Three Fates

love her,” he said simply, then grinned a little at the looks he got from Cleo and Malachi. “In a warm and brotherly fashion. Do I get the other half of the bagel?”
    “No.”
    “I’m under constant abuse.” He got to his feet. “I’m going up and having a smoke. If Becca or Jack call, let me know.”
    “Becca? Jack?” Carrie turned to Malachi as Gideon walked out of the apartment.
    “Rebecca’s our sister. Jack’s another friend of Tia’s.”
    “She certainly stockpiled a lot of friends in a short time.”
    “I guess I was saving up,” Tia said as she came out of the bedroom.
    Carrie glanced over, sighed again. “I told you red would look great on you.”
    “Yes.” With a little smile, Tia brushed a hand over her new sweater. “You always did.”
    Carrie went to her, took both Tia’s hands, looked hard into her eyes. “You wouldn’t have asked me to do this if it wasn’t important. Really important.”
    “No, I wouldn’t have.”
    “When you can, you’re going to explain everything.”
    “You’ll be the first.”
    She nodded, then turned to Malachi. “If whatever’s going on here hurts her, in any way, shape or form, I’m coming after you. And I’m taking you down.”
    “I’ll hold your coat,” Cleo offered and bit into her bagel. “Sorry, Mal, we girls have to stick together.”
    “I’m probably going to like you,” Carrie decided. “All three of you. I sure as hell hope so, since I broke several federal laws acquiring the information I’m about to give you.”
    “For that, you get a whole bagel. We’ve got cinnamon, plain and onion.”
    Carrie offered Cleo her first smile. “I’ll live recklessly and go for the cinnamon.”
     
     
    ABOUT THE TIME Carrie was polishing off her bagel and explaining the details of Anita Gaye and Morningside Antiquities’ financial picture, Anita was having breakfast in bed.
    Now that she’d had time to think, and a bit more rest, she wasn’t so upset about the attempted break-in. She’d just consider it a wake-up call.
    Nobody and nothing was to be trusted.
    It was true that the security had held. But as far as she knew that might have been dumb luck or due to some foolish mistake by the thieves. She’d have Jack Burdett and company go over the system, inch by inch. And when they were done, she’d call in another consultant, have them evaluate the system.
    One doctor tells you something’s wrong with your body, a smart woman gets a second opinion. Morningside was every bit as vital to her as her own health. Without it, her business and social contacts would start to dry up, and her income would suffer a serious shortfall.
    Anita Gaye took care of Anita Gaye.
    She sat back against the pillows, sipped her coffee and glanced toward the doors of her walk-in closet. Behind the side panel where her day-wear suits hung in a meticulous, color-coordinated row was a safe even the household staff knew nothing about.
    The Fate was tucked away now. She was glad the break-in had jolted her into bringing it here. She’d long since stopped thinking of it as an asset for Morningside, but as a personal belonging.
    For the right price, of course, she’d sell it without a moment’s sentimental hesitation. But when she had all three, she would wallow in it for a while. Her little secret. And she was considering keeping them for a short time. Perhaps putting them on loan—briefly—and reaping the publicity.
    Anita Gaye, the skinny girl from Queens, would have made the biggest find, successfully executed the splashiest coup of the century. You couldn’t buy that kind of respect and power, she mused. You couldn’t inherit it from your rich, elderly and conveniently deceased husband.
    It was going to be hers, she thought. Whatever it took. Whoever had to pay.
    After pouring the second cup of coffee from her favorite Derby pot, she picked up the portable phone on her bed tray and called Jack’s cell phone.
    “Burdett.” He was drinking coffee himself, and nibbling on Rebecca’s fingers.
    “Jack, Anita.” She worked tears into her voice. “I want to apologize for my behavior this morning. I had no right to take things out on you the way I did.”
    Jack winked at Rebecca. “No need to apologize, Anita. You’d had a bad shock, were understandably upset.”
    “Regardless, you were there for me, just as your system was there for Morningside. I feel dreadful about it.”
    “It’s forgotten,” he said while Rebecca mimed strangling herself