Ripped From the Pages (8 page)

“It’s sad,” he lamented. “I used to be so mysterious. Inscrutable.”

I laughed. “You’re absolutely sphinxlike most of the time, but I suppose I’m getting
used to you.”

“The Rodin connection makes sense, though, don’t you think?” Derek said as he unlocked
the side door into the kitchen. “Trudy’s from a prominent French family that goes
back several generations. They had a winery that was popular in the area. Who’s to
say they didn’t commission a work by Rodin at some point?”

I was momentarily distracted as canine Maggie trundled over to greet us and feline
Charlie pounced on my foot. As I washed out Maggie’s bowl and filled it with fresh
water, I remembered what we were talking about. “It’s two works,” I said. “Remember
the quail’s mate is on Trudy’s mantel?”

He stooped to pick up Charlie and nuzzled her soft neck. “Did you happen to see it
when we were there?”

“No.” I smiled. “There was so much other stuff to see.”

“Isn’t that the truth? Her home is quite like a miniature museum in and of itself.”

“I agree. I’d like to visit her again to get a look at that other sculpture she was
talking about.”

“Yes, let’s arrange that.” He took out his phone and punched in a quick note to himself.

I hung up my purse on a hook by the back door and sat down at the kitchen table with
my phone. “No time like the present,” I said, and Googled
Rodin sculptures
. It brought me to the site of the Musée Rodin, and I scrolled through the photographs.
I saw plenty of old men with their jowls and wrinkles, and beautiful
women of all shapes and sizes. There were lovers embracing and angels avenging, but
no charming little animals.

I reported my findings to Derek.

“It probably wasn’t sculpted by Rodin, but I’d be willing to guess that it’s from
the same era. It’s a stunning piece.”

“I think so, too. And speaking of notable Frenchmen, I never would’ve guessed that
Guru Bob was French, would you?”

“He’s so well dressed and speaks so formally, I always figured he was English.”

I laughed. “If only that weren’t true, I’d be able to say something rude.”

Derek leaned back against the kitchen counter and folded his arms across his chest.
“We British are exceedingly polite, as you well know.”

“And yet”—I glanced around—“I’ve been home for three minutes, and I don’t see my glass
of wine anywhere.”

He slapped his forehead in mock dismay. “Butler’s night off, love. I’ll get right
on it.”

My cell phone rang at that moment, and I glanced at the screen. I chuckled as I answered
the call. “Hey, Mom. Long time no see.”

“Hello, sweetie,” she said, speaking quietly. “Can you and Derek come over right now?
Robson is here and would like to talk to all of us together. It’s important.”

“I have been contacted by a number of media outlets,” Robson said as soon as we were
all gathered in my parents’ large, comfortable living room. “They are asking for details
and interviews.”

“They’ve already heard about the treasure in the cave?” I frowned, trying to figure
out how the word got out. “That was fast.”

“No, gracious,” he said. “Not the treasure. They have only asked about the body that
was found.”

“Oh, that makes sense.” I shot Derek a quick glance. “They probably heard the news
from someone at the sheriff’s department.”

“Perhaps.” Guru Bob stood in front of my parents’ dark wood and tile-framed fireplace
with his hands clasped behind his back. He was a tall, fair-haired man who never seemed
to age, but for the first time I noticed streaks of silver in his hair. It only made
him appear more distinguished, I decided. In his present stance, he resembled an admiral
handing out difficult assignments to his closest allies.

“Brooklyn, dear,” he continued, “I would appreciate it if you and Derek would agree
to meet and speak with the media people who show up seeking information. Given your
firsthand knowledge of the situation, you will be the best spokespeople for the winery
and the Fellowship.”

I gave Mom a quick look, and she nodded her encouragement. I couldn’t figure out why.

“I’m happy to talk with them of course,” I said. It was a lie. I hated the idea of
schmoozing with the press. But I wasn’t about to
turn down a personal request from Guru Bob. “But wouldn’t you rather have one of your
lawyers do it?”

“To put it plainly, no,” he said, smiling for the first time since we’d arrived. “The
lawyers know nothing of the circumstances. And have you ever noticed that they have
a tendency to get lost in the weeds? If you understand my meaning of that term?”

I smiled. “I do.”

“It is a colorful phrase that certainly fits in this instance.” He glanced at Derek.
“Now that you have talked to Trudy and know more of the background of my family and
what brought them to Dharma, I believe you will be prepared to handle anyone who comes
asking questions.”

“I appreciate your confidence,” Derek said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on
his knees. I recognized the move to mean he was pondering something deeply. “But,
Robson, even though we’ve talked to Trudy and we know a lot more than we did when
we first opened up the walls of the cave, we’re missing quite a bit of information.
Is there anything more you’d like to share with us?”

