They had spent their morning working in her suite, their lunch order expected to be delivered within the next few minutes.

Cassie lifted her hand and ran her fingers through her hair in a gesture he now recognized as one she did only when she was away from the public eye. She leaned back in her chair and asked, “Any luck with finding Jeremiah Escobar’s descendants?”

“Not yet. How are you doing on the oil company employees?”

“It’s slow work, but I think I can get it done today.”

His phone rang, and he picked it up; it was Director Palmer. He hit the talk button. “Marin.”

“Do you have a minute?” the director asked.

“I’ll be right there,” Levi said in Italian, answering a different question deliberately so the director would know he wasn’t alone.

“Call me back as soon as you can.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in a minute.” Levi hung up and stood. “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go to the security office.”

A flash of concern illuminated her features. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. I won’t be long.”

“No alarms going off or anything, right?”

“No alarms. I promise.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Okay.”

Levi left Cassie’s suite and made his way to his office. As soon as he walked inside, he closed the door and called Director Palmer.

“Can you talk now?” Director Palmer asked in lieu of a greeting.

“Yeah. What’s up?” Levi asked.

“We received a tip from Interpol. The attempt on Princess Cassandra’s life wasn’t the only crime that occurred at the palace in Sereno,” he said. “A robbery occurred as well.”

“What was stolen?”

“Loose gemstones. Six of them.”

“Six gemstones,” Levi repeated. “That’s it?”

“I know. I found the report odd too. The gems taken were a diamond, sapphire, emerald, garnet, amber, and topaz,” Director Palmer said. “With all of the priceless valuables in the palace, I would have thought the inventory of missing items would have been more extensive or that at least some of the crown jewels would be missing.”

“That was my thought too,” Levi said, an uncomfortable sensation creeping up his spine. “The gems must have been important for them to be reported.”

“That’s why I wanted you to know about it. If you can get any insight out of the princess, let me know.”

“I will,” Levi said as he tried to believe his own words.

He finished his call and headed back to Cassie’s suite, where he knocked and pushed the door open.

“Everything okay?” Cassie asked from her spot at the table.

“More or less.” Levi sat across from her. “I received a report of a theft from your home. Six loose gemstones were stolen.”

“Six?” Cassie asked. “Was there a description of them?”

Levi listed them.

“All of those are among the gems in our founding jewels, but there are twenty-four, not six.”

“Can you think of any other gems that would be of enough significance for your father to enlist the help of Interpol?”