Through the Night (19 page)

She still didn’t look completely convinced. “But
why
would he want to?”

Because the guy was most likely after a bit of revenge. Chase might not have proof or evidence, but his gut intuition was strong enough for him to trust it. “Remember when I told you about Russ discovering how valuable the ivory cane top was after I won it at the auction?”

“Yes.”

“Well, he was pretty pissed off about losing out on a big score.” That was an understatement. Russ was beyond infuriated and had vowed to get even. “That’s when I was still dating Angie. A few weeks after acquiring the cane top, I caught her on my laptop reading through my research notes on how there was another component to the cane, and just how much the completed piece was worth. She’s the reason I got the extra security put on my computer. I’m pretty sure once Angie got together with Russ, she told him all about what she’d found, and now he wants a piece of the pie, so to speak.” And that
pie
included something far more valuable than the cane itself.

“Wow. I get it,” she said, finally understanding. “But breaking into someone’s room is pretty extreme.”

“Not for someone who wants a little retaliation,” he said, certain that was what had motivated Russ’s actions.

“True,” she agreed, and tipped her head to the side, her gaze hopeful. “But since your computer locked out on whoever tried to access the hard drive, they didn’t get any information, right?”

“Just what’s on our itinerary for Florida, and my notes. So, basically, he knows where we’re heading next.” And Chase had no idea how far Russ would go to get what he believed ultimately belonged to him.

“So, what do we do now?” Valerie asked.

“The only thing we can do,” he said, matter-of-fact. “We proceed with caution and watch our backs.”

*   *   *

The flight to Florida was smooth and uneventful, as was the night Valerie and Chase spent at a hotel in Boca Raton—in separate beds. The following morning, Chase drove the SUV they’d rented for the day toward Jack Harrison’s home, located in the gated, exclusive community of Long Lake Estates for their 11
A.M.
appointment to see the desk the man had displayed in his home.

Currently, Chase was talking to Tony on the hands-free speakerphone in the vehicle, letting the curator know that they were about to arrive for their meeting. Chase told him to remain on standby, just in case the desk turned out to be the real deal. Once Chase was able to verify the authenticity of the desk by touching the leg posts, Tony could then transfer payment to Harrison’s bank account so they could take immediate possession of the secretary.

Chase hung up just as they arrived at the guard shack to the private estates. The man verified that Chase and Valerie were on a guest list for Harrison, and the gates opened and they were let inside. A few minutes later, they pulled up to one of the most gorgeous, monstrous homes Valerie had ever seen. The architecture was Mediterranean in style, with a huge circle drive paved with what looked to be imported natural stone, and the property was surrounded by lush, tropical landscaping.

Side by side, they walked through a courtyard to the massive double mahogany doors at the front of the house. “So this is how the other half lives, huh?” She knew her voice was filled with awe, but she couldn’t help it.

“I guess so,” Chase said, seemingly not so impressed as she was. “As amazing as the house is, it’s a bit too ostentatious for me. My tastes run toward simple and streamlined.” He rang the doorbell, which echoed inside the house.

Valerie recalled Chase mentioning he owned a condo in Chicago, and wondered what his place looked like. Would it be warm and welcoming, or a bit sterile since he spent most of his time traveling? Her thoughts were cut off when an older, distinguished-looking man opened the door, wearing a blue-collared shirt, blue plaid pants, and golfing shoes.

He greeted them with a friendly smile. “You two must be Chase and Valerie. I’m Jack Harrison.”

“Hello,” Valerie said as she slipped her hand into Jack’s, feeling nothing but warmth and positive, genuine vibes.

“Pleasure to meet you, sir,” Chase said, shaking the man’s hand in a firm grip.

“‘Sir’ is how everyone addressed my father,” Harrison said, waving off the formality. “Call me Jack.”

Chase took in the other man’s sporting attire as they stepped into the grand marbled foyer. “I hope we didn’t cut into your golf game.”

“Not at all.” Jack led them down what seemed like a never-ending entryway. “Tee time isn’t until one, though if I have the time, I may get there early to hit the driving range and practice my swing.”

