by Ada Haynes
“But…it makes even less sense, Ekbeth! The jewels are part of the community! Why would someone want to steal them?”
Ekbeth had had plenty of time today to ask himself that question, as well.
“Well, when the Aramalinya decided it was time to get the jewels cleaned up, I was the one who offered to bring them here and use the services of a professional jeweler on this side. Everyone knows I brought them here. Think of the problems I’d get into if the jewels happened to disappear…the perfect opportunity to get rid of me forever, at least as an Akeneires’el. That’s also why I’d rather not inform them too quickly of what has happened. If someone of the Valley is behind this, not showing the expected reaction—by this I mean keeping it quiet—might help us to pinpoint him or her faster.”
Lyrian had never lived, as Ekbeth did, in the Valley itself, because his father was, in fact, not an As’mir and had lived with his family outside of the Doors. But he had visited often and knew all about the constant intrigues that ran within the small community.
The fact was that, besides being the community banker, Ekbeth was an important figure in the Valley—an Akeneires’el, the head of the Na Duibhnes’ family. He had too many enemies to count, even within his own family.
Ekbeth knew Lyrian was jealous of his cousin’s status. Sometimes. But probably not today.
5
Shona was drenched when she entered the apartment, but did not care.
She had not been able to sleep since returning from Zurich. Too many things were playing in her head. The only emotional outlet she had found whenever she was in this agitated state—at least an outlet that did not involve drugs or alcohol—was going for a run.
One big advantage of Maire’s place was that there was a big park not ten minutes’ walk from it.
“Morning, Shona. I thought I heard you come in somewhere this morning, but your bed was empty when I looked, so I was. Wait a sec! You’re dripping! Where were you?”
Her best friend, Maire, was staring at her from behind her kitchen table, where she’d been enjoying her first cup of coffee of the day while reading one of her fashion magazines. But, right now, she did not look pleased at all. She frowned with disapproval at Shona’s drenched clothes.
Shona knew what was expected of her. She started undressing, trying to keep all the mud and moisture in one spot instead of spreading it across the expensive wooden floor. Seeing the water dripping on her floor, Maire jumped out of her chair. “Let me get you a towel. And some plastic bags to put those clothes into!”
Her quick return with the bags, before leaving once more to fetch a towel, was a sure indication of Maire’s priorities. Shona did not comment. She put her clothes and running shoes into the bags, then wrapped herself in the towel, having dried her body as much as possible.
Maire put the bags in the laundry room then came back with her questions. “Where have you been?”
“Running. Have you made enough coffee for two?”
The attempt at diversion did not work. Maire was frowning. “Running? In that weather? And where did you go? There’s as much mud under your shoes as water on your clothes!”
“In Kensington.”
“The park is closed so early.”
This was going somewhere Shona did not like. She walked around Maire and found herself a cup, and some coffee.
Of course, Maire knew her so well that she understood what had happened. “You entered the park when it was closed?”
“Relax, Maire. I kept clear of the palace, and no one tried to arrest me! I needed the run.”
Maire’s expression made it clear that she thought her friend had much to tell her, but that she also realized there was no point in continuing. “You need a warm shower and some dry clothes. Why don’t you do that while I’m making you some breakfast?”
“I’m not hungry. Too many petit-fours yesterday. Coffee is enough.”
“Tsk-tsk. Go to the shower! Now! I don’t want to have to nurse you when you have pneumonia!”
That was Maire! Always exaggerating! But Shona accommodated her. She walked to the bathroom.
*
She had to admit she was feeling much better and a tiny bit hungry when she came back to the kitchen, warmed by the shower and the comfortable clothes she was now wearing. Until she entered the room again, that is. Maire had her back to her, but Shona heard the closing of the mobile phone in her hand.
Damn! There was no doubt who Maire had been calling. “You were talking to Jeffrey, weren’t you?”
Maire did not even try to deny it. She handed her a cup of coffee and nodded slowly.
Shona was not going to get angry about the fact that they discussed her behind her back. Her friends cared for her. She knew they meant well, but it only showed her how little they trust her sanity.
Well, if she could not trust it herself… She sipped her coffee. “Then there’s not a lot I have to add I suppose.”
“Actually Jeffrey only told me that I’d better ask you how it went.”
Shona made a face behind her cup. Damn the man. This was a sure way to get Maire really curious! And not to trust Shona’s answers at face value.
She sipped a bit more then put her cup back on the steel table. “It went well. Everything was perfectly arranged, to my point of view. Catering, number of guests, decorations… Hire that girl, she’s perfect for the job!”
Maire ticked a perfectly polished nail on the table. Sure sign she was having trouble keeping her calm. Shona smiled. “Oh, you mean the other part of the plan?”
“Yes! I’m going to hire that girl anyway, because I have already had plenty of opportunities to judge her qualities. But must I remind you that you asked me to go to a workshop to which I did not want to go, only to meet her and manipulate her to apply for a job at my company! And then to arrange for you to assess her abilities through attending one of her events, which, oh wonder, both her uncles were attending—one of which you very much wanted to meet!”
