It Takes a Spy...: A Secrets and Seduction book (9 page)

Cecilia quickly recovered, but when she looked at Evangeline, there was consternation in her gaze. “I agree that LeCompte is a gossip and a sneak, but I simply can’t envision him as a thief. I know you don’t like being contradicted, Evangeline, but you also have to admit that I’m quite good at judging someone’s character and knowing what motivates them.”

Evangeline gave an unfeminine snort.

“Stop that,” Cecilia retorted, obviously irritated with her sister’s behavior. “You’re only annoyed with me because I’m disagreeing with you. You’ve often marveled at my skill in evaluating people and understanding them. Admit it.”

Evangeline remained stony faced.

Cecilia pressed her lips into a straight line, but then plowed on. “Although I agree that LeCompte is hiding something, he is
not
a man who is driven by greed or avarice, nor is he driven by power or the desire to seduce women. Those might be the faults of many other men of our acquaintance, but they are not LeCompte’s faults. His Achilles heel is that he craves information. He seems to want it the way a drunkard needs spirits. If you’d told me he’d stolen someone’s personal information—someone’s secrets—I’d be suspicious of him. But he wouldn’t steal for money. Nor jewels. It doesn’t fit.”

“How can you be so certain?” Devin interjected, striding across the room to close the distance between them. “I know you’ve come to trust these ‘feelings’ you have about people, and maybe they’re right most of the time—”

He stood a scant few inches away from her as she scowled at him.

“Fine. All of the time,” he conceded. “But, according to Evangeline, she saw him at the door of the vault not long before the theft was discovered. You have to admit, that’s damning evidence. I think we need to confront him. Maybe you’re both right. Maybe LeCompte stole the jewels, but maybe it has something to do with a secret.” He shook his head in frustration. This was like trying to clutch at wisps of smoke. “What if he plans to trade the jewels for some secret?”

Although Evangeline lifted her chin at his words, Cecilia looked stunned by them. “That’s extremely unlikely,” she pointed out, clipping her words as she spoke. “What secret would require him to take such an enormous risk? It’s much more likely that he’s innocent of the crime and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. After all, Evangeline admits she was there as well, but I know
she
isn’t the thief. It isn’t in her character, either. Let’s think this through a bit more before we focus our sights on LeCompte. We can’t afford to go chasing after the wrong person.”

“I’ve been considering this ever since I pulled your mother’s necklace out of my pocket,” Devin said, his frayed temper finally snapping. He was too angry and frustrated to control the words that began flowing forth. “I considered it while hanging off the edge of the balcony, and I considered it while hiding in the trunk. Damn and blast, ever since I was nearly carted off to jail, all I’ve done is consider who the real thief might be. This is the first suggestion I’ve heard since this twisted reality overtook me that makes any sense.”

Cecilia’s shoulders drooped a bit as she looked down.

Devin’s fit of temper suddenly disappeared. He’d behaved like a cad. She shouldn’t be the target of his frustration. “I can’t stand hiding in here another minute,” he said apologetically. “The situation is driving me mad. I need to
do
something. Anything.”

She lifted her head and met his gaze. “Then I suppose we need a plan to sneak you out of here.” Her smile might not have been completely genuine, but he saw real forgiveness in her eyes.

“Do you have any ideas?” he asked.

“We’ll need to either disguise you or hide you,” Cecilia said.

“We could disguise you as a policeman,” Evangeline said.

“But where would we find a uniform?” Cecilia asked. “I don’t relish the idea of hitting some bobby over the head and stealing one.”

“What if we dress him as a hotel worker?” Evangeline asked.

“But he’s so tall. That’s one attribute that’s impossible to hide.”

“That’s a good point,” Devin conceded. “A disguise probably won’t get me out the front door.”

“Then we need to hide you. And I have the perfect plan.” Evangeline looked much too excited.

Devin narrowed his eyes. “Just what do you have in mind?”

