with that diamond.”

  If they weren’t already gone, Christina thought. She headed up the stairs, checking the gallery for her father or J.T., who wasn’t anywhere to be seen either. She really hoped he had a lead on Evan.

  Next, she ran up the stairs to the third floor. The hallway was fairly empty, so she was more than a little surprised to hear voices coming from her office. She paused outside the door, wondering who was inside.

  “It’s clear that Christina’s involved,” Alexis said. “Look at this.”

  Christina’s heart came to a thudding stop. Involved? What was going on?

  “I thought her father was out of the picture,” Jeremy replied.

  “Obv
iously not,” Alexis said. “She must have been working with him to steal the diamond. He called me earlier, left a message on my voice mail that he was going to put it back where it belonged. You know how he thinks he’s some Robin Hood, rescuing artifacts from their greedy owners. That has to be what this is about.”

  “We need to isolate Christina until we know exactly how she’s involved,” a third man interrupted. “She was in the workroom when the diamond disappeared.”

  It was Russell, Christina realized. And they were talking about her as if she’d had something to do with taking the diamond. Why would they think that? She’d been standing in full view of Russell and Jeremy. In fact, she’d been the one farthest away from the diamond. So where was the suspicion coming from? Was it just the supposed phone call from her father? What were they doing in her office? What else were they looking at? Had her father left something in her office, a note, a message?

  Realizing they could walk out at any second, she ran down the hall as quickly and as quietly as she could. It suddenly hit her that she was in very big trouble, and if she wasn’t careful, she was going to be railroaded straight to prison. She had to stay free long enough to find her father and the diamond.

  * * *

  J.T. looked at every single face he passed as he strode through the auction house, the old, the young, the men, and even the women. Evan was here. He had somehow, in some sleight of hand, managed to steal that necklace. J.T. still didn’t know how he’d done it. Maybe there was a way to get in between the panels, so that when the turntable rotated, a switch could be made. He returned to the showroom and went over to study the door. He pushed the button and it slowly revolved. As the door moved, he checked the space in between. It seemed impossibly narrow for anyone to get in there.

  How could the diamond have disappeared in the minute it took for the panel to turn?

  Had someone been standing near the panel inside the showroom? A man, he recalled, wearing the same navy blue suit coat as the auctioneer. Had it been Evan? But wouldn’t someone have seen him grab the necklace and run?