Under the Rose - Kathryn Nolan Page 0,45

detective does,” she countered. “Following a trail of clues. You might end up with nothing. You might end up with everything. Who’s to say?” She leaned in. “More fun than stakeouts though.”

I scratched my bun. “I like our stakeouts. We get to eat French fries, and you let me give you dramatic reenactments of the books I’m reading.”

Delilah waited—like any good detective. I sighed. “Okay, yes, it’s fun. Doesn’t mean I’m any good though.”

Her cell phone rang, and she gave me a quizzical look before answering it. Abe, she mouthed. I could hear his voice but not what he was saying. Delilah’s forehead creased as she listened.

“Of course,” she said. “She’s right here. One sec.”

“Are you missing me in the office?” I said, trying to hide my sudden nervousness.

“Not in the least,” Abe drawled. “Listen. I’m calling with a complication.”

My senses itched with dread.

“Scarlett was just approached directly by another private detective firm. They were following a source that informed them they know exactly where the letters were taken after the robbery. According to Scarlett, they’re on their way to recover them now.”

“Let me guess, they’re not here.” I kicked the wall of The Grand Dame.

“Freya.” Abe’s tone held shades of an apology. “Our contract’s in jeopardy. This other firm says they’re being stored at a location in New York City. They expect to have them by midnight.”

Midnight. I leaned against the brick, letting my head fall back. “Okay. This is what I have thus far. I spent all afternoon memorizing online exchanges from Under the Rose and trying to decipher patterns. We’ve befriended a shady rich couple named Thomas and Cora Alexander, who have heavily implied stolen letters are here. Somewhere.”

I gave Abe a summary of our breakfast, the messages, and the intriguing things we’d heard through the hotel wall. “And Thomas referred to these letters as being encrypted with a code. George and Alfred used a code in their letters.”

“But without a visual or some other confirmation, this could all be coincidence,” he said. “There are other rare letters that use coded language.”

“I think it’s too coincidental not to be them,” I argued. “Especially given the timing. We’ll all be ecstatic if the real letters are found, regardless of who finds them. But my instinct says they’re here in the hotel.”

“I hear you, I do,” he said slowly. “Unfortunately the evidence this other firm has must be strong—and tempting—for them to directly approach her.”

I let out a long sigh. “I know,” I conceded. “You’re right. I’m working as fast as I can. If we only have until midnight, I’ll make it work.”

A pause on the other end. “Where’s Sam been in all of this?”

I bit my lip. I couldn’t say I don’t know but I didn’t really know. “He didn’t call you?”

“No.”

Interesting. He’d been all talk four hours ago about going in guns blazing.

“Sam is…has been working the convention floor. Getting a sense of what rare books are available, who’s selling, who’s buying.”

“Freya,” Abe said, “is there a personal reason why you and Sam aren’t standing right next to each other right now?”

“Not at all. We just thought it’d be fun to separate. You know, work the room, make friends, influence people.” I kept my tone carefree.

“Don’t,” he said sharply. “I’m serious. This is your first big case in the field, and you need to stick with Sam. Partners are smarter together. And safer. You need to get out from behind that computer and get your sources to trust you. Get them to take you and Sam to those letters. Because if that other firm comes up empty, we still have a contract and a fast timeline.”

“That’s a tall order, boss.”

“I gave this case to you because I know for sure you can handle it,” he said.

It was a sincere compliment that I no longer felt I deserved.

“I understand, I do,” I managed. “We’ll get it done.”

“And, Freya?”

“Yes?”

“There’s no stronger pairing than the two of you together. Whatever is pissing you off about your partner, I highly recommend you get over it.”

He hung up.

“Remember when you asked me if this was fun?” I sighed, handing Delilah her phone.

“Abe pissed?”

“Pressure’s on,” I said. “Scarlett has a competing offer from an agency that swears we’re chasing our own tails.”

“Maybe this will help.” She reached down into a plastic bag she was gripping, revealing a white carton of noodles from my favorite Thai restaurant.

My hands flew to my chest in a swoon. “Girl, you didn’t.”

She shrugged, looking innocent. “You’ve brought me