Chapter 27
27
After a shopping trip throughout the city, Magnus returned to the safe house with a bag of goodies to help him with his project. Every crew member had a different bag of specialized tools, Magnus included. Wherever he went, he brought a full jeweler’s kit—pliers, small hand torch, drills and various materials to create or repair pieces. In this case, he was more interested in re-creating.
He’d taken up residence in the dining room, spreading his supplies out on the table. He placed his laptop next to his mess of stuff, frequently glancing at the screen as he copied Queen Freya’s jewelry set. He studied the dimensions of each piece handcrafted by Johan Jensen. Two diamonds-and-pearl-drop earrings, one delicate diamond-and-pearl crown and one necklace with the same combination, plus a large sapphire in the middle.
Jensen’s particular style of Nordic modesty made his presentation of jewels dressed down and, in many cases, stark. This was the case for Queen Freya’s tiara and earrings, but the necklace was truly the star of the show. His years of creating pieces for the Swedish royal family were short-lived after dying in a workshop fire. Before his death, he made this particular jewel set for Queen Freya in 1936. It passed down over the years until it reached Astrid in the late aughts.
Reproducing each piece would be challenging, but the work would give Magnus time to sit with his thoughts. He thought back earlier to this morning. Ever since they arrived in Stockholm, he’d been on edge. So much nervous energy vibrated throughout his body, he needed to get out and stretch his legs. He walked around the city until he arrived at the entrance of Nationalmuseum. He paused for a moment before going inside, but he wanted to get a closer look at the place they would have to rob. Security was not as lax as it had been years previous. There were two beefy-looking men on the door, and two more men on both stairways leading to the second floor. They appeared to watch the large groups of tourists that milled around the first floor.
Flashy signs for the new Freya exhibit pointed him upstairs, so Magnus joined the masses up the stairway closest to the museum’s sculpture garden. He walked slowly through the Turn of the Century Gallery before getting to the smaller Treasury Room. A few people puttered around the exhibit, but no one seemed to notice the newer case filled with Queen Freya’s jewels. Magnus planted himself in front of the glass display, staring at the pieces that had slipped through his fingers so many years ago.
That was when the thought struck him like lightning as he stood there: I could make this .
He didn’t steal Uncle Anders’s props or take up geology as an area of study for nothing. When he was a kid, he hid the fake diamond necklace, pulling it out occasionally to study its construction. His interest in what glittered quickly became a fascination with all things rocks and minerals. Magnus could do this. If he got to work today, he might make enough progress to include reproductions in their plans.
“What are you working on?” The voice behind him barely shook him out of his reverie and hours-long concentration. When he finally looked up from his work, he realized it had grown dark outside and his hitched shoulders were now sore. With his magnifying glasses still wrapped around his head, Celeste appeared much closer and more distorted than she really was.
Magnus pushed the visor up and turned off the tiny light at his temple. “What did you say?”
Her attention was on his work at the dining room table. “Oh, my God, Mags... Are those the earrings?”
He stretched his stiff neck and yawned. “Yeah, those are the easiest pieces. The tiara is probably going to give me the most trouble, but I think I could knock that out tomorrow if I keep at the necklace tonight. The construction is simple enough, but I keep wondering about its weight. Platinum is always gonna have some heft.” He ran his fingers over the necklace. “I’m especially proud of the blue spinel. I managed to shave it down to the same size and circle cut of her sapphire. Pretty good dupe, huh?”
“You’ve been working on this all day?” Celeste stared at him. “They’re amazing...”
“I saw the exhibition this morning on my walk,” Magnus said. “You like them?”
She seemed to catch herself and immediately shrugged. “I mean, it’s pretty good,” she said. “If it’s something you’re willing to Bait and Switch, they might not notice for a couple weeks.”
That sounded more like Celeste. He gave her a smile as he took her hand. She allowed herself to be pulled by him until she ended up between his knees. “It’s okay if you’re impressed,” he murmured, pulling her onto his thigh.
She settled onto his lap and began to touch his tools. She dug her hand into a large bag of cubic zirconia gems and pulled out a fistful just to let them trickle through her fingers. “So, this is what’s in your tool kit,” she said softly. “I’ve never seen you work like this.”
“This is how I settle my mind,” he said, resting his chin atop her shoulder. It felt nice having her in his grasp. It also felt good revealing this part of himself. He wasn’t just a man who cased joints; he could create things, too.
She nodded. “I get it.”
“What do you do to settle your racing thoughts?” he asked.
Celeste picked up his soldering tool and examined it. “Plan for the job.”
“Mmm.” That explained a lot. She never rested. She never stopped reaching for the next assignment. “I think you need a hobby, CeCe.”
“Maybe you’re right,” she said, turning toward him.
They were suddenly very close now. Her dark brown eyes peering into his as he looked her over. Celeste’s short curls fell over her forehead, and he wanted to brush them away and cradle the back of her buzzed head. “What can I do for you, Dr. St. Pierre?”
Her full lips turned upward into a smile. “I was hoping you’d sit in on a call with me and the mysterious barman from Dr. Grant’s letter.”
Magnus sat up straighter in his chair and instinctively pulled her closer. “You found a contact?”
“Beatrice found him the same way she found Sebastian. I was going to contact him, but I wanted you to listen in. I’m hoping we can meet with him tomorrow.” She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and leaned against his chest.
Goddamn... He enjoyed this too much.
The quiet intimacy of being in her embrace, being close enough to peek down her tank top and see the goose bumps at the tops of her breasts. She smelled like fresh soap and that fruity shampoo he was quickly getting used to. The coconut and mango mixed with her natural scent created a constant Pavlov’s dog reaction whenever she was near. “Get the barman on the phone,” he said, nuzzling her shoulder.
“Are you able to pay attention?”
“Barely,” he said, pressing a kiss on her soft skin.
Celeste chuckled as she pulled her cell phone from her pocket. She dialed and they waited while the line rang several times. “You’ll let me take the lead?”
He huffed. “Of course.”
“Hej?” said a deep rumbling voice over the speakerphone.
Celeste cleared her throat. “Hello, are you a barman who might know a princess?”
Magnus lifted his head and gave her a look. “Really?” he mouthed.
She shrugged and rolled her eyes.
The pause on the line made him feel like her greeting was a mistake, but the man eventually replied. “And who is asking about the barman and princess?”
“Dr. Doris Grant,” she said.
“Ahh... Are you the student?”
Celeste exchanged a look with Magnus. “I am,” she said cautiously.
“We meet tomorrow. 9:00 a.m. Yes?”
“Okay...where?”
“We’ll be at the Mead Bar in Gamla Stan,” the man said in a gruff tone before hanging up.
Magnus was indeed familiar with the location in Old Town, not too far from the harbor. He sat back in his chair. “That’s the plan for tomorrow, then.”
“9:00 a.m., though?” Celeste scoffed. “That’s so fucking early.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re in Sweden now, my dear. The thieves meet early here.”