“Agreed,” Mai said, being minimalist on her reply to prove a point. “But why SPEAR?”
“What’s up, Sprite? Scared they’re gonna try and sell little old you as a relic?” Alicia grinned.
“I may be little.” Mai scowled. “But you’ll feel me any minute.”
“Funny,” Alicia reflected. “I used to have a boyfriend who said that.”
“Why SPEAR?” Hayden interjected quickly. “It’s a good question. I’ll answer with a few of my own. What would happen to a country, any country, if a billion-dollar treasure was dumped among its criminal elements? What would happen if it was gifted to its bankers? Its politicians? Its agents. Believe me when I say — everyone is watching this.”
“Global impact,” Drake said. “Hence — SPEAR.”
“Ah, now I see.”
“Funny. But there is something else too. It’s believed that this lost Inca treasure contained an item of such importance, such value, that it all but dwarfed the rest of the pieces combined. The impact and importance of finding it can’t be overestimated.”
Drake turned back to the empty screen. “And it’s all in the hands of the Mad Swede and a sword-wielding bird on the run from Interpol.” He paused. “What could go wrong?”
Alicia grimaced. Smyth glared daggers. Even Hayden blinked rapid-fire as she avoided a look from Mano.
“Way to go,” Alicia muttered. “Ya just jinxed it all again.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Kenzie watched Tremayne as the illicit relic hunter watched her. In another time and place they might have been partners. In another — lovers. In still another — enemies trying desperately to kill each other.
“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Tremayne asked with a smirk.
“I doubt it. Unless you’re wondering how you’d look with a katana in your neck.”
“Oh, I could probably pull it off.” He grinned. “How is it that we never met?”
Kenzie looked away, distracted as one of the new guards Tremayne had hired strolled past. It was a ridiculous question and he knew it. They were thieves; they valued little more than the dark, their own company and a great heist plan. “Why would I ever want to meet you?”
“I have my uses.”
She shook her head, wanting this to be over. She’d been watching Tremayne closely for days, watching his bodyguards, ensuring the path to the next deal and the next phone call remained free of obstacles. They had fail-safes in place. Tremayne knew they could make him pay if he failed to come through, but they sure as hell couldn’t watch him forever.
“Any news?”
“Not yet. But the Lyon auction is tomorrow and the deadline for lot entry is tonight. It will happen soon.”
“How will the artifact arrive in time?”
“My guess is it’s already here. Maybe among others, maybe not. No, scratch that,” Tremayne dismissed himself. “This guy is as careful and painstaking as they get. But he never fails. And neither do I.”
Kenzie considered reminding him about what had happened during the last job, but let it go. Another guard wandered by, looking aimless. Kenzie chuckled as Tremayne almost whimpered. The last set of guards had been good — challenging even Dahl — but this new set were so far below par they might as well be ushers. She diverted her thoughts, mulling over Dahl and all that was happening in his life. The Swede was distracted, yes, but handling it well. Kenzie could only imagine the distress a person might feel if forced to move away from their children, no matter the distance.
Once a Mossad rising star, Kenzie had been considered among the best of the best. When the government she worked for failed to protect her family, and then lied to her about it all, she descended toward anarchy. Moreover, when they tried to cover it up she found and fostered a deep hatred for authority and for the power-hungry figures that invariably ended up at the helm.
But was there still some good in her?
Dahl thought so. He’d noticed without even trying. She still wasn’t trying but seemed to have found a new lease in life. A way to escape the endless degenerations; the descent into depravity that, eventually, grabbed hold and never let you escape.
Tremayne clicked on his laptop, no doubt organizing shady deals all across France. On request, he showed Kenzie an image galley of the Lyon auction house and a blueprint of the area. Google maps helped with the roads and alleys to either side, the faster routes, the dead ends. When she looked around it was after midnight.
“Time to go,” she said and fixed Tremayne with a glare. “You’ve been a good boy so far. Tomorrow’s the big one. Don’t fuck it up.”
He saluted smartly, eyes hidden beneath dark clouds. She left the place wondering what was to come, because where Tremayne was involved you never could really tell.
Dahl let her into his hotel room, the T-shirt and jeans ensemble making her double-take.
“Shit, you look normal.”
“I am normal. It’s all the rest who are crazy.”
She perched on the arm of the sofa. “Did it arrive?”
Dahl poured her a shot of brandy, her favorite tipple. “No, and that’s a problem. When is Tremayne confirming collection and drop-off with our mystery seller?”
“In the morning.” Kenzie threw the Napoleon back in one and then spread her arms. “That’s all he said.”
“We have to narrow that down. Better still, delay it. If the CIA device doesn’t arrive in time this is all for nothing.”
“I doubt Tremayne has a choice, but I will try.”
Dahl leaned against the side of the mini-bar, facing her. “You think he’ll run?”
“I don’t. Not now. Truth be told, his job isn’t that hard.”
“How about after the job?”
“We never spoke about that. Does he have a deal?”
“Not if I can help it,” Dahl grunted. “Man’s a dangerous criminal and should be treated as such.”
Kenzie waved her glass for a top up. “So was I. And yet here I am.”
Dahl almost choked. “You’re suggesting we bring Tremayne on the team?”
“No, no, of course not. I just wondered why I was the chosen one.” She reached out for the glass and held it, touching his hand. Her eyes twinkled.
Dahl backed away quickly. “I thought we covered that.”
“I only worry that I’m going to prove you wrong. Your friends… most of them think I’ll mess it all up.”
“Did they tell you that?”
“No… no they didn’t.”
Dahl looked hard at her. “I understand what happened to you. Hell, if the same thing happened to me I’d lose my mind.” He swallowed involuntarily. “It almost did. Different circumstances perhaps, but I couldn’t speak for my actions if I survived that night and my family didn’t.”
“I imagine most people think that way, but few would implement it.”
“Grief,” Dahl said. “Is the ultimate game-changer. Nobody comes out the same.”
Kenzie rose and deposited the glass on a table. “And some of us never come out,” she said, then affected a bright smile. “Well, if we’re not snuggling down tonight I guess I better get to bed.” She hesitated. “How’s things with the ball and chain?”
Dahl reached for the bottle. “Ending,” he said shortly. “Goodnight, Kenzie.”