Thieves Like Us (14 page)

“You really are desperate.” He took the paper from her and stuffed it back in the cup holder. “It’s just a lead I got on a guy who might have fenced your necklace. I haven’t checked it out yet; it could be nothing.”

“The necklace?” She couldn’t keep the sudden excitement out of her voice. “You have a lead already? Why didn’t you tell me? Let’s go talk to the guy.”

Rocky shook his head. “No way. I’m not taking you to some scuzzy pawnshop to meet some guy who may or may not be able to help us.”

“Why? You think scuzzy is contagious? Besides, it sounds like you’ve never met him, so you don’t even know what he’s like. Maybe he eats truffles and listens to Beethoven while he lists his pawned items on eBay.”

His lips pressed into a cynical smile. “Trust me, this guy is the lowest of the low. You don’t want to meet him. I’m sure we can find something better to do.”

Maybe the sexual innuendo was all in her imagination, but his frank look made her breath catch and her breasts tingle.

Unfortunately, the guilt he raised was even stronger than the lust. He wanted to help her, but doing it would put him back into the same criminal world he’d barely managed to escape a year and a half ago. She didn’t know how he’d become a jewel thief in the first place, or what had made him turn from a life of crime to the honest business world. Which meant she didn’t know how precarious his straight life was. If he were somehow drawn back into his criminal past because of her, she’d feel responsible. She’d hate herself. Ellie and Jack would hate her. Hell, even Elizabeth Westfield and Ben Thatcher would be furious.

Janet didn’t know how to tell Rocky that without insulting him.

Apparently, her long pause had made him nervous. “Look, Janet, I know you don’t want anything more to do with men who have a police record.”

“I wasn’t thinking about that! I mean, I know you aren’t Banner.”

He almost smiled. “I think we got past that last night. But I was talking about the kind of criminals this pawnbroker deals with. He’s a fence. He knows what he’s buying is hot, and he knows the men he deals with are criminals. He doesn’t care. You don’t belong in that world, Janet.”

“Neither do you.” She felt the heat in her face and knew she was blushing at bringing up his past. His history hadn’t embarrassed her before, so it shouldn’t now. Just because she’d kissed him . . .

He cocked his head, seeming intensely interested in her embarrassment—and amused. “There’s a lot you don’t know about my past, Janet. I’m not going back to that life.”

That was good to hear. “Still, you’re talking to these people on my behalf, and some of them might not be too happy to see you again.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re probably right. But I can handle it.”

“But you shouldn’t have to. This is about me, not you. I appreciate that you’re willing to help me, but you can’t expect me to stay home while you go out and risk your safety and your—” she struggled for the right word “—your legal status, all because of me.”

“My legal status?” He smiled, and reached over to hold her face between his hands. She felt the scrape of calluses from his palms, evidence of the honest work he did every day. “Babe, I’d risk a lot for you, but trust me, my legal status isn’t in danger. Nothing’s going to pull me back into that world.” His gaze held hers, gently demanding. “Do you believe me?”

She nodded, confident he was telling the truth, but finding it difficult to talk while caught in the depths of his brown eyes.

“Good.” He leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on her lips. “So you understand why I want you to stay safely at home when I go see this pawnbroker?”

She found her focus again. “No.”

“Janet—”

“No. It’s my problem, and I’m not handing it over to you to take care of. You have to take me with you.”

He sighed. “I don’t want to argue with you—”

“Then don’t.”

“—but you can’t make me take you, either.”

She studied him for several seconds, then dug into her purse for the keys to her rental car. “Just in case I lose you, that was a side street just off Evergreen and Fenkell, right?”

Rocky’s jaw muscle twitched as he clenched his teeth harder. “Okay, you win.”

She smiled sweetly and put the keys away. “Thank you.”

He shook his head. “I hope I don’t regret this.”

“Not a chance.” She flashed a smile. “I’m good company.”

He lifted one eyebrow. “Yes, you are. And just remember while we’re visiting the sleazy, scuzzy fence that I had something way more fun in mind.”

Desire shot through her again. The intense look he gave her before starting the car left no doubt about what sort of fun he’d had planned. If she hadn’t guessed from his kiss last night, he’d just confirmed that she’d opened a door he’d been waiting behind for too long. There would be no more harmless flirting and cute allusions to sex; he meant to have the real thing.

