by Sara Rosett
“But he was surrounded, wasn’t he?” Kathy asked, looking to Zoe.
“Yes, I’d never seen so much gray since middle school. Uncanny how the color of the uniform of the tax police is the same as the lockers that lined the hallways.”
“Where’s the painting now?” Kathy asked.
“The Art Squad took it out of my hands pretty fast,” Zoe said.
Sato waved his fork, “They have already contacted the museum it was stolen from. Press conference tomorrow.”
“And what will happen to Gray?” Kathy asked.
“I have no idea,” Zoe said with a shrug. “All I know is that I spent the last four hours answering questions about what happened on Gray’s boat, and Jack and I are now free to leave Capri and Italy.” She glanced at Jack, who was seated across the table from her, and he raised his glass of wine to her in a toast and smiled, but the gesture seemed perfunctory, his smile automatic. Zoe looked quickly away, her heart shriveling. She should have been ecstatic. It was over. She and Jack were in the clear, but she felt flat and empty.
This afternoon when she returned to the harbor with the entourage that included a restrained Gray, along with Oscar, Antonio, and Claudia, she’d seen worry on his face as his gaze skimmed over the people entering the police station. When he’d finally seen her, the tension had eased from his face, but he hadn’t moved across the room to embrace her. Instead, he’d stayed where he was.
Zoe had wanted to run across the room to him, but she couldn’t seem to make her feet move, and then she’d been shuffled into a room and had to recount the events of the afternoon. When she’d emerged from the interviews, Kathy had swept her into the group on the way to dinner. Zoe tried to ignore the twist in her heart as Jack sipped his wine then checked his watch. “Mort and Sato know more about that,” she said.
Zoe pushed the last bites of her ravioli around her plate as Mort said, “Interpol has custody. They’re sorting out who gets him first.”
“All this fuss over him. I’ve never heard of him,” Kathy said. “Is he really such an important guy?”
“Oh, yes,” Mort said. “He’s wanted in at least seven countries. He coordinates a huge crime network that involves drugs, scams, and money laundering in Europe, the United States, and Central America. He also aids and abets other criminals, helping them hide from authorities. That’s what he did for Costa.”
Kathy said, “And Costa intended to use the Monet as currency to pay off Gray?” she said in horrified tones. “That is so wrong. Art like that should be in a museum where it can be seen and appreciated, not shuttled around furtively. Who knows what kind of damage could have been done to it.”
Mort agreed then said, “That was his plan until Anna stole it from him.”
“Serves him right,” Kathy muttered.
Mort looked at Zoe. “Anna knew that Costa had set you up to take the blame for purchasing and selling the stolen painting. She posed as you in Paris to protect herself. She had no idea that Gray had quietly put out the word that he wanted to buy the painting if it became available. He never intended to buy it. He only wanted the information on who had it, so he could get back what he saw as his property.”
“What an awful person,” Kathy said.
Sato, who had been concentrating on his steak, put his silverware down with a satisfied sigh, then added, “As bad as the art crime was, don’t forget he’s accused of money laundering, tax evasion, murder, and—” he broke off and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Excuse me,” he said, leaning back in his chair to read a text message.
Kathy turned to Mort. “Well then, I guess I’ll have to forgive you for missing the last few days of our vacation.”
“There’s still tonight and tomorrow,” Mort said. “Plenty of time to play bridge.”
“Forget bridge. I know you hate it. But I will hold you to at least one more dance,” Kathy said then caught sight of Sato’s phone. “Is that a baby,” she asked in the tone one would use to ask if pigs were flying.
“Yes. My new partner’s first, a girl.” Sato handed her the phone and she oohed and awed.
“Alexandra Lynn. Guess I’ll have to stop calling him a kid,” Sato said in a regretful tone.
Mort said, “Now you can call him Pops.”
Sato looked more cheerful. “That’s true.”
“Oh, a text just came in,” Kathy said, handing the phone back. “Jenny.”
Mort raised his eyebrows. “Jenny Singletarry?”
“Yeah. She probably wants an interview.” Zoe thought she saw a fleeting smile on Sato’s face. No, that couldn’t be right. There was no way he would look forward to talking to a reporter. And Jenny was not his style at all, but Mort was studying Sato with a thoughtful look, too. She filed it away. Zoe knew Jenny would have tons of questions for her when news of Gray’s arrest broke. Zoe figured she could work in a question of her own.
An hour later, Sato insisted on paying the bill, and the dinner party broke up with Sato returning to wrap up final details with the Italian police and Interpol. Mort, Kathy, Jack, and Zoe clambered aboard the last tender to take them back to the cruise ship, which was scheduled to depart during the night for Rome, the final destination of the cruise.
“Do you think we’ll be able to get back on the ship?” Zoe asked.
Jack shrugged. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the crew is more vigilant than last night.”
“I hope they’ll at least let us pick up our belongings we left in the cabin.” And they needed to arrange for Paul and Isobel’s belongings to be taken ashore in Rome and transferred to the airport.
“I think you’ll have a very different reception,” Mort said as he and Jack waved Zoe and Kathy into the last two seats, while the men stood. Zoe wanted to talk to Jack, but wedged into the crowded boat was clearly not the place to do it.
