Chapter Twenty-One
Jenna didn’t have to look around long after coming out of the bathroom before she saw Brock’s blond hair reflected in the bar mirror as she returned to the main area.
He leaned against the end of the bar, talking to the bartender.
This was odd in itself since he rarely acknowledged the service people in any situation. Before Jenna approached him, she watched him for a minute. She was now intrigued by his changing personality and wanted to see if she could spot any other inconsistencies.
Brock looked up and waved as she walked toward him. She could tell immediately he had been drinking the entire time since their last encounter. His eyes were glassy and his movements slow and a bit uncoordinated. Maybe Dan was right. This did not seem like behavior of someone about to pull off a multi-million-dollar jewelry heist.
Jenna stood beside him and leaned in. “Brock, are you drunk?”
He stepped back, bumping into the bar, and almost losing his balance. “No, of course not. I told you I’d not eaten, and I think it went to my head. Well, yes, maybe I am a bit drunk,” he said, grinning stupidly, as his drink sloshed over the rim of the glass. “Oops, maybe more than a little.”
Jenna took his arm and guided him toward the patio door. “Let’s go out to the balcony and get you some fresh air. Maybe you should switch to water for a while until you have more food.” As Jenna steered Brock through the patio door, she saw Dan standing with Harper and another couple at the far end of the patio.
Dan looked up and then guided Harper back inside.
Brock didn’t seem to notice Dan or Harper as Jenna guided him to a seat at a small table. She handed him a bottle of water she picked up at the bar and watched as he chugged down half.
Brock rubbed his hands across his face and groaned. “Got to get out of here.” He held on to the side of the table and pushed himself up. “I think I need to go to the bathroom, Jenna, I’m not feeling so good. Must have been the shrimp.”
“Okay, well, do you need me to walk with you?”
“No, no, of course not. I’ll be okay. Back soon,” he mumbled as he staggered forward.
Jenna watched as Brock walked off, wobbling ever so slightly, but he seemed to be going in the right direction. She sat alone on the patio and wished this night was over. Then she thought about what might happen after this night. What did all this mean for her and Dan? She realized the bad timing of doing a life review, but the subject was weighing on her more than she thought it would. Could she trust him completely again like she did before—with her very life? Did she even want to try? Her head was spinning and not from the wine. She forced herself to stand, and she went back inside to wait and watch, but she wasn’t sure for what.
Jenna saw Dan and Harper standing with a small group as she made the rounds on her way toward the bathroom to check on Brock. Still no sign of Gail. She looked at her watch; Brock had been gone a good half-hour. As she got to the bathroom door, she saw him come out, almost knocking her backwards.
“Oh sorry, Jenna. Sorry I took so long. I think I got it out of system now.” He patted his stomach.
“Okay, good. You’re still looking pale but maybe a bit steadier. How about more water?”
Brock nodded and grabbed on to her arm as they walked away from the bathroom. “Anyway, Jenna, why does the senator have a men’s room and a ladies’ room signs on bathrooms in his own house?” Then he laughed as if it was the funniest thing ever.
Jenna couldn’t tell if he was serious or being funny. “I think they put the signs up for the guests’ benefit to make it easier. I suppose in real life, one is their guest bathroom, and one is a general bathroom they likely use more routinely. They do entertaining and events in this house, mostly. It’s not their everyday home. It’s more like an extension of the senator’s office than a home.”
“I knew you’d know. You always have an answer for everything, don’t you?” Brock frowned down at her. “And the patio area, it’s as big as the one at the other building. The man must have big bucks. Look at this place!”
“Yes, I suppose he does.” Jenna walked back into the main part of the house.
“Listen, Jenna, if you don’t mind too much, I’m getting a car and going on back to the hotel. I’m feeling terrible. I think the shrimp gave me food poisoning.”
“You do still look a bit shaky and pale, but wouldn’t you like to maybe wait outside on the patio for a while to see if you feel better?”
“No, I’ll go on back,” he mumbled, then paused for a moment. “And I’m sorry things didn’t work out for us, Jenna. I really mean it.” Brock walked off toward the front door, trying to get his phone out of his pocket, and he didn’t look back.
