Abandoned (The Beckett Series Book 6)

by Mary Martinez

  “Whoa, what? Tyler didn’t tell me anything about your assistant. Start at the beginning. I, apparently, know the bare bones.”

  Glenna nodded to Patrick to explain. For several minutes his voice was the only one heard. She was impressed with how thorough he was and yet to the point with no extra words. Even a civilian like herself would be able to follow the details. And then she realized he’d probably done that for her and Finn’s benefit, even though they mostly knew the details.

  “Well, that puts an entire new twist on the missing groom. I knew I didn’t like him the moment I saw his little man bun.”

  Glenna frowned. “Why the f…” she glanced at Finn. “…heck does everyone hate man buns?”

  “There are so many reasons it would take too long to list.” Patrick answered before her sister could.

  “Yeah.” Finn agreed.

  Glenna let it drop, she’d never understand. She thought they were cute. Though she couldn’t imagine Patrick with one. His thick copper hair looked good just the way it was, a little longish and resting on his collar with just a hint of a wave.

  “We through talking hair and fashion? Let’s talk Dark Web. The first thing I’ll do is run a few feelers out for the stolen artifacts. Whoever bites will give us a place to start. Then we’ll need to decide how to get them to walk into a trap.”

  “How do we do that exactly?” Glenna wanted to know.

  “By figuring out how to let them know we have what they want,” Patrick said. “But mostly we want to be in control. And in no way can they suspect the authorities know about the art they are after.”

  “That’s going to be hard. They know you’re an agent.” Finn frowned at his dad.

  “No, I’ve never shown up in a squad car or under any capacity with the local police. They may suspect. But all they know I’m Glenna’s love interest.”

  “Unless Lance is part of the group.” Glenna bit her lip. “However, he did jilt me at the altar. You could be my rebound.”

  “Now that sounds interesting.”

  “Dad, I’m right here.”

  Glenna almost laughed as the blush crawled up his face and actually seemed to clash with his ginger hair.

  “Glenna, I’m right here.” Reagan’s voice held a hint of amusement. “But it could work. Let’s see what we can do to get you two to drop the bait. If they know about this art that means they’re professionals.”

  “And most likely they’re in an International group.” His voice didn’t give a hint of embarrassment, though Glenna was amused to see a bit of pink still lingered.

  “And if the time is right, I have the perfect location to drop the bait.” Glenna stood and held a finger up to stop any questions. “Hold on…”

  She raced to her room and grabbed her laptop. Once back in her chair started the log in process.

  “Backmans House of London deals in rare art and antiquities.” She didn’t bother to look up as she tried to find the site on her computer. “It was their monthly publication where I found the article on the missing Nazi art.”

  “You would put an ad in that? What would you say? It’s stolen you can’t really advertise it legally.”

  “I know. I have another idea. Most of the countries have a reward offered for any missing art or artifacts returned to them. I’ll check to see if this one has one, but I’m sure it does.” She concentrated for a moment ignoring the others’ growing impatience. “Found it.”

  “Found what?”

  Reagan’s question was echoed by the two guys.

  “Sorry. I knew that Backmans has a grand gala somewhere every year. This year it’s in New York.”

  “And you’re going to take it there and show it off?”

  “Give me some credit. I may not be in the law enforcement branch of the family. But I know art and antiques. My thoughts are that I bring my new rebound date to the gala and we have a few conversations around the right people. You know whisper about the art we found and I want to auction it to the highest bidder on the Dark Web, but my morally honest new beau wants to take the reward from the country of origin.”

  “Or since it’s a possibility that they may suspect that I am law enforcement, maybe I should be the one who wants to auction it?”

  “Or maybe Dad just wants to be a bad guy since it’s for a good cause.” Finn grinned at them.

  “I like this kid. Maybe when they come to New York for the gala you could come home for some coaching and meet the Elders.”