“Okay! Okay! You did help me! I’m very thankful for that, Maire!”
Her friend’s fingers were still ticking on the table. “Out with it, Shona! What did happen? You killed one of the guests?”
Shona had to laugh at that. “Nothing that drastic, Maire!”
“So? What happened?”
“Well, I seduced one of the uncles, but not the one I was originally planning to seduce. Then we had a bit of sex together.”
Maire raised an eyebrow. “Jeffrey is mad at you because of that? He knows you as well as I do. This could be expected!”
“He’s mad at me because I stole something from that uncle!”
The ticking stopped. Maire needed one long minute before she was able to utter, “You’re telling me you’ve stolen something from…what’s his name?”
“Ekbeth na Duibhne. Yes, the bank owner himself. And, before you ask, yes it is something very valuable, or at least we think so, Jeffrey and I.”
Shona had expected Maire’s next move from the moment she’d started telling her about yesterday evening. Maire’s anger was always very controlled.
Maire put her cup of coffee so hard on the steel table that Shona cringed. Well, not always that controlled.
“Are you completely out of your mind, Shona! Have you any idea what is going to happen now?”
Shona met her glare. “I’m going to ask for the Kadj’dur in exchange of the jade stone I’ve stolen. That’s what is going to happen now!”
“That’s not what’s going to happen, Shona! What’s going to happen is that Ekbeth will find out how you’ve come by that invitation, then there will be hell to pay for his niece, and for me! The man is powerful! One word from him and I can lose my company. After all the hard work I’ve done to get where I am now!”
“You are dramatizing, Maire! He’s not the kind to take it out on innocents!”
“Ah! How sure are you of that? Plus, I’m not innocent in that story, Shona! That’s the whole problem!”
She
stopped for a moment, inhaled and exhaled a few times, then shook her head.
“Consequences, Shona! How many times will I have to repeat this to you! Think of the consequences before acting! Damn it! Where are you going?”
Shona had had enough. Two sermons in such a short time about her lack of common sense were enough! Yes, she was crazy! But both her friends knew that already—there was no need to rub it in!
“I’m going to leave you alone! At least you won’t have to lie when they ask you where I am!”
Maire suddenly grabbed her by the arms and pushed her against the wall. Shona almost fought back. She stopped herself just in time. This was a friend—an angry friend, but a friend nonetheless. Someone she did not want to harm.
Maire read something on her face, though, because she released her. Shona saw the hint of fear. That hurt her more than all the previous anger. Maire was her friend yet was afraid of her. Nevertheless, Maire had a nasty undertone when she finally uttered, “Go then! Your acts have put me and others in danger, and your reaction is to fly away from your responsibilities towards us. So typical of you!”
Damn the woman!
Freed, Shona reached the door in no time. Maire was already coming after her.
“Damn you! Come back, Shona! I’m sorry! You can’t go back out there in this weather! You’re not even wearing shoes!”
But Shona closed the door firmly behind her. It was still pouring, but she did not care!
The rain hid her tears. She was hurting so much inside!
She started walking.
6
Kalem was looking as though he could drop dead from exhaustion any instant. Forty-eight hours with barely any sleep, and little food, would do that to a man. Ekbeth could not complain about the lack of dedication of his bodyguard, but that did not make his news any easier to accept.
“Are you certain, Kalem?”
“Yes. The Von Dietem confirmed to me that they called off the invitation, because someone in their family died unexpectedly, and that they returned the paper document per post as requested…by Miss Alyasini herself. Then I checked the database used during the party and found the pictures of our culprits under the name of Von Dietem. Our IT expert took a look at the database. Miss Alyasini was the one who uploaded the pictures.”
“Could someone have used her login and pretended to be her?”
Kalem shook his head. “Of course, but she would have to have given it to that someone. I checked.”
Ekbeth turned his chair towards the window. “This is a bit unexpected.”
Lyrian, who had until now listened to the conversation without any comment, jerked.
“That’s the understatement of the century, Cousin! Little mousy Lyas plotting behind your back? Getting someone to steal the Annilis jewels? I’ve always considered her your best ally! Has she been fooling us all this time?”
Kalem nodded. “Looks like it, Lyrian.”
Ekbeth closed his eyes and pinched his nose. “There must be another explanation, Kalem. Lyas did not need a professional thief to get to the jewels. First of all, she probably did not know the jewels were in the safe. And even if she did, she knows the safe combination.”
Kalem was listening to him, but his expression was not softening. “Why alter the database then? And let two perfect strangers attend this party?”
Ekbeth shook his head. “This does not make sense. But why don’t we ask her?”
Lyrian and Kalem were now frowning at him.
“I thought you did not want to involve her in this, Cousin? If we are wrong on this…”
“Leave this to me.”
He opened his agenda, did a quick check, and grabbed his mobile phone.
*
Lyas was definitely hiding something, decided Ekbeth. He could feel her uneasiness.
Sometimes he wished he was able to read thoughts, not only strong emotions, like the pure blood As’mirin had reputedly been able to do. It would have been really convenient right now.
