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Dan nodded. “Ah, the senator’s over there, and his wife is heading our way from the other side of the room. I’ll go have a word with the man of the hour.”
Mrs. Roseland gave Jenna a little hug as she joined her, a glass of wine in hand. “I know what you’re thinking. This was a bad idea, and I tried to tell him, but he’s stubborn. And he insisted I wear this necklace, of course, and I quote, because no one messes with my plans. He wants you to look at the necklace and make sure the fake is on my neck and the real one is in the safe.”
“But didn’t you put the fake in a different place or box?” Jenna asked, puzzled.
“I am embarrassed to say I was looking at both of them this morning and ended up forgetting which was which,” Marta said. “I hate to admit it, but there we go.”
Jenna couldn’t help but smile at Marta’s honesty. “Sure, we can go have a look. Let’s hope you won’t have to worry about this anymore after tonight.”
“But unless this particular thief is caught, you don’t think it will be the last time I have to worry, do you?” Mrs. Roseland asked.
“No, sorry, but I don’t. I see you have a bit more security this time.” Jenna gazed around, spotting several guys in plain suits with devices in their ears.
“The least we could do,” Mrs. Roseland said. “Oh, there’s Mrs. Landers. I need to thank her for something, if I can only remember what before I get there,” she said, smiling at Jenna, as she turned to walk away.” Oh, you and Dan go on back and do the verification as soon as you can, please. Tommy will let you in the room and the safe.”
Jenna nodded and looked around for Dan, wondering who Tommy was and how to find him. When she turned around, she saw Brock standing much too close, making her gasp. “What are you doing here?”
“Same as you. I was invited. I told you making those golf connections with the senator would pay off. Where’s your sidekick?”
“Talking to the senator. I thought you left town.” Jenna glanced around the room for any sign of Harper, Gail, or Sal. “Another golf game on the horizon?”
“Something like that.” Brock looked at her, cocking his head. “You look good, as always. I’ve not seen those pearls before. How much did those set you back? Are they real or fake? Or is it much too un-Southern for me to ask?”
“Yes, Brock, way too un-Southern.”
“Just curious, sorry.” Brock motioned for the server with the tray of shrimp to come his way.
The server put the shrimp on a small plate for Brock.
He waved it in front of Jenna’s face. “Here, take one if you like. I’ve not eaten much today so I thought I should get something in me if I’m drinking.”
“No thanks, I’m good.” Jenna stepped back to look at him. Something was different. It was like watching some sort of weird body and personality change. It was as if the true Brock was slowly coming to the surface and pushing the fake one away. His perfect persona began to crack, his 100-watt smile was gone, and his cocky self-assured face, always in place, was gone. As he tried again to get her to eat shrimp, he stumbled over his words. His eyes seemed to be searching for someone in the room, and he wouldn’t make eye contact with her when he talked.
Jenna, thinking she needed to find Dan, knew it was time to get away from Brock. “Well, take care of yourself, Brock, I’m going to the ladies’ room, but I’m sure I’ll see you around. Go mingle, eat, and have fun.”
“I’ll do that. No, don’t worry about me. Not for one minute,” he called out too loudly.
She walked away. Yes, something was going on with Brock which made her nervous. But she couldn’t worry about it now. Tomorrow at this time, one way or the other, this adventure would all be over. Hopefully, this new hell, and Brock too, would be out of her life forever. His actions tonight left her believing she didn’t know the real Brock at all.
Instead of going to the ladies’ room, Jenna made her way through the groups clustered around the room, in search of Dan. She could see neither him nor the senator. “Well, just great, really great, where are you?” she mumbled to herself. She needed to find Dan if they were going to look at the necklaces. Frustrated, she figured she might as well stop by the ladies’ room now since it was straight ahead. Her hand was on the bathroom door when she felt the touch on her elbow.
“Over here, Jenna.” Dan pulled her back down the hallway and smiled. “I think things are happening soon. But I think we have done the necessary.”
“Is everything set?” Jenna asked.
“Yes, I’ve gone over everything with the senator and his head of security. After dinner, you stay with the Marta and the necklace, and I’ll stick like glue to Harper. She won’t like it, but she can’t do much to shake me. At some point, she will find an excuse to exit, and I’ll let her go, knowing you’ll be ready at your end. Now, the tricky part.
“I knew there must be one.”
“Yes, because Harper won’t make her move if you are there with Mrs. Roseland, so you’ll have to give her room to work. She’ll get the fake necklace off the senator’s wife, and she’ll be hunting for a quick way out. If she does have a partner, she’ll hand it off, so we have to watch for it. If we are distracted by her, we won’t be watching her partner. Who the partner will be is the question. For now, we watch the most obvious suspects.”
“Diversion and handoff, the play we’re counting on. I hope we are right. Did the senator talk to you about verifying the fake from the real necklace in the safe? He said to find Tommy, and he would let us inside the room and the safe.”
“Yes, let’s get going. Harper is here, but no sign of Gail, at least not yet. Tommy should be on guard outside the door to the safe room. I’d like to see their safe anyway.” Dan started toward the senator to let him know where they were going.
The safe room turned out to be the senator’s study, and Tommy was indeed guarding the door. He pulled a small piece of paper out of his pocket, which they assumed was the safe’s combination, and opened the safe.
Tommy stepped back and smiled at Dan. “Don’t worry. They change the combination every day. When I pulled the piece of paper out of my pocket, I saw your face, Dan.”