  Whoa there Reagan. Glenna looked first to Patrick, who wore an expression she couldn’t read. When she glanced at his son, there was full on grin of delight.

  “Yeah, that would be awesome. Like I was in on the whole operation Find Lance. I like it. Besides Dad, you’re going to need a little help with the dancing.” He tilted his head to regard his father. “Can you even dance?”

  “I can dance.”

  Patrick didn’t voice his thoughts. Glenna would have offered her savings to know what they were. But Reagan jumped back in with her thoughts.

  “Operation Find Lance, it’s a keeper. Okay kid lets you and I plan this out. I will prompt Glenna on the cloak and dagger, as Matt calls it, role and you coach your dad on the romance stuff. Glenna will be the expert on art. Sound like a plan?”

  “I’m not sure…” Patrick began with a worried frown at his son.

  Glenna knew he wanted to protect Finn, they’d already established that. “Think Patrick, Finn would be far more safe with us staying at The Elders than here without us.”

  There was silence in the kitchen. Reagan kept silent as if she sensed how difficult this decision would be for a father. Reagan now had a daughter to consider. Glenna imagined she would have a hard time involving Gabby in a case. Though Glenna knew that’s how Reagan found her daughter. Gabby had been involved in a case and Reagan had rescued her without knowing that Gabby was her daughter. Glenna couldn’t even imagine how hard that had been for her sister.

  “You’re probably right. The idea is growing on me. Finn you will not be going to the Gala though.”

  “I don’t think minors are allowed anyway. He’ll be safe with the family.” She grinned at Finn. “More or less.”

  “What do you mean more or less?” Patrick demanded.

  “I think she means he may come away with some ideas. The next generation of Beckett’s are turning into quite the entrepreneurs”.

  “Entrepreneurs? I didn’t see that one coming. You guys win. Finn will go with us and I’ll have Mum and Da watch Horace and Agnes. They can keep an eye on the house too.”

  Glenna still wasn’t convinced he was completely sold on the idea as much as he felt outnumbered. And maybe even a little manipulated. She’d talk to him later and if he was truly against the idea she’d support his decision. And since when do I even have the right to have a voice? Scary thoughts on her part. With effort, she returned her attention back to the case at hand.

  “I will do some research and see if I can find anything about who may benefit from attaining the art. Backmans has information about known rings and what dealers need to watch out for, among other things.” Glenna opened a document to make a list of things she could do to help. “I will take care of the art portion of this case as you suggested.”

  “Find out how you get an invite to the gala and make sure you’re registered. I will run my feelers on the Dark Web and then run down any leads with my contacts. Patrick, I will keep you up to speed on what I find and you can run it by your department to see if they have leads I might not have.

  “And Finn you take care of coaching these two on the romance, it’s got to be believable they’re a couple.”

  “I’m not sure they need coaching in the romance department but I’ll have Rebekah help me coach dad so he won’t embarrass himself on the dance floor.”

  “Who says there’ll be dancing?” Patrick asked.

  “Oh there is always a band and dance floor.” Glenna thought a moment. “You know that maybe a good place to b
e whispering things to each other about the piece. We’ll find our…” She glanced at Patrick. “…targets, is that right? Anyway, once we know who might want the portrait we can stand next to them or dance by them and just loud enough for them to hear but low enough they think we’re trying to be quiet, we can drop the bait.”

  Glenna was very proud of herself for picking up the lingo, she just hoped she was using it correctly.

  “Well done, sis, there may be hope for you on the law enforcement branch of the family yet.”

  “Ah, never. I’m not cut out for cloak and dagger any more than Matt. However, now I know I’ll be visiting the family next week I am looking forward to getting to know Bryn and Paco. With all the wedding drama I really wasn’t in the frame of mind to visit.”

  “And you will be now?”

  “Yes, why not. And besides, Tyler and the rest of you will be trying to tell me everything to do or not do at the Gala so I don’t blow my cover. I think I may need to take my new sister-in-law for a girls shopping spree. Jessica would like to join us I bet.”

