Into the Dark by Green Stacy

Author:Green, Stacy [Green, Stacy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Suspense
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
Published: 2012-11-27T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Julian fumed. The cop had touched her. Emilie hadn’t stopped him. Why? Did she care for him? Was there another obstacle standing in the way of their future?

“Sorry about the interruption.” Rick Tanner waddled back into his office.

Julian waved him off. “No need to apologize.”

“I don’t like to waste your time, Mr. Batier. You’re one of the museum’s most valued benefactors.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Now, let’s get down to business. You’ve something to show me?”

“I have.” Julian sat a small box on Tanner’s immaculate desk. “A friend of mine procured this, and I thought the museum would enjoy it.” He opened the box. Tanner reached inside, his tongue darting over his lips.

“This is a 1900 Double Eagle,” Julian said. “Made from the gold discovered in the Southwest, including Nevada. The double eagle symbolizes the immense riches of the Old West mining period, of course.”

Tanner ran a chubby thumb over the coin. “If this is authentic, it could be worth a few thousand dollars or more.”

“I can assure you it is. This coin would be a great addition to your Nevada history exhibit.”

Julian kept the other trinkets he’d found in the bootlegging tunnel for himself. There were several wheat pennies dating from 1911-1923, worth only a few dollars each, and an old soda bottle with remnants of ginger ale still inside.

He should have disposed of them. But they represented his labor of love, despite its ultimate failure. The double eagle was a true gem, however, and deserved to be seen.

“The museum would love to have the double eagle,” Tanner said. His pasty skin flushed with excitement. “Let’s talk price.”

“Consider it a gift.”

“Mr. Batier, this is worth—”

“I’m well aware of its value, Mr. Tanner. I’ve been doing this for a long time. As I said, this is a gift. I don’t feel right taking money for it.”

Tanner thanked him profusely, but Julian’s mind had drifted far away from the museum. What was Emilie doing right now? Was she with Madigan, allowing him to touch her? Had she offered herself to him? Were their lips mashed together, tongues entwined?

“Mr. Batier, are you all right?”

He stood. “Of course.” His stomach churned at the thought of his Emilie with another man.

“Let me walk you out.”

“No need. I know the way.”

He strolled through the halls, impeccable in his black suit and red tie. Several of the employees nodded in greeting. They had no idea of his inner torment. He couldn’t allow Emilie to slip through his fingers. After years of searching, she was the one to fill the hole Josephine had left in his heart.

Near the exit, Julian halted in front of an exquisite print of John James Audubon’s Mourning Doves. He stared at the birds. On that day so many years ago—a lifetime, it seemed—the mourning doves had been calling, their haunting coo resembling a strange lullaby. But when the wood cracked, the horrible splintering sound had startled the doves. Their high-pitched twittering echoed his own panic as he’d watched helplessly. He’d lost Josephine forever that day.

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