She couldn’t help herself. She walked past the roulette table, but the woman was nowhere to be seen. With a knot in her stomach that might have been disappointment or might have been residual hormones, she checked the rest of the gambling areas.
Women in jewels were everywhere. She wished she could warn them to be careful but knew it would be pointless. News of the infamous international jewel thief was everywhere. Most thought they were immune. And most were insured. So even if the thief struck, the patrons would be simply inconvenienced. Unless the jewels had sentimental value. But at this level, she doubted that was the case in most instances.
Savannah wandered around the floor, through the slot machines, and baccarat tables. She found a game of craps to watch and almost choked from the cigar smoke. She could barely see the game through the smoke. She didn’t stay long, opting instead to cruise past the card tables.
She was watching a game of pai gow that wasn’t holding her interest. She allowed her gaze to roam to neighboring tables. There she was. The woman from the roulette table. Savannah couldn’t deny the disappointment at seeing the woman clearly enjoying herself in the company of an older woman.
The woman was also blond, and Savannah quickly racked her brain. Were most of the victims blond? Did the thief have a type? Was the dashing woman the thief after all? But, no. She couldn’t remember any predominance of any kind when it came to victims. Except they were all women. And they were all rolling in dough. The thief knew what he or she was doing.
Unable to stay away, Savannah sauntered over to the blackjack table where the woman’s companion was playing. She walked close to the sexy brunette who didn’t give her more than a glance. Funny, she’d been ogling her like crazy earlier. But why not now? Because she wasn’t bejeweled. That’s why.
Chapter Two
“You’re very attentive,” Anika said as they stepped away from the table several hours later. “I’m not used to that. You never let my drink run empty. You urged me onward every hand. I really appreciate that.”
“You’re most welcome. I believe beautiful women should be treated like gold.”
Anika blushed.
“My husband could learn a few things from you.”
Husband? Kit held her breath. She hoped she hadn’t been barking up the wrong tree all night. Married women were her bread and butter, though. She hoped she’d still be able to relieve Anika of her jewels. Without interference from a meddling husband.
“Is your husband here?” She hoped she sounded cooler than she felt. “Do we need to check in with him?”
“Oh, no, Ronnie. He didn’t come with me this time, but how sweet of you to inquire.”
Kit was relieved, but less confident. Anika wouldn’t be the first married woman she’d targeted, but she wasn’t sure how seducible she’d be. Would she be open to pleasure from a woman?
“Are you tired? Shall I walk you to your room?” Kit needed to find out if she was wasting her time. But how?
“Far from it. I’m invigorated. Let’s cash in my winnings and then we can get some dinner?”
Dinner? Kit’s stomach growled on cue. She didn’t have time to think about food. She had bigger worries. But since Anika had invited her, maybe she was curious? Maybe Kit would be able to get what she needed after all.
The deafening sounds of the casino caused Kit’s head to throb. Sounds that usually brought such pleasure, such energy, were now annoying. She felt like she’d failed. And the people in charge, those waiting for jewels, wouldn’t be happy. Kit had never failed before and didn’t like the sensation.
“Ronnie?” Anika said. “Will you join me for dinner?”
Kit forced a smile that she knew showed off her dimples.
“Of course. I’d be delighted.”
Once seated, Kit reached across the table and placed her hands on Anika’s.
“So, tell me about these trips you make without your husband? What do you do? How do they play out?”
“I just gamble. My husband is in politics. That’s where his heart lies and where he’s his happiest. Politics bore me as a rule. So, while he works, I travel and play.” She shrugged. “It works for us.”
Kit took a deep breath and forged onward.
“Anika, you do know I prefer the company of women to men, don’t you?”
“Well…I rather assumed.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“I’m fine with that. It intrigues me, titillates me if you will.”
Kit’s stomach did a somersault. Her heart soared. Perhaps there was hope after all.
“Titillates? How so?”
“I’ve never been with a woman,” Anika admitted. “Though I’ve always thought how wonderful that might be. I’m sure a woman would instinctively know how to please another woman. Much more so than a man does.” Kit nodded slowly. Anika had a good point. “Forgive me. I’m speaking of inappropriate things. I barely know you.”
Kit squeezed her hands.
“There’s nothing to forgive, Anika. I’d like to please you. Later. When you’re ready. If you’d like me to.” She held her breath, scared of Anika’s response.
“I’d like that, Ronnie. I mean, if you’re serious. You’re not toying with an old woman, are you?”
Kit laughed. It was genuine. She was relieved beyond words.
“You’re not an old woman.”
“I could be your mother.”
“Possibly. But you’re not.”
“No,” Anika said. “I am not. You do things to me. You invigorate me. Excite me. Make me feel things I shouldn’t feel for anyone save my husband. And yet, you’re a woman.”
“Yes. I am a woman. A woman who finds you incredibly attractive.”
Anika blushed.
“Stop. You must stop or we’ll get in trouble.”
“I’ve never been afraid of trouble,” Kit said.
“Why does that not surprise me? Still, I don’t get in trouble. To be caught with you would be scandalous. And my husband can’t afford a scandal. By extension, neither can I.”
