Taken (14 page)

On the fifth floor, the door to the Laurent apartment was open. Chad’s father sat on the couch, staring out the window, his hands clutching a large envelope.

“M. Laurent?” Kate quickly went into the kitchen, returning with a wet rag, and began wiping the blood from the older man’s head that had now dried across his temple and down his cheek. “It’s just a small cut. Head wounds always look worse than they are.”

“I thought you...” He looked at her, confused.

“The police have taken the man into custody, M. Laurent,” Marcus said. “Kate’s got quite a left swing.”

M. Laurent looked around the room and shook his head, looking defeated. “They took my son. My granddaughter. What else do they want from me?”

“I don’t know, but we will find out,” Kate said. “We’re going to get some answers from the man.”

“But I need some answers from you first, M. Laurent.” Marcus sat down on the cushioned chair across from the couch. “What do you know about the diamonds?”

M. Laurent leaned forward. “I know where they are.”

Kate looked to Marcus, then back to Chad’s father. “You know where the diamonds are?”

“You have to understand, when you showed up at the museum...I didn’t know if I could trust you. And then when that man showed up, everything happened so fast. I’ve just lost my son. Found out my granddaughter was taken. I wasn’t—I’m not—thinking straight.”

“But Marcus said the music boxes in your apartment were empty,” Kate said.

“They are. Now. When I first received the music boxes, I didn’t know who they were from, though I suspected Chad, not Rachel. I knew he was hiding something. Thought he might be in trouble. One night I was listening to one of them, and I realized that they would make the perfect hiding place.”

“And you opened them up.”

M. Laurent nodded. “I took the first one apart, and inside... I couldn’t believe it. There was a small sack of raw, uncut diamonds. The only thing I know about diamonds is what I’ve learned from Chad over the years. Which meant I knew they were worth a fortune, but also that in the state they were in, they could be traced.”

“Why didn’t you go to Chad?”

“I think I was afraid to find out the truth. Afraid to discover that my son was involved in something illegal. At the same time I’d been working to track where the package had come from and found out Rachel had sent them.”

“Do you think she knew about the diamonds?”

M. Laurent shook his head. “I called her and asked her why she’d sent the boxes. She told me she felt like Chad was trying to buy Sophie’s love. Thought I would appreciate them. I’m certain she didn’t know about the diamonds, though, and I didn’t tell her.”

“Where are the diamonds, M. Laurent?” Marcus asked.

He clutched the envelope tighter, creasing its edges. “After I found them in the first music box, I opened up the rest of the music boxes and knew I needed a place to hide them. They weighed around three and a half kilograms...almost eight pounds.”

“Five million dollars’ worth.”

“You can see why I was afraid. I decided to hide them in plain sight. At the Louvre.”

“At the Louvre? Where?” Kate asked.

“It seemed perfect.” M. Laurent stared at the throw rug in the center of the living room as he spoke. “There are a number of regulations for anyone who wants to be a copyist at the Louvre. Most of the rules are to stop someone from trying to make a copy they could in turn sell as authentic. Your work has to be a different size from the original, you can’t reproduce the signature of the artist and you can only bring into the museum canvas or drawing paper that is authorized. And as you saw, we keep our canvases and supplies in storage at the Louvre. I found a way to hide them, among the brushes and paint.”

“So the diamonds were there with you every day.”

“It was a temporary solution only, and one I was planning to talk to Chad about. Now that will never happen because he...he never listened. All the diamonds in the world aren’t worth my son’s life.” He looked up and caught Kate’s gaze. “Whoever has Sophie wants the diamonds, don’t they?”

Kate nodded. “The exchange is in less than twenty-four hours now.”

“I’ll get you the diamonds, and...” M. Laurent handed Marcus the envelope he was holding. “This was what he gave me in case something happened to him. It didn’t save my son, but maybe it will help save Sophie and put an end to all of this.”

Kate watched Marcus slide out the contents of the envelope onto the coffee table in the middle of the living room. “What is all of this?”

Marcus started flipping through the papers. “Chad must have known he was about to get caught. It looks like names, dates, contacts...”

Chad’s father shook his head. “What was he thinking?”