  “Wait a minute. We’re not going to have time for shopping spree’s. We’re going in for the Gala only, dropping the bait. and getting you and Finn out of there.”

  “No, that won’t work…”

  “No, I agree with Glenna. These guys are most likely international professional art thieves they’re going to do their due diligence. They will know you’re an agent which will make it all the more important for you to pull off the romance thing. It’s a good thing you’re not in a department that specializes in art theft. Anyway, what better way to reinforce your cover than by meeting the fam? Do a little recreation with the brothers. Just so you know we have an excellent gun range and simulator.”

  Glenna could tell that piqued his interest. “And Reagan would be the first to challenge you.”

  “This is not a vacation, however, I do see the point. And Finn would have a good time seeing where I went to school.”

  “I would? I’d rather go to the gun range. Hey, Agent Beckett…”

  “Reagan.”

  “Reagan do they let civilians in the simulator?”

  “Yes, I was able to take Matt and Bryn for some training. It took a special permit, I will see what I can do. But only if your father approves and will be in attendance.”

  The look Finn gave Patrick would be hard to say no to by any parent. Glenna knew he felt on the spot. More reason to talk to him later.

  “I hate to admit it, but the more I think about going a few days early the more sense it makes. They’re watching us, I can feel it. Up until now we’ve been doing nothing to give the impression that I’m not on the case. It is time to make some moves that I’m more interested in Glenna than art.”

  He was quiet for so long, Glenna thought he was done. And it seemed he was when he stood, but he went to the calendar frowned and said over his shoulder to Finn. “Your game Friday, if you win you go on to playoffs, right?”

  “Oh my goodness, Finn you may have to stay home if you guys win.” Glenna couldn’t let him miss something as important as a playoff game.

  “When is the Gala?”

  Finn reached over and grabbed the calendar out of his dad’s hand. He sat it on the table and studied the dates circled.

  “It’s a week from this Sunday.” Glenna consulted the site again. If we fly in on Wednesday or Thursday we could hang with the family. But if you have games that weekend...”

  “That works great. If we win this Friday, the next day we play the winner of San Jose County. Then if we win that game, we go to state which will give us the next weekend off and we’d play the following. See?”

  He pushed the calendar across the table and sure enough there was the weekend of the Gala that had no circled dates. Patrick leaned over Finn’s shoulder and contemplated the same thing. Glenna couldn’t tell if he was happy or disgruntled by the fact he didn’t have an excuse to pull his son out of the trip.

  “It’s settled then. We’ll leave Wednesday and come home on Tuesday. Give us a day to consult with Reagan and Tyler after the event.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’m going to let you guys plan your trip and I’ll start sending out some feelers. Patrick I’ll be in touch. Glenna you do what he says, he knows the criminal element, you stick to the art element which none of us know.”

  The phone disconnected without a goodbye, which was true Reagan. Glenna didn’t remember Reagan being so diplomatic, but she had been. She made sure not to make Glenna feel inadequate but needed. She looked forward to seeing her family without the emotional trauma of being dumped on her wedding day. Now she realized she’d never loved Lance, but loved the romance of it all, she felt a little ashamed.

  Was she so hungry for love that she saw it where it wasn’t? And what about her new and tentative feelings for Patrick? She would have to guard herself well through this trip. When everything was solved she’d know he was interested if he contacted her. Then they could build something.

  Maybe.

  She just knew she wasn’t going to be so easily swayed again. Maybe she needed to stop reading romance novels.

  No.

  She just needed to be wise.

  “So, are you going to just stare at that computer all day?” Finn’s voice broke into her thoughts.

  “Sorry about that, I was just thinking about the upcoming trip.”

  That wasn’t a lie. It just wasn’t in the way they thought.

  “So what is next? Should I search some airline tickets? We won’t need a place to stay, we’ll stay with The Elders. Now all the kids are grown and flown the coop, there’s plenty of room. I will see what I need to do to get us in on the list for the Gala.”

