Free Secret Star by Nora Roberts

business now?”
    She opened a door, hesitated. “Yes. My stepfather left it to the three of us, with my stepbrothers sharing eighty percent between them. In the eventany of us died without heirs, the shares go to the survivors.” She drew in a breath. “I survived.”
    â€œThat’s something to be grateful for, Bailey, not guilty about.”
    â€œYes, that’s what Cade says. But you see, I once had the illusion, at least, that they were family. Have a seat, I’ll get the Stars.”
    He moved into the work area, glanced at the equipment, the long worktable. Intrigued, he stepped closer, examining the glitter of colored stones, the twists of gold. It was going to be a necklace, he realized, running a fingertip over the silky length of a closely linked chain. Something bold, almost pagan.
    â€œI needed to get back to work,” she said from behind him. “To do something…different, my own, I suppose, before I faced dealing with these again.”
    She set down a padded box that held the trio of diamonds.
    â€œYour design?” he asked, gesturing to the piece on the worktable.
    â€œYes. I see the piece in my head. I can’t draw worth a lick, but I can visualize. I wanted to make something for M.J. and for Grace to…” She sighed, sat on the high stool. “Well, let’s say to celebrate survival.”
    â€œAnd this is the one for Grace.”
    â€œYes.” She smiled, pleased that he’d sensed it. “I see something more streamlined for M.J. But this is Grace.” Carefully she set the unfinished work in a tray, slid the padded box containing the Three Stars between them. “They never lose their impact. Each time I see them, it stuns.”
    â€œHow long before you’re finished with them?”
    â€œI’d just begun when—when I had to stop.” She cleared her throat. “I’ve verified their authenticity. They are blue diamonds. Still, both the museum and the insurance carrier prefer more in-depth verification. I’ll be running a number of other tests beyond what I’ve already started or completed. A metallurgist is testing the triangle, but that will be given to me for further study in a day or two. It shouldn’t take more than a week altogether before the museum can take possession.”
    He lifted a stone from the bed, knew as soon as it was in his hand that it was the one Grace had carried with her. He told himself that was impossible. His untrained eye couldn’t tell one stone from either of its mates.
    Yet he felt her on it. In it.
    â€œWill it be hard to part with them?”
    â€œI should say no, after the past few days. But yes, it will.”
    Grace’s eyes were this color, Seth realized. Notsapphire, but the blue of the rare, powerful diamond.
    â€œWorth killing