She smiled to herself. Chances were good he was going to get it.

They passed the pawnshop, turned around, and parked halfway up the block on the opposite side of the street. Rocky made no move to get out of the car.

“What are we waiting for?”

“I don’t like to walk in without knowing who might already be in there. So we watch for a bit.”

She looked over at the door with the scratched gold lettering. “Lost and Found Treasures.” Fancy name for a dull gray building. The barred front window showed an array of digital cameras, video recorders, and TVs, all looking surprisingly new. “Looks like a small-scale Radio Shack.”

“It should. A lot of this stuff probably came from there. Or was meant to end up there, before it was stolen off the truck. I mean, before it was
lost.
Nice euphemism.”

He was right; this was a world she knew nothing about.

A minute later a thin black woman walked out of the store. Five minutes after that a white teenager slouched through the door, stayed less than a minute, and slouched out again. They waited another seven minutes, but no one went in or out.

“Okay, let’s go.” He paused with his hand on the door handle. “Just so we’re clear, I do the talking.”

“No problem. I’m here to watch and learn.”

He gave a cynical laugh. “There’s a scary thought.”

He took her hand as they crossed the street and held it as they walked into Lost and Found Treasures. It felt protective, something she was glad for when an angry buzzer sounded and the door closed behind her with a suspicious click.

They were in a jail cell. The next thing to it, anyway. The space was no bigger than her bedroom, maybe twelve feet on each side, with the barred front window at her back and another in front of her that looked like the betting window at a race track. Sudden claustrophobia made her chest ache with the effort to breathe. Or maybe it was just the heavy haze of cigarette smoke.

“Is this what all pawnshops are like?” she whispered to Rocky.

“No.” His gaze was wandering as much as hers, skimming the merchandise. “This guy must deal with some crazy people.”

Tall display cases covered the walls on each side, with more barred glass protecting shelves crowded with watches and small electronic items. There were more than a hundred watches, she guessed, and dozens of cell phones and MP3 players. Her gaze darted across the glittering array until a deep voice startled her.

“Help ya?”

Rocky stepped closer to the caged window where a young man stood. Janet stared at his narrow, pale face. His hair was pulled into a stringy ponytail at his collar, long enough that she couldn’t see the end. His arms were heavily tattooed and nicotine-yellowed fingers held a burning cigarette. This open violation of the law against smoking in places of business was probably insignificant compared to what else went on here.

The man’s light blue eyes scanned Rocky, then lingered on Janet with interest. She could almost feel shutters banging closed inside her, as if attempting to protect her from something dirty and unpleasant.

“I’m looking for some jewelry,” Rocky said.

The young man’s gaze dragged back to him. “Got lots of that. What kind?”

“Some particular pieces that you don’t have. But you did. You sold one to a friend of mine, and I’m looking to buy the rest of them.”

The man’s face grew cautious. “If I don’t have ’em, I don’t have ’em. Why you asking me? You a cop?”

“Not even close. My name’s Rocky Hernandez. Mean anything to you?”

“No.” He took a long draw on the cigarette and let his gaze run over Janet again, long enough to make the back of her neck prickle. “Should it?”

“Ask around. I used to work this area.”

When Rocky didn’t say anything else, the guy squinted at him. “So? What do I care?”

“Go ahead. Do it now. I’ll wait.”

She knew it was a contest of wills. Rocky was un-yielding and the guy was either curious or bored. After another lengthy look at her, he said, “Wait here.” He disappeared around a corner.

Janet slipped her hand from Rocky’s, more comfortable now that the sleazy guy was gone. She looked around the room as they waited. “Isn’t he afraid we’ll take something? Smash the glass and take off?”

“The door locked behind us and there are probably at least two cameras on you. He’ll be watching the monitors while he makes his calls.”

The casual way he said it made her look back at him, wondering how dangerous his other life had been. She knew the worry showed on her face and knew he was wishing he’d followed his instincts and never brought her here. In an attempt to lighten the mood, she said, “They didn’t cover this job at career day.”

He smiled, causing the happy skip in her chest that seemed to have become her conditioned response. “Life’s full of missed opportunities.”

