License to Thrill

him once wearing a valuable piece of gallery jewelry. He said he was just trying it on, but I let him go." Guy shook his head. "Now I think I blamed the wrong person."
    "What other items did Ms. McKray steal?" Tenner asked. James frowned at him and Tenner added, "Allegedly."
    "Mostly small jewelry, and I distinctly remember a valuable stamp disappeared. That sticks out in my mind because Katherine's father, Frank, was the one who found the stamp, at a junk dealer here in town. He bought it for fifteen dollars, and it was worth around fifteen thousand. Then a few weeks after Frank died, it vanished."
    Tenner made a clicking sound with his tongue. "Frank McKray... I remember that case—ruled a suicide, wasn't it?"
    James jerked his head up. Suicide?
    Guy nodded, his face grim. "It was a car accident, but everyone knew the truth." He stopped and exhaled noisy. "Frank worked for Jellico's for fifteen years—it was his life. He always thought he'd be general manager one day, but when Mr. Jellico retired three years ago, he hired me."
    "That would be Mr. Jellico, your brother-in-law?" James clarified.
    Guy had the decency to blush. "Yes. Anyway, a year and a half ago, we were audited by the IRS, and funds turned up missing from the gallery—tens of thousands of dollars. When the trail started leading back to Frank, he lost control. He was depressed, started drinking. He died before the investigation was complete."
    "And had he embezzled funds?" James asked, thinking of the humidor filled with expensive, illegal cigars tucked away in his hotel room safe.
    Guy nodded. "It appeared so. Katherine couldn't accept it, so she begged Mr. Jellico to let her pay back the money that was missing in exchange for keeping a lid on her father's activities."
    "Did she pay it back?" Tenner asked, scribbling.
    "Almost all of it, I believe, in regular payments and small lump sums. Only now that I think back, I'm wondering if she was stealing from the gallery to repay the debt." Guy Trent rose a bit unsteadily and excused himself to make a few phone calls.
    Tenner had found another pack of gum somewhere and was intent on chewing it all at once. "Looks like this will be an open-and-shut case. Seems like such a waste—the woman's quite a looker, don't you think?"
    James ignored him. As much as he hated to believe it, James had to admit the evidence against Kat was growing. His gut instinct told him she was innocent, but had his judgment grown rusty? Or had it been compromised by a set of kissable lips?

Chapter Five

    "DO YOU NEED a ride home?" Valmer held open the courtroom door and smiled in a way that reminded Kat of her father.
    "I'll escort the lady home," a smooth British voice said behind them.
    Kat wheeled to see James leaning against an enormous marble pillar in the lobby of the government building. The late-afternoon sun slanted in, illuminating him from behind as he walked toward them. Her heart lifted involuntarily, but she noticed a slight frown on his brow. She felt ugly and plump in the clothes she'd been wearing for many hours, and her misery was only temporarily buoyed by being released on bond. She knew exhaustion lined her face.
    James, on the other hand, looked as if he'd just descended from a movie poster. Kat introduced the two men, amused that Valmer placed himself in front of her in a protective way.
    "I'm not so sure Katherine should leave with you," Val said, puffing up his chest.
    "It's okay, Val, he's a friend," she said, apprehensive about James's expression. Had he been unable to get the humidor? "I'll call you tomorrow morning," she promised, then gave the older man a squeeze. "How can I ever thank you?"
    Val hugged her back "By being very careful. Something fishy is going on, and I don't like it a bit."
    She nodded and watched her father's friend walk away, then turned to James with a small smile. "How did you know where to find me?"
    "I made a few phone calls. My accent seems to break down barriers rather easily."
    "Well...thanks."
    He pursed his mouth and swept a hand toward the lobby door. "Save your thanks until after we talk."
    Kat descended the sweeping stone steps in silence, nervously wondering what her boss had told him. "Were you able to get the cigars?" she asked as they reached the sidewalk.
    "They're safe," he said in a clipped tone, taking long strides toward his car parked a few yards away. James's face was stony as he opened the passenger door.
    "You're angry with me," she said, facing him.