Betrayal by Jennifer Blackstream

Author:Jennifer Blackstream [Blackstream, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skeleton Key Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

“The dragon is a thief.”

Andy pushed a file across the table as I slid into the booth. Alexander’s was a classic bar and grill, and the noise from the wall of televisions was almost enough to block out my chaotic thoughts. I took a deep breath of air that smelled like fried food and beer, and stared at the folder. I could still see his ghostly parents in my mind, could hear the lilt in his mother’s voice as she begged me not to give up on Andy.

Andy tapped the file. “Vazkasi and his family own an import-export company called King’s Crossings. They specialize in antiquities and expensive art. Not only do they handle the shipping, they provide security. And at the client’s request, they’ll have an evaluation performed before the item is shipped for additional insurance purposes.”

I flipped open the folder and saw a picture of Vazkasi’s photocopied passport. I knew from one glance that the Vanguard had issued the document. Otherwise it would have been difficult to hide the dragonkin’s scales, and his gold eyes would have shone brighter in the image.

“King’s Crossings is a shady business?” I asked.

Andy took a sip of coffee, then set his mug down carefully away from the files. “Yes, but we can’t prove it.”

I turned a page in the file, running my gaze over the list of names. Nothing was jumping out at me. “So what’s the crime? Theft? Forgery?”

“Forgery. And murder.”

I jerked my head up. “Murder?”

Andy nodded. “That file is from the Art Crime Team. Two years ago, someone accused King’s Crossings of replacing their shipment with a forgery. The man who filed the complaint claimed that someone at the company paid off the man in charge of the evaluation. According to him, the artifact he delivered to King’s Crossings for shipping was genuine, hence his willingness to have the company’s evaluator look at it so it would qualify for extra insurance. When the evaluator claimed the artifact was a forgery, the client lost his mind. Tried to take the whole company to court.”

“You said they couldn’t prove anything,” I said, scanning the file. “There wasn’t any evidence?”

“They never made it that far. The day after the initial filing, the irate client died in an accident at sea.”

“Suspicious circumstances?”

Andy shook his head, but his mouth tightened into a grim line. “A perfectly innocent accident. Heart attack while he was out on his yacht.” He leaned back in his seat. “Don’t suppose you know of anything that can mimic a heart attack?”

Peasblossom snorted. “There are plenty of creatures that could cause a heart attack.”

“That’s what I figured. I talked to the agent who would have been in charge of the investigation. He said he tried to speak with some of King’s Crossings’ other clients, but no one would talk to him.”

“No one wants to risk their treasures being labeled forgeries,” I guessed.

“Right.”

I frowned. “I can understand dragons specializing in high end art and antiquities. That would be the perfect cover for treasure hunting.

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