Perfect Sin by Kat Martin

Author:Kat Martin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-11-08T19:34:10+00:00

FIFTEEN

Moving quietly along a game trail, Rand and Percival Fox headed deeper into the forest, each of them carrying a long-barreled musket in his hand. At the edge of a rushing stream that cascaded down out of the mountains, they paused, leaning their weapons against the base of an acacia tree.

"We're safe here," Rand said. "The others aren't about to come this far into the woods." He knelt and scooped up a handful of water, enjoying the cold against his skin, drinking until he'd had his fill. "So what about Talmadge?" he called over his shoulder. "Have you had a chance to learn anything useful?"

Percy smiled. "Actually, I have. The cook—the widow Mrs. Wilmot—has been extremely informative."

"For example?"

"Did you know the baron has control of the supply ledgers?"

Rand frowned.

"He has complete control of the money, and he has the treasure."

"Treasure? What treasure?" Rand turned away from the stream to face his friend more squarely. "You aren't saying they've found the necklace?"

"No, not the necklace, at least not yet. But their discoveries so far have been quite significant. A jeweled crucifix, at least ten silver ingots, a solid gold jewelry box set with diamonds and emeralds, that sort of thing. At least two thousand silver Dutch guilders were uncovered in a single cache."

Rand blew out a breath. It wasn't at all what he had expected. "Did the professor anticipate finding this stuff? I don't recall him mentioning any other treasure outside the necklace."

"Apparently he thought there was a chance. He wasn't really interested in finding anything except the necklace and he didn't want to make promises he wasn't certain he could keep."

"But Talmadge must have known. And he must have been convinced the professor would succeed. And now you are telling me Talmadge has these items in his possession. The professor must be insane."

"Naive, I think. Apparently he trusts the baron completely. I'm beginning to think the man is innocent of your suspicions. I don't think Professor Harmon has enough guile to be involved in any sort of swindle."

A thread of relief filtered through him. "I hope you're right. I'm beginning to like the old man."

"According to Mrs. Wilmot, who apparently overheard their conversations, Miss Harmon has tried on several occasions to persuade her father to be a bit more circumspect where the baron is concerned. Obviously, it hasn't done any good."

"If Talmadge has won Harmon's trust so completely, he must have done so some time back." Rand clamped a hand on Percy's shoulder. "Perhaps, my friend, you have just uncovered the baron's scheme. The professor's finds thus far must be worth a great deal of money. It never occurred to me the man's goal was so simple. Raise the money, use it to find the treasure—then simply steal it. If his plan succeeds, he'll never have to work again."

Percy looked uncertain. "If that was his intention, the risk of failing would have been high. There was no guaranty the professor would find anything at all on the island.”

"True. And Talmadge isn't a man given to taking risks.

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