“I won’t embroil you in a scandal. I promise.”
“Good.”
They finished their meal and Kit was amped to move on, but knew she still had time to kill.
“Would you like an after-dinner drink?” she asked
“I’d love that. Let’s go find a lounge.”
They found one, dark and relatively empty. Kit knew it would suit her purpose. She needed Anika to relax a bit more but didn’t want her too intoxicated. Drunk women turned her off. And she needed to be able to perform.
Anika had had much to drink that night at the blackjack table, but she seemed to be doing okay. Another drink or two might just ease her into relaxing enough for the meat of the evening to begin. Maybe.
Kit made sure to take a table in a far corner away from the lights and sounds of the casino. There was no way to fully escape the sounds, but she wanted to be out of the sight of curious passersby.
She got their drinks for them and seated herself next to Anika at the small table. She didn’t want to sit across from her any more. It was time to ramp things up, to push the envelope a little.
She rested her hand on Anika’s leg briefly. She gave it a little squeeze before putting it on the table with her other hand.
“Tell me, Ronnie. You’ve always been a lesbian, yes?”
Kit laughed. What a ridiculous question.
“Yes. All my life.”
“I mean, you’ve always known.”
“Right. From my first kiss with my best friend in high school. I’ve known.”
“And are you single? Not that I have any room to talk, but I need to know.”
“I’m very single.”
“Why is that? Why has no nice woman made you settle down?”
Kit knew the real reason. She couldn’t settle down. She was always on the move. Always searching for brighter diamonds and more expensive jewels. Like the ones Anika wore.
“I suppose
I just haven’t met Ms. Right yet.”
“That makes me sad.”
She took Anika’s hands in her own again.
“Oh, no. No sadness tonight. Only joy and celebration.”
“You need someone to take care of you. Someone to spend your life with. Someone who completes you.”
“That all sounds lovely,” Kit said. “And hopefully, one day I’ll find just the right woman who’ll do all those things for me.”
“I hope so, too.”
“Tell me about yourself, Anika. How did you meet your husband?”
“We were childhood friends. Our families planned for us to marry when we were very young. But I don’t want to talk about my husband. I don’t want to feel guilty. I just want to enjoy the excitement you provide.”
“Fair enough.”
* * *
Savannah made her way through the casino several more times, always finding herself back at the blackjack tables and the sexy, androgynous butch woman who’d captured her attention. It was early morning when she cruised past the tables again and the woman and her companion were gone. Disappointment filled her. If the woman was the thief, then she’d let her slip through her hands. If not, then her opportunity to snare and bed the gorgeous being had passed.
She did several more laps around the place, checking out the roulette tables, slots, baccarat, and all other gambling locations. The woman seemed to have disappeared. The sun was beginning to make its ascent, and Savannah decided it was time for bed. She needed a good night’s sleep. Her phone hadn’t buzzed to announce a robbery, so she considered the night a waste.
Sleep came quickly, and Savannah was in the middle of a dream about the handsome butch when the shrill sound of her phone awoke her. She glanced at the time before answering. It was only eight o’clock. This had better be good.
“Brown here.”
“Agent, come quick. Suite 369. He struck again.”
“Shit. I’m on my way.”
Savannah dressed, threw her hair in a bun, grabbed her bag, and bolted out the door. She was in the elevator in less than five minutes, on her way to yet another scene. These had to end. She needed to catch this thief.
She arrived at the suite and took a deep breath, straightened to her full height, thrust her shoulders back, and knocked on the door.
“Agent Brown. Thank God you’re here.”
It was one of the younger agents on the case, Li Nguyen. He was young, but he was good. Savannah had the utmost respect for him.
“What do you know?” she asked.
“It was a man this time. An older gentleman.” He flipped through his notes. “She’d guess he was in his fifties or so.”
“How’s she doing? Who’s the victim?”
“The victim is one Anika Schuster from Germany. She said he followed her into her room, held a gun on her and demanded her jewels.”
Savannah stepped into the room to find a distraught looking middle-aged woman crying on the bed. Her hair was disheveled, and she looked like she’d just woken up. She was wearing a plush white bathrobe. Savannah approached her cautiously.
“Ms. Schuster?”
“Mrs. I’m married to Gustav Schuster.”
The name sounded familiar to Savannah, but she couldn’t place it. Besides, it wasn’t important or relevant at the moment.
“I’m sorry. Mrs. Schuster, please tell me what happened.”
“I’ve already told them.” She motioned to the other agents in the room. Some of whom were dusting for fingerprints, some of whom were standing still, watching Savannah.
“I understand that. And they’ve filled me in. But I’d like to hear it from you. Please, take a breath, and when you’re ready, tell me in detail everything that happened.”
Anika took a deep breath and let out a shuddered sigh.
“I was letting myself into my room when I felt something poke me in the back. Someone closed their hand over my mouth, and a man whispered into my ear to keep quiet and open the door. So I did. He held his gun on me and demanded that I give him my necklace and earrings. I feel so foolish. I know I should be grateful I’m alive and the jewels were insured, but I’m still so shaken up.”
