Page 47 of Deadly Charade

She headed to the living room, and Bryce set up the laptop on the coffee table in front of the sofa. The cozy two-person sofa.

So much for keeping her distance.

She sat down next to him, and within seconds, Everly’s face appeared on the screen. The woman had a new hair color—jet-black with a blue streak down the right side and bangs.

“Sorry for the delay, Ev. Bryce and I wanted to see what you found out.”

“The most important information I have is to not trust Sophia. I discovered more about this secret organization smuggling art and artifacts. Their leader is a woman.”

“Sophia is the mastermind behind this secret organization?” Bryce rubbed the stubble on his chin.

“It’s a possibility,” Everly said. “I just figured you’d be interested in the background of this group. I found a site on the dark web that tracks era treasures and artifacts stolen in World War II. One user was especially chatty and said the Russians have a group, led by a woman, that pays top dollar for information leading to Russian treasures. The group is specifically searching for pieces of the Amber Room. They call themselves the Amber Crown Society. Supposedly, the head of the organization is a direct descendant of Catherine the Great.”

“That may explain why someone took my grandfather’s journals,” Bryce said. “If he’d stumbled upon any information, even a theory, as to what is buried in the mountains, it might produce a valid lead.”

“Did you find anything out about our treasure hunter?” Kira asked.

“Not much,” Everly said. “That guy stays off the radar. I’m doing some digging, as I think Theo Durham is an alias. Other than his business info, I don’t see much about him online. At least he’s not lurking on the dark web or doing online transactions. I bet his business is cash only.”

Bryce had more questions than answers. “Are we dealing with two secret organizations? One called the Collector, with a family that secured art for centuries under the guise of preservation, and a separate group maintained by a Russian matriarch that wants to regain their legacy at all costs by obtaining stolen pieces?”

Everly clicked on her keyboard. “I think that’s a fair assessment. I’m still doing research on the Collector. Like you, the only thing I’m finding is speculation. That someone, potentially Derek Young’s grandfather, might have diverted a crate from the Nazis and shipped it back home. It makes sense if you consider Daniel Young was a high-ranking officer in the Army and worked in Germany for a time.”

Bryce ran a hand through his hair. “I wonder if this Russian group sells art through the smuggling ring. Maybe they’re the supplier.”

“I bet that’s how they’ve funded their operation,” Kira said. “Selling off the art they don’t want to fund their exploration for the pieces they desire.”

Excellent theory. If only he’d seen the clues in front of his face. “I can’t believe Grandpa may have had information all along.” His past and present fused as if woven together by tight threads, with his family clutching decades-old secrets.

Everly froze on the screen. He went to move the mouse but realized she was in deep thought when she blinked. “I think that theory holds water. They’re known to pay a lot of money for pieces, so dealers bring the art to them.”

“Everly, have you ever thought about working in art crimes? You’ve got some excellent investigative instincts, not to mention you found information that I’ve been searching a long time for.”

She giggled. “No, thank you. I’m only as good as the information I can track down online. Not to mention that I have zero desire to be in the field. I like behind-the-scenes work. You two are much more suited to deal with bullets and car crashes.”

Everly disconnected. Kira kicked back and folded her legs under her, then winced and straightened them again but laid her head back against the cushion. “What’s our plan for tomorrow?”

Bryce stifled a yawn. His shoulder and head throbbed occasionally to remind him to take it easy. “Well, I think we spend the day doing a little research. What if we make some calls and see if we can find more information about Theo the treasure hunter? I also want to see about getting my dad some permanent help.”

He looked at Kira, and she was out cold, slouched against the back of the couch. Her soft auburn ringlets framed the side of her face. An ache formed in his chest. She made him want to break his no-women rule. But how would he keep her safe? He knew the dangers of this job. They were both called to put their lives on the line if need be, but if he allowed himself to fall in love with her, could he deal with that fact? It might be too late to worry about it.

He grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch and covered her. In his mind, he’d gone upstairs and crawled into bed, but the next morning he woke up on the couch. The same blanket he’d given Kira now rested in his lap. The smell of bacon and eggs drew him toward the kitchen. She had already dressed in workout gear and was ready to go with a full breakfast laid out.

“Why are you up so early?” Bryce took the steaming mug of coffee she offered.

“I gave Sophia Katrina’s cell phone number the other night after dinner. She texted me at seven to ask if I wanted to join her for something called hot yoga. It sounds awful, but I told her I’d go.”

“I guess you’re building that friendship after all.”

Kira did some fake rolling punches in the air, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

“I plan to feel her out about the invitation,” she said. “I want confirmation of what pieces will be up for sale. Who goes to an auction without seeing the merchandise first? Also, we need to know what the code means.”

A desire to protect her burned through him. Where had that come from? “I need to go with you to make sure you don’t pick up a tail. I will—”

She put a hand on his shoulder. “I can manage this. Plus, I’m sure Sophia has security everywhere she goes.”

Agent Kaup walked into the kitchen and put her gym bag on the counter.