Donovans 03 - Pearl Cove

pearl would be overwhelmed by the setting, and the result would look like chalk. Eight-fifty and I’m out of here.”
    “You’re breaking me,” Seng said, giving Archer a distressed look. “Think of my granddaughter’s college fund!”
    “Don’t believe him,” Archer said to Hannah.
    “I don’t. But I believe this pearl could be set against rose gold like an Arctic moon set against dawn.”
    Seng turned quickly toward her. “You’re a designer, too, like Faith?”
    “No. Just someone who loves pearls.”
    “Nine hundred,” Seng said without looking away from Hannah.
    Archer sighed. “Nine hundred.”
    They shook hands.
    “I have something else to show you,” Seng said to Archer. “It’s not for sale, unfortunately.”
    “That’s a relief.”
    Seng laughed and went back to the locked desk. He pulled out another ring box and opened it. The pearl was as big as a Georgia peanut, black as midnight.
    Rainbows swirled just beneath its surface.
    “Amazing, isn’t it?” Seng asked.
    “Not for sale?” Archer asked, his voice neutral.
    “I sold it today. I would have shown it to you six weeks ago, but I missed you.”
    Hannah reminded herself to breathe. She didn’t dare reach for the pearl because she knew her fingers would tremble.
    “Then a few minutes ago this Hong Kong gentleman saw it and bought it on the spot,” Seng continued. “As soon as his bank faxes confirmation, he’ll take delivery of the pearl.”
    “Ian Chang,” Archer said.
    “Yes. Do you know him?”
    “We met a few days ago. Do you have any other pearls like that one?”
    “I wish I did. But no.”
    “Have you ever seen others?”
    “I’ve heard rumors about such pearls for several years, but this is the first one I’ve seen.”
    “The person who sold it to you—do you know him or her well?”
    Seng frowned. It was unlike Archer to pry into another trader’s contacts. “Why?”
    Archer hesitated, thought of the new granddaughter, and decided that secrets killed more people than knowledge did. “The man who developed these pearls died recently. He never sold a single black rainbow. Not even the baroque ones.”
    “Are you saying that this was stolen?” Seng asked, looking unhappily at the beautiful gem.
    “Very likely. The rightful owner won’t pursue the issue, but it would help a great deal if you could give me the history of the pearl as you know it.”
    “Who is the owner?”
    “We are,” Archer said, indicating Hannah.
    Seng’s eyebrows shot up. “I don’t doubt you, but I don’t understand.”
    “The pearl is Australian,” Hannah said. “My late husband developed the strain of oysters that produces these black rainbows. He kept it as secret as he could. Now that he’s dead . . .”
    “I was Len’s partner,” Archer said, picking up the thread. “Mrs. McGarry asked my help in tracing the stolen pearls.”
    Sighing, Seng closed the box and handed it to Hannah.
    “No,” she said, pushing the box back across the counter. “It’s our gift to your granddaughter. But if anyone comes to you with pearls like these, please call us immediately.”
    “Don’t tell anyone else what you know about rare black pearls,” Archer added. “Gems like these—”
    “—are to die for,” Seng finished dryly. “I understand.”
    “If anyone comes to you with a handful of these pearls, or an unstrung necklace of matched spherical pearls, pay whatever you have to,” Archer said. “Just get those pearls. Better yet, call me and let me take care of it. You’ll get a generous finder’s fee.”
    Seng measured both Archer’s restraint and his intensity, and nodded.
    “Whatever you do, Seng,” Archer continued softly, “be careful. No pearl, however rare and beautiful, is worth dying for.”
    Again Seng sighed. “Tell me. Are the rumors true? Is there such a necklace as the Black Trinity?”
    “Yes,” Hannah said before Archer could decide. “Two people have seen it. One is dead. The other is on the run. Do you want to try your chances?”
    Seng crossed himself and shook his head. “What I want is to see my granddaughter grow tall enough to look me in the eye.”
    “Then call me if you hear anything,” Archer said. “If other people come to you with rumors, call me.”
    “I bought the black pearl from Jason Taylor,” Seng said. “He had a bill of sale from a pearl farm I’d never heard of, owned by Angelique Dupres.”
    Hannah was glad Seng wasn’t looking at her. She didn’t think