Jenna shook her head, processing this new development as she went back to the bar for water. She wondered what Brock’s departure meant. Probably nothing and she was being paranoid. Dan was right; Brock had no real role in what was going on. But she couldn’t let it go just yet. Could he be the unwitting accomplice? Was he faking his sickness so he could escape her but not really leave? She surveyed the room but saw no sign of Dan, Harper, or anyone else in their current drama. She did notice the senator was sticking closer to his wife now, and she was glad he was taking things seriously.
As she started walking over to talk to the senator and Marta Roseland, she couldn’t keep Brock from popping back into her mind. Darn it, why didn’t she follow him to make sure he left? Was she losing her touch? She made a quick turn and rushed to the front of the house and out the door. No Brock, and two waiting limos. She couldn’t do much about it now but to let Dan know. As she reentered the house, the lights dimmed, and a low vibrating gong sounded. She knew it was the signal for everyone to stop talking and wait for the senator to make another one of his speeches.
As they all waited for the senator to begin talking after his cronies made their usual flattering remarks before they introduced him, Jenna spotted Dan off to her right. She kept glancing over to get his attention, as Marta Roseland stood to make her own tribute to her husband and to re-introduce him. Dan never looked her way, so she dared a text telling him Brock was gone, but she added a question mark. When she glanced over again as the senator began to speak, she spotted both Dan and Harper were looking at her. The look she saw on Harper’s face couldn’t be mistaken for anything but what it was—pure hate.
Jenna made herself turn away and at least pretend to pay attention to the senator’s words. She had dealt with people who didn’t like her for what she wrote, but she had never faced such undisguised, pure hate directed at her before. A chill ran up her spine as she realized Harper meant for her to see it. War was officially declared.
The senator’s speech was mercifully short. It was a Southern-style charming plea for more money for their campaign, and it was asked as only Southern politicians could ask. True to form, they did it in such a way the listener was left feeling as if it was an honor to give their money away. The senator and his wife seemed born to be politicians. Jenna learned to be wary of politicians over the years, but Senator Roseland was a good man, and he was good for Georgia. She wished him luck. Georgia could do far worse than have he and Mrs. Roseland in its corner.
Jenna risked a glance at Dan again as the senator ended his talk. She hoped his gaze so focused on his phone meant he was getting an update from his friend, Luc. She tried to concentrate on what the senator’s friend was saying as people began to circulate and go into their little groups, but she found herself ticking off the many things Harper might have in mind for them.
As the servers came around with coffee and brandy—a sign the evening was winding down, and a signal for some it was time to leave—Jenna felt the need for air. She walked back out onto the patio and looked into the now dark sky. She wondered how her life had gone so far off track from the young girl who used to spend her summers in Savannah.
As she turned to go back into the room, she saw Marta and the senator huddled together. She knew what this meant—they were getting nervous and were wondering if the thief would soon strike. Jenna felt her nerves on edge, too, because time was running out. If anything was going to happen, it would happen soon. The guests were thinning out. Some men were smoking cigars and drinking brandy on the patio, but most were filtering toward the door to wait on their limos to return them to the city.
Jenna’s gaze darted around the room as she tried to locate Dan, Harper, and anyone else who might be closing in on Marta Roseland and the necklace. She wondered how they planned to get the necklace off her. Why hadn’t they left the fake necklace in the safe with the real one? But she knew why. The thief wouldn’t strike unless they could do a fast lift-and-run. They wouldn’t risk fooling around with a safe. Too many people and too much security were present.
A diversion of some sort was in order. But she didn’t know what kind of diversion to expect, and the fact was setting her nerves on fire. When, where—and how? The senator and Marta took a seat in a corner opposite from the bar in a place where they could see anyone approaching from every side. A wise choice. Jenna could tell from the looks on their faces they needed some reassurance. She walked over to join them as she spotted Dan across the room.
Just as Jenna began to reassure the Roselands that security was in place and ask them to stay together, she saw Gail Wells appear at her elbow.
Ignoring her, Gail faced the senator and his wife. “Senator and Mrs. Roseland, I need to speak with you in private.”
“I’m sorry, who are you?” Marta reached for her husband’s hand.
“I’m Gail Wells, an insurance investigator, and I believe this woman here and her partner are here to relieve you of your necklace tonight.”
