Read Online The London Deception by Addison Fox - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Addison Fox
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wine and put on pompous airs, their conversations swirling as if the fate of the world hung on their overeducated heads.
If they only knew.
His gaze shifted to Baxter Monroe. The man had one job to do, and from the miserable look on his face after he stalked away from Finn Gallagher and Rowan Steele, he had slacked off on the job. Damn it.
He’d spent years getting Monroe right where he wanted him, along with several top brass at the museum. Jared knew his deep pockets were a perfect match for certain... appetites, and he’d invested wisely. But none of it did him any damn good if his point man fouled up the job in Egypt.
Shifting his gaze from Baxter Monroe, he watched the couple slip from the small ballroom. It was curious to see them back together after all this time. Did it mean anything?
His contacts had indicated the two were working together, but their body language suggested something more intimate. Suggested they were a pair.
Although he’d disregarded the notion years before that they had worked the Warringtons’ as a pair—and all intel gathered after the debacle with the Victoria bracelet suggested they hadn’t—he couldn’t deny something seemed to simmer between the couple.
Interesting.
He slipped his phone from his pocket and issued instructions to one of his men waiting, even now, in his car.
Guests departing now. FOLLOW THEM.
“Wright.”
John Bauer’s bright and clueless smile greeted Jared as he looked up from his phone. “Good to see you, John.”
“Didn’t expect to see you here. I called your office earlier this week. Thought you were out of the country.”
“My meetings wrapped early and I jumped at the chance to spend a few days at home.”
John’s gaze drifted around the room as he snagged a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. As soon as the man was out of earshot, John moved a fraction closer. “I dropped the suggestions to Gallagher like you asked me to.”
“Did you, now? How were they received?”
“With laughter, just as you thought. Seems as if your friend would prefer his extracurricular activities didn’t receive any notice. Brushed off the Indiana Jones reference with a sly smile and a glib line.”
Jared took a sip of his own champagne. “Understandable.”
“My firm is looking forward to the upcoming sale of whatever is recovered from the Valley of the Queens. Auctions full of Egyptian artifacts draw special attention.”
Jared nodded, the not-so-subtle reference to the man’s upcoming take in exchange for his assistance more than clear. “I can trust you to handle the next phase of things here in London?”
“Of course.”
“I look forward to the auction. I’m sure it will be the highlight of your schedule next summer.”
* * *
Rowan watched Finn from the corner of her eye and wondered at his reticence to accompany her on their late-night adventure. Despite the stupidity of suggesting they break into the British Museum, the taunt had seemed like a strong tactic to suss him out.
For reasons she couldn’t fully define, something about the man seemed familiar.
Too familiar.
Which was only further proof her lingering fascination with the young boy who’d fallen during the Warrington job had taken on near-mythic importance in her mind.
Rowan did her level best to brush off the strange thoughts, unwilling to dwell too closely on indiscretions best left in the past and instead pulled a small laminated card from her purse.
“Good evening, Miss Steele.” The guard who stood at the museum’s entrance nodded his head, waving them both through. “Mr. Gallagher.”
“So this is what you meant?” Finn waved his own card, identical to hers, before he shoved his back into his wallet.
“You’ve got one, too.”
“Of course.”
“They don’t give these out to just anybody.”
“Well, then.” Finn leaned in and squeezed her shoulders, the sensation shooting a small line of sparks down her spine. “It’s a good thing we’re
If they only knew.
His gaze shifted to Baxter Monroe. The man had one job to do, and from the miserable look on his face after he stalked away from Finn Gallagher and Rowan Steele, he had slacked off on the job. Damn it.
He’d spent years getting Monroe right where he wanted him, along with several top brass at the museum. Jared knew his deep pockets were a perfect match for certain... appetites, and he’d invested wisely. But none of it did him any damn good if his point man fouled up the job in Egypt.
Shifting his gaze from Baxter Monroe, he watched the couple slip from the small ballroom. It was curious to see them back together after all this time. Did it mean anything?
His contacts had indicated the two were working together, but their body language suggested something more intimate. Suggested they were a pair.
Although he’d disregarded the notion years before that they had worked the Warringtons’ as a pair—and all intel gathered after the debacle with the Victoria bracelet suggested they hadn’t—he couldn’t deny something seemed to simmer between the couple.
Interesting.
He slipped his phone from his pocket and issued instructions to one of his men waiting, even now, in his car.
Guests departing now. FOLLOW THEM.
“Wright.”
John Bauer’s bright and clueless smile greeted Jared as he looked up from his phone. “Good to see you, John.”
“Didn’t expect to see you here. I called your office earlier this week. Thought you were out of the country.”
“My meetings wrapped early and I jumped at the chance to spend a few days at home.”
John’s gaze drifted around the room as he snagged a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. As soon as the man was out of earshot, John moved a fraction closer. “I dropped the suggestions to Gallagher like you asked me to.”
“Did you, now? How were they received?”
“With laughter, just as you thought. Seems as if your friend would prefer his extracurricular activities didn’t receive any notice. Brushed off the Indiana Jones reference with a sly smile and a glib line.”
Jared took a sip of his own champagne. “Understandable.”
“My firm is looking forward to the upcoming sale of whatever is recovered from the Valley of the Queens. Auctions full of Egyptian artifacts draw special attention.”
Jared nodded, the not-so-subtle reference to the man’s upcoming take in exchange for his assistance more than clear. “I can trust you to handle the next phase of things here in London?”
“Of course.”
“I look forward to the auction. I’m sure it will be the highlight of your schedule next summer.”
* * *
Rowan watched Finn from the corner of her eye and wondered at his reticence to accompany her on their late-night adventure. Despite the stupidity of suggesting they break into the British Museum, the taunt had seemed like a strong tactic to suss him out.
For reasons she couldn’t fully define, something about the man seemed familiar.
Too familiar.
Which was only further proof her lingering fascination with the young boy who’d fallen during the Warrington job had taken on near-mythic importance in her mind.
Rowan did her level best to brush off the strange thoughts, unwilling to dwell too closely on indiscretions best left in the past and instead pulled a small laminated card from her purse.
“Good evening, Miss Steele.” The guard who stood at the museum’s entrance nodded his head, waving them both through. “Mr. Gallagher.”
“So this is what you meant?” Finn waved his own card, identical to hers, before he shoved his back into his wallet.
“You’ve got one, too.”
“Of course.”
“They don’t give these out to just anybody.”
“Well, then.” Finn leaned in and squeezed her shoulders, the sensation shooting a small line of sparks down her spine. “It’s a good thing we’re