“Doubtful,” Tidwell said. “I’d be willing to bet that her life is a complete fabrication. I’ve got investigators going through her house right now.” His cell phone shrilled and he stepped out of the circle to answer it. “Yes?” he said. “Go ahead.”
“Your investigators?” Theodosia asked him as he listened on his phone.
Tidwell frowned at her but nodded his head.
“Did they find anything?”
Tidwell held up a paw. “Wait a minute . . . I’m having trouble hearing you. Speak up.” Then the connection seemed to improve because he suddenly seemed on full alert. “Is that so? Really. Well, get a crime scene team in there immediately. That’s right, photograph everything. No, better yet, videotape it. We’ll want to take everything into court for show-and-tell.” He listened for another ten seconds and said, “That’s exactly right—it’s a murder charge now.”
“What?” Theodosia demanded once he’d hung up.
Tidwell’s eyes had taken on an odd light. Probably the light of victory. “Would you believe the woman’s bedroom looks like Ali Baba’s treasure cave?”
“No!” Drayton exclaimed.
“Grace must have been a modern-day pirate,” Theodosia said. “Dip over to Hilton Head for a quick heist, then scoot down to Miami for another raid.”
“And Lionel Rinicker wasn’t in on it?” Drayton asked.
Tidwell shook his head. “He doesn’t appear to have been.”
“Grace was using him as cover,” Theodosia said. “Getting introductions to all the right people, going to the opera, the chamber music society, all the charity events. Meeting all the right people.”
“Rinicker’s going to be awfully stunned when he finds out that his girlfriend is an international jewel thief,” Haley said.
“Ex-girlfriend,” Drayton said.
Theodosia touched a hand to Haley again, reassuring herself that the girl was okay. “What a night. And to think that the FBI missed out on this.”
“I have a feeling you’ll be seeing Special Agent Zimmer again,” Drayton said with a mousy grin. “And when you do, just think of the conversation starter you’ll have for your first date.”
Haley perked up. “You’re going to date that guy? Cool.”
“Maybe,” Theodosia said.
“Hey there,” Lieutenant Commander Barley called as he leaned out of the wheelhouse. “Why don’t you folks try to crowd in here and get warm? Grab a hot drink if you want.”
They all moved stiffly inside, grateful to be out of the wind and pouring rain.
“What have we got in the thermos?” Barley asked one of his Coast Guardsmen.
The young ensign, the same one who’d helped haul Haley in, shrugged and said, “I don’t know. I think just some hot tea.”
Drayton caught Theodosia’s eye and gave a slow wink.
“Is that okay?” the young man asked.
Theodosia smiled. “I’d say it’s just about perfect.”