“They’re almost finished with the other offices, Paige,” Sebastian allowed his curiosity to win and began opening file cabinet drawers.
“This won’t take long,” she told him, sticking her head up and panning the bright flashlight very slowly through the dark space. Five minutes and she hopped down, starting on the right by the door and working her way methodically around the room. Drawers, behind cabinets and book shelves cleared. She moved into the second room, repeating the process with a curious grin at him. “You can tell them they can start on that end and follow us through. The little journals are interesting,” she said, tucking another one into her jacket pocket, moving into the third office and dropping her jacket to a chair before climbing on top of a desk.
“You’re going to need fumigated,” he mumbled, his head shaking.
“Another little incentive for you, I’d think,” she told him cheerfully. “Shower games…hmmmm…now I wonder…” She ducked out of the ceiling, eyes going around the room. She hopped to the floor and shoved hard against the desk until it was closer to the door then she climbed back on top, shoving another ceiling tile out of the way and coughing as the dust settled.
“Got something?” Sebastian moved to the desk, hands up and taking the old, dust covered black case she lifted down to him, her hands back up and pulling another after it. “Locked…”
“Not for long…” Paige jumped down and pulled a glove free, her fingers digging out a small case from her pocket. She quickly swiped at the dust on her before bending over and working the slim tool into first one lock and then the other, a satisfied nod when they popped free.
“I don’t seem to recall that skill on your resume,” blue eyes watched the twinkle in her eyes.
“I read a lot…” she answered, inhaling slowly and sliding the clasps to the side. “Oh, wow…” She turned the case toward him and went to work on the other set of locks, the breath caught in her chest when it lid popped up to reveal the same thing, plus an old style revolver.
“Shit…” Sebastian lifted a neatly bundled stack of hundred dollar bills and did a quick calculation.
“Yeah…I don’t know what the…the rules are here,” Paige leaned a hip against the desk. “Research told me anything found onsite is yours because you’re the owner, Sebastian. Guessing by the dates in this little book…” she lifted a ledger out and thumbed through it. “This stuff is over fifty years old. From things I’ve been reading in the journal, people would bring things to people in the offices, who would take custody, secure it, or hide it, and wait for the pick-up guy to retrieve it. Since some things obviously didn’t get picked up, we can guess the people were delayed or removed from being able to retrieve. Like Hector and prison. Problem is without talking to the guys that visit at night, we don’t know which stash they’re after.”
She left him with the cases and did a quick toss of the rest of the room before moving into the next to last office. They’d easily have them done in the next thirty minutes and could get out of there.
“I’m locking these in the bike. Be careful,” Sebastian ordered, striding to where he left the bike parked, his head still shaking. He’d seen her stuff three little journal type books into her jacket and by the time he came back she was in the last room. He wondered why it was natural to worry about her poking and climbing and automatically reached for her when she turned from the ceiling to jump down. Even as her eyes said it wasn’t necessary, her smile said she liked his hands at her waist and lifting her to the floor.
“Let’s get out of here,” she told him, grabbing up her jacket and his palm, leading them back into the full spring sunshine. Still wearing her gloves, she dusted and beat at her clothes until she was satisfied she was mostly clean. The tingle inside her was strictly girl when he took her jacket and held it up for her to slide into. “We need someplace to store those cases.”
“The safe at the office for now,” he said after going and clearing the rooms for the cleanup crew. He mounted the bike and waited for her to join him. “So we have two very high quality brief cases packed with cash and some jewelry,” Sebastian pushed a long breath of air between his teeth.
“We know what people were after,” Paige said, holding on and closing her eyes as he shot them into traffic. “And it only took two hours…oh, god, that means I have eight hours of bike time…”
“A deal’s a deal,” Sebastian tried keeping his voice light. “How do we find out who this shit belongs to?”
“I’ve got a call into a police friend…I’ll ask some questions and I’ve got the internet. Researching crimes from way back won’t be as hard as it might have been at one time,” she said, stepping from the bike outside the office and waiting for him. “The problem comes in when it end up very probably being something international. The jewelry will be easier than the cash. That…you might just have to donate to the hospital or something. I’m not sure tracking that will be possible because it’s probably the result of something less then legal that was sold or stolen or both.”
“Donating is a good idea. Help defray those health costs of you and the ER,” Sebastian managed to duck his shoulder and avoid the fist she aimed at him.
“I saw that face,” he said, striding to the safe in Chase’s office and opening it, both cases fit inside before he slammed it closed. “And that one…” he turned to see the wrinkled nose and crossed eyes, laughing when she quickly pushed innocence into her eyes. “Let’s get into the sunshine, trouble. Where is the jewelry?”
“North of here…Jack has a shop in Des Moines and a big assed safe that’s thick and…safe,” she finished with a shrug. “It’s pretty dirty, though…it wasn’t in a case. Each set was in a separate little velvet bag, almost like it came from someone’s house, not a jewelry store,” she mused as she dropped the helmet over her head, waiting for him to climb onto the bike and sliding behind him. She frowned when the engine didn’t turn over. “Problem?”