Marta gasped, and her hand went to her neck. “What are you talking about?”
All gazes turned on Jenna as she looked for Dan.
“Don’t listen to this.” Jenna saw Dan coming toward them, with Harper in tow.
Jenna turned to Gail. “Miss Wells, I assure you someone might well be here for Mrs. Roseland’s necklace, but I’m not your thief. Nor is Dan.”
Gail barked out a laugh. “You think you have everyone fooled, but you don’t fool me. I’ve been tracking Dan Kelly for five years, waiting on this day, and waiting to catch you with him, Jenna Myers, his accomplice then and now.” She pointed at Jenna as if stabbing her. “Here is the infamous black cat, or should I say one of the black cats? I hear you have begun again, and they found one of your hairs, so maybe we should call you the Red Cat now.” She pointed at Jenna’s hair. “Have you heard about the Red Cat burglar now operating here in the United States?” her eyes blazed as she turned to the Roselands.
Jenna heard the sharp intake of breath from both the senator and his wife, and her mouth went dry as she tried to form a response. The show was beginning. She sighed in relief as Dan, who was practically pulling Harper now, joined them and heard Gail’s last sentence.
Dan looked at Gail, his face set. “Miss Wells, while it’s true you have tried to pin the old Black Cat robberies on me for years, you have never proven anything nor uncovered one shred of evidence. As for Miss Myers, we are old friends and have traveled in the same circles over the years, as we all do. I think maybe you have become oddly obsessed with me. Maybe you could use a bit of professional help.”
Gail Wells stepped back as if she had been slapped, and her face turned red as she pointed at Dan and Jenna. “Lies,” she shrieked, making herself look more suspect and unstable.
Harper remained mute, and Dan’s grip on her arm held firm.
The Roselands stood, and the senator signaled to his security team.
The entire group was herded into a private room.
The senator took over immediately. “Listen, I don’t know what is going on here, Miss Wells, but I’ll not have you ruin our evening. Mr. Kelly has helped us make sure the necklace is secure because he thought it would be a target for this thief who has been in the news. Miss Myers here is something of an expert in the field, and due to the rarity of the diamonds and rubies in this necklace, she also agreed it was a prime target for the thief. She is here as a consultant.”
Gail Wells regained control of herself and stood straight, her arms crossed over her expensive designer dress. “Can’t you see, senator, this is all an elaborate set up? It’s their plan. They have done some sort of swap, and though you think your wife is wearing the fake, and if the thief does strike, that is all the loss you will have, but I think she is wearing the real one right now.”
The senator put a hand on his wife’s arm. “That’s ridiculous, and you are wrong. My security man and I supervised all of this, and we know which is the real one. I know she is wearing the fake.”
“Were these two people involved in the process, senator?” Gail pointed to Dan and then Jenna.
“Well, yes, Miss Myers and Mr. Kelly helped us set things straight.”
“Just as I thought. They have made a switch on you, senator. I know it. I’m sure your fake must be extraordinary and costly, but the real one is very much more so. If you hold them side by side, you should see the difference. I can tell you how to see the difference if you will let me show you now. This is my business, senator. I track down people such as these, and I verify what is real and fake. I am the real expert, not these two.”
Dan shook his head. “This is ridiculous. You’re manufacturing this to accuse me once again in the hope something, anything, might stick, and then collect your reward, Miss Wells. Senator, she is trying to cash in on this and take me down in the process. She has been obsessed with me for years. Don’t believe a word she says.”
Harper came to life and jerked her arm out of Dan’s hand. She smiled at the senator and Mrs. Roseland. “It’s easy enough to prove, right? Let’s go see the other necklace, the real one in the safe. I can spot a fake, too, you know.”
“Very well, let’s get this over with, and then you must leave, Miss Wells. I don’t want rumors of this leaking out to the press and spoiling another one of my events,” the senator said.
“This is a ruse, senator. It’s to get you to open the safe and confuse things,” Dan said.
“Be that as it may, I want this over and done. I don’t want Miss Wells spreading rumors about all this to the press. This necklace has turned out to be a curse, I think,” the senator mumbled, as he motioned for them to follow him down the hallway.
Jenna could feel the hairs on her neck stand, and a chill traveled through her body. This was it.