Drake Sisters 03 - Oceans of Fire

that make them better, he can’t help perfecting the ideas and wanting to share them.”
    “So basically, Damon is back as the think tank for the Defense Department,” Kate said.
    “How long will he be gone?” Libby asked. “We’re in the middle of planning your wedding.”
    Sarah laughed. “He can design a defense system, but if you ask him about wedding cakes he looks Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    blank.”
    “Mart’s just the opposite,” Kate said. “He wants to take over the entire event. I think it’s the architect in him.”
    “It’s because he’s a Granite and bossy,” Hannah said and glared at Jonas.
    He put both hands up in protest. “I’m not a Granite.”
    “You could be,” she said.
    Jonas ate two of the sandwiches and washed them down with tea. “Before you set your cap on Frank Warner, Aunt Carol, Aleksandr Volstov is investigating the theft of artifacts stolen from Russia. Warner owns a flourishing gallery and is a collector of artifacts. I’ve seen part of his collection and it’s amazing.
    He also ships to the Bay Area all the time and he is a part owner of the fishing boat that Gene saw rendezvousing with the freighter. And I know you’ll keep this information confidential.” While he spoke, his gaze was on Abigail.
    “Oh, bosh,” Carol said. “Frank Warner has absolutely no need to deal in stolen goods and he’s been a part of this community for years.” She drummed her fingernails on the coffee table and heaved an exaggerated sigh. “All right then, I’ll go undercover for you. It’s obvious you need me to do it, although I don’t like spying on my friends. But you’re family, Jonas, and if you need me to get information out of him, I have my little ways and because of my looks, men tend to underestimate my intelligence.”
    “Which you encourage,” Jonas accused. “Absolutely not, Aunt Carol. I forbid it. Sarah, you talk to her and make her understand this is dangerous and an ongoing investigation. She could ruin things or get hurt, neither of which is acceptable. I’m trusting you with this information so you avoid him, not vamp him.”
    “But I’m a natural for the job,” Carol protested. “Everyone is used to me taking pictures and I can offer to help with his scrapbook album. He started one the last time I was here. I’ll just naturally bring him more product. Wouldn’t it be a good thing to have pictures of his artifacts to compare with the stolen ones?” Her smiled widened. “A Creative Memories consultant turned spy. I’ll be able to journal my experiences. I’m very excited about helping you, Jonas.”
    “I said no ! And I mean it,” Jonas said. He glanced around the room at the Drake women. “All of you can quit grinning. If something happened to Carol you wouldn’t be laughing. Abigail, you stay away from Aleksandr Volstov. And if you remember anything else not in your report call me immediately and give me the information. And Aunt Carol, you stay away from Frank Warner.” He stood up and shoved a hand through his hair. There was sweat on his forehead. “The entire bunch of you is giving me gray hair.”
    Hannah’s mouth twitched behind her hand and her eyes danced as Jonas stalked out of the house, closing the door with a resounding bang. “I’m so glad you’ve come, Aunt Carol. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen him flustered.”
    Carol grinned at her. “I suppose it wasn’t very nice of me, but I couldn’t resist.” She patted Abigail’s knee. “He didn’t upset you, did he?”
    Abigail shook her head. “Jonas is always looking out for us. I know he means well. It isn’t his fault there are so many of us and we’re always getting into some kind of a scrape.”
    Hannah gave a derisive and very inelegant snort. She tossed her mass of platinum hair and rolled her Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    eyes. “Don’t even cut him any slack. You didn’t hear him ranting and raving about your Russian before you came down. And speaking of your Russian, Abbey, tell us everything. Are you or aren’t you engaged to the man and where did you meet him?”
    “How long have you known him?” Kate asked.
    “Is anything Jonas said about him true?” Sarah wanted to know.
    “Probably everything Jonas said about Aleksandr is the truth, but I honestly don’t know. When I met him, four years ago, he was a detective. I was doing the