“I wish I could tell you more,” Robson said, sounding frustrated, which was alarming
since he rarely showed negativity. “Frankly, I would prefer it if you could limit
your conversation with the press to the topic of Mr. Renaud’s body. How he was found.
Where you found him. Details about the excavation itself. Those sorts of things. I
believe the news media will find those unpleasant details appealing.”

“No doubt,” Derek said. “But I don’t believe they’ll be satisfied with our bare-bones
explanation. A good reporter will want to investigate exactly what happened to Mr.
Renaud and how he ended up inside a walled-up cave.”

Guru Bob lifted his shoulders philosophically. “I fully expect that my family history
and the recently discovered artwork will
become fodder for some. I don’t expect you to lie about it. Trying to prevaricate
will only make matters worse.”

“On that we agree,” Derek said. “That’s why I want to be absolutely sure we have all
the facts before we stumble into something we know nothing about.”

Guru Bob nodded calmly. “Of course.”

“I can handle the press,” Derek said, “but I refuse to allow Brooklyn to be a target
for some reporter’s misdirected sense of truth and justice.”

“I can handle it,” I said, even though I shivered at the thought.

Guru Bob took a long moment to consider his words and finally said, “I will have a
few more things to disclose as soon as our last guest arrives.”

I glanced at Mom, who shook her head, meaning that she was as clueless as I was of
the identity of our missing guest.

“Please rest assured,” Guru Bob continued. “Neither of you will be hung out to dry,
as they say. I am the leader of this Fellowship, first of all, and second, it is my
family’s story that will be exploited. If any backlash or unexpected disclosure occurs,
I will step forward and deal with it.”

“I don’t think it’ll come to that,” Derek said, sitting back and sounding a lot calmer
than he had a minute ago. “I’m sure we’ll be able to handle it with no problem. But
I appreciate your willingness to come to our rescue if necessary.”

Robson nodded. “You and Brooklyn have come to my rescue on more than one occasion,
so if I ever have the opportunity to return the favor, I will.” He scanned the room,
meeting each of our gazes one by one. “It is lowering to realize that for all these
years, this dark secret was festering right here in our midst. I should have had at
least an inkling, but I did not. That troubles me.” He shook his head. “And the fact
that it is connected to my family hurts my heart.”

“You can’t blame yourself,” I said quickly. “It all happened before you were born.”

His sudden smile was luminescent. “Your defense of me is like a balm, gracious. I
appreciate everything you are doing for the Fellowship and for me.” He looked at Derek.
“Both of you. I am grateful.”

If I didn’t change the subject to something less emotional and more tangible, I would
burst into tears. “Robson, how many news outlets have you heard from?”

“Close to two dozen,” he said. “I have made a list of their names and contact numbers.”

Two dozen?
I blew out a breath. “Have you considered hiring some extra security for the caves?”

“I have indeed.”

There was a knock on the front door, and Mom hurried to answer it.

Guru Bob showed a hint of a smile. “Timing is everything.”

As Mom led the visitor into the living room, she wore a big broad grin. And then I
saw why.

“Gabriel,” I whispered.

He winked and almost took my breath away. “Hey, babe.”

I dashed over to grab him in a hug. “I haven’t seen you in forever. How are you?”

“I’m better now.” The man was too devastatingly handsome for his own good, and his
dark eyes gleamed with devilish intent. With his arm still slung over my shoulders,
he scanned the room. “Greetings, everyone.”

“Hello, mate.” Derek strolled over and gave him a hearty handshake.

Gabriel smacked him on the back. “Good to see you, man.”

I glanced from one man to the other. They were both extraordinarily hot, and I knew
from experience that being in the same room with them could be hazardous to a girl’s
ability to speak in
complete sentences. While both men exuded strength and masculine self-confidence,
Derek was smoother, more sophisticated, and deliberate. Gabriel was more likely to
shoot from the hip. He was—and always would be—a
bad boy
.

I beamed at Guru Bob. “Your extra security?”

He chuckled. “Who else would I call?”

Gabriel had saved my life almost two years ago when I was about to be attacked in
a noodle shop on Fillmore Street in the city. At the time, I thought I’d lucked out
that this tall, dark, and gorgeous stranger had walked into the shop at that precise
moment, but it turned out that he’d been following me—for reasons I would discover
much later.

I’d never quite figured out if he was a good guy or a thief, a gun for hire or a solid
citizen. Maybe all of the above. I knew he could be deadly, but that didn’t matter.
He had saved my life more than once, and, like Derek, he would always be a hero to
me.

He went by only one name: Gabriel. Like the archangel. I figured a guy that tall,
dark, and dashing probably didn’t need more than just the one name. Gabriel had a
knack for finding whatever it was you needed. His business card read
DISCREET PROCUREMENT
.

As usual, today he was dressed all in black, from his black suede bomber jacket down
to his boots. The color suited him just fine. He had made a temporary home for himself
here in Dharma, and I knew he’d been working on some kind of security system for Guru
Bob.

He pulled a chair in from the dining room and sat down. “So, what’s all the hubbub
about?”