  “And we need to start looking like a couple.” The look he gave her made her toes curl. And she wasn’t sure if it was in a good way. She wished she knew his thoughts. “And what better way than my son’s football game?”

  He ruffled his son’s hair, Finn grimaced but then smiled. “Great. You’re going to love Nanna and Móraí”

  Glenna knew Finn must be referring to his grandparents. “Mo ree?”

  “Yeah, my grandfather is Irish so I like to call him by the traditional Irish name or one of them anyway. The Irish word for grandfather is seanathair, literally meaning "old father." But grandchildren usually use instead, daideó pronounced DADJ-yoh or móraí as I do. And since my grandmother is Scottish I call her Nanna, but a lot of kids around here call their grandma’s Nana.”

  “My nieces and nephews’ call The Elders nana and papa, not sure if it has any meaning other than Sophie was the first to start calling them that and it stuck”

  “Finn, I think it’s time for you to do some homework. Glenna and I need to discuss a safe place to store this piece of art.”

  “We can do that while I throw the Sheppard’s pie together.”

  Finn let out a little whoop. “Yes. I was afraid you’d changed your mind.”

  “I promised.”

  Patrick didn’t join in, but continued from where she’d interrupted. “When you’re finished with school work, maybe we should go out for dinner tonight. It wouldn’t hurt for those following us to see this rebound thing. Right?”

  By the tone of Patrick’s voice, Glenna now knew he was not a happy camper to be on the romance train. Just great.

  Chapter Eleven

  Patrick waited until Finn was out of the room before he turned to Glenna. He needed to calm down. She wasn’t the one who railroaded him into this scenario, but then he hadn’t stopped it. At the moment he was feeling… what? Trapped? Intrigued? Excited? More scared than he’d ever been in his life?

  Bingo! All of the above. God. What was he going to do? From the moment he first realized that his animosity for Joyce wasn’t going to be any protection against the beautiful, put together, immaculate Glenna, he’d been in trouble. His first thought that was she was his ex-wife all over again had been blown out of the water within minutes of meeting her.

  Now
he knew that was so far from the truth, he’d been swimming against the emotional current. He was so tied in knots he didn’t know whether to grab her and shake her or kiss the living daylights out of her.

  There she stood. Several emotions had crossed her face during the conversation and most of them had mirrored his.

  “Patrick…”

  He held his hand up, he needed to go for a walk to cool off before he took his whatever his jumble of feelings were, out on her. “I need some air and perspective. Give me a minute.”

  He nearly pulled the damn knob off the door in the process of leaving. At first he concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other and not thinking. Hell, he just knew he needed to get away from Glenna, the situation, the feeling of not being in control.

  It sucked.

  He blinked. He’d been so lost in thought he was surprised to find himself standing in front of the home he grew up in. After a moment he realized he was staring at his father, who was on the porch as he had been after dinner every night, whenever possible, for as long as Patrick could remember. It was where he found him whenever he needed to talk. It was where he’d first told him about Finn and how scared he was of being a father when he was little more than a kid himself.

  And that was before he knew he’d be a single dad.

  “Patrick.”

  One word that’s all it took for his feet to start eating the distance to the chair waiting for him. Next to his Da. Where he could say or ask anything and know he’d get the best advice a man could want. Didn’t mean he was going to like what he’d hear, but whatever it was it would be the best.

  “Da…”

  His mum pushed opened the screen door took in the scene and disappeared. A moment later, still neither of the men had spoken, his mum appeared with a bottle of Jameson and two shot glasses.

  She shrugged when Patrick raised a brow. “I thought it looked like a whiskey talk. I’ll leave you two.”

  Without waiting for a response she was gone. His da poured and handed him his glass. Then raised his own.

  “May you always have a clean shirt, a clear conscience, and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint!” And slammed it back a second before Patrick did the same.