Misplaced (55 page)

“Don’
t
tak
e
m
e
fo
r
on
e
o
f
you
r
ignoran
t
clients,
”
h
e
w
arned
,
leaning
closer.
“
T
ell
me
more
about
your
companion.
Has
she
tol
d
yo
u
ho
w
sh
e
cam
e
b
y
them
?
Wher
e
di
d
sh
e
fin
d
them
?
She
look
s
lik
e
sh
e
coul
d
pas
s
fo
r
a
citize
n
o
f
an
y
numbe
r
o
f
third
world countries, but I’m guessing she’s Egyptian.”

“My clients are none of your business.”

Miele
y
snorted
.
“
Y
ou’
v
e
worke
d
v
er
y
har
d
t
o
establis
h
your
practice
,
ha
v
en’
t
you
?
I
t
woul
d
b
e
a
sham
e
fo
r
s
o
man
y
y
ear
s
of
hard
work
to
be
undone.
A
w
ell-placed
accusation
to
the
right
official
could damage your firm’s
reputation.”

“It’s
you
who
should
be
worried;
my
practice
has
witnesses
wh
o
sa
w
yo
u
assaul
t
m
y
secretary
.
And
,
o
f
course
,
I
’
d
als
o
accuse you of stalking—a serious charge these days.”

Miele
y
loosene
d
hi
s
gri
p
a
bit
.
“
Y
o
u
ha
v
e
exactl
y
t
w
enty-four hours to produce that bracelet.”

“Or what?”

“Don’t
underestimate
me.
Y
our
uncle
al
w
ays
said
you
’
re
a
smart girl. He’s al
w
ays bragging—”

“How do you know my uncle?”

“Oh
.
Y
o
u
don’
t
know.
”
H
e
shoo
k
hi
s
hea
d
an
d
exhaled
heavily
,
hi
s
expressio
n
on
e
o
f
phon
y
apology
.
“
W
e’
v
e
been
goo
d
busines
s
partner
s
thes
e
las
t
t
w
ent
y
y
ear
s
becaus
e
our
moti
v
ation
,
whil
e
di
f
ferent
,
i
s
complementary
.
Y
ou
r
uncle
,
with
hi
s
Lati
n
sens
e
o
f
honor
,
feel
s
tha
t
smugglin
g
artifact
s
ou
t
of
Mexic
o
i
s
a
w
a
y
t
o
sa
v
e
the
m
fro
m
ruin
.
Suffic
e
i
t
t
o
sa
y
that
Elia
s
hande
d
yo
u
an
d
you
r
frien
d
t
o
m
e
o
n
a
golde
n
platter.
Ho
w
d
o
yo
u
thin
k
th
e
othe
r
bracelet
s
cam
e
m
y
w
ay
?
Where
do
you
think
he
got
the
fifty
thousand
dollars?”
He
w
aited
for
his words to ha
v
e the desired effect.
“My only hope is that you
mad
e
a
littl
e
somethin
g
i
n
th
e
transactio
n
fo
r
yourself
.
Y
ou
probabl
y
couldn’
t
hel
p
gettin
g
invol
v
ed
.
Smugglin
g
run
s
in
your blood, doesn’t it?”

V
ictoria
w
as speechless.

Below,
Maggie
had
taken
notice
and
w
as
bounding
up
the
stairs
.
“Officer!
”
sh
e
y
elled
,
grabbin
g
th
e
slee
v
e
o
f
a
bewildered
policeman
.
Afte
r
a
fe
w
second
s
o
f
explanation
,
th
e
tw
o
w
ere
hurrying her
w
ay.

“
As
k
you
r
uncle
;
patienc
e
i
s
no
t
on
e
o
f
m
y
strengths.
”
Miele
y
release
d
hi
s
grip
.
“
T
w
enty-fou
r
hour
s
or
,
mar
k
my
words
,
I
’
l
l
rui
n
yo
u
an
d
e
v
erythin
g
you’
v
e
e
v
e
r
worke
d
for
.
Goo
d
day
,
V
ictori
a
Barrón.
”
A
s
quickl
y
a
s
he
’
d
come
,
h
e
w
as
gone.
Maggie and the officer
reached her just then.

“
Are you all right?” the officer
asked.

“I’m fine.”

Afte
r
Maggi
e
poure
d
ou
t
th
e
detail
s
o
f
Gracie’
s
attack
,
he
insiste
d
o
n
drivin
g
the
m
t
o
th
e
cente
r
’
s
parkin
g
lot—bu
t
not
befor
e
th
e
strange
r
’
s
descriptio
n
w
en
t
ou
t
t
o
a
doze
n
nearby
units.
The
officer
w
as
also
adamant
they
stop
at
the
station
and
file
a report.

“
I
nee
d
t
o
mak
e
a
coupl
e
o
f
phon
e
call
s
first
.
I
’
l
l
com
e
to
th
e
statio
n
shortly
.
Promise,
”
sh
e
reassure
d
Maggie
,
who
reluctantly got into her car and dro
v
e a
w
ay.