asked, “This may take a while–”
“You have five days to produce this artifact. It must accompany our entourage when we return to Italy next week.”
“One. Week?”
“Five days, to be specific.” Smith didn’t blink. He was dead serious. “Did you think I would pay that much money for anything less than immediate results? It shouldn’t be too difficult for you if your contact list is as extensive as I’ve been led to believe. The person who stole this will have to make a sale quickly to acquire the money he needs to disappear. Otherwise it will be quite obvious the minute he doesn’t arrive in time to leave with us.”
“You’re sure it’s a he?”
“The only women with any chance of involvement have been cleared by me. I’m looking for a man.”
The reality of what she was agreeing to slammed home with crystal clarity. What if this guy who stole it was unstable? Wouldn’t that be the definition of unstable? Someone who dared to steal a priceless artifact from the Vatican? “Are you planning on arresting this thief?”
“My first priority is the safe delivery of the scroll. After that, I assure you he will be dealt with.”
“People who are afraid can be dangerous. What if I figure out who has the artifact and tell you, then you retrieve it?”
“If I thought the thief was one of my people or on one of our other security forces, that would be a valid concern, but I believe he’s someone we’d never expect–someone on the massive staff–who saw an opportunity and has let greed overpower his faith. I would venture to say the thief is feeling quite confident right now since he’s in the US with a scroll that he’s managed to sneak out from under our noses.”
Smith paused, glancing around then looking like a man carrying a burden meant for ten. He continued, “Unfortunately, we have two delegations in the states at this moment, and all members departed within a six-day window. The first one is here on official Vatican business, which has that team spread across the country. The second group is the pope’s personal entourage. My staff was alerted of the missing scroll as soon as the pope’s entourage departed earlier this week. Both groups include the most highly trusted individuals, but none are someone I would consider a physical risk.” He pinned her with a no-nonsense look. “Another reason I chose you was because of your self-defense skills. I was led to believe that you’re well versed in Krav Maga.”
“True.”
That one word seemed to appease him. “In that case, take the same precautions you would with any other unfamiliar collector and you should be fine. However, I did not answer your question. If you prefer to contact me to intervene at any point, I will step in and I would allow you to keep your ten-thousand dollar retainer.”
“What about the rest of the money?”
“You would not have earned it. I’m here meeting with you only because I can’t get close to this thief before he disposes of the artifact, but you can.”
She needed enough money right now to cover the deposit on her father’s treatment, plus cash to buy help in tracking this thief down. This was an all in or not-at-all deal.
Valene steadied her breathing and told Smith, “I’ll find your artifact and return it as quickly as I can. I won’t promise five days–”
He pulled the tablet back and began packing up. “Then we have nothing else to discuss, but I will hold you to the nondisclosure agreement.”
Crap. “What I meant to say was that I would not promise five days unless the thief absolutely contacts someone to sell the scroll and unless he’s looking for the kind of buyer who can actually afford something of that level.”
“The list of buyers will be in single digits.”
“Correct,” Valene said. “In fact, it’s going to take someone who is a multi-billionaire, and even then he or she will have to be convinced this scroll is real. That being the case, if your thief
“You have five days to produce this artifact. It must accompany our entourage when we return to Italy next week.”
“One. Week?”
“Five days, to be specific.” Smith didn’t blink. He was dead serious. “Did you think I would pay that much money for anything less than immediate results? It shouldn’t be too difficult for you if your contact list is as extensive as I’ve been led to believe. The person who stole this will have to make a sale quickly to acquire the money he needs to disappear. Otherwise it will be quite obvious the minute he doesn’t arrive in time to leave with us.”
“You’re sure it’s a he?”
“The only women with any chance of involvement have been cleared by me. I’m looking for a man.”
The reality of what she was agreeing to slammed home with crystal clarity. What if this guy who stole it was unstable? Wouldn’t that be the definition of unstable? Someone who dared to steal a priceless artifact from the Vatican? “Are you planning on arresting this thief?”
“My first priority is the safe delivery of the scroll. After that, I assure you he will be dealt with.”
“People who are afraid can be dangerous. What if I figure out who has the artifact and tell you, then you retrieve it?”
“If I thought the thief was one of my people or on one of our other security forces, that would be a valid concern, but I believe he’s someone we’d never expect–someone on the massive staff–who saw an opportunity and has let greed overpower his faith. I would venture to say the thief is feeling quite confident right now since he’s in the US with a scroll that he’s managed to sneak out from under our noses.”
Smith paused, glancing around then looking like a man carrying a burden meant for ten. He continued, “Unfortunately, we have two delegations in the states at this moment, and all members departed within a six-day window. The first one is here on official Vatican business, which has that team spread across the country. The second group is the pope’s personal entourage. My staff was alerted of the missing scroll as soon as the pope’s entourage departed earlier this week. Both groups include the most highly trusted individuals, but none are someone I would consider a physical risk.” He pinned her with a no-nonsense look. “Another reason I chose you was because of your self-defense skills. I was led to believe that you’re well versed in Krav Maga.”
“True.”
That one word seemed to appease him. “In that case, take the same precautions you would with any other unfamiliar collector and you should be fine. However, I did not answer your question. If you prefer to contact me to intervene at any point, I will step in and I would allow you to keep your ten-thousand dollar retainer.”
“What about the rest of the money?”
“You would not have earned it. I’m here meeting with you only because I can’t get close to this thief before he disposes of the artifact, but you can.”
She needed enough money right now to cover the deposit on her father’s treatment, plus cash to buy help in tracking this thief down. This was an all in or not-at-all deal.
Valene steadied her breathing and told Smith, “I’ll find your artifact and return it as quickly as I can. I won’t promise five days–”
He pulled the tablet back and began packing up. “Then we have nothing else to discuss, but I will hold you to the nondisclosure agreement.”
Crap. “What I meant to say was that I would not promise five days unless the thief absolutely contacts someone to sell the scroll and unless he’s looking for the kind of buyer who can actually afford something of that level.”
“The list of buyers will be in single digits.”
“Correct,” Valene said. “In fact, it’s going to take someone who is a multi-billionaire, and even then he or she will have to be convinced this scroll is real. That being the case, if your thief
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