A Treacherous Trader by Ellery Adams & Parker Riggs

Author:Ellery Adams & Parker Riggs
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mysteries & Thrillers
Published: 2015-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

Molly invited Clara and Lombardi to lunch at Magnolia Bistro. Over chicken salad sandwiches for herself and her mother and a pulled pork sandwich for Lombardi, she laid out her plan.

“All you have to do is pretend to be a customer and ask Felicia if she has a diamond tiara for sale,” Molly said.

Clara frowned. “But I’ve already inquired about an art deco ring. Won’t it seem odd I’m suddenly interested in a tiara?”

Lombardi leaned toward Molly. “I’m not sure using a civilian on a sting operation is the best way to go,” he said quietly.

Molly huffed. “It’s a simple plan and I know it will work. Didn’t you see the greed in Felicia’s eyes? If she has that diamond tiara, she’s salivating to sell it.” She turned to her mother. “You pretend to be a customer shopping for jewelry. After you look at the ring, you tell her your daughter’s getting married and you’d like to buy her a diamond tiara.”

Clara glanced at Lombardi. “What if she gets suspicious and starts asking questions? Maybe you should send in an uncover policewoman.”

“No, no, no,” Molly said before Lombardi could agree. “The fact that you’re not a cop works to our advantage. If she gets suspicious, she’ll never give up the tiara.”

Lombardi finished his sandwich and wiped his sticky fingers with a napkin. “You make a good point, Molly,” he said. “But if your mother doesn’t want to do it, we need a Plan B.”

Molly looked at her mother. “What d’you say, Ma?”

“I don’t know, honey,” Clara said. “She might have killed Alec. She could be dangerous.”

Molly was disappointed, but if her plan made her mother uneasy it wasn’t worth pursuing. “I’m not going to force you to do something you feel is dangerous,” she said. “We’ll find another way.”

“I had a case recently where I used a high-definition video pin on an informant,” Lombardi said. “It’s a small camera disguised as a piece of jewelry. We can attach it to your jacket, Clara. I’ll have a monitor, and Molly and I will be able to see and hear everything. If Felicia freaks out, we’ll come running. Would that put your mind at ease?”

“A video pin,” Clara said, intrigued. “Is that like the cameras police officers wear on their vests?”

“Same technology, only prettier.” Lombardi grinned. “Perfect for a spy.”

“Well, I suppose if you and Molly can see what’s happening . . . I have to admit, it’s rather exciting. I feel like a spy.”

“Did you leave Felicia a voice mail when you got in touch with her before?” he asked. “Or did you actually meet her in person?”

“Sean called and left her a voice mail; I followed up with a text,” Clara said. “She hasn’t actually replied.”

“Great, so you haven’t met her,” he said. “Can you lose the accent?”

“What?”

“Your accent might make her suspicious. She met Molly this morning and might put two and two together. Can you do a Yankee accent?”

“Certainly,” Clara sniffed. “How difficult can it be to speak in hard vowels?”

“Okay, good,” he said, and pushed back his chair.

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