Once they reached the cruise ship, the captain waited at the top of the stairs, but he was beaming, not glowering at them.
Mort said, “He’s been briefed about what happened, and he’s happy to take credit for the involvement of his ship in bringing an international criminal to justice.”
Arms thrown wide, the captain welcomed them to the ship in both Italian and English, then informed Zoe and Jack that they were special guests, and he hoped they would honor them with their presence on the short trip to Rome. Their “borrowed” cabin and the entire ship were at their disposal. Jack was silent, so Zoe accepted on their behalf and thanked the captain. He bowed over her hand. “No, the honor is ours.”
“I expect cameras and a press conference tomorrow,” Mort said under his breath as they moved away. They passed through the multi-story open atrium, then Zoe stopped at the turn in the passageway that led to the staircase to their cabin. “Well, in case I don’t see you tomorrow, thank you for everything,” she said to Mort. “I literally could not have done it without you.”
Mort waved her words away. “I just made a few phone calls.”
“It was more than that.”
“Not really. Besides, it livened things up just when the cruise was getting a tad boring.” He rubbed his hands together and looked at Kathy. “Now, I believe I owe you a dance?”
“Indeed you do. To the dance floor.” Kathy tucked her arm through his elbow and gave Zoe a wave as they headed away. Zoe smiled after them, then turned and looked for Jack, but he was gone. She twisted around, scanning the passageway, but he’d disappeared. Frowning, she made her way to the cabin, only taking two wrong turns.
She pushed open the door. “Jack?” The room was empty. Her messenger bag rested on the end of the bed beside a folded piece of paper with her name. She snatched it up.
Zoe,
I have collected my clothes and arranged for the cabin steward to pack Paul and Isobel’s things and transfer them to the Rome airport tomorrow.
I am bowing out of your life now. I had hoped you’d change your mind, but I can see that isn’t going to happen, so instead of making more of a fool of myself, I’m leav
ing tonight. I’ll change the return on my airline ticket. I’ll have my stuff out of the house by the time you get back. I will miss you, but wish you every happiness.
Jack
Zoe blinked at the paper for a second, then dropped it, yanked open the door, and sprinted along the passageway to the stairs. She took them two at a time, racing toward the main atrium area of the ship. Jack would have to go through there to get back to the tender. Was the tender even running to shore again? Maybe he wouldn’t be able to get off the ship. Or, had he arranged for another boat to pick him up?
She pushed hard up the last few steps and dashed into the atrium, only to stop, panting as she scanned the people strolling through the multi-floor open area of shops and restaurants. How could she spot him? It was a massive space with balconies rising layer on layer up to the glass ceiling overhead.
Then she saw him. His back was to her, and he was rising smoothly up one of the escalators to the next deck, the plastic bag of his clothes in one hand.
“Jack!” she shouted and made for the escalator. He didn’t hear her. Her words floated into the open air and were drowned in the vortex of chatter and piped-in music. She cut off a couple about to step on the escalator and did the double stair climb again, pushing around people. He was almost to the top, and she was only half way up. “Jack, wait!”
He turned as he stepped off, spotted her, and moved to the railing that enclosed the balcony as he called, “Zoe, we’ve already said everything there is to say,”
“No, we haven’t. Or, I haven’t.” She sprinted up the last stairs and burst off the top step to join Jack at the railing. “I’ve finally figured out I love you.”
Zoe was vaguely aware that as the people came off the escalator, some were lingering, watching them, along with some other curious onlookers, but she didn’t care about them. Jack’s guarded expression didn’t change.
Zoe gripped the railing. “Too sudden?” He didn’t say anything, so she rushed on, ignoring the cold knot of dread inside. “This wasn’t really how I’d planned to tell you. Actually, I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“That you love me?”
“Yes,” she said firmly.
One corner of his mouth crept up. “What brought this on?”
“I had a lot of time to think on that beach. I don’t want to shy away from...this...from you. When I said I wanted us to be able to move on from everything that had happened, I didn’t mean move on with each of us going our separate ways. I meant together. Now we can put all the baggage—the lies and secrets—behind us.” She swallowed. “I hope it’s not too late. I hope you’ll give us another chance. You know me, the real me, and you still like me. Which is unbelievable, when I think about it. I know you now, Jack. I like you.”
“I thought you loved me,” Jack said.
“I do. I love you, and I like you. Well, don’t just stand there.”
His half-smile widened and his expression softened. “All right.” He dropped the bag and closed the distance between them, his hands sliding into her hair at the back of her neck, holding her close as he kissed her. Zoe wrapped her arms around his shoulders and felt the tight core of fear that had been inside her burst into a million pieces and evaporate. When the kiss ended, Zoe slowly opened her eyes and said, “Well?”
“What?”
“Do you love me?”
He leaned back. “It wasn’t obvious from the kiss? Hmm...better do it again.”
“No. Words.”
“I love you, Zoe Hunter.” She smiled and leaned forward to kiss him again when she came back down to earth long enough to hear a chorus of aww. She froze. “People are staring.”
“Let them. I don’t care.
“I think that woman is recording us on her phone.”
