The Black Sheep and the English Rose (28 page)

“Maybe he doesn't agree with whatever it is they're trying to do with it, so he's getting rid of it so it can't be used.”

“Possible.” Felicity shrugged. “I honestly have no idea. I just think that if it was still just about the sapphire, they'd keep me focused on that. But they said to ‘bring him Home.' Capital H. That means home base. No one goes there who isn't already cleared to go there. So, I can only assume that was their way of letting me know that he's one of us.”

“Wait a minute. Does that mean that Reese, himself, is now the proof? The evidence?”

“I don't get your meaning.”

“I mean that you're assuming, since they want him back, he still has the sapphire, correct? And bringing him back with it will prove what needs proving.”

“I—yes. I guess. Why, what do you think?”

“I think maybe they have some kind of documentation proving he tried to sell it, or that he has already sold it, and that's all they needed. You're just bringing him back to answer to the charges.”

Felicity sat back and let that possibility play out. “Maybe, but then they lose the sapphire, and whatever that jeopardizes is jeopardized. Unless they know, somehow, that it's already sold and out of their hands and reach.” She sat up. “That could be the Russian connection. If Chesnokov did end up with it, then maybe it's out of their reach. And now they want Reese back to work on him about the details, maybe try and get it back. Or at least prosecute him.”

“Possible, even probable.” Finn sat forward. “There is one other thing.”

Felicity looked at him.

“Was it a regular part of your job to bring, let's say, undesirables, back to the homeland?”

“No, never. Why?”

“How do your superiors assume you're going to persuade Reese to come back with you?”

“I don't know. I hadn't made the full connection until just now, but I'm not certain they realize that he knows I'm not the same Felicity Jane Trent the rest of the world knows. Maybe they think he'll be unsuspecting until we return home. They know we've done Foundation business in the past and that we are acquaintances.”

“You're sure they mean to bring him to MI-8 and not just home to the UK? Because, strolling into headquarters would certainly tip him off.”

Felicity smiled a little at that. “Maybe they clued me in, so I'd understand why I was bringing him back, for my own safety.”

“No other information?”

She shook her head. “I responded to that message with questions about the sapphire, about Julia, about Chesnokov, Andreev—”

“Me?”

“No,” she said. “I had no reason to put you on their radar.”

Finn nodded. “What did you get back?”

“Frustratingly little. They sent a list of possible locations for an interception with John.”

“Nothing on Julia? On anything else?”

“No. Which, I suppose isn't surprising. But, again, they aren't privy to all that has transpired, either.”

“Maybe you should tell them.”

She looked at him as if he were daft.

“No, I'm serious. Tell them that your cover is blown, at least in part, with Reese, and, given that, how do they want you to proceed? What are they going to do if you admit a failure, or partial failure, of mission?”

“I don't know. Not that I haven't been unsuccessful in the past—you know that—but I've never given myself away. Perhaps they'd terminate their need for me, assuming I'm too big a risk.”

“Is that why you haven't told them?”

“I didn't know there was something to tell until the transmission this morning. Yes, I would have debriefed them in regards to John Reese once the mission was over and completed. I wasn't honestly worried about that. But that was before I knew John, himself, was central to the case, and a possible agent, as well. I was more worried about telling them about my partnership with you.” She rubbed her arms. “And add to all that the fact that John came and found us here, and asked us to track the stone. Why? He didn't want it back, but didn't want Julia to have it.”

“Or, maybe, it was Julia's buyer he didn't want to have it.”

“But if I had it, and Reese is who I think he is, it would have damned him for me to take it back.”

“Which is why I still think it's possible he doesn't know who you work for, any more than you did with him. Maybe, in contrast to Julia, you seemed safe. Or a nonthreat, at least.”

Felicity sighed. “I don't know what to think.”

“Well, it would seem that finding Reese tops the To Do list. Even if we don't choose to make direct contact until we have a better idea about what's going on, locating him and watching his actions would be a good place to start.”

She leaned closer, resting her hands on his knees. He immediately covered them with his hands, and she took strength in that, no longer even trying to pretend she didn't want or need it. “What about the sapphire? What if he doesn't have it? If he's my target now, then maybe it's best I track him, and you go after the stone.”

“It could still be one and the same. I don't have any other leads. Chesnokov didn't pan out, there is still no sign of Julia, and given this latest information, we don't know who might have the sapphire.”

“Maybe that's still your best bet. To work that angle and track her down while I track Reese.” When he hesitated, she said, “Job first, remember? You still owe Theo his family name back. You can't give up. We don't know for sure it's out of reach.”

“How were you going to square that, anyway? If we both found the sapphire?”

