“What does that mean?” Hale asked.
“It means…well…” Kat started, then stumbled, searching. “You see, by some standards he might be a little…”
“Weird.” Gabrielle shrugged against her cousin’s glare. “The man is ten pounds of kooky in a five-pound sack.”
“He’s eccentric,” Kat tried.
“Bizarre.”
“He’s got something of an artist’s temperament.”
“I say a screw loose.”
“He’s a little…unpredictable.”
But this time, there was no teasing as Gabrielle corrected, “No, Kat. The word is banished.”
Kat felt the truth wash over them, silent and chilly as the snow. Then she shook her head. “So he and Uncle Eddie don’t get along. That has nothing to do with his work. His work is good.”
“I know, but if Uncle Eddie doesn’t want anyone to use him—”
“Well, Uncle Eddie also says no one should steal the Cleopatra Emerald. Don’t worry, Gabrielle. Not even Uncle Eddie can kill us twice,” Kat said, turning back to the frosty glass.
“Oh, if anyone can…” Hale twisted and stared down the steep cliff again.
“Besides,” Kat said as the SUV slowed, “we’re here.”
Marcus guided the car from the twisting road into a clearing where the dense pines gave way to an even smaller lane, a low stone fence, and a tiny cabin with smoke spiraling into the sky. Icicles hung from the roof, and the whole thing might easily have been made out of gingerbread.
“Yeah,” Hale said, staring out the window. “He’s got to be a criminal mastermind, all right.”
Outside the SUV, the snow was up to Kat’s knees, and she had to hold Hale’s arm to steady herself as they waded their way through the deep drifts to the small shaded stoop.
“Hale,” Kat said slowly, “one more thing you might want to know about Charlie.…”
Gabrielle was ahead of them, her long legs skirting over the drifts like the wind.
“Yeah?” Hale said.
“He’s Eddie’s brother.…”
“Okay.”
“And…”
Looking up at Hale, Kat had to think that the sky was so clear, so blue, so close. Hale was close. He felt with her, and she honestly didn’t know whether or not that scared her—what she should or should not say. For a moment, there didn’t seem to be anything to say at all.
But just as quickly, that moment was over, because the door was swinging open, a gruff voice was saying, “Who’s there?” and the three of them were turning, staring at the familiar face of Uncle Eddie.
“Kat?” She heard the worry in Hale’s voice and knew he was already formulating cover stories and concocting lies.
“It’s okay, Hale. He’s—”
“Hello, Uncle Charlie.” Gabrielle pushed her sunglasses onto the top of her head, and the wind blew through her long hair. She was beautiful—Kat could see it. And yet one of the best artists in the world seemed to barely notice. He was too busy staring past her, squinting against the glare of the sun that bounced off the snow—a blinding white.
“Nadia.” His voice cracked and his lips quivered, but his gaze stayed locked on Kat. The best hands in the business were shaking as they pointed toward her.
“No, Charlie. This is Nadia’s daughter, Kat. Remember?” Gabrielle whispered. “Nadia’s gone, Charlie.”