“Perhaps a change of scene is in order.” Jack picked up the bag, and they linked hands, moving to the doors that opened onto the exterior deck. A cool breeze swept over them as they walked to a deserted area at the railing. A thin strip of moonlight danced along the waves, and the lights of Capri sparkled in the distance.
Jack gathered her back into his arms and leaned against the railing for a lingering kiss. Eventually, he said, “Let’s get a few things sorted right off the bat,” as he dropped a trail of kisses along Zoe’s neck. “We’re not going to mess this up. First, no secrets and no divorce.”
“I like it.”
“Good.” The wind whipped a strand of hair across Zoe’s face, and Jack tucked it behind her ear. “Now, when are you going to marry me?” He kissed her cheek, then the corner of her mouth. “Next month? Next year?”
“Why wait? Let’s do it tonight,” Zoe said, lightly. “We’re on a ship. We have a captain to marry us, and he did say the ship was at our disposal. We even have a ring. It can be our something old. Mort and Kathy can be our witnesses.”
“That is so like you, to dive right in.”
“Why not?” She turned serious. “I’m all in. We can get married tonight or six months from now, doesn’t make any difference to me. I’m not changing my mind.”
“Well, let’s get married tonight, by all means.”
He leaned down to kiss her, then pulled back slightly. “This is quite a one-eighty for you, you know. Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She smiled at him. “I think I’ve loved you for a long time. I started figuring it out when I was alone on that beach. Tonight confirmed it for me. I should have been thrilled—we’re in the clear, and no one is going to interfere in our lives again, but I couldn’t enjoy it because we weren’t together. I wanted to share that feeling with you. It wasn’t the same alone. I’m not saying I’m not a little afraid. I’m terrified, actually. No, that’s not quite right. It’s like a rollercoaster ride, exhilarating and terrifying at the same time, but you know what? I like rollercoasters.” She kissed him quickly. “I like risks.”
“Excellent. I’m discovering I have a fondness for them, too.” After a while he said, “You know, I hear Rome is an excellent place for a honeymoon.”
“Hmm...the Eternal City. Sounds perfect.”
A Note From the Author
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This is my third outing with Zoe and Jack, and I’ve enjoyed writing it just as much as the other books. I hope you enjoyed it, too.
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A few interesting notes on the story: The Impressionist painting in Deceptive isn’t a figment of my imagination. Claude Monet’s Marine was stolen in a 2006 heist from a museum in Rio. I hope someday I’ll be able to change this note and tell you it has been found. The duty and custom free locations called free ports described in the story are real as well and must be some of the most valuable real estate on the planet. My research into tracking apps was interesting, if a little scary. Never lend your phone to someone you don’t trust implicitly! Some readers may wonder about the mention of gypsies in Naples. Italy has a large gypsy population. They ask for handouts at airports, train stations, and tollbooths. Others wash windows at intersections for spare change or become street vendors, selling trinkets on beaches and street corners, doing their best to avoid the tax police.
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One of the things I enjoy most about the On The Run series is writing about amazing places. I was lucky enough to visit Paris for a short time and also spent several months in Italy recently. This blog has the background on my Paris research trip. I think the Amalfi Coast and Capri are two of the most gorgeous places on earth—and the first time I saw Amalfi was a gloomy, rainy day, so that tells you how beautiful it is. While Anna’s villa is made-up, Jeranto beach isn’t. One long sweaty afternoon, I hiked the trail to the secluded, stunning beach. So worth the work to get there!
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To see more on the places that inspired me and some of my research links, check out my Deceptive pinboard at Pinterest. You can find out more about me and my books at my website, www.SaraRosett.com, or you can sign up for
my newsletter here. I hope you’ll connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.
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Thanks to Katerina Vamvasaki for another wonderful cover and to TJ at TJ Proofs for great editing. And a big thank you to everyone who read the first two books and came back to find out what happened with Zoe and Jack. Thank you so much! If you enjoyed Deceptive, I hope you’ll help me spread the word about the series by telling your friends, reviewing the book, or “liking” it. Those things really make a difference! Would you like to see Zoe and Jack again? This book was my last planned outing for them, but if you’re interested they might have to find those passports again...
Other Books by Sara Rosett
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On the Run series
(suspense)
Elusive
Secretive
Deceptive
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Ellie Avery series
(cozy mystery)
Moving is Murder
Staying Home is a Killer
Getting Away is Deadly
Magnolias, Moonlight, and Murder Mint Juleps, Mayhem, and Murder Mimosas, Mischief, and Murder Mistletoe, Merriment, and Murder Milkshakes, Mermaids, and Murder
Did you love Deceptive? Then you should read Elusive by Sara Rosett!
If you enjoy Elizabeth Peter’s Vicky Bliss series or Romancing the Stone, Elusive has the same mix of mystery, international travel, and light romance.
Zoe Hunter loves living on the edge. Free-spirited and spontaneous, she’s built a life stringing together various freelance gigs that keep her bank account barely in the black.
But when her ex, Jack, goes missing along with several million dollars from his business and the FBI zeros in on her as a person of interest, Zoe’s life goes from delightfully unpredictable to downright frightening.