Their dinner in a select restaurant of Paris was reaching its end and so far, he had not been able to ask anything about her strange behavior, nor had she been forthcoming.
He pretended to inspect the color of his dessert wine in order to look at her.
His niece had turned into a lovely girl over time—tall, slender, long black hair, fair skin, and the typical Na Duibhnes’ green eyes, though a paler shade than his. Her mother had been a beauty and Alyasini had inherited most of it.
She had just turned twenty, had just finished her studies cum laude.
She was a very shy person by nature, and that was probably her only weakness. For the rest, he was quite proud of her. He loved her. He trusted her. After all, he had more or less replaced her parents since she was five.
Her treason, if it was really so, was therefore even more hurtful.
“Penny for your thoughts, Uncle?”
He looked at her. “Pardon?”
She managed a tiny smile, while fidgeting with her napkin. “You seemed absent for a moment. And you still have not told me why the sudden invitation to this place?”
He put his glass down on the table. Carefully. “I just happen to know this is one of your favorite places, and I wanted to thank you properly for the time you’ve spent on the party organization.”
She blushed. “You liked it?”
Ekbeth had to laugh. “Everyone liked it, Lyas! Have you not read the thank-you notes from the guests? Someone with a lot more experience than you would not have done better.”
At that, she reddened three shades darker. Which was unusual, even for her.
He waited a bit, but as she was visibly not going to comment, he finally asked, “Anything you have to tell me, Lyas?”
This time she became so red, he knew he had her. He took her hand and forced her to look at him. “I’m not going to eat you, Lyas. And we are alone. What is it?”
It took her almost five full minutes to blurt it out. “I’ve found a job, Uncle.”
He released her hand. Not exactly what he had been expecting, but he recovered quickly. “So! That is indeed a bit of news! Want to develop a bit on it? Where is it?”
She was still flushed, but now that she had said it, she could not keep her enthusiasm any longer. Her eyes were bright, making her even lovelier. “It’s an event company in London, Uncle. I met their manager at a workshop last month. I’d heard of her before, but I would never have dreamed to meet her in person! And she complimented me for my efforts at the workshop. Told me there was a job available for me at her place any time if I wanted to. It was a difficult decision to take, Uncle. But I decided to apply.”
Ekbeth managed not to smile. Knowing her, she probably had not slept well in the meantime. “And she’s kept her promise? Hired you?”
Lyas nodded. “She called me this morning. The pay is even more than I would have dreamed of!”
Ekbeth was glad for her. This was obviously something really important for Lyas. He had not seen her that excited for a long time. That probably was why she had not doubted the job proposal. Why would she? She was perfect for the job. She was a wonder at event organizations.
But his little niece was normally not so naïve. Shy, but not naïve. Their family had taken care of that. Still, he did not want to disappoint her, as the offer seemed genuine, and Lyas really wanted the job.
Kalem was going to find out what really happened without needing to uncover what Lyas had done with his invitations, he decided. She was apparently not going to admit anything about it right now, and he had enough to further his investigation. He just needed one bit of extra info.
He raised his glass in a toast to her. “To your new job, Lyas! When are you starting?”
She joined him in toasting. “After the Aras’arisidz. You don’t mind me working, Uncle?”
“Of course not! I wish the rest of the family were following your example for once. Become a bit more financially independent. Can you tell me more about this company, or i
s it so secret? What’s its name?”
She smiled. “‘Just Ask’ That’s the name of the company. Very exclusive, Uncle. Maire Kincaid is the best! I heard even the Queen’s staff ask for her advice. I will learn a lot from her!”
Ekbeth knew enough. He listened politely to the rest of his niece’s conversation, but as soon as they parted, he called Kalem.
“Maire Kincaid. She has a company in London, ‘Just Ask.’ Find her address.”
7
A loud banging on the door. Shona ignored it. She was trying to concentrate on her current task.
Damn, too short! She gave it another try. It was not much better.
She turned her head, trying to look at the back of her head.
Mmh. She just had to admit it. She was making a mess of it.
“Shona! I know you’re in there! Open the door!”
The banging and shouting finally got to her.
A last look at herself. She made a face. It was really ugly. But she unlocked the tiny bathroom door, opened it and faced Debbie, the Refuge worker. Debbie’s first reaction was obvious relief. Too many of her charges were attempting suicide and a locked door was usually not a good thing.
Her relief was soon replaced by perplexity. “Oh my! What have you done to your hair? What did you use?”
Shona handed the pair of scissors over. Debbie absently took them, then took Shona by the arm and brought her near the window. The inspection produced a giggle from Debbie.
Shona cringed. “That bad, huh?”
Debbie faced her again, still a huge grin on her face. “There’s not even a word for what it looks like, Shona! What were you trying to do?”
Right now Shona was not sure of what had gone through her mind. She had just seen the pair of scissors downstairs, in the kitchen, and got a sudden urge to cut her hair short.
But she was not going to say that to Debbie. Telling would only get the woman concerned, and probably would involve a visit to a counsellor. Shona had seen enough of those lately.
