Theodosia hated to break his mood, but she decided she had to bring up last night’s robbery since it might impact the Heritage Society. “You know about the robbery that happened last night at Heart’s Desire? And that the police have now officially ruled the young woman’s death a homicide?”
Rinicker spoke in hushed tones. “Yes, I read about it in the newspaper this morning—it was the lead story. It must have been awful. And I’m to understand that the owner of Heart’s Desire is a good friend of yours?”
“Yes, she is.”
“Drayton told me you were there. That you witnessed the entire spectacle?”
“I feel like I saw bits and parts of it,” Theodosia said. “The robbery was all very erratic and confusing.” Actually, as she thought back over it, the SUV crash, the robbery, and the ensuing getaway had all felt like they’d happened in slow motion. What probably took sixty seconds seemed to have stretched into several minutes. Very disconcerting.
“Drayton mentioned that he’s worried about extra security for the Rare Antiquities Show,” Rinicker said. “Particularly when it comes to the Fabergé egg.”
“I think everyone at the Heritage Society should be worried,” Theodosia said.
“Well, I haven’t spoken to Timothy Neville yet, so I don’t know what his plans are. Or if they’ve changed at all.” Timothy Neville was the octogenarian executive director of the Heritage Society. He’d ruled the organization with an iron fist for decades and wasn’t about to relinquish one iota of control now. If anything, his gnarled fingers would grip a little tighter.
“I spoke earlier with Detective Tidwell,” Theodosia said. “He heads the Robbery-Homicide Division of the Charleston Police Department—and he’s offered to send over some extra police officers.”
“That’s very generous of him,” Rinicker said. “I think that would make us all rest a lot easier.”
“I’m assuming the Heritage Society will hire extra security?”
“Like I said, I’m not sure what the plans are. But if Timothy agrees, we can for sure contact our security agency and double up on guards.”
“I think that would be a smart idea,” Theodosia said. “When is the Fabergé egg supposed to arrive?”
“We’re expecting it any day now,” Rinicker said. “It’s supposedly being driven here in a Brink’s truck. So it should be perfectly safe en route.”
Theodosia smiled. The only thing that trickled through her brain was a memory of an old black-and-white movie that she’d watched a couple of weeks before—The Great Brink’s Robbery. Millions stolen, the largest robbery in U.S. history at that time. Holy cats. She hoped there wouldn’t be a sequel—The Great Brink’s Fabergé Egg Robbery.
5
“Knock knock,” Drayton said as he pushed open the door to Theodosia’s office. “I come bearing a cup of rose hip tea. Any takers?”
“I’m dying for a cuppa,” Theodosia said. She quickly cleared a space on her desk for the filled-to-the-brim teacup.
Drayton took in the clutter of papers. “You’re looking through that rat’s nest of papers that Brooke brought in this morning?”
“Yes, but it’s not like I’m actually getting anywhere.”
Drayton picked up a sheet of paper. “What’s this?” he mumbled to himself. “Oh, I see, it’s a list of jewelers and museums that contributed items to her show.”
“This is so heartbreaking,” Theodosia said. “Brooke did all this work, sweet-talking all these people and negotiating for rather rare pieces, and now it’s all gone. Every bit of the . . . loot.”
“That’s probably how the robbers see it, too. Loot. Gems and jewels to be ripped apart and then disposed of. Fenced.”
“Where would you fence pieces like that?” Theodosia wondered.
“You heard what Tidwell said. Pretty much anywhere, since gems and diamonds are so portable. You just stash them in your pocket and fly to Hong Kong or down to Rio.”
“Because the good stuff, the shiny stuff, is always in demand.” In Theodosia’s mind’s eye she could see fences picking over the jewels like a flock of wary crows.
“That’s right,” Drayton said. “I’d venture to guess that the buying and selling of stolen gems makes up a good part of the underground economy.” He picked up another sheet of paper and shook his head. “How on earth would you even begin to find a clue here?”
Theodosia was a trifle more optimistic. “You never know.” Then she took a deep breath and said, “I’ve been noodling this robbery over and over in my head. And the one thing that keeps popping to the surface is, what if it was an inside job?”
Drayton peered at her over his half-glasses. “Excuse me?”
“What if one of the guests at Brooke’s party last night helped orchestrate the smash-and-grab?”
Drayton stood there rigidly, as if locked in place. “Why on earth would someone do that?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Theodosia said. “Maybe to get filthy rich?”
He cleared his throat. “You know, I never would have considered that angle. You have a very devious mind, Theo.”