Chapters (77)
- Cover
- Endorsements
- Books by Elizabeth Goddard
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- A Preview of Book 2 in the ROCKY MOUNTAIN COURAGE Series
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Back Ads
- Back Cover
“We learned that Neva and Jocelyn Porcella, daughter of the Bar Wars owners, had been close friends in high school,” Nathan said. “We are looking into that relationship, and the private auction house activities. Neva might have traveled back from Algiers with items or to Algiers with items. Back and forth to the auction house, or to secure items for collectors.”
“So that could be why Leif wanted to plant the murder weapon—another part of Briggs’s network he wanted to take down. But who was this crown heading to?” Terra asked. “Who had Marcus sold it to—some wealthy rancher collector here in Montana?”
“That part of the investigation is still ongoing.”
“The artifact isn’t worth the cost of so many lives,” Jack said.
“Which brings me to this,” Terra said. “I’d like to know exactly what it is worth. Can I borrow your cell?”
Nathan handed it over, and Terra used it to call Jeremy.
“You know his number?” Jack asked.
She shrugged. “Come on, I’ve called him plenty of times.”
Jeremy answered, despite the late hour.
“Hey, it’s Terra,” she said. “You texted that you had more information. What can you tell me?”
“I can tell you the FBI Art Crime Division is closing in on buyers and sellers in a big trafficking ring. They were already here today because I’d been asking questions. I happened to overhear something about an auction house operating out of a bar there in Big Rapids.”
Terra shared a look with Nathan and Jack. “Anything else?”
“Yes. I tracked the piece you showed me to one of fifteen thousand that have gone missing in Iraq since the 2003 invasion.”
“I’m looking at a golden crown and a tablet right now. I heard the word Nimrud. What would that be worth?”
Jeremy released a breath. “Nimrud was an ancient Assyrian Mesopotamia city, a thriving metropolis from 1350 BC to 610 BC. Much of the Nimrud collection was thought lost but then discovered in a vault. That’s probably the only reason it wasn’t looted and lost forever during the Iraq Museum looting in 2003. Still, some of the collection was smuggled out of the country. Something like fifteen thousand items are still missing today. If this is one of those pieces from the Nimrud collection, I would say it could be worth millions. But maybe . . . now . . . it can now be returned to Iraq.”
Millions? She steadied her voice. “Okay. I appreciate your work on this, Jeremy.” She started to end the call—
“Terra?”
“Yes.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s over. The bad guys are dead.”
“Congratulations, I think.”
“Thanks, Jeremy.”
“Don’t end the call yet. I’m not done.”
Aware that three sets of eyes were watching her, she said, “Listen, Jeremy, I really can’t talk right now.”
“Are you and that detective together?”
Seriously? She locked eyes with Jack. Warmth flooded her. “I hope so.”