Midnight Jewels

Mercy's fundamental qualities. He went back to examining the volume in his hand. He turned a few pages until he found a beautifully drawn black and white plate of a man and woman making love. "This is the volume I want. It's an original."
    "Of course it's an original. Did you mink I was trying to pass off a reproduction?" Mercy was obviously miffed.
    "It's possible you might have made a mistake," he said placatingly.
    "Well, I didn't. I described the book very carefully to Mr. Gladstone and he said he could tell from my answers over the phone that it was an original. He was very pleased and didn't doubt me for a minute."
    "Mr. Gladstone?"
    "The man from Colorado who's buying it."
    "You'll have to tell me more about Mr. Gladstone." Croft turned to another plate. This one was a lovingly rendered detail of a voluptuous woman reclining on her back while being artfully pleasured by a man who was kneeling between her tegs.
    Mercy stepped forward to peer down at the plate. "I don't have to tell you anything about Mr. Gladstone. I have an obligation to protect my clients. Besides," she added in a rush of honesty, "I don't know much about him. I do hope you're not going to stand there and drool over the pictures. The saliva stains might lower the value of the book."
    "I try to save my drooling for the real thing."
    "That's not exactly a compelling image," she retorted crossly. "Have you read
Valley
?"
    "No. This is the first time I've actually seen it. Until now I only knew of it. I had a reason to learn about it three years ago."
    "What reason?"
    "It was part of a very valuable collection. I was interested in the man who owned it. I wanted to learn as much as I could about his book collection, and in the process I learned something about this particular book. You have to admit
Valley
is rattier, uh, distinctive."
    "Why were you so interested in that particular book collection?" she demanded. "Did you want to acquire part of it?"
    "No. I wanted to know as much as possible about the owner. The kind of books a man collects can tell you a great deal about him."
    There was a short, intense silence. "Yes," Mercy finally agreed. Her eyes were wide and serious. "A person's book collection could tell you much about him."
    "Or her." Croft closed
Valley
carefully. "Have you read this book, Mercy?"
    "If I had I wouldn't stand here and admit it. Not to you at any rate."
    "Why not to me?" he asked curiously.
    "You're a stranger, for heaven's sake. And tint book is nothing short of erotica. An uncharitable soul might even call it pom."
    "And you aren't about to admit to a stranger that you read that sort of thing?"
    She gave him a mockingly smug smile. "Any examination I may have made of
Valley
was done purely to establish its identity and verify its provenance and authenticity. I'm an ex-librarian, you know. I was taught to examine books from an objective, professional viewpoint."
    "Of course." He knew he was smiling faintly again and that Mercy was the cause. "I have great respect for professionalism of any kind."
    "Good. Have you finished with
Valley
?"
    "No. I told you, I want it."
    Irritation replaced the taunting expression in her eyes. "Well, you can't have it. I've told you, the book has already been sold. I'm not going to sell it out from under my client."
    "When does he take possession?"
    "Tuesday."
    "Gladstone is coming to Ignatius Cove to pick it up?" This might turn out to be easier than he had first thought.
    She shook her head impatiently. "No, I'm going to deliver it to him. May I please have the book back if you're finished with it?"
    He continued to hold it in his right hand. "You're going to deliver it? In person?"
    "That's right."
    "How?" He saw her flinch slightly in surprise and realized his voice had contained far too much command. For an instant the soft flicker of awareness in her eyes was dimmed with caution.
    "I'm taking a few days off to fly to Colorado. I'll be renting a car in Denver and driving to Mr. Gladstone's home. I don't see what business this is of yours."
    "No, you wouldn't understand. Where does Gladstone live?"
    "He has a place in the mountains, he said. He didn't give me directions over the phone. Much too complicated apparently. There will be a map waiting when I pick up the car in Denver." She made a sudden grab for the book he was holding.
    Croft had seen her telegraph the move with her eyes and rather lazily moved
Valley
out of reach. He didn't move it far, just a couple of inches. Enough to