“Isn’t it?” Her words were drowned out by a keening whine.

They exchanged puzzled looks, then peered over the ledge into the caged-in area that the man had recently vacated. Another whine ended with a metallic rattle as a kenneled puppy caught their eyes, its tail banging against its cage in a happy wag.

Janet smiled at the German shepherd. It couldn’t be more than ten weeks old, with one big ear standing up and the other flopped over. “Hey, pup. You’re a cutie, aren’t you?”

The puppy yipped and squirmed.

She laughed, then sobered as the pale man returned, scowling at her. “Don’t talk to the dog. He ain’t no pet.”

She frowned at him, annoyed at the way the puppy slunk back when he passed. “Then what is he?”

“He’s a guard dog. Will be, anyway, soon as he’s trained. So don’t go baby-talkin’ him.” Before she could respond, he looked at Rocky and said, “Show me your back.”

To her surprise Rocky turned his back to the window and raised the white polo shirt that said “Red Rose Security” on the front, pulling it to shoulder level. On the back of his well-defined right shoulder, she saw what Sleazy had evidently been expecting—a tattoo of three jagged lines in red and black resembling claw marks. Deep ones. They were simultaneously chilling and compelling. Something tempted her to reach out and touch them, to stroke her hand over Rocky’s broad back, to reassure herself with the flex and ripple of intact muscle beneath her hand.

“Okay,” Sleazy grunted. “You’re him.”

Rocky lowered his shirt, tucking it into his pants as he turned back to face the window. Stepping closer, he nodded toward the door where they’d come in. “Is that door locked?”

“Yeah.” Sleazy sounded cautious, but Janet didn’t know if it was because of what he’d just learned on the phone, or because Rocky’s voice had gone low and rough.

“Good. I’m going to tell you a story now, and I want you to just listen. Because it might save your life. You understand?”

Janet grew still, fascinated by the change in Rocky. His voice had a hard edge, and even his stance looked tougher. He was tense and poised, a picture of barely restrained energy, ready to rip through the bars of the window if Sleazy answered incorrectly.

Even with the bars between them and the gun that undoubtedly lay within reach beneath the counter, the slight man looked intimidated by Rocky. The hand holding his cigarette trembled when he took a long drag, although that could have been from his general unhealthy condition. Smoke rose from his mouth and nose as he spoke, as if betraying a fire that slowly ate at his insides. “Why would you want to save my life?”

“I don’t. It’s just a benefit of following my advice, if you’re smart enough to take it.” He gave Sleazy a few seconds to contemplate life and death. “You sold a necklace to a man last year, part of a collection of jewelry called the Pellinni Jewels. I’m sure you didn’t know that at the time. I’m also sure you’ve heard of it by now.”

Janet knew Rocky hadn’t been positive they’d come to the right fence, the one who had sold the necklace to Banner, but when Sleazy didn’t deny the connection she released a shaky breath. It must be him.

“Someone’s looking for those pieces now.”

Sleazy shrugged. “Someone’s always looking for the good pieces. To steal ’em, or buy ’em.”

Rocky nodded. “These pieces were a little more important than other pieces. And the guy looking for them is anxious to find them. See, the guy you sold the necklace to gave it to this lady here.” They both looked at Janet. “And now someone has torn up her house and her car, looking for the rest of the collection.”

“Tough luck.” It wasn’t much as sympathy went.

“Yeah. For you, too, once they realize she doesn’t have them. Because you did, and that means maybe you still do.”

Anger touched his face, drawing his eyebrows down. “You better not be tellin’ people that. ’Cause I don’t have them, either.”

“Like you said, tough luck. ’Cause I don’t intend to let this lady get hurt for something she doesn’t have. You can see why I need to find the rest of the jewelry.”

He blew smoke forcefully to the side. “You ain’t listenin’. I said I don’t have them.”

“Then tell me who does. I’ll get them back, and if you checked me out you know that’s not an empty promise. Then both you and the lady here avoid the not-so-nice people who are looking for them. I’d be doing you a favor.”

Sleazy turned up the corner of his lip, giving them a glimpse of yellow teeth. “You can’t do nothin’ for me. I sold ’em all to the same guy.”