Read Online Once a Thief by Kay Hooper - Free Book Online

about fifteen years ago.”
    “True enough.”
    “He also said your mother was an amazing woman and that he was terrified of her.”
    Wolfe grinned faintly. “Also true. She could command armies, our mother. You’d never know it to look at her, but she brings the term ‘iron hand in a velvet glove’ to a whole new level. And has about five different kinds of charm. I’ve seen some of the most powerful men in the world following along behind her like besotted idiots.”
    “Max said your father and his had both remained friendly with her after the divorces.”
    “Mother never makes enemies, especially husbands.”
    Morgan had to laugh. “She sounds fascinating. I’d love to meet her one day. Max said she travels?”
    “Yeah. Last I heard, she was either in Australia or New Zealand.”
    “Any chance she might be heading this way?”
    “God knows.”
    Perceptively, Morgan said, “You don’t want her here, do you?”
    “While Max’s collection has the potential to draw every villain in the country to our doorstep? No.”
    “You know, I hadn’t thought about it quite that way.”
    “I had,” Wolfe said, turning his rented sports car into the long driveway of Leo Cassady’s Sea Cliff mansion. “I had.”

CHAPTER
    FOUR
----
    S an Francisco was famous for a number of things, including the Golden Gate Bridge, but since Quinn’s interest was professional, what interested him were portable treasures—and the security systems that protected them.
    Very good security systems.
    It probably wasn’t surprising, considering how long the city had housed some very wealthy people, that San Francisco boasted some of the newest and toughest security systems in existence. Leo Cassady, for instance, lived in a mansion whose security system would have shamed most banks.
    From his vantage point on the roof of a building nearly half a block away, Quinn watched the cream of San Francisco society arriving. His infrared binoculars gave him a close-up view of everyone, and he caught himself mentally calculating the dollar worth of some of the jewels adorning some of those sleek, well-toned bodies.
    The staggering total he arrived at was immensely tempting, but even more so when added to the probable value of what else he knew the mansion contained: Leo Cassady’s private collection of artworks and artifacts.
    Quinn lowered his binoculars and sighed. A private home stuffed with valuables and playing host to every art collector in the city. Pity one couldn’t just throw a net over the whole building.
    He laughed under his breath, then tucked the binoculars away in his tool belt and bid a reluctant farewell to all that tempting wealth. For now, at least.
    He was on the point of turning away when he stopped suddenly and returned his gaze to the mansion. A low-slung sports car had pulled into the drive and joined others in the circular car park. As Quinn watched, a man and woman got out and joined other guests going into the house.
    Quinn didn’t reach for his binoculars. He didn’t have to. He didn’t need his eyes to tell him what his other senses already had.
    So Morgan was also a guest. Not that it surprised Quinn; she was very well known among collectors and people connected to museums, aside from knowing Leo Cassady through his friend Max Bannister.
    Quinn waited until they vanished into the brightly lit mansion, then turned away. He was frowning a little but didn’t hesitate again, leaving his rooftop perch and making his way to the unassuming sedan parked nearby.
    He didn’t start the car immediately, but instead pulled out his cell phone and made a call.
    “Yeah.”
    “I’m a bit surprised you aren’t at the party tonight,” Quinn said. “Everyone else is.”
    “Like you, I have other things to do.”
    “Any luck getting the technical schematics I asked for?”
    “Not so far. I can’t just ask for them, remember.”
    “I don’t have to remind you that time is ticking away.”
    “No, you don’t have to