Page 77 of Smoke Screen
“When you ignored my calls, I figured I’d try the direct approach.”
“It’s been a busy couple of days. I forgot to call you back.”
Liar.“Not a problem. I won’t keep you. What have you heard about this Thompson Center heist?”
“Not much.”
“How much is not much?”
Rory hit the button on his key fob, raising the SUV’s tailgate. “I heard they hired BARS to locate the pieces. That true?”
Telling Rory he’d heard wrong might be a possibility, but why bother? Phin’s face had been all over the news last night when he’d walked Maddy from FBI headquarters and the Thompson Center. That shoe clip had probably already gone viral.
Jesus, Phin.
He put it out of his mind, focused on Rory lifting his clubs from the vehicle. “You heard right,” Phin said. “We’d appreciate any info. Obviously, we’d make it worth your while.”
Being the hound he was, Rory considered that. “I don’t want money.”
Well, there was a shocker. Maybe the guy wasn’t as shallow as Phin had thought. “I’m listening.”
Rory set the clubs on the ground and sat on the edge of the SUV’s cargo area, folding his arms. “I have a client interested in one of the queen’s pieces.”
Andwhoa. Phin tilted his head, organized his thoughts. The theft of the queen’s pieces hadn’t been released to the public, only the Pierres. But Rory knew. Which meant chatter somewhere.
Playing dumb wouldn’t hurt.
“The queen’s pieces?”
Rory laughed. One of those fake salesperson laughs Phin had heard at way too many functions not to recognize.
“Don’t play me, Phin. If BARS is involved, y’all know the pieces from the queen’s collection were lifted along with the Pierres. We can waste each other’s time or we can work together. Your call.”
“Have you made contact with someone who knows—or has—something?”
This time, Rory chuckled, yet another patronizing sound that rubbed right up against Phin’s already charred nerves. The fight with Ash had drained him and he wasn’t up for condescension. But he’d stand here and deal with this arrogant ass because he had a job to do. “Rory, call me crazy, but you seem to find this humorous. What’s funny?”
“You want me to give up my information when we both know you wouldn’t do that.”
Well,thatwas true. Certain things Phin couldn’t deny. “Working together,” he said. “What would that entail?”
He circled a hand. “I’m spitballing here. My client has an interest in one of the queen’s pieces. He doesn’t care which. He’s not that deep. I’m happy to work my contacts, but if I get you something that leads to recovering the collection, you’ll have to convince the powers-that-be to let me have one of the pieces.”
“That’s a huge freaking ask, Rory.”
“That depends on how bad Thompson wants the pieces back.”
“What’s in it for you?”
He shrugged. “My client will compensate me. It’s a good deal, Phin. I get paid, the Thompsons save face, BARS gets the glory. Everyone wins.”
BARS gets the glory.If onlythatwere true. Phin angled back, checking on Maddy, still tucked in the car.
Phin shook his head. “I can’t do that.”
“Sure you can. If they want the collection back, they’ll be willing to give up one small piece.”
Nothing about these items could be described as small. Selling this idea to the Thompsons would be impossible. They’d have to admit to Granny they’d let one of her priceless jewels go. Plus, with the feds involved, not to mention Ash, Phin wasn’t sure how they’d make it work.
