Page 24 of A Violet Obsession

“The Transcendents ended up buying it for thirty-five million.”

I know my shock is showing on my face. “Thirty-five million?”

Vincent’s eyebrows bunch. “What does a commune want with a gemstone.”

“It’s not a gem. It’s actually a quartz crystal,” I say, and when Lily nods, I feel like I won a prize of some sort.

“Voss’s trust only cleared him to thirty million. When his own lawyer cut him off, he pointed across the room and said, tell that crystal freak this isn’t over.” She explains. “Then he stormed out. So, no—I don’t think he was behind the robbery. He thinks I have it. In the car, he offered to fly me out of the country if I’d just hand it over.”

Vincent and I trade a look. Voss’s name has lived on the edges of our world for years—trust-fund heir to a Swiss banking dynasty, with a reputation for expensive, and eccentric obsessions. He’s never been the target of one of our ops, but he’s always been somewhere on the periphery.

“Tell us about the robbery itself,” Vincent says.

Her spine goes rigid, fingers knotting in her lap. “I don’t remember it.” She’s defensive, braced for us not to believe her. “I was packing up the sold items.”

“Was anyone else with you?”

She shakes her head. “Not really. A couple of people popped their heads in to say goodbye. And Dawn brought the papers I needed. After she left, it was just me and the guards.”

“Do you always work that late?” Vincent asks.

“Not always, but big auction nights run later because I have to wait until the sales are finalized. I don’t mind, though.” Something softens in her face. “It’s kind of neat to be surrounded by all of that beauty.”

“And money,” I say, before I can stop myself.

Her face falls. “To me, it’s more about the stories. The history.”

It’s not the firm evenness of her voice or the micro-expressions I’ve been trained to read. It’s her eyes.

She’s telling the truth.

Something lifts off my chest and then settles right back. She didn’t take the necklace. I’m sure of that now. But there’s definitely something she’s hiding.

“I was packing up the last item. Then I was in the lobby, and there was blood, and a… a gun, and—.” Her words hiccup over each other, and before I realize what I’m doing, I lay one hand on her wrist and with the other I take the sloshing mug out of hers.

“I’m sorry,” she gasps, her mouth opening in little pants as she tries to suck in air.

I move my hand to her back and smooth slow circles over her shoulder blades.

I’m keeping her calm so that I can get the complete story. Totally a professional move.

Liar.

“There’s a gap. A whole stretch of the night just gone. The police found me behind some boxes holding a utility knife and I can’t tell you how I got there.”

“As the only remaining person, they took you in for questioning.” Vincent frowns.

“They searched me twice,” she says into the quiet. “At the auction house, and then at the station. My public defender made them release me.” She lifts wide green eyes to mine. “I know how it sounds. I swear I’m telling the truth.”

My heart does something stupid in my chest.

She’s right. Her story is crazy. Completely implausible. And she’s clearly leaving something important out… but I believe her when she says she didn’t take the amethyst.

Lily might be a liar. But she’s not a thief.

Vincent comes to his feet. “Can I talk to you for a second, Finn?”

“Yeah.” I can feel Lily’s eyes on me as I follow him toward the cyber room.