Free Hidden Gems by Carrie Alexander

to squeezing in and out of much tighter spots.
    At the third floor, he moved nearer the window, where a shadow was thrown against the blocks of stone. He waited there, uneasy.
    It was too early—lights were on in many of the windows of the surrounding buildings. He ran a great risk of being spotted.
    Allard’s employer had not been pleased with the delay in the delivery of the White Star, but he had understood what was necessary. Now that the officials were stepping up their search for the thief, he must move even more carefully. Haste would be disastrous.
    As would seeing the White Star slip away between his fingers, Allard thought as he leaned away from the wall. He had to be positive that the girl hadn’t discovered the amulet in her luggage.
    Beyond the lace curtain, a small lamp glowed within Marissa Suarez’s bedroom. She was home. The roommate, also. He’d already known that, having watched their front door from the street most of the day.
    The roommate had been an unpleasant surprise. In his preliminary survey, he’d checked the label on the mailbox for Apt 3C, even picked its lock to go through the contents. All of the mail had been under one name: Marissa Suarez. And yet the girl with the curly hair had been home when he’d expected the apartment to be empty.
    Another small complication, but no matter. He knew where to focus.
    Allard’s eyes narrowed. Marissa was in bed, already sleeping.
    He admired her bare legs, the curve of her hip. She wore a pair of bikini panties and a small T-shirt that rose above her ribs. Jet hair spilled across the pillow.
    He almost smiled at the sight, before remembering that he wasn’t here to admire the girl’s beauty.
    Was the amulet safe? Allard’s eyes searched.
    At first he believed that the suitcase had been moved. A blade of apprehension sliced through his calm. Beads of perspiration popped up along his hairline, above his lip. But he didn’t flinch, except for the near-frantic flicker of his eyes.
    Ah, yes! There was the bag—still under the bed, but pushed farther back, almost hidden by the ruffled bedskirt.
    Allard was not comforted. Since the suitcase had been moved, there was a good chance she’d unpacked.
    Had she found the amulet?
    He told himself that was unlikely. He had followed her, first to breakfast, then later while she went on a few errands and to the gym. There had been no sign of the sort of fuss the discovery of the White Star would create.
    And yet…he couldn’t know for certain. He might have to risk a recovery attempt sooner than was safe.
    On the bed, Marissa murmured in her sleep. She became restless, a tremor moving through her lithe body like a wave on the shore. She flipped from her side to her back, frozen for an instant before she relaxed with a sigh.
    Dreaming. Allard watched, momentarily forgetting his concern for the amulet. Her hand slipped across her thighs, the fingers moving, caressing. She writhed. She moaned, opening her lips with the tip of her tongue.
    His detached interest stirred into arousal. Perhaps he’d been too quick to dismiss the option of introducing himself to Marissa and gaining access to her bedroom through her delectable body.
    He leaned closer, intent on seeing more.
    The cat sprang into the window with a loud miaow, its eyes reflecting an eerie sheen split by narrow black pupils.
    Allard jerked back from the glass. The creature bared its small, sharp teeth and hissed.
    Marissa had awakened. “Harry?” Allard heard her say, but then he was gone, gliding down the rusty steps, swinging over the railing and landing in a crouch before he scurried off through the narrow, dank span between buildings.

    IT WAS half past two in the morning when Marissa returned alone to the apartment after the girls’ night out. She was tired even though she’d napped earlier to combat jet lag. Shandi had taken off with a guy, ostensibly to try a hip new club. Marissa wasn’t expecting her to return, which was just as well.