“My hope was, with your client's documentation, that we could strike a deal whereby my country kept the stone as evidence in whatever case they were building, until it was no longer needed, then agreed to turn it over to your client. It might be a long while before he got it back, but he'd be guaranteed its safe return.”

Finn thought about it, then nodded. “Sound plan.”

“Only now, as you say, maybe they just want John. Which has the benefit of leaving the sapphire free and clear for you.”

“If I can find it.”

“I'm sorry,” she said. “I didn't mean to stall your search. If I'd had any thought that the transmission meant anything other than Reese had the sapphire, I'd have told you straightaway. You've already wasted enough time with me. Maybe you should see if Rafe or Mac has found anything promising. At the very least, we—or you—should track down Julia Forsythe.”

“She might provide you with some necessary information as well,” Finn said. “It would be interesting to know what she knows about John Reese. Maybe her taking off didn't have anything to do with the stone. Maybe she found out something about him that sent her running.”

“Like he's a double agent for the British government.” Felicity chewed on her bottom lip. “That would do it for most women.”

“We still don't know that he doesn't have it. Maybe they do intend for you to bring back both.” Just then Finn's phone buzzed. He clicked on the screen, and a second later a broad grin crossed his face. “Well, it's about time.”

“For?”

“For our lucky break.”

“I thought we had that with the Chesnokov info.”

“Except it didn't pan out. I think this one will deliver.” He turned the screen around so she could read the message.

She gasped. “Your lovely partners have tracked down Julia.”

“Seems they have.” He chuckled as he read the rest of the note. “Yeah, amazing detective work on their part. They called the gallery after it opened, and she answered the phone.”

Felicity gaped. “She's at the gallery? Where the hell has she been all night, then?”

Finn shrugged. “Don't know. She wasn't home, or at her shipping dock, and we know she wasn't at the fire. The reports Rafe had this morning said no contact had been made, so she wasn't answering her cell.”

“Kind of odd, but maybe not. Maybe we worried for no reason.”

“Or maybe Reese is full of shit and Julia was never in it at all.”

“Guess we should ring her up and ask a few questions ourselves.”

She glanced up at him when he didn't respond right away. “That's a rather devilish look you're sporting. What plot are you hatching now?”

“Well, I was just thinking that if Reese was put out by our appearance at his dinner meeting with Andreev in New York, imagine how he'll feel if we show up tonight, with a special guest in tow.”

“You don't mean…”

“Oh, yes, I do mean. What say we get dressed and go round up one Miss Julia Forsythe on our way to dinner? We can catch up on the ride over.”

“But how will we get her to agree to such a thing?”

“Oh, I'm sure we'll think of something.” He tugged her close and gave her a resounding kiss. “That's what great partners do.”

F
inn stood, and pulled Felicity to her feet as she stifled a big yawn. “We've got a few hours; why don't we get a little rest before we head out.”

She eyed him warily.

“I do mean rest. We're running on fumes at this point, and I'd like us to be a little fresher before we tackle this evening's events.”

“What about Julia?”

“I'll put Sean on her location. If she leaves, he'll let us know.”

Felicity looked as if she was going to argue, but her rebuttal was cut off by another yawn. She smiled around it. “I guess you win.”

He made a quick call to Sean, then tugged her gently to his side and put his arm around her shoulder as they walked back into the bedroom. “Sleeping together. I don't think we've ever actually done that.”

She laughed. “Do you hog the covers?”

“I have no idea. But if you stay close enough to me, it won't matter.”

“Good plan,” she said, and reached up to kiss him.

He marveled at how easy and natural it was between them, when, just as recently as on the plane ride out, she'd been awkward and unsure. It was probably, he realized now, because of the position he'd unwittingly put her in, rather than because she didn't know how to relax with him.

“Rest time, no working,” she said.

“What?”

“Your mind drifts and you get that unfocused look on your face. It means you're working.”

They quickly undressed and slid beneath the covers. He immediately pulled her to his side, and she moved willingly into his arms. “Actually, I was thinking about you,” he said.

“Oh?” she murmured, yawning again as she snuggled more closely and pulled the covers up higher.

“I was thinking about this,” he said, liking how her head felt tucked in the crook of his arm, and the weight of her leg draped across his.

“This?” she said, already drifting.

He scooted down and wrapped her more fully in his arms, his eyes drifting shut as he buried his nose in her sweet-smelling hair. “Mm hmm. This.”

The next thing he knew the alarm was rudely going off, and three hours had gone by in a blink. He reached over and smacked the alarm off. It took Felicity a bit longer to rouse herself. So he used the time to watch her, and think about the dramatic turn his life had taken since he'd left Virginia a few weeks ago to start tracking the stone. If he was honest, the dramatic turn had really happened several years ago in Bogota. It had just taken them this long to finally do something about it.

