Rarities Unlimited 04 - The Color of Death

there because—oh, shit, that doesn’t matter. I grabbed the bottle and dumped some on my palm and—and— this .” She held out her right hand, opened it.
    A brilliant blue oval flashed against her shaking hand.
    Kate’s breath came in with a sharp sound.
    “Is it?” Sam asked tightly.
    “Yes.” She looked at Sharon. “Were there others?”
    “Yes, damn it! I didn’t know what to do. I was—all those years with him.” She swallowed and wiped impatiently at her eyes. “I left the other stones where I found them and came to tell my father.” She squared her shoulders and glanced at Sam. “It will be all right now, won’t it?”
    Sam didn’t answer. He was too busy talking into his cell phone.

Chapter 69
    Scottsdale
    Monday
    9:15 A.M .
    “I think you should have stayed with Sizemore,” Sam said to Kate as they waited in the hotel hallway for an elevator.
    “Not a chance. Once the warrant for Peyton came through, I was out of there.”
    “Sharon didn’t last that long. Said she had to pack. I thought they weren’t leaving until tomorrow.”
    “Do you blame her for sliding out? When Sizemore wasn’t ripping into her for being stupid, he was telling everyone in the room how he broke this case single-handed. Talk about a putz. Sizemore in full swagger is more than any woman should have to take.”
    Sam and Kate stepped onto the elevator at the same time.
    His cell phone vibrated against his belt. He’d switched it to silent mode so that he wouldn’t be bothered during the arrest of Peyton Hall. But the damn thing tickled.
    He looked at the call window, frowned, and decided it would have to wait—which was the message he sent by punching the answer button and then disconnecting instantly.
    “Stay in the hall until Peyton is cuffed,” Sam said to Kate when the elevator slowed.
    “Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes. “He won’t try to fight. He’s way out of shape.”
    “Guns don’t need gym memberships.”
    Kate shut up.
    As soon as the elevator stopped at Peyton’s floor, Sam looked outside. No one was in the hallway except Doug, who was waiting at the bank of elevators for Sam to arrive.
    Peyton’s suite was only three doors down. Sam pulled his Glock and held it down the side of his right leg. Unless someone was looking for it, the gun was both hidden and ready to use.
    His cell phone vibrated back to life.
    Shit.
    He punched it on and off again.
    “Stay here,” Doug said to Kate.
    Without waiting for an answer, the SAC set off down the hallway.
    “Please,” Sam said.
    She gave him a smile that was all teeth, folded her arms, and leaned against the wall. “I’ll be a good girl.”
    “Just stay put,” Sam said. “That’s all I ask.”
    He caught up with Doug. When they reached the door, Sam stepped to one side while Doug knocked on the door.
    No one answered.
    Doug knocked again, harder.
    “Who is it?” Peyton called from the other side of the door.
    “Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Doug said. He pulled out his badge holder and dangled the gold shield in front of the spy hole where Peyton could see it.
    “Just a minute.”
    The sound of the door bolt being flipped to open position was followed by the handle turning. Peyton Hall’s handsome, rather soft face appeared in the opening. His designer linen shirt was unbuttoned, as were his slacks. Apparently, the belly pushing over his belt wasn’t happy under pressure.
    “What can I do for you?” Peyton asked. He opened the doorenough to show that he was being cooperative, even though he hadn’t invited anybody inside.
    If he had a weapon, it wasn’t in either of his hands.
    Sam saw the tension around Peyton’s eyes and mouth. It was at odds with the professional salesman’s smile. Anticipation purred along Sam’s nerves. He was really looking forward to taking down the asshole who had killed Kate’s brother and tried to kill her too.
    Doug smiled at Peyton and said, “It won’t take long. Could we come inside?”
    Peyton glanced quickly at Sam, who was careful to keep the Glock out of sight and the predatory light out of his eyes.
    “This is Special Agent Sam Groves,” Doug said casually, waving a hand in Sam’s direction.
    Peyton frowned. “Yes?”
    Two doors down, a couple emerged from a room and walked toward the elevators. They gave a long, curious glance at the three men who didn’t look particularly chummy. From farther down the hall came the calls of maids as they exchanged gossip over fresh