He looked up at her over his bifocals. A smile came over his face, and he set his pen down. “Ah. Mon cher mademoiselle! So nice to see you again.”

Diana squinted. For a moment, she thought him a stranger. But then she imagined him in a giant pink wig and powdered face, and it all came back to her. Right. It was Blaise Chevrolet, the man from concierge who’d insisted she wore the necklace.

“Hello,” she said stiffly, unable to keep her emotions out of her voice. After all, if it weren’t for his excellent salesmanship, she wouldn’t be in nearly as much trouble as she was now.

He stood up and came around the desk. “What is this about you missing a little something?” He chuckled sardonically, “You misplaced something quite significant, but the police have that well in hand. There’s nothing more you can do. In fact, I’d say you did enough already.”

She frowned. Yes, thanks to you. “I misplaced my wrap.”

“Did you?” He shook his head. “Unfortunately, with the police investigation going on, we really aren’t allowed to have—”

“It’s very important to me!” she blurted. “It’s a . . . family heirloom. Belonged to my great aunt. And I’m leaving France in a few days, and I don’t know what I’ll do if I—”

He held up a hand like Just stop already. “Ah, well . . . I suppose. Just come along with me.”

He tried to motion her out, but her eyes were too busy ping-ponging around the room. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for. Something useful. She felt for sure that there were some answers in here.

He stepped out and cleared his throat. Reluctantly, she followed.

Back in the hallway, he motioned to the two brocade tufted chairs against the wall. “Have a seat, and I will see if I can retrieve the box of things we found after the party.”

She sat. He started to leave, but she said, “From what I hear, a few people lost some things?”

He let out a disappointed sigh, “Yes. But that’s normal for any party.”

“I mean . . . like, expensive things. Like there may have been a pickpocket?”

He sighed. “Perhaps. The police are looking into it.”

“Shouldn’t it be easy with the security footage?”

“No. The fact is that during a party like this, security sometimes suffers. The rooms are crowded, and our cameras can’t be everywhere. It’s by far our largest and busiest event of the year, and people are drinking, having a good time. We have had our share of security concerns from time to time. Things go missing. However, nothing as prominent as the Madame Royale.”

“What sort of things went missing last night, Monsieur? I mean, in addition to the diamond necklace?”

He stared at her for a few beats as if unsure whether to disclose the information. “The usual things. A few wallets, a wristwatch. Just a moment.”

As he headed off, his every movement seeming to echo through the giant building, she looked around. Every single piece of décor in the palace was probably museum-quality and worth a mint. Strange that the thief would’ve targeted the thing around her neck when he could’ve likely, very easily, lifted one of thousands of priceless valuables that were unattended during the party.