“Caffeine,” she grumbled, her face still plastered against his chest.

“Hmm,” he said, grinning, “not a morning person.”

“And you're insufferably chipper,” she retorted, finally lifting her head. “And it better not be morning.”

Finn pushed the mass of curls off her face, then leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. “Tea?”

“Get me some espresso, and I'm yours.”

“Had I only known it was so simple.”

She smiled, still drowsy, with a crease mark on her face and a flushed pink in her cheeks. “Oh, you've spoiled me with the rest, so don't think you're getting away from that.”

“I wouldn't dream of it.”

He started to roll her to her back, but she anticipated the move and slithered off the bed before he could catch her.

“We need to be perky and on our game,” she said, standing there, looking anything but. “That takes me some time to achieve.”

“So I gather.”

She grabbed a pillow and tossed it at him, then retreated into the bathroom.

He caught it against his chest and hugged it. “Nice bum you have there, Ms. Trent,” he called after her.

She grumbled something in return. Then he heard the shower come on. He thought about joining her. His body was well past that idea given its ready state, but there was, unfortunately, a job to be done first.

“I swear, Theo, this better all work out.” He swung his legs over the bed and reached for the hotel phone. “Although I suppose I should thank you.” If he hadn't gone to New York after the stone…He glanced at the bathroom door and smiled. “Yeah, I definitely owe you.”

Forty-five minutes later they grabbed a cab in front of the hotel.

“Julia's still at the gallery?” Felicity asked as she slid across the backseat.

“I know, hard to believe.”

“Either she's incredibly confident, or she doesn't really have anything to hide.”

“According to Sean the police and fire marshal have been by, along with someone else driving a county car.”

“Sounds like standard follow-up to the fire. And they didn't take her with them, so perhaps she's not a suspect.”

“Maybe. We'll be able to tell more once we see her. I hope.”

“We're meeting Sean there, then?” She smiled. “Didn't anyone think it odd that a limo complete with driver has been hanging 'round all day?”

Finn shrugged. “I don't think Rafe hired just anyone. I'm pretty sure Sean's done some, shall we say,
offensive
driving before.”

“I was wondering about that.”

“Yeah. I've been wondering if he's interested in moving to the East Coast. We could use someone like him.”

Felicity nodded, but Finn noted she glanced away then, shifting her gaze out the window as they pulled into the steady stream of traffic heading downtown.

“You okay?” he asked after a few more moments had passed. “I know you're worried about getting Reese to agree to—”

“No,” she said, glancing back at him, a more tentative smile playing around her mouth. “It's not that.”

“What, then? You don't think I should hire Sean full time?”

The smile spread at that, which he'd intended. Whatever it was that had caused her withdrawn reaction, he doubted it had anything to do with their young driver.

“No,” she said. “I mean, yes. I mean, do whatever you like with Sean. I think he's great. If you don't employ him, I might.”

“And?” Finn prodded.

“And, you mentioning him moving east made me think.” She took another pause, but Finn had already made the mental leap as well, and didn't push her to continue. His heart was suddenly rising into his throat, making conversation a bit difficult.

She looked at him fully then. “If we're to…proceed, you and I, once this is over, what would you want? I mean, have you thought about that at all?”

“Not really,” he admitted. “There hasn't been much time for that.” He smiled then. “I was too busy trying to get you to even contemplate the idea, to allow myself to stretch the fantasy out much beyond that.”

“Fantasy,” she repeated. “Of course, then you thought I dabbled on the wrong side of the law for kicks, so perhaps it was wise to hedge your bets on any future happening between us.”

“Clearly it didn't slow me down any, but I will admit it was the one part I couldn't make jibe with the rest of you.”

“It never occurred to you that I might be working in some way?”

“You danced all around it, and gave enough clues, but no, never once did I fathom you were really a secret—”

She covered his mouth and jerked a nod toward the cabbie.

“Right,” he said. “Sorry. I thought maybe you'd gotten in over your head in something that walked the line and had maybe stepped over. That's why I offered to help.”

“But you weren't certain of that. You honestly thought I was just in it for the sheer thrill.”

He tipped his head. “I didn't know. Not for sure.”

“And yet—”

“Yeah,” he said. “And yet. My instincts are rarely wrong about a person. I just told myself to be patient until I had all the facts, and then I could decide. Other parts were already well on their way to making up their minds, however, and—”

“I'm well aware of what parts those would be,” she said dryly.

