Three Fates

with its owner on the Lusitania. As for the other two . . . No one can substantiate their existence.”
    “So you don’t have one of these statues?”
    The anger, the insult of being questioned edged into her voice. “I believe I’ve already answered that question. If I did own one of the Fates, you can be sure I’d announce it loud and clear. The publicity would be very beneficial to Morningside.”
    “Well, anonymous tips usually turn out to be dead ends.” Lew took the apologetic route. “Just as well. Something like that wouldn’t go through the usual channels and fences. Since you weren’t available, we got photographs and descriptions of the stolen property from the insurance company. We’ve been checking all those usual avenues. Jack Burdett’s cooperated regarding the security. But I’m going to be honest, Ms. Gaye, we’re coming up empty so far.”
    “It’s very upsetting. I’m trying to be grateful we were fully insured. Though, of course, I hope to have the property restored. But it’s very upsetting to know that Morningside was vulnerable. You’ll have to excuse me.” She got to her feet. “I’m really very tired.”
    “We’ll keep you updated.” Bob rose. “Oh, on the other matter? That homicide in the warehouse you used to own.”
    Not just a few choice words, Anita decided. She would see to it this man was fired. “Really, Detective, I think we’ve established I know nothing about it.”
    “Just wanted you to know that we’ve ID’d a suspect. A man the victim was purported to be working with most recently.” Pulled a photo out of his inside pocket. “You recognize this man?”
    Anita stared at the photograph of Jasper and wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or scream. “No, I don’t.”
    “Didn’t think you would, but we’ve got to follow up the angles. Thanks for your time, Ms. Gaye.”
    As they walked back to their car, the cops exchanged one brief look. “She’s dirty,” Lew said.
    “Oh yeah. Up to her swanlike neck.”
    The minute the car pulled away from the curb, Cleo pulled out her phone. “She’s primed,” she said. “Make the call.” Then she tucked the phone away and turned to Gideon in the driver’s seat. “Let’s just hang a few minutes. I bet we’ll be able to hear her scream all the way out here.”
    “We could do that.” He passed her back the oversweet soft drink she’d brought for them to share during the stakeout. “And after, I think we could take a little detour to Tia’s. No one’s there at the moment.”
    “Oh.” Cleo tucked her tongue in her cheek. “What did you have in mind?”
    “Tearing your clothes off, tossing you down on the first handy flat surface and having at you.”
    “Sounds good to me.”
    Inside the house, Anita stormed up the stairs. She should have killed Jasper. Killed him when she’d had the chance, then hired fresh muscle, one with a brain, to track down Malachi. Now she would have to find a way to do it anyway, and before the police found him.
    It had to have been Malachi who’d called the cops about the Fates. Who else could it be? But why? Had he been the one who tried to break into Morningside?
    She balled her hands into fists as she paced her bedroom. How could some tour captain circumvent that layer of security? He could have hired someone, she supposed. But the man wasn’t rolling in money.
    It had to go back to him, all of it. And oh, oh, would she make him suffer for it.
    She snatched up the phone on the first ring and snarled into the receiver. “What?”
    “Rough day, darling?”
    She bit back the curses on her tongue and all but cooed. “Well, well. Malachi. Isn’t this a surprise.”
    “The first of many. How did you find Athens?”
    “I turned left at Italy.”
    “Good one. I don’t recall you being quick with a joke, but it’s nice to see you’ve your good humor in place. You’ll need it. Guess what I’m looking at? Lovely silver ladies. A little birdie told me you were working very hard to find them. Looks as if I beat you to it.”
    “You want to deal, we’ll deal. Where are you? I’d prefer discussing this face-to-face.”
    “I’ll just bet you would. We’ll deal, Anita, indeed we will. I’ll be in touch with you about the when and where, but I want to give you time to recover from the shock.”
    “You don’t shock me.”
    “Why don’t you go see how your own little silver lady fared while you were turning left at Italy? And stick around the house,