She turned away from him, picked up the water pitcher from the wash basin, and upturned it on her mattress.

Cecilia stared at her for a moment, but then some form of communication passed between the sisters, and they both burst out laughing. “That’s an excellent plan.”

“Thank you.” Evangeline giggled as she curtsied.

Devin glanced from one sister to another. “Could someone explain what you have in mind?”

“Fresh bedding,” Cecilia said. She tugged on a bell pull. “A member of the hotel staff should arrive shortly. You’ll need to hide for a few minutes.”

Devin let out a groan. “Not the trunk again.”

“It’s the safest place,” Cecilia said, patting him on the arm as though comforting a child. Devin was surprised to discover he found some solace in the gesture.

“You don't have to climb in until we hear a knock at the door,” Evangeline reassured him.

“You’ll still need to explain to me why you poured water on the bed,” he said. A key part of their plan still eluded him.

Evangeline raised her eyebrows. “I’d have thought it was obvious.” She paused a moment, either collecting her thoughts or intentionally trying to irritate him. It was probably the latter. He cocked an eyebrow at her.

Evangeline cast a mischievous grin at him, confirming his suspicion. “When the maid comes and sees how wet everything is,” she continued, “she’ll fetch fresh linens and return with a laundry trolley. She’ll strip the wet bedding, toss it in the trolley, and wheel the lot away.” A look of consternation flitted over her face. “The only difficult part will be distracting her long enough to get you into the trolley.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Cecilia said. “I have just the plan.”

At the soft knock on the door, Devin folded himself back into the trunk, again grabbing the bar at the top and tucking his head behind it. He was a bit more careful this time to place his feet in a comfortable position. The last time, his foot had begun to cramp, and he hadn’t wanted to risk moving it and making a noise with a policeman standing inches away from him.

Once the trunk was latched, he found himself engulfed in darkness again. Only a thin seam of light came in from where the two halves of the trunk came together above his head, like a beacon of hope from above.

He could easily hear what was happening around him in the room, just as he had when the policeman had been searching for him earlier.

The trunk was sturdy, thank goodness, and smelled of lavender. He squatted at the bottom of it with his back jammed against the side, not at all worried that the trunk would bow under his weight. It was solidly built to withstand years of traveling.

Someone opened the door, and he heard Cecilia explaining that her sister had accidentally spilled a pitcher of water on the bed. The chambermaid offered some words of empathy.

“Might I inspect the bedding? I’d like to know if the mattress is wet as well.”

Devin heard footsteps followed by the rustling of fabric. “The mattress is only slightly damp,” the chambermaid said. “Would you like to have some men carry up a dry one, or would you prefer to keep this one?”

“Oh, I’m sure this one will do,” Evangeline said. “I only need fresh bedding.”

“And can you fetch us another pitcher of water?” Cecilia said.

“Certainly, miss,” the chambermaid said.

More footsteps— followed by the click of the door closing. A moment later, someone fumbled at the latches of his trunk. When it slid open, the light rushed in, and he saw Cecilia smiling down at him.

“The plan’s in motion,” she said.

“I didn’t hear you lock the door,” Devin said to Evangeline.

Her eyes widened and then she hurried back to the door and locked it.

When he glanced around the room, he noticed that the chambermaid had pulled the wet linens off the mattress. They were now piled at the foot of the bed in a sodden mass.

A moment later, there came a knock at the door.

Devin’s eyes widened. “That was fast,” he murmured as he climbed back into the trunk.

“Maybe it’s someone else,” Evangeline whispered. Then more loudly, she said, “Who is it?”

“It’s the maid, Miss Paring. I have your fresh linens.”

Cecilia shoved the trunk shut with her hip, and Devin barely had time to situate himself in the cramped space before he heard the door open.

“You’re quick,” Cecilia said.

“We keep fresh linens in a room just down the corridor,” the chambermaid said. “I brought a fresh pitcher of water as well.”