“I’ve got you on the bike for the a combined time of eight hours…plotting my next move,” he said, groaning when her hands tightened and pulled hard, pushing a loud breath from inside him.
“Not the right position if you’re going to smart off,” she said sweetly, sliding her hands deliberately between his thighs.
“Paige…”
“So where we off to?” She asked with a bright laugh, the sound of the engine and his groan in her ears as he guided them to the highway.
Chapter Eighteen
Paige stood on the sidewalk outside the shop, one brow up when he took the pea coat from her and tucked it into one of the side bags.
“You’re not serious,” she said flatly, groaning loudly at the expression on his face seconds before he took her hand and led her inside. She was surrounded by leather and helmets and biker people. And it all came in a variety of wild colors, she realized, growling slightly as he led her toward whatever he was after. “Explain to me what is wrong with the jacket I have,” she asked, her eyes catching on something that had her pulling away from him.
“Nothing but the leather will deflect the wind better and protect you from the cold,” he said simply, watching her fingers go down the front of a vest that laced up the front and had inlaid roses on the shoulders. He grinned and nodded. He could see her in that.
“Isn’t it a tad hot in the summer?”
“Then you switch to lighter…the liner comes out,” the sale clerk explained, a young barely twenty something woman who lifted the vest she was looking at from the rack. “This is probably your size. You can try it on in the dressing room, if you’d like.”
“I don’t think…”
“She’d love to,” Sebastian met the brown eyes with a grin. “It’ll work for warm summer runs, Paige.” He wandered to the long sleeved jackets for women. She had boots that were good for riding and he lifted a jacket out. “Do you have this in her size?”
Classic, he thought. Sexy was the second word that came to mind when it involved Paige. Good liner, smooth lines al
most like the suits she wore, he nodded when the woman found one in Paige’s size. His eyes sharpened when she stepped out of the dressing room, hands working the ties in front of the vest. Long and lean, small firm breasts and narrow waist. It was perfect for her.
“Try this on over top. It’s completely waterproof…I’ll find you a pair of gloves,” he said, handing her the jacket and smiling at the reluctant approval in her eyes at the cut of the jacket. He knew her hands intimately, he thought as he glanced over the selections, pulling a pair out and taking them over where she stood, looking more than a little dismayed. “Paige? What’s wrong?”
“My stomach hurts…this…I…I’m buying this stuff, not you,” she said firmly, nodding and meeting the curious blue of his stare.
“You wouldn’t need this stuff if not for me,” he said carefully, the stubborn tilt of her chin his first warning. “You buy the vest and gloves…I buy the jacket,” he said easily, watching her think over his offer.
She knew it was a good concession and nodded, zipping the jacket and turning slightly, stretching out her arms. “I like the jacket…nice choice…”
“Reminds me of your suits,” he said simply, handing her the gloves and watching her tug them on and do up the small zippers. She flexed her hands, fisted them and nodded. “Then we’re done,” he said, looking at the woman watching them. “She’s wearing it all, can we get a bag for her sweater?”
“Of course,” the young woman moved to gather Paige’s clothes from the dressing room and went to get something removed all the tags.
“You just made her day,” Paige said when they were outside again, her head shaking as she dropped the sweater into the side bag and lifted the helmet out.
“You look good in that,” He snagged her waist and pulled her close, kissing her soundly. “How about a nice ride along the coast? And some lunch.”
“Sounds like a fun day,” she admitted with a sigh and another kiss, just because. “Do you want to see the jewelry?”
“Yeah…give me directions,” Sebastian started the bike and waited until he felt her hands on his belt. He felt them tense but she was getting better and didn’t stop the grin from reaching into his heart. “You trust this guy?”
“Jack? Yes, completely. The jewelry thing is a hobby for him. He runs North Star Shipping a lot of times from the shop. Emily works in the shop next to his, a really nice costume shop,” Paige explained, leaning back and trying to force herself to relax and not be so rigid. But she couldn’t stop her eyes from closing now and then.
“North Star? Jack Garrett?”
“You know him? Somehow that might not even surprise me,” she said flatly.
“Nice coastal road…good ride…” Sebastian said with a chuckle, taking the steep hill with all the power behind the large bike and making her scrunch against him. “Costume shop, huh?”
Paige laughed at the overt interest. “You know…I think I would find immense pleasure in seeing you squirm…I’ll have to chat with Emily about some of the adult stuff she’s got. There was a time I’d consider the get up I’m in now a costume,” she murmured with a little frown.
“Get up?”
“To you it’s normal…to me…it’s a little odd.”
“You’re adjusting.”
“Yeah….I know….” She ignored his laughter. “There…on the left.” Paige held her breath when he pulled far right and made a U-turn, parking in front of the jewelry shop. She locked the helmet and gloves in the case and unzipped the jacket. “I swear my knees don’t work for an hour after we take a ride.”
“All in your imagination, Paige,” he slipped his palm at her waist and walked with her into the jewelry store, boots echoing on the hardwood floor.
“Be right with…Paige?” Jack looked up from the desk, recognizing the face and then shifting to the guy at her side. “Hartley? I’ll be damned…” He was up and around the counter, hands out as they greeted one another.
