Page 80 (1/2)

She started toward the door Luca hesitated, then followed her, handing his invitation to the guard, who looked it over, waved them in

What had appeared to be the entrance to the house was actually a wide veranda, with a view of the rolling hills and the lights of Rome in the distance On their left was an open kitchen where the caterers worked On their right, a wide travertine staircase led up to asquarters, which formed a U shape around the veranda Numerous doors on that level opened out to the wide balcony overlooking the lower veranda That, unfortunately, left a lot of real estate when trying to figure out the best place to enter

She and Lucafor Sa to The conversations she heard sounded like every other fund-raiser she’d been to The value of a certain stock, earing what designer, as divorcing who about cars, classic or otherwise

Odd, she thought, until it occurred to her that the party was probably a convenient cover for an auction that was dealing in stolen cars

She was about to ask Luca if that was the case when she noticed thetoward the stairs with the assurance of one who knehere he was going He stopped as twolike linebackers in expensive suits, blocked his entrance Whatever he said, or showed to the him to pass

“Who’s that walking up the stairs?” Remi asked

Luca looked that direction “Probably one of the buyers They’re the only ones allowed up there It’s all prearranged”

She watched the door at the top open, and the man step in The door started to close, but not before she caught a glioatee, inside the door, patting the ed? How?”

He looked away so quickly, Remi became suspicious

She moved so that he’d have no choice but to face her “Hoere you going to get Saed?”

“I wasn’t The truth is, I don’t even have access This is as far as I’ve ever gotten”

“Did you really think you were going to get aith taking our money?”

The look of guilt on his face told her everything she needed to know

“I think our business here is done,” she said

“You still owe me the entrance fee”