The Fall of East: Book 3 in the Hear No Evil Trilogy by Malone, Nana (ebook reader with internet browser .txt) 📗

It was his turn to chuckle. "I know, you're not used to hearing things like this, and I'm freaking you out. Just think of it as broadening your horizons.”

She just rolled her eyes and stopped the car. "No, you’re not. Go on and get out. We're here. Be mindful, they have cameras starting about a hundred yards out."

He nodded. "All right. I'll see you back here. Here's hoping I can get in through the side."

And with that, he opened the car door and headed straight into the massive property toward the gardens. With any luck, no one would even stop him. Hell, no one should even notice.

It was Wednesday. We'd already checked the schedule of when the grounds crew turned up to deal with the west end of the property. Different days of the week, they handled different ends on the massive hundred-acre estate.

"You think he can handle it?" Amelia asked.

I lifted a questioning brow to Amelia. "What? Strolling in and stealing something?"

She laughed. "No, remaining unseen."

I coughed as I laughed. "You know what, that’s doubtful. He'll probably complain for weeks, but you know, he's fine. I think he's happy to be part of this one."

"How well do you know him anyway?"

"Not well. I met him in a few meetings, when this whole thing with East started, but he wasn’t implicated in the Grimwald Authenticators investigation. I honestly thought he was just royalty. Rich playboy."

Amelia pinched the bridge of her nose. "How is it we're working with thieves?"

"Are you asking me? I started out trying to put the whole lot of them in jail."

“We are certainly working in the gray areas now.”

My stomach flipped. This wasn't Amelia. She’d only been dragged into this mess because she cared about me. "I tried not to think about it. I reminded myself that there was a crime committed and that a punishment should be enforced. Their friend died because of these people. Sure, they stole from these rich twats, but there was a bigger picture.

Amelia’s brow furrowed, and she tapped at the steering wheel as we followed the long lane toward the house. “My Scotland Yard brain is trying to account as to how many laws we have all broken now. But then my Scotland Yard brain is also curious about the mystery and how we're going to unravel it, how the puzzle pieces fit together, and how you make it into one big picture without having the edges all laid out first. And then there's a part of me that also thinks that I want justice. That's why I joined this fight, and that's also why I joined Interpol. I have no problem sleeping at night. This lot wouldn't hurt anyone. They haven't killed anybody. But the people they are going after… Those are dangerous men, and that worries me.”

"Yeah, I hear you."

Once we pulled up to the property and parked in the guest lot, we were met by the hustle and bustle of the daily routine of the estate. We could see the grounds crew at work right by the gardens, and we knew that Lucas would be milling around with them eventually. The ground under our feet made a crunching sound as we walked. And the late fall weather painted a picture-perfect day for the rich and fabulous.

We rang the door, and the maid opened it. She had a warm smile for me and a more professional, curt one for Amelia, and then she showed us in. Lord Jameson came out of the sunroom with a wide smile. "Ah, Agents Kincade and Jansen. It's good to see you. Agent Kincade, might I just say your bravery in protecting me from that thief Theroux was incredible. Are you well? I sent flowers.”

“I received them. Thank you.”

"Of course, of course. Don’t mention it. I’m sure that you had the best of the best care. Did they treat you well at Evanston?"

"Yes, they were brilliant.”

"You must have friends in high places. That hospital is very exclusive."

“Well, I have a friend who insisted on taking care of everything."

“Of course. Agent Jansen,” he motioned for Amelia. “Would you two join me in the office?"

I blinked at Amelia. "Well, we wouldn't want to interrupt. You look like you might have been busy."

He waved his hand dismissively. "No, no. I was just having coffee in the sunroom. I was almost done anyway. And I have a ten o'clock meeting, so let's head into my office."

I frowned. That was not what we wanted. Letting Lucas inside the house was going to be a complication we didn't need. But if we had no other choice, that was how we were going to have to play this.

Amelia pulled out her phone and sent a text so that Lucas knew what to do. And for the next fifteen minutes, we were stuck with Lord Jameson kissing my ass and giving Amelia a run of twenty questions. Mostly if we knew why he was a target and if we had caught Theroux yet.

Then I made the mistake of asking, “Are you so sure it was Theroux? As you know, he's been on Interpol's most wanted list for a long time. But he’s been inactive. Why would he surface now?"

That seemed to make him stop. "Well, my collection is vast. Quite the coup for someone like that.”

"Yes, but how are you even aware of him? Like I said, he has been inactive for years."

Lord Jameson blinked rapidly. "Young lady, I have been around this world far longer than you. In art circles, we all know who Theroux is and what he's capable of. To be young and unaffected by all of this must be nice."

Amelia interjected. "Sir, we're doing everything in our power to catch Theroux. We promise you. But I mean it could have been anyone. Do you have any enemies? Have you considered that possibility?"

He slapped a