“I’m sure you are. You’re doing great though. Can you describe the man to me?”
“Average height. Six foot or so. Thinning brown hair. Dark, menacing eyes. I’m sorry. That’s all I can think of.”
“That’s okay,” Savannah said. “Now, Mrs. Schuster, what did you do after this happened?”
“I took a bath to try to calm down. When it didn’t work, I decided to call and report it. I almost didn’t but thought I’d better. I’m sure the insurance company would have insisted.”
“We don’t believe this is the first time the man has struck. We’d really like to catch him. Please think. Hard. Can you describe anything else to us? What was he wearing maybe?”
“A tux.”
“Anything unusual about it?”
“No. A regular black tux with a white shirt. That’s all I remember.” She started sobbing. “I’m sorry. I just feel so violated.”
“It’s okay to cry,” Savannah said. “You’re lucky to get out alive, but I’m sure you know that.”
She stared at Anika’s reddened blue eyes looking up at her. She studied them. There was fear and anger, but Savannah thought she saw something else. Shame maybe? Where was that coming from? And why wasn’t her hair wet if she had just gotten out of the bath? Something wasn’t right.
“I’m going to look around for a moment,” Savannah said. “I’ll be right back.”
She walked into the expansive bathroom and ran her hand over the tub. It was bone dry. There were no damp towels either. Anika’s story wasn’t adding up. What had really happened? Why, if she’d been robbed by an unknown man, hadn’t she called them immediately? She walked back out to the bedroom and handed Anika her card.
“Thank you for your time, Mrs. Schuster. I’m going now to begin my investigation. If you can think of anything else, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call me. My cell number is on the back. I always have it with me. The rest of the agents will finish up here as soon as they can. I don’t have to advise you to be very careful now. Not only were you robbed, but you saw the man who threatened you. You’re in a difficult predicament.”
“I’ve already changed my flight. I’ll leave for the airport as soon as all of you are gone. Thank you for your time. I hope you find the man.”
“So do I. So do I.”
Savannah motioned to the door with her head and Li followed her out.
“Where are we going?” he said.
“To my room. Don’t say a word until we get there.”
They got on the elevator.
“So, what do you think?” Li said.
“Sh. Not until we’re in my room.”
She let Li in and closed the door behind her.
“Now,” she said. “Now we compare notes.”
“She told me he followed her into her room. She told you he put a gun on her outside.”
“Right. So her story changed right from the beginning. Also, she said she’d just gotten out of a bath. Is that what she told you?”
“Yeah,” Li said. “So that part’s probably true.”
“Her bathtub was dry and there were no damp towels in the bathroom.”
Li’s eyes widened.
“Why would she lie about that?”
“That’s the million-dollar question. She looked to me like she’d just woken up. Who falls asleep right after they’ve been robbed?”
“So what are you thinking then, boss?”
“I’m thinking she knew who robbed her. She was with them. Then she woke up alone and found her jewels missing.”
“Why wouldn’t she just tell us that?”
“That’s another million-dollar question. Why indeed? Unless she was embarrassed by who she was with. Or if she slept with them, then that means she cheated on her husband. And she wouldn’t be ab
le to admit that.”
“Why can’t it be easy?” Li said. “And why can’t we catch this guy?”
“I wish I knew, Li. Damn, how I wish I knew.”
Chapter Three
Kit sipped a piña colada as she checked the balance in her offshore account. It had a beautiful sum in it, thanks to her haul in Monte Carlo. She had a new assignment now. A new goal for the weekend. But it was only Wednesday, and she was relaxing in the sun in St. Thomas.
She had opted to lie on the lounge by the sea rather than hang out by one of the overcrowded pools. She’d be surrounded by people soon enough. She didn’t need them at the moment. All she needed was the sun and the surf and a cold drink. That was it.
“Excuse me, miss,” a woman with a charming accent said. “Is there anything I can get for you?”
Kit looked up into deep brown pools surrounded by tan flesh and a million-dollar smile. She checked the woman’s nametag. Polly. It seemed too simple for a beauty like her. She forced herself to a sitting position, placing both feet in the warm sand.
“Polly, huh? You could join me.”
Polly laughed, her eyes sparkling.
“I’m so sorry. I’m working.”
“What time are you off? Can I buy you a drink then?”
Polly smiled at her.
“I’d like that. I’d like that very much. I’m off in an hour.”
“I’ll be here. Come find me?”
“I will.”
Kit admired the sway of Polly’s hips as she walked away, graceful even while walking through the white sand. Kit smiled to herself. Maybe she’d get lucky just for the sake of getting lucky that afternoon. It would be nice to pleasure a woman without having an agenda. And maybe be pleasured in return? What a novel idea.
She felt her face beginning to sting, so she rolled over to get some sun on her back. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but she was pleasantly awakened by Polly’s voice.
“Ma’am? Are you awake?”
“Hm? Oh yeah. I’m awake.” She sat up. “Hello, Polly. Are you ready for that drink?”
“Sure. Do you mind if we go into town? I get enough of this place while I work.”
Thief of the Heart Page 2
