Chapter 66

 

Pen pulled her shoulders back, standing tall as she watched Caplin’s face register a range of emotions. He was startled to hear his name called out but didn’t seem especially shocked to see her.

“What are you doing here?” Pen demanded, her face hard as granite.

Behind her, Pen sensed Sandy watching from the restaurant. She’d dropped her fork and rushed out so quickly, no doubt her friend wondered what was happening. Caplin picked his way through the rocks and came to face Penelope.

“The same thing as you, I imagine,” he said.

She drew herself up, hiding the thousand thoughts coursing through her right now.

“I am here to recover my stolen property,” she said. “I’ve tracked the thief this far and I won’t give up.”

He nodded agreement.

“But … but you closed the case! You’re here tracking a nine-hundred-fifty dollar necklace?” It made no sense.

Caplin hung his head. “I was wrong about that.”

“You most certainly were! I tried to make you see—” Her emotions welled to the surface and she turned away for a moment. “Detective, what ever was going through your mind?”

He attempted a half-smile and a little shrug, but she sensed he was still hiding a great deal from her.

“At this point I want to help you,” he said.

Skepticism registered on her face.

“Really, I do. I trailed Frank Morrell and a man who is probably his buyer. I’m going to contact the local police this morning and report what I know.”

“No!” A hundred thoughts went through Pen’s head.

Caplin gave her a puzzled look. “Why not?”

She took a breath, looking around to see if Sandy had come outside. She hadn’t. “I have a plan—actually, we, some friends and I, have a plan. We’re going to locate Mr. Morrell’s contacts and steal back my necklace. We heard of a few other heirloom pieces and we want to get those back to their rightful owners, as well.”

The detective’s face registered mild humor and a dash of patience. “My dear lady, you don’t have a clue, do you? There is a major international theft ring behind these losses. You are—”

“Oh, I know,” she replied. “I’ve heard all about them.”

His face registered surprise.

Actually, Amber was at this moment doing the research but Pen refused to let Caplin have the upper hand.

“And how do you plan to stage this big theft of yours?” he asked.

“You’ve heard about the gem show this week?”

He nodded.

“Tonight is a gala event to kick off the festivities. I still have a few connections in this world.” Never would she admit her connection this time was a twenty-one-year-old computer hacker.

“That might be a good start,” he said. “But you won’t find the Golden Tigers attending a swanky party. One of their leaders escaped prison two weeks ago and there’s no doubt he’ll be lying low for a while. Interpol is combing most of southern Europe looking for this guy.”

Pen thought about that. If the police charged in, captured these thieves and confiscated all the stolen items it would be months, if not years, before she saw her necklace again once it was held as evidence in such a major case.

“Let me help you,” Caplin said, surprising Pen.

“What—assist us in stealing my necklace back?”

“Yes.”

“But the local police …”

“I’ll use them to learn what I can but my information will come directly to you.”

She pondered this. No doubt Caplin had inroads she and the Ladies could not hope to break, but could she trust him? What could possibly be his motive in offering assistance?