Three Fates

doesn’t, you tell him to send a radio car to this address. Okay with that?”
    She pressed her lips together. He had hands like rock, she thought, and a cold expression on his face that warned her she wasn’t going to get away. “Give me the phone.”
    He eased back, reached one hand into his jacket and took out both a small phone and a business card.
    “That’s my company. I’d let you call your father for another reference, but I don’t know if his phones are secure.”
    She kept her attention on Jack as she contacted information. “I want the number for the Sixty-first Precinct in Manhattan. I want you to connect me.”
    Jack nodded. “Ask for the Detectives Division, Bob Robbins.”
    She did, and worked on her breathing. “Detective Robbins? Yes, this is Tia Marsh.” She spoke clearly, gave her address down to the apartment number.
    Good, Jack thought. She wasn’t an idiot.
    “There’s a man in my apartment. He gained entrance by impersonating a police officer. He says his name is Jack Burdett and that you’ll reassure me as to his character.” She lifted her brows. “About six-two, two hundred thirty. Dark blond hair, gray eyes. Yes, a small scar, right side of the mouth. I see. Yes, I see. I couldn’t agree more, thank you.”
    She tilted her ear away from the phone for a moment. “Detective Robbins confirms that he knows you, that you’re not a psychopath, and assures me he’ll be happy to kick your butt for impersonating an officer, as well as issue a warrant for your arrest should I want to pursue that option. He also says you owe him twenty dollars. He’d like to speak with you.”
    “Thanks.” Jack took the phone, and a step back. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll fill you in first chance I get. What fake ID? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Later.” He broke the connection, pocketing the phone. “Okay?” he asked Tia.
    “No, it’s not okay. It’s certainly not okay. Excuse me.”
    She popped out of the chair and marched out of the room. Because he wasn’t entirely sure she wasn’t going for a weapon, Jack followed her.
    She opened a cupboard in the kitchen, and his brows shot up at the rows of pill bottles. She snagged aspirin, wrenched open the refrigerator. “I have a tension headache, thank you very much.”
    “I apologize. I couldn’t risk the phone. Look.” He lifted the kitchen portable off its stand, opened the mouthpiece. “See this? It’s a tap—decent quality.”
    “Since I wouldn’t know a listening device from a horned toad, I’ll just have to take your word, won’t I?”
    His research hadn’t indicated she was quick. “Guess you will. I’d be careful what I said on this line.”
    “Why should I take your word, Mr. Burdett?”
    “Jack, make it Jack. Got any coffee?” Her withering look made him shrug. “Okay. Anita Gaye.” He smiled when she slowly lowered the water bottle. “Thought that would ring a bell. Odds are she’s the one who got your phone tapped. She wants the Fates, and you and your family have a connection to them. Henry Wyley’s statue of Clotho wasn’t lost on the Lusitania, was it, Tia?”
    “If you and Anita are friends, ask her.”
    “I didn’t say we were friends. I’m a collector. That’s something you can confirm with your father, but I’d appreciate it if you’d do it face-to-face so Anita isn’t tracking my moves. I’ve bought some nice pieces from Wyley’s. The latest was a Lalique vase, molded. Six nude maidens pouring water from urns. I like naked women,” he said with a chuckle. “Sue me.”
    “I thought you liked red silk panties.”
    “I haven’t got anything against them.”
    “I can’t help you, Mr. Burdett. You might as well go back and tell Ms. Gaye she’s wasting her time with me.”
    “I don’t work with or for Anita. I work for myself, and I have a personal interest in the Fates. Anita dropped some bait on me, gotta figure she’s hoping I’ll do some of her legwork and lead her to them. She miscalculated. She’s covering bases with you, too,” he added, gesturing toward the phone. “I’m betting you know something she doesn’t. I think we can help each other out.”
    “Why should I help you, even if I could?”
    “Because I’m really good at what I do. You tell me what you know and I’ll find them. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
    “I haven’t decided what I know.”
    “Who’s Malachi Sullivan?”
    “That’s one thing I’m sure of.” Sure because the mere