“Most people get involved in something like this with the strong belief they won’t get caught,” Marcus said. “I’m sure your son was no different.”

M. Laurent shook his head sadly. “And those diamonds? They were worth what? The life of my son? Of my daughter-in-law and granddaughter?”

“I’m sorry, M. Laurent.” Marcus placed the papers back in the envelope and stood up.

“What next?” the older man asked.

“We need to go get the diamonds. And pray we now have the leverage we need to save Sophie’s life.”

FOURTEEN

K
ate sat on the stern of the boat beside Marcus in one of the bright orange seats, telling herself to relax. She’d agreed to join him for one of the legendary Bateaux-Mouche cruises. He’d called it a well-needed distraction, because there was nothing they could do until tomorrow.

She, on the other hand, called
him
a distraction. He’d changed into a pair of black jeans and a collared green shirt for their trip down the Seine. Which meant she hadn’t failed to notice how handsome he was with his tanned skin, dark hair, bright eyes and that touch of five-o’clock shadow. Or how he stirred something inside of her she hadn’t felt for a long time. And while those feelings scared her, her heart was trying to convince her that Marcus was different.

Kevin’s walking out on her had taught her a lot. She’d learned that self-worth could never come from a man. Learned that trying to change a man would never happen. Learned that her relationship with God had to be a priority. And learned that the kind of man she wanted to be with one day was a man who was honest, strong, had a deep faith and was comfortable with himself.

Like Marcus.

Which was exactly why she should have turned down his offer. Because as much as she wanted to be here, with him, she hadn’t come to Paris to fall in love. Even now that they’d found the diamonds, there were still too many questions that needed to be answered. Marcus and Pierre had questioned the man who’d attacked her. They’d learned his name was Davin Bernard, and he had former convictions for theft and possession of stolen property. But so far, the man who’d tried to grab her was refusing to talk.

The envelope Chad had left with his father had given them a significant amount of evidence they needed to build on Marcus’s case, but it was going to take time to sort through everything. Marcus had spent hours going through the files at the safe house until Pierre had convinced him to stop for the night. Everything was set for tomorrow’s exchange, which meant for the moment, the best thing they could all do was get some rest.

Kate gazed out across the Seine as they glided under one of the lit bridges, trying to let go of the fear and worry for the moment. The sun had set thirty minutes ago, and now, the lights from the city and the bridges were reflecting against the river, creating the backdrop just as she’d expected. Romance, history and timeless beauty all enveloped the views surrounding them.

Maybe Marcus had been right. Maybe the distraction was exactly what she needed.

“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked, nudging her with his elbow.

She looked up at him and shot him a smile. “I’m sorry.”

“I have a feeling you haven’t heard a word I’ve been saying.”

She searched her memory. The last thing she remembered he’d been telling her about Pont-Neuf, the oldest remaining bridge in Paris, that had been depicted in one of Renoir’s paintings. “This was a good idea, but I’m clearly not the greatest company tonight.”

“I didn’t ask you to come and entertain me. I asked you to join me because I enjoy being with you. And we both needed a break and some fresh air.”

The familiar uneasiness crept in around her. She knew he’d taken every precaution to keep her safe, but even she knew he couldn’t control everything. The boat was filled with tourists with cameras, and an energetic young woman gave a live commentary on the lit-up sights along the banks of the river.

“They’re not here, Kate. You’re on a slow-moving boat along the Seine, in the most romantic city in the world with a fairly good-looking guy—if I say so myself—who thinks you look beautiful tonight.”

She felt her cheeks blush at the compliment and couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re right. About the romantic city and the fairly good-looking guy, anyway.”

He grabbed her hand and squeezed her fingers. “I’m going to do everything I can to keep you safe. I promise.”

She shook her head. “Don’t promise me that. Rachel thought she could keep Sophie safe, but she couldn’t. I’ve realized that as much as I hate it, there are simply some things I can’t do. She’s my little sister. I should have been there to protect her, but I wasn’t.”

“None of this is your fault, Kate.”

“Deep down inside, I know that, but even so it’s hard to separate the frustration and the fear from the guilt.”

“Try to forget everything else for the moment. You told me you’d always longed to visit Paris. The situation with your niece and sister aside, what are your impressions?”