“Paige just mentioned your name on the ride up here, Jack. Nice to see you again,” Sebastian gazed around the shop. “Nice hobby.”
“Hey…you got yours…and how you hooked her into it…” He shook his head and chuckled.
“This is the owner of the jewelry, Jack,” Paige said casually.
“How about I snag Emily and we have some lunch? I’ve got some details that shed some light onto where they came from,” Jack said easily, sliding a folder from the desk and nodding at the young man behind him. “Tommy, I’ll be at lunch.”
“Later, boss,” he answered, busy with a design he was working on.
“Hey, Em…how about a little lunch?” Paige asked as she entered the costume shop, leaving Sebastian and Jack on the street near the bike.
“Paige?” Emily Temple Garrett came from the sewing area at the back, blinking and letting her gaze go from floor to head. “Wow…alright…Patty…off to lunch,” she took of the small glasses and set them on the desk.
“Stop looking at me like that,” Paige growled testily.
“I’m waiting for the chaps…” Emily said with a laugh.
“Now wouldn’t that be some serious biker chick wear,” Sebastian said with a chuckle. “Sebastian Hartley.”
“Emily…it’s a definite new look for her,” Emily slipped her palm in the hand Jack offered.
“And you’re actually wearing boots,” Jack murmured, grinning at the chuckle from Paige.
“It’s not summer yet,” Emily returned, glancing down at the jeans and sweater she had on.
“Ahh…the good old days…when my girl sashays around the shop half naked…” Jack sighed thickly.
“It’s a costume shop and I am not half naked,” Emily glared at him and met the eyes of the waitress. “Four please.”
“In my mind you are,” he chuckled richly, a sound echoed by Sebastian.
“Men,” came the response from both females in the group.
“Show me the photos,” Paige said when they were seated and menus laid out along with tall glasses of iced water.
“It’s taking a lot longer than I thought for the cleaning,” Jack handed the folder he’d carried from the shop to her.
“I told you I’ll pay for that,” Paige said with a wave of her palm, opening the folder and her and Emily peering at the photos he’d found online. “Wow…that’s some serious bling.”
“How the hell did you find them?” Jack looked at her, waiting until they’d placed their order before continuing.
“I found them in one of the offices of the granary,” Paige explained simply. “In the ceiling tiles. I found a couple journals, but they didn’t record specific things and have a code of their own on things that were brought in and taken out. Evidently a few of the customs people were paid off.”
“You’ve been crawling around the granary? It’s been condemned for ages,” Emily said with a shake of her head. “And creepy.”
“Condemned was a word that came to mind when I found her there,” Sebastian sighed, shrugging out of his jacket and draping it behind him, his gaze on the new front laced vest when Paige removed her jacket.
“I was very careful,” she said firmly.
“I made some calls…after I found the photos,” Jack said slowly, his voice only high enough for them. He tapped on two of the photos. “Those…came from a museum in Prague. This one, Russia. This one…you might notice the glyphs on the gold, Egypt. And this last one, London.”
“You have contact information?” Sebastian shook his head slowly.
“On the back of each photo. You’re returning them?”
“My girl’s not into bling,” he said with a wink. “So they’re being returned to their rightful owners once they’re cleaned up. Tell me how much and I’ll pay for that, Jack. Seriously.”
“These have been among the missing almost seventy-five years. You’ll shock a lot of people when they’re returned,” Jack leaned back as their food was placed out on the large table.
Paige leaned over toward Emily, whispering
in her ear.
“You’re kidding?”
Sebastian poured vinegar over his chips and fish, watching the expectations from Jack and Emily. “Yes…two large brief cases filled with wrapped hundred dollar bills.”
Jack leaned back, exhaling slowly. “Nothing else inside them?”
“I’ll go through them tomorrow. A gun…good brief cases, not cheap. The stuff inside looked like it was put there yesterday, but the dates on the bills suggest at least fifty years,” Sebastian said quietly.
“That’s going to be hard to place. Thieves of thieves of what’s stolen and sold,” Jack shook his head.
“I’m donating it to the hospital on the resort. I checked a couple of them. They’re genuine,” Sebastian drank half his iced tea.
“How can you tell?” Paige asked, swallowing the fish she had bitten off.
“Same way you know how to open locks…long held skill,” he answered easily.
Lunch conversation drifted virtually around the world and back. The girls wandered back to the shop while Sebastian and Jack stood near the bike for a few minutes, talking about the jewelry.
“You’re serious?” Paige grinned broadly and went into the other room with Emily, fingers tripping over the choices. “Oh this is too perfect…I want this one…” she opened the laces on the vest and lowered it considerably. “Right here,” she tapped against her breast and perched on the stool, waiting and laughing with Emily.
“The adult portion of the shop does an amazing business, we expanded into the shop to the left of us with the idea a couple months ago,” Emily told her as she brought the cold, damp cloth over to apply the temporary bright red rose.
“It’s classy and fun without being…intimidating,” Paige said with a nod. “I really like the corsets. Very well made.
“You’re wanting to get one? They work really nice under a suit,” Emily confided with a giggle.
WindSwept Narrows: #18 Paige Andrews Page 13