“Well, thank you for seeing us,” Chase said graciously. “We’ll try not to take up too much of your time.”

“No worries,” Jack said, his tone sincere. “I’m retired. My time is flexible.”

They walked through another luxurious room that looked to be a spacious formal living area that was filled with expensive furnishings and decorative art pieces that he’d most likely culled from his own Harrison House Antique Gallery. The walls were covered in a richly textured wallpaper, the couches an immaculate
please don’t touch
white that complemented the stunning, vibrant oriental rug dominating the travertine-tiled floor.

“You have a beautiful home,” Valerie said as she caught a glimpse of the outdoor infinity pool through the glass French doors leading to the backyard.

“Thank you, though it’s getting to be a bit much for just my wife and me.” Jack said with a sigh, “We’re in our seventies, and we’ve decided it’s time to downsize, and that means selling off some of our furnishings.”

Which was probably why Jack was so willing to part with the desk that had once belonged to Capone. It was a matter of getting rid of static showpieces in order to adjust to a more modest lifestyle.

They followed Jack into a library, designed and decorated more for show than functionality. Dark wood shelves lined one entire wall, filled with hardback novels and what appeared to be older, classic books. Upscale Victorian furniture embellished the room, except for a brown leather recliner that looked well used and broken in. Someone obviously did enjoy the use of the library, just not the fussy couch and chairs.

“Here it is,” Jack announced proudly as they came to a stop in front of a pristine antique secretary made from solid mahogany.

The upper part of the desk was standard 1930s fare, with a drop-front panel that revealed slots and small drawers for correspondences and office supplies. But it was the two front legs that held Chase riveted, and Valerie watched as his fingers curled in anticipation of getting his hands on those posts to check them out for himself. He was clearly restraining himself, trying to act calm and casual, though with her standing so close to his side, Chase’s exhilaration was palpable.

The picture Chase had shown her of the desk legs didn’t do justice to the real thing, and even Valerie felt a little breathless. Made from sturdy mahogany, each column had been intricately carved and inset with ivory lily of the valley flowers in a vinelike pattern, and vibrant green emerald stones glimmered from the lighting in the room.

The entire handcrafted desk showcased a skill and artistry that you just didn’t find in today’s manufactured items. As a whole, the secretary was stunningly gorgeous, and there was no reason for any ordinary person to think that one of those legs was actually the staff part of a cane.

“I brought it home from the gallery years ago because it’s such a beautiful piece of furniture, not to mention that it once belonged to Al Capone,” Jack said, running a hand over the still glossy and unmarred surface of the desk before looking at Chase. “Are you a fan or collector?”

“Both.” Chase shifted on his feet, and Valerie knew he was trying to contain his eagerness. “Al Capone has always been a source of fascination, and this desk is a work of art.”

Jack nodded his approval. “You’ve got that right. It’s a beauty and in excellent condition and would fetch top dollar at auction.”

“I’m willing to pay top dollar,” Chase said without missing a beat. “Have you had it appraised recently?”

“Actually, I did, because I knew I’d be selling this piece at some point.” Jack stepped away for a moment and returned with a few documents, which he handed to Chase. “Here’s the report for the appraisal, and the certificate of authenticity that came with the desk when I originally purchased it.”

Chase read over the details and, seemingly satisfied with what the paperwork revealed, he set the information on the surface of the desk. “Do you mind if I look it over?”

“Not at all,” Jack said, backing away to give Chase the space to get up close and personal with the desk.

Chase started with the drawers, opening each one and examining the upper portion, trying not to appear too eager about what he was ultimately interested in. In time, he crouched in front of the desk, and that’s when his entire demeanor changed. Valerie could see the tension stretching the muscles in his back taut, could practically feel his excitement spike as he reached for one of the legs, and she was just as fascinated to see his psychometric abilities at work.

He wrapped his hand around the top of one of the posts and slowly skimmed it downward, using his thumb to stroke over the intricate, vinelike pattern of ivory and emeralds. Nothing about Chase’s body language changed until he repeated the process on the second leg. His hand stopped midway down the post, and she watched as his head bowed ever so slightly in concentration.