He was trying to distract her again, and she appreciated it. She’d spent the past two days thinking about tomorrow’s exchange. He’d tried—more than once—to convince her to let someone else take her place. But she couldn’t—wouldn’t—take any chances with her niece’s life. Which meant tomorrow, she was going to have to trust him with her life.

But he was right. She needed to let go what she couldn’t control, even if it was only temporary.

“Maybe I’m just a crazy romantic, but Paris is more beautiful than I imagined, if that’s possible.” She let out a soft sigh. The city was lit up as they’d passed the Place de la Concorde, and then the Musée d’Orsay before looping around Notre Dame and heading back toward the Eiffel Tower.

“When I was nine, I had a poster of Paris on my wall. I loved the movie
Sabrina
, and was determined to learn French.” She chuckled at the memories. “I think my parents agreed that I was crazy. Up to that point, Paris, Texas, was about as far away from home as I’d ever been.”

Marcus’s smile widened as he listened to her.

She shook her head. “It sounds silly now. It’s just one of dozens of cities with centuries of history and culture, but somehow Paris was the city that captivated me.”

“I know my sister, Macy, wouldn’t say it’s just a city. Her dream as a teenager was to visit Rome. To this day, she admits she’s not sure what it was, but she ended up marrying an Italian.”

“Ah...those Italian men. They’ll get you every time.”

Marcus laughed. “She’s still completely enchanted by everything Italian.”

“I think my obsession, if you want to call it that, began as simply the desire to see the world beyond my small town that included the local grocery store, a gas station and post office.”

“You have traveled, though.”

Kate breathed in a calming breath. “Last year in Africa working on the documentary. Before that I took several mission trips with my church to Haiti and one to Mexico. I’m determined to travel more, though.”

“So Paris has lived up to your expectations?”

“Yes...and no. On one hand, it’s beautiful and romantic, and exactly how I imagined it would be. But it’s hard for me to see the city without remembering the real reason I’m here.”

She wasn’t ready to mention the other memories that fought to surface, as well. The fact that she’d planned to come here on her honeymoon with Kevin.

“I’ve tried to play the role of tour guide a bit. Has it helped some?”

She laughed. “And you’ve been perfect, though you are missing the French accent. Texas drawl doesn’t quite cut it here.”

Marcus’s smile broadened as he settled back in his chair, his hand still firmly grasping hers. “I know these aren’t the circumstances you dreamed of seeing this city in, but for me...tonight...everything
is
perfect.”

His words seemed to hover between them like the kissed they’d shared. She wanted to ask him what he wanted to happen between them when all of this was over. If something more was even a possibility. But for the moment, she simply wanted to embrace this moment and get to know him better.

“What about you?” she asked. “How much have you traveled?”

“This isn’t the first time I’ve traveled for work, and I also traveled a lot growing up. My father was in the air force and we were posted several times overseas.”

“Thus the French?”

“Partly. I spent two years in a university exchange program in France. It was after that I decided that I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps. I joined the military, but eventually went to work for the FBI.”

“Any regrets?”

“None, though according to some of my siblings, friends and my mom, I’m too busy and too driven. It’s a combination that tends to sour relationships... Well, we probably shouldn’t even go there.”

“You wouldn’t be the first one with a soured relationship in their past.” Kate laughed, feeling herself relax for the first time all evening. Tomorrow would still come, and it was going to have enough worries of its own.

“Can I ask another question, then?”

“Okay.”

“It’s personal.” He hesitated, as if giving her a chance to change her mind.

She watched a couple having their photo taken. Honeymooners? An anniversary? She still imagined being in love one day with the right person—and visiting Paris together.

She let her gaze sweep Marcus’s face. In the short time she’d known him, she’d been forced to trust him, and he’d been trustworthy. Somehow, they’d managed to move past the layer of superficiality, which both thrilled and terrified her at the same time. Because while it might simply be the lights, the music playing in the background and the city itself, right here with him was where she wanted to be at the moment.

“It’s okay,” she said.

“There’s a sadness behind your eyes when you talk about love and relationships. Almost a longing. Like you lost someone you love.”

