out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and followed.
Bain led them into a small, private dining room that had wide windows looking out onto the back of the building. They perfectly framed a bubbling fountain below.
There was only one person waiting for them.
Uwe Magness was older, with graying hair and sallow skin. His brown, three piece suit fit well. She noticed the paper he was currently reading wasn’t English. German? She thought she recognized it, but her grasp of languages had never been a strength.
No one spoke.
She clasped her hands in front of her and waited.
He flipped to another page, frowned over his spectacles and shook his head. With that done, he closed the paper, folded it and placed it to the side of his coffee cup. His eyes finally went to her. He frowned and pulled the gold-framed glasses off and laid them atop the paper.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“This is Milan—”
“I’m Jennifer Miracle,” she said over Bain.
The young thug gaped at her.
Uwe, on the other hand, nodded his head slowly. “I understand.”
“I work for Milan Esposito.” She glanced at Bain. “I believe that’s why our first interaction didn’t go according to plan?”
Bain sputtered something and looked to Uwe. The older man flicked his fingers and Bain’s teeth clicked together.
So the guy was trained.
Interesting.
“A body double. I see how you might fool some people.” Uwe tapped his fingertips together. “So, why are you here?”
Might fool some people?
What the hell did that mean?
She pushed that comment from her head.
This was it. She took a breath and started speaking slowly, giving herself time to observe and remain calm. “I understand from your associate that you believe my employer took something of value from you.”
Uwe leaned back and spread his hands. “There is video evidence. I also have located the sale for the egg left in my caretaker’s possession. Ms. Esposito purchased that one. I have her on camera swapping the eggs. What more is there to prove?”
That was damning evidence.
Jennifer pressed on. “Here’s the rest of the story, Ms. Esposito returned your egg to the previous, rightful owner. It was sold without that person’s permission to begin with—”
“What you are saying is that Ms. Esposito no longer has my property?”
Nice and easy, she told herself. “Correct. She no longer has it, and she can’t pay what you paid for it. At least not right now. I’ve been authorized to negotiate a payment plan. Will that be satisfactory?”
“No,” Uwe said.
What the hell did he want?
They couldn’t just produce the stolen imperial egg. It was gone and the price would only get higher with more people wanting to buy it.
Uwe leaned against the table. “If Ms. Esposito cannot return my property and fancies herself a thief, she can acquire something of equal or greater value to make-up for what she’s done.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Jennifer shook her head. Had she heard him properly?
“Yes, I think that’s an appropriate solution.”
“Hold on now.” Orion stepped to her side.
She reached over and placed her hand on his arm.
Jennifer was as baffled and shocked as Orion, but the heart of this meeting was reconnaissance. She didn’t want to say anything too hastily.
“Sir?” She offered a fleeting smile. “Milan isn’t a thief. She doesn’t have that skill set. If you ask her to do this, she’s just going to get caught. The fact she didn’t with the egg is entirely up to you, I imagine. So, would you rather to be repaid, albeit slower? Or get nothing except the satisfaction of seeing her in prison?”
Uwe stared back at her. “Bain will deliver the details to you. I have just the item I’d like for your budding thief to acquire.”
“Sir—”
“Ms. Miracle,” Uwe’s voice suddenly boomed in the small space. “You seem to be under the impression that this is a conversation. It is not. You will do as told or you will regret it.”
She narrowed her gaze and stared at the old man.
Just who did he think he was? And what power did he think he had over them?
They’d taken the measure of their enemy. It was time to withdraw and make their own plan now that they knew what they were up against.
“Goodbye, Mr. Magness,” she said coolly.
“Bain will be in touch with instructions,” he said and reached for his glasses.
They’d been dismissed.
How cute.
FRIDAY. CAFÉ BRAZIL. Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza.
Bain stared at the door. He could hear their fading footsteps if he listened carefully enough.
“You didn’t realize that was not Milan Esposito?” Mr. Magness’ tone was cutting.
Bain