His fingers flexed, his breathing deepened, and when he stood back up and faced them again, the elation in his eyes was hard to miss. He’d
finally
found the staff to the cane top, and she knew it was taking effort for him to remain neutral and contain his triumph.

“Does it meet with your approval?” Jack asked.

“Absolutely.” Chase grinned. “What do you want for the desk?”

Jack didn’t hesitate to reveal his asking price, a six-figure sum that didn’t even make Chase blink, because Valerie knew that no matter the cost, Steven had the money to pay for what he wanted.

“I’ll take it,” Chase said, and put his hand out to seal the deal with a handshake.

The startled look on Jack’s face was comical as they shook hands. Clearly, he’d expected Chase to negotiate over the price, and it took his brain a few seconds to catch up to the fact that Chase wasn’t going to haggle with him.

Since Jack’s son now owned the Harrison House Antique Gallery, the transfer of funds went quickly and smoothly, with Tony handling the financial end of things for Chase. Within the hour, they had the desk wrapped in packing blankets and loaded into the back of the SUV they’d driven to Jack’s house, and were on their way back to their hotel in Boca Raton.

Chase hired two bellmen to transfer the secretary up to their room, as well as deliver a screwdriver kit from maintenance, though he never left the piece of furniture alone. Now that he’d found the coveted cane staff he’d been searching months for, he clearly wasn’t going to let it out of his sight for one single second.

As soon as the door to their room closed behind the bellmen, Chase wrapped his arms around Valerie in a warm, exuberant hug that lifted her feet up off the floor as he spun her around in a wide circle.

She let out a squeal of surprise. With her enveloped so completely in his embrace, Chase’s excitement became a part of her, and she could feel the rush of adrenaline that he seemed to need and welcomed in his life. And desire. Yeah, that was present, too, corralled and simmering beneath the surface—and with her body pressed so intimately against his, she couldn’t stop her own craving in return.

Finally, he put her back down, his grin huge and his gorgeous green eyes expressing his delight. “We did it, Valerie!”

She laughed and shook her head. “No,
you
did it.”

“I wouldn’t have gotten this far without you.
That’s
the truth.”

“It was fun.” And she meant it. Despite her migraine after visiting Alcatraz, she’d enjoyed the adventure. “I can see how hunting for treasures could get addicting.”

He lifted a dark, teasing brow. “You mean procuring fine things, right?”

She rolled her eyes at his formal definition of what he did for a living. “Yes, of course that’s what I meant.” She studied the secretary, taking in its large size and shape. “So, how are we going to get this bulky desk back to Vegas?”

“We’re going to disassemble it.” He grabbed the screwdriver kit the bellman had brought up to the room. “The only thing I’m interested in is the legs, but if we take it apart, I can keep the legs with me at all times, and we can at least preserve the desk itself. After all, Steven did buy the entire secretary, and who knows what he wants to do with the rest of it.”

After setting the tools nearby, he came up beside the secretary and motioned for her to stand on the opposite end. “I know it’s heavy, but I need you to help me place the desk on its back so I can remove the legs without all the extra weight on them.”

He showed her where to grip the piece of furniture for the best leverage, and together they managed to gently tip back the desk and lay it down on the carpet so the front legs were suspended in the air. He got to work on the mock post, the one that had been made to match the real cane staff. Within a few minutes, he had the leg carefully detached, and Valerie put it on the bed while he started in on the authentic walking stick that belonged with the ivory cane top.

As soon as he’d removed the actual staff, he put them side by side on the bed. “Look. Do you see the difference?”

The disparities between the two were subtle and slight, and probably wouldn’t even be noticed by a regular person, but knowing that one of the posts attached to a cane, she spotted the discrepancies instantly. “The
real
one has a different threading composition on the top, and a gold ring that we couldn’t see until it was removed.”

“Exactly.” He rewarded her with a grin that made her stomach do a little somersault. “Remember the picture I showed you of Capone and the completed cane? That screw on the top of the leg will twist into the ivory piece, and that gold ring is what threads them securely together.”