“Well, aren’t you dark horses.” She turned for the first time in a while to look at Shadow. “And you?”
“Oh, I have my own hidden abilities.”
Romola assessed her silently and then turned back to Gabe. “Nevertheless, you still won’t get in without me. If you try and fail…well, you might not get a second chance.”
“Neither might you if we go alone and upset them. I think your altruism is a ruse.” Gabe leaned forward, elbows leaning on his knees, eyes locked with hers. To her credit, she didn’t withdraw. Gabe wasn’t being overtly threatening. He just was without even trying. “You need us, too. We only want information on one jewel. A ring. How will you help us?”
“I will ask about it, upfront. Say that we have been approached by a buyer who has heard of this ring and wants it. I will offer to broker a good price for it. One of you will be my assistant.”
“Not the buyer?” Ash asked.
“No! We broker. We never introduce the buyer to the seller. How would we get our cut?”
Niel shrugged. “Sounds like a plan to me, Gabe. I presume we can ask questions, Romola?”
“Of course, although we should discuss what, first. We can ask to see it, too.”
“He won’t show it to you,” Shadow said. “Not a chance. If they value it so much as they have in years past, he won’t even admit to having it.”
“We shall see, won’t we?” Romola replied, gaze fixed on Gabe. Silence fell and she said, “I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering if you could break in and find it. These palazzos guard many secrets, theirs probably more than most. We should at least try it my way first.”
Gabe sidestepped the question. “What have you found out about Amato and his country house?”
“Ah, that! Well, that’s where it gets interesting. It took a lot of digging, too.” She reached for another set of papers. “It actually belonged to another member of the Lamberti family. One of Tommaso’s nieces.”
Gabe exchanged a jubilant glance with Shadow and his brothers. Another connection.
Ash set the list down and reached for the other set of papers. “Why did Amato end up with it?”
“I can’t tell you why, of course, but I can say that the house belonged to her father, Tommaso’s younger brother, for years. It passed to her the same year she got married. A wedding gift, I presume. That would have been forty or fifty years ago. But twenty years ago, just around when Enzo died, it ended up in Amato’s name.” Romola spread her hands wide. “I have no idea why!”
“Well, it can’t be a coincidence that it was the same time that Enzo died,” Niel said. “But why give away a house? A really great house!”
“Not just any house, though,” Ash reminded him without elaborating.
A house with a temple to Belial in its grounds.
Gabe pressed her for more information. “For the last twenty years the family fortunes have been diminishing, according to you, Romola. Any idea why?”
“No.” Romola eased back into her seat, legs crossed to give a flash of very expensive high-heeled shoes. “There’s something you’re not telling me. I can help—if you let me in on it.”
Shadow was standing out of Romola’s eyeline, and she shook her head at her brothers. Not that they needed her advice. Gabe was already answering her. “There’s nothing to tell, other than this ring is rumoured to possess strange powers. Nothing you haven’t experienced before in your line of work. It interests us. But more than the ring, we want to know how it came to be with the family in the first place. It connects to other avenues of our investigation.”
“Your investigation,” she repeated, her eyes sparkling. “This is getting more interesting by the minute.”
“Nothing other than what you will have experienced before,” Gabe reassured her. “And like I said. Our business. However, you have found out some great information, and we’re very grateful. I take it your retired colleague couldn’t elaborate?”
“I tried to contact him, but couldn’t.” She sighed with resignation. “Frustrating. I checked his files, of course. All paper, nothing on the computer from that time. However, there were no personal notes to cast any light on anything you asked me to find. My offer still stands, though.” She looked at each in turn, Shadow included. “These old families are as cagey as you. They won’t give up their secrets easily. As complete strangers, you won’t have a chance. Me, with my connections, it’s possible. I am used to keeping secrets. Just like Harlan.”
Ash spoke quickly before Gabe could decline. “She’s right, Gabe. We should accept her offer. We just need to decide who goes with her.”
“I should,” Shadow said, “for obvious reasons.”
Gabe shook his head. “I know, but even so, I’m going. If we’re not out after an hour, then you three come in and find us.”
“Make that two hours,” Romola said, shooting forward, eager to help, before Shadow could argue her point. “You can’t rush these things. We will no doubt have to wait, then go through formalities. Niceties.”
“Two hours!” Niel exclaimed. “That’s nuts.”
“Rich families like to keep people waiting,” Romola shot back.
“An hour and a half,” Gabe suggested. “A compromise. When do we go? Do you need to call to make an appointment?”
“No! That is one way to find our visit barred. We just go. I suggest this afternoon at three. A good time for afternoon coffee. It will give me time to shop for a gift. Something to go with a little present I already have.” She smiled broadly as she stood up. “An artifact Tommaso won’t be able to resist. A lovely religious icon I have been saving for a special moment such as this.”
“You think of everything,” Gabe said, unable to suppress a smile.
“I try. I’ll return at half past two. I’m staying downstairs, in a smaller apartment, so nice and close. In the meantime, enjoy Venice.”
Fourteen
“Theo! Good to see you,” Harlan said, crossing to the old man’s side and shaking his hand. “It’s been a while. You look well!”
Theo beamed. “I’ve had plenty to keep me busy, and well, the anticipation of all this has kept me very happy!” He swept his arms out to encompass the Great Court of the British Museum. “We’re on hallowed ground, old boy!”
Theo, despite his advancing years, was irrepressible. As usual, he was dressed in immaculate tweeds, no doubt bought at Saville Row, and his moustache and beard were oiled and groomed, his exuberant facial hair in sharp contrast to his bald head.
Harlan laughed. “I suppose we are. Any idea what we should expect today?”
