Marcus was beginning to sweat again. Steinwood was right. He needed to rein in Norma’s extravagance. But how? She would beat him to a pulp if he even uttered the word budget. He paced some more; then it hit him. Her diamonds! He would slowly replace them with fakes. One, maybe two at a time. Brilliant. He laughed at the pun. He phoned Norma to see what was on her agenda. She always had one. Another laugh. Yes, indeed. He was energized by his new plan.

“Hello, dear. Tell me, what are your plans for today?” Marcus hoped she wouldn’t be suspicious. He rarely showed any interest in anything she did. He only paid for it.

“Hello, darling. I’m lunching with Victoria and Blake. We’re going to the Square.” She could not have been more blasé as Marcus was adding up the tab in his head. “Why do you ask, darling?”

If she were any more apathetic, she would be the one in a coma, Marcus thought. Not a bad idea, either. Nah. Too messy. Already dodged one of those.

“I thought I might meet some chaps at the pub. Throw some darts. You know, typical stuff.” He was making it up as he went along, although he would actually stop at the pub after he made the trip to a jeweler’s. He planned to go to the other side of town, just in case Norma had a better nose for diamonds than she did for perfume.

Why on God’s earth does the most expensive perfume smell like Pine-Sol on vomit? Marcus wondered. Norma probably didn’t care what it smelled like. She cared only that she could tell everyone the price tag. Cripes, she is a lot like Corbett. He was stunned at the thought. Wow. Some psychoanalyst would have a field day with that one.

“Julian? Julian? I asked what time you thought you’ll be home.” Norma snapped him out of his fantasy of choking her.

“Sorry, love. I thought I heard someone calling my name. Dunno. Depends on whether or not I’m winning, I suppose.” Marcus faked a chuckle.

“All right, dear. Then I won’t rush back. The girls and I might take in a flick. Ta.” Norma ended the call without saying anything else.

It was late morning. Norma and her friends usually met around one. He had some time to see a patient. Finally. He couldn’t blow off the same person two days in a row. He needed the money, and he never wanted anyone to be able to post bad reviews, even though they paid a lot of money to a cyber company to ensure that none saw the light of day.

* * *

Eileen would use the same tactic as Avery had in Aspen. She would go into the office, pretend she was lost, and plant a bug. She could study the blueprints while listening in once she got back to her room.