Devin heard the maid moving around the room as she set down the water pitcher and then shook open fresh sheets. He could picture her bustling about her work, completely oblivious to his presence.

“I’m so sorry you had to do this,” Cecilia said. “My sister was trying to balance the water pitcher on her head when it fell onto the bed.”

Devin grinned. Evangeline probably didn’t like being made to look foolish. Those two never missed an opportunity to tease one another. What on earth had made him think Cecilia couldn’t handle a group of biddies intent on tearing her down? If she could fend off Evangeline, she could fend off anyone.

“Why you had to do that, I’ll never know,” Cecilia continued.

“It’s part of my exercise regimen,” Evangeline replied.

“What? Like this?” An object scraped. Cecilia must have lifted the water pitcher. “How is this supposed to be exercise?”

“It’s meant to improve one’s posture,” Evangeline said.

“That’s balderdash. Why not use books? At least when they fall you don’t have a mess to clean.”

“Incentive,” Evangeline said in a crisp tone.

“Ah,” Cecilia cried out. Something tumbled to the floor.

“Ha! Now you’ve soaked
your
bed as well,” Evangeline said, sounding triumphant.

“I’m a complete and utter fool,” Cecilia said.

“It’s no bother, miss,” the chambermaid said. “I’ll be back in a jiff with linens for your bed as well.”

Devin heard her quick footsteps as she made her way to the door. A moment later, Cecilia pulled open the trunk.

“She’ll be right back,” she said, tugging on his upraised arm and causing him to let go of the bar. “You have to move quickly.”

Devin glanced out the open door to see the trolley sitting just outside in the corridor. Evangeline was already in the hallway, motioning for Devin to hurry.

She was lifting the wet sheets out of the trolley even as Devin sprinted across the room. He clambered into the wheeled cart, and Evangeline dumped the sodden sheets on top of him.

“So far, so good,” Cecilia said. She must have joined Evangeline in the hallway. Despite the damp bedding, the trolley was a shade more comfortable than the trunk.

“Now what?” Devin murmured in a quiet voice.

“Shh!” they both hissed, sounding like a nest of snakes.

“Here she comes,” Cecilia whispered.

“Why did you have to be so condescending to me in front of the maid?” Evangeline asked in a voice loud enough to be overheard by anyone nearby. “It’s as though you think you’re better than me. It’s not as though you’ve never made a mistake.”

Devin assumed this was another bit of playacting for the maid’s benefit.

“Don’t say such things,” Cecilia replied. “How could you accuse me of thinking I’m superior to you?”

“Well, what would you call it when you try to make me look a fool in front of the hotel staff?”

Footsteps entered the room. The chambermaid must be back with more fresh linens.

Cecilia let out a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry. You’re right. That was churlish of me. I’m afraid I’m at my worst tonight. Thank goodness events such as these don’t transpire on a daily basis. If they did I’m afraid I’d become quite insufferable.”

There was a rustling noise. Were Cecilia and Evangeline hugging? That would be a sight to see. Too bad he was missing it. “I’m sorry, too,” Evangeline said in a slightly muffled voice. “Brace yourself,” she added in a hissed whisper.

A moment later, something was dropped on top of him with a damp plop. It must be the second load of wet sheets.

The hotel room door clicked shut and then the trolley he was in began moving down the corridor. The wheels were silent as they rolled along the carpeted hallway.

His trolley stopped, and another door opened near his head. A moment later his trolley was pushed sideways, and he had the distinct impression he was being wheeled into a room.

The door clicked shut, and someone began pulling the sheets off him, so he rose to his feet. He immediately saw that he was in a large linen cupboard, complete with tall shelves of fresh linens and a rather commodious-looking laundry chute, which Evangeline was peering into.

“It appears to go straight down,” Evangeline said. “It’s both large enough to accommodate you and narrow enough for you to brace yourself against the sides and climb down.”