He took her hand and placed it on his chest. “Those weren't the parts I was referring to,” he said quite seriously.

Her eyes raised to his, then widened as she looked from her hand, her palm spread over his heart, back up to his face. “Oh.”

“Oh,” he repeated.

“Well.”

He grinned. “Well, indeed.”

She smiled then, too, while still looking a bit stunned. “Your accent really does need a bit of work.”

“Perhaps when we're in London, you can help me with a bit of private tutoring.”

“When we're in London?”

“I thought maybe you'd want company escorting Reese back.” He lifted a hand. “Not that I don't think you're perfectly capable. But I was also thinking that if it's okay with you, I'd like to be present to mount my own defense when you tell your chain of command about us.”

She just sat there and stared at him, as if unable to grasp everything he was saying.

“You don't have to decide now, just—”

“We're here,” the cabbie loudly interrupted. “Forsythe Gallery.”

Felicity darted a look at the cabbie, then back to Finn. She looked…poleaxed, for lack of a better word.

“So, maybe some things I did think about,” he said, by way of explanation. “We'll talk later.”

“Yeah,” she said, the word coming out a little choked. “Later.”

Finn's smile faded. “Don't backpedal on me. I know I move in leaps, and you—”

“No,” she said quickly, having to clear her throat. “Leaping's not all bad. I just…I'll catch up. You…caught me off guard. No one has ever—”

“You all gonna pay me or what?” the cabbie said. “Time is money, you know.”

“We know,” Finn said, then paid the man and opened his door. He slid out and then reached in for Felicity's hand, helping her out after him. “Maybe no one has ever,” he said to her after the cab had pulled away and he'd stepped into her personal space. “But I do. And I can't imagine ever stopping. I'm…incorrigible that way.” He slid his hand under the hair on her neck and tipped her mouth up to his. “As long as that's okay with you…”

“It is,” she said softly, then lifted up on her toes to close the gap, kissing him first.

Because that's what great partners do
, he thought. And returned her kiss.

There was a quiet clearing of a throat just behind them, and Finn turned to find Sean standing about five feet away, hat in his hands. “Sorry to interrupt, sir, but I thought you'd want to know. Ms. Forsythe is leaving.” He turned and pointed to a dark-haired young woman standing in the open doorway to the gallery, having a conversation with someone still inside. She was wearing large, dark sunglasses, brown slacks, and matching fitted jacket, with a long, brightly colored silk scarf around her neck.

“She knows how to dress,” Felicity murmured. “Vera's Lavender label, and Hermes. The bag and briefcase are both Coach, if I'm not mistaken.”

“I'll trust you on that,” Finn said. “Thank you, Sean.”

The driver nodded, then stepped back over to the limo, several yards away.

“Show time,” Felicity said, then took a deep breath and started off down the stone walkway leading to the front stairs.

“Wait,” Finn said, lifting a hand, but she was already beyond his reach. “We should discuss—what are you—”

But Felicity was already skipping up the steps, arms outstretched. “Why, Julia, darling!”

Finn just smiled at Sean, who nodded and lifted a brawny shoulder in return, as if to say, “What are you gonna do?” Finn turned back to Felicity and decided what he was going to do was follow her lead.

Julia had been speaking to a slender man in a very nicely tailored suit, standing just inside the door. She turned in obvious surprise at the sound of Felicity's voice. Finn was several steps behind her, but didn't interfere.

Felicity kept on going up the stairs and straight into Julia's personal space, air-kissing both cheeks, then leaning back to take her in, as if thrilled to see her. “Finally, we meet!” she said, all sparkling eyes and cheery smiles. “And who might this be?”

“Francois Benetton,” the young man said, his accent quite heavily French. He was smiling uncertainly, clearly unsure how he should behave around the sudden intruder, but he swiftly took in Finn, and the limo at the curb, and erred on the side of caution. “I'm the manager here at Forsythe Gallery.” He extended his hand, and when Felicity went to take it, he took hers instead and kissed the back of it.

Felicity gave a delighted laugh and even managed a blush. “Quite the charmer,” she said in an aside to Julia.

At Julia's frown, she quickly went on. “Oh, my, you don't know who I am. It's Felicity Jane, darling. Trent. From the Trent Foundation.” She glanced back at Francois. “We've been setting up a Foundation grant to help Julia with some of the underprivileged artists in the area.” She turned back to Julia. “Perhaps you didn't get my message, about arriving today? Anyway,” she went on, as Julia watched her in stunned silence, so overwhelmed by The Felicity Show that she hadn't even glanced past her to Finn, much less the limo waiting at the curb behind him. “We're all set for dinner, and I've brought my own ride, as you can see.”