She nodded, amazed at how perceptive he was. She’d seen two sides of him. The take-charge, reel-’em-in and take-’em-down side. And the other, softer side that made her know he saw her as a person and not just another case.

“His name was Kevin. He was funny, good-looking, and at the time, I thought he was everything I’d been looking for.” She paused, unsure of how much she wanted to share. “We dated for six months, and when he asked me to marry him, I was over the moon. We planned to take a European cruise for our honeymoon. France, Italy and England... I thought our relationship was perfect. Turned out, he didn’t.”

“What happened?”

Kate stared out at the water. “He eloped with my best friend and maid of honor. Left me a Dear Jane letter.”

“Ouch,” he said. “That had to have hurt.”

She waited for the pain and humiliation of the moment to rewash over her, but it didn’t. Instead, she saw the man sitting next to her. No pity. No judging. Just a genuine concern for what it must have been like for her.

“It was humiliating, actually, and I’ve pretty much tried to avoid men ever since. Unfortunately, my mother and my sister have been convinced that setting me up with someone would make me forget about Kevin.” She shifted slightly in her seat. “What about you? Who’s the girl who broke your heart?”

* * *

Marcus’s brow rose slightly at her question. “And I thought I was the perceptive one.”

Kate shot him a smile. “Who says you need interrogating skills to be perceptive?”

“Touché. Her name was Nicole. She was a ballet dancer. Beautiful and exotic. We’d been dating a few months when she showed up at my apartment one night and gave me an ultimatum. It was my job or her.”

“Ouch. What did she want you to do? Quit?”

“I suppose. But for me, I was hit with the realization that no matter how much energy I put into our relationship, it wasn’t going to work out between us. I think I’d kept forcing things, trying to make things work. Turned out my job was just one piece of the puzzle. We lived different lives, and I had to accept that it wasn’t going to ever work.”

“At least she had the decency to tell you to your face.”

“Yes, but that didn’t erase the sting. She reminded me, though, of what I’d told myself all along. That I didn’t have time for a relationship. And in the end, I let her walk away. Maybe I should have regretted it, but to be honest, I didn’t.”

“Which meant she wasn’t the right person for you.”

“No, she wasn’t. You know, you’re different from her.”

“How?”

“You have courage. A concern for others.”

“All I see is that I’ve been terrified this entire week. With everything that’s happened, I haven’t been able to shake the feeling that someone is around the corner trying to kill me.”

“But you never let it stop you from doing what you have to do. And in the end, isn’t that what really matters? We’re all afraid of something. But how we choose to deal with that fear is what makes the difference.”

Something crashed behind them. Kate jumped in her seat. “See what I mean?”

“It’s just a bunch of rowdy kids who’ve been drinking too much.”

She looked behind them at the group of college-aged students who were messing around taking photos of each other. “I know it’s just...I can’t stop looking over my shoulder.”

She shivered, despite her sweater and the warm evening breeze. She’d almost managed to shake her fears tonight. Almost. But they’d found her today. And while she’d managed to get away, the next time she might not be so lucky. And just because they’d caught Davin Bernard, didn’t mean things were over. If her theory was right, there was someone else involved besides Sophie’s kidnappers. Someone else who was just as desperate to get their hands on five million dollars’ worth of diamonds.

“I need to go to the restroom,” she said, standing up.

“You want me to come with you?” he asked, starting to follow her.

“No...I’ll just be a minute.”

And she’d be fine. She was tired of jumping at every shadow.

“The Eiffel Tower is just up ahead, which means we’ll be getting off soon.”

Kate glanced at the tower in the distance, lit up now by hundreds of twinkling gold lights. The reminder punched through her gut. She’d be there tomorrow. Making the exchange for Sophie’s life.

She passed the group of young people, drinking and photo-bombing each other’s pictures. Someone jostled against her. She hurried past them, trying to shake off the feeling someone was watching her. Music played in the background, the commentator rambled on in four different languages no one could hear. They were drinking too much and dancing...

She maneuvered her way toward the restroom, then froze. He stood in the aisle blocking her way. She’d recognize him anywhere. Short and stocky with red curly hair. One of the men who tried to grab her near the Anne-Loure shop.