“Barky? What the hell for? He could have—”

“He will want the remaining jewels.”

David recalled that single day in Geneva, more than four years ago, when he had stared dumbfounded at a queen’s ransom in jewels. He’d thought them old-fashioned, but later, on the flight home, Ashley mentioned that she had kind of liked the tiara and the choker, except then she couldn’t imagine where she’d wear them. To a fish-tank opening, David thought.

But there had been no mention in the You profile of the other jewels in the collection...or the safe-deposit box at Piccard Cie.

“How do you know there are more jewels?” David asked sharply.

Balaton hissed impatiently, his expression steely, “Because I am a Balaton.”

“But you told Sarah—”

“I know what I told her,” he erupted, suddenly out of control. Despite the nonstop biting wind, beads of perspiration broke out across his forehead, but he did not turn to face David. He took off his cap and rubbed the sweat off with a swipe of his forearm, like a pitcher on the mound in August. “Please.” He sounded calmer. “There’s so much you don’t understand. Your uncle—the man who calls himself Bartholomew Wakefield—will stop at nothing to get those jewels.”

David scoffed. “That’s the pot calling the kettle black, Balaton. You sent your muscle—what’s his name, Smith—after the jewels...”

“Giles was overzealous,” Balaton snapped. “He was not to have hurt you. I made the mistake of telling him how absolutely vital it is that your ‘uncle’ not get his hands on the jewels. He has only the tiara and the choker, am I right?”

“Look, I don’t give a damn about the jewels. As far as I’m concerned, anybody wants them, they can have them. It’s Ash I care about. Now what the hell’s happened to her?”

“She’s gone...this morning. David, listen to me.” Perspiration was gleaming on his upper lip now, too. “If I can get the remaining jewels of the Balaton collection, I can expose this man Bartholomew Wakefield for the traitor and thief he is.”

David made a sudden movement that nearly sent him sprawling off his chair, but he held tight. Jewel thief he was willing to believe, but traitor? Not Barky.

Balaton put his cap back on. “Please forgive me for being so blunt.” He had regained his formal manner and even managed to smile apologetically at David. “I forget what he is to you.”

“It’s okay.” David didn’t care what people were calling Barky; he wanted facts. “Do you think Barky’ll try to get Ash to get him the rest of the jewels?”

“I know it.”

Why now? If Barky had ever asked Ashley and David for the contents of the safe-deposit box, in all likelihood they’d have given them to him. But David vividly remembered their argument over a new linoleum floor.

“What’s wrong with this floor?”

“It’s worn out.”

“It still has years of use left.”

“Barky, I’ll pay for a new floor.”

“Don’t waste your money.”