“Hubbub?” I had to laugh. “Nothing much. Just a dead body that’s been perfectly preserved
for almost seventy years in a hidden cave under the vineyards, surrounded by a treasure
trove of artwork and goodies that looks like something from a museum heist.”

His lips twisted into a smile. “Sounds like fun.”

I sat down next to Derek. “Did you know he’d be here?”

“I had my suspicions,” he said, his eyes twinkling. Besides being the two most gorgeous
men I’d ever seen in real life, Derek and Gabriel had become good friends and had
worked or consulted with each other on a few high-profile, top secret security cases
over the past year. I didn’t know many of the details, which was probably just as
well.

A discreet cough from Guru Bob brought us all back to attention.

“Now that Gabriel is here,” he said, “I will share more information with you. And
I have an additional request. It is your choice completely whether you wish to accept
it or not.”

“What is it?” I asked, concerned at the way he’d phrased it.

Gesturing with his hand, he singled out Derek and Gabriel. “I would appreciate it
if you two would accompany me to Frenchman’s Hill tomorrow. I must talk to some people
about what was found in the caves.”

“Absolutely,” Derek said without hesitation.

Gabriel gave him a thumbs-up. “No problem.”

I had every intention of going with them, but I would mention it later.

“What do the Frenchman’s Hill folks have to do with the caves?” Mom asked casually,
but I could hear the edge in her voice. Was she worried about more secrets?

I’d gone to high school with a few kids from Frenchman’s Hill, and they all had one
thing in common: they were French, duh. Their families had traveled to Sonoma from
France over the past half century, settling on farmland about five miles northwest
of Dharma. The area had come to be known as Frenchman’s Hill.

Coincidence that so many French families had moved to the area? I thought not. Especially
after hearing Trudy’s stories earlier.

“It is a long story,” Guru Bob said easily, taking a seat in the lyre-back chair nearest
the fireplace. “If you can spare me a few more minutes?”

“Absolutely,” I said. I wasn’t going to miss this.

“Wait.” Dad jumped up from his chair. “Since nobody’s going anywhere, I’ve got a bottle
of wine I’d like you all to try. It’s a Meritage blend I’m experimenting with.”

“Good idea, Jim,” Guru Bob said. “We should enjoy a glass of wine as we talk.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I murmured as he filled my glass. He gave me a wink and turned to pour
wine into Derek’s glass. Dad had always had a wonderful way of defusing tension, often
by changing the subject to wine, one of his favorite topics.

I swirled my wine and stared at the streaks coating the sides of the glass and slowly
dripping down. These streaks were known as
wine legs
,
and some wine lovers thought that the slower the legs moved, the better the quality
of wine. I’d learned that it had more to do with alcohol content and good old gravity,
but it was fun to zone out while watching them slide down into the liquid.

Once Dad finished pouring the wine and was back in his chair, Guru Bob began his story.

“I have a vivid memory of an incident that happened when I was ten years old. I was
helping my father in the vineyards when three men approached him. They told him they
were new to the area and were looking for Anton Benoit or one of his brothers. The
men had recently moved to Sonoma from the village of La Croix Saint-Just, where Anton
was raised.”

I nodded. We had learned that from Trudy earlier that day.

“The three were trying to track down Anton,” Guru Bob said, “to retrieve their family’s
belongings from him. My father was furious. He wanted to know why they were accusing
his father of theft. The men quickly tried to defuse his anger, admitting
that they were still learning English and had used the wrong phrasing.”

“Did they explain themselves?”

“They did, and my father calmed down. I cannot remember all the details of their conversation,
but despite their smiles and pleasantries, I know in my heart that they believed my
grandfather was guilty of thievery.”

I wasn’t about to doubt Guru Bob’s emotional memory. The man could pick up on an emotion
so subtle, you wouldn’t even know you were feeling it until he mentioned it.

The three men told Guru Bob’s father how, during the war, their families had entrusted
Anton with their most valuable heirlooms and he had taken them to America, promising
to return them after the war. Everyone in the village had been desperate to keep their
precious belongings out of the hands of the Nazis.

It was the same basic story we’d heard from Trudy earlier that day.

“My father was sympathetic,” Guru Bob said, “but he insisted he had no idea what the
men were talking about. They tried describing some of the artwork and furnishings,
but my father could only shake his head. He was clueless. He even invited the men
into his home, but they did not find what they were looking for.”

“You told us that your grandfather died before you were born,” I said, thinking back
to our conversation at the picnic table the day before.

“That is right. I never knew him. Marie, my grandmother, though, lived until I was
well into my teens, and she was wonderful.”

“I’m glad you knew her, Robson,” Mom said.

“I am, too.” He smiled. “So now we are all caught up-to-date. You know about my family,
and you know about the treasures. Soon others will find out. It remains for me to
immediately seek
out those French families and explain that their belongings are safe, after all.”