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Dan laughed, “Good to know.”
Tommy stepped back outside the room to let them all in and then returned to his guard position.
The senator sat at his desk, and Marta watched closely as Dan removed both necklaces from the commercial grade safe and put them on the end of the senator’s massive desk.
“I’ll swear to you I cannot tell the difference in them no matter how close I look,” Marta Roseland said.
Jenna gave her a hug. “I know this has all been frustrating, to say the least. But as for telling these two pieces apart, the fact you can’t tell the difference is good. It means you got quality workmanship on the fake. But yes, I see your issue, getting them mixed up is easy. I’d suggest changing the clasp on the fake. It’s a quick and inexpensive thing to do and will end the mix-up problem forever.”
“Now why didn’t I think of that? Or why didn’t you?” She looked at her husband.
“Well, I’m just glad someone did, hon. Now let’s get the real one back in the safe,” Senator Roseland said.
“I think we are as ready as we can be,” Dan said, as they left the senator and his wife in his study with both necklaces now back in the safe. They had gone only a few steps when Dan stopped. “Oh, Jenna, I feel like an idiot. All this time, all this time,” he whispered.
“What are you talking about?”
“Harper—she figured out who I was because she wanted revenge. She targeted me, yes, but she also knew I would lead her to you because she knows who you are, too, and your part in putting Roget away. Yes, she must know. She blames you as much as me, so be careful. If she can do us the most harm and get out with the necklace, she will achieve her goal. Amato might be in it to take me out, as well, for his own reasons. It’s best we stay apart until the end.”
Jenna nodded. “That makes sense, of course. I think more might be going on here than her getting this necklace out from under our noses and hoping we take the blame for all her robberies. I think her revenge plan goes deeper and always has.”
Dan put a hand on Jenna’s back and pointed to an empty room. “In here so we can talk a second. What do you mean? What else could she want or do?”
“I think she wants to see us in prison, or worse, dead. True revenge, Dan. It would be her version of true revenge.”
“Oh, Jenn, I can’t believe she’s a killer.”
“Maybe she’s not, but maybe she knows someone who is and will kill for her, like Sal Amato. Remember, Roget died in prison, and there’s no telling what he passed on to her besides his money.”
“But, Jenn, she—she slept with me. She acted like she really cared about me.”
Though the words made her sick, Jenna took a deep breath. “All the better to get close to you, to learn more about you, learn your secrets, and track your movements. She’s no fool.” Jenna tried to keep the picture of Harper and Dan in bed together out of her head.
Dan ran his hands though his hair. “I was foolish to overlook the fact Roget would have relatives or friends who might want retribution. He was the kind of man who would have. But after five years, almost six, I thought it was finally safe to return home—and to you.”
“Well, now at least we know more, and we can be ready for whatever they have in mind. I wonder how long they have been tracking you. Lucky for you with your resources to live off the grid for so long, as far as any kind of records go. They couldn’t find you using traditional methods.”
“That’s the thing, Jenn, I don’t have a clue how long this has been in the making. I can only hope we are ready because we don’t know what she or they are up to. We still don’t even know who her partner is for sure.”
Jenna leaned close, keeping her voice down. “Would it surprise you to learn I think I know who it might be?”
“Nothing would surprise me tonight, who?”
“I think it’s Brock. Just a theory based on how he was acting a minute ago. He was so different. So, don’t laugh.”
Dan shook his head. “No, not him. I don’t buy it. He’s too—too GQ.”
Jenna took Dan’s hand. “Let’s go find him, and you can see what I’m talking about. I’m telling you he was a different person when I talked to him last. He was weird.”
Dan looked at Jenna, his mouth half-open. “I guess I spoke too soon, if you’re right, I can still be surprised. But no—just no. Come on, you must be kidding me, right? You think he, Brock, Mister America, the real estate golfer, is Harper’s partner in crime? He is so far out of her league, and I mean in every way. I can’t even pretend to consider it a possibility.”
“Okay, I get it, and maybe I read too much into his behavior changes. However, something is going on with him. I ran into him at the bar. He seemed to have come out of his shell and not in a good way. He was acting totally out of character. I’m not saying I think he has been in it all along, or with Harper’s push across the globe, or master plan, but I think he might be her partner for tonight. I think she’s using him in some way. Maybe he has some minor role as either a diversion, a cover, or to receive the handed-off necklace. Oh, I don’t know. Maybe you’re right, I’m reaching. What another coup if she can use my ex to help bring me down?”
Dan shook his head. “This gets more and more bizarre. Where was he when you last saw him?”
Jenna shrugged. “Still by the bar, but I have no idea where he’d be now. I’d guess trying to talk to the senator, but I don’t know. He was drinking, and heavily.”
“Heavy drinking doesn’t sound right for someone on the verge of this kind of operation, so I’m doubting your theory even more now. Regardless, I’ll take a walk around. His blond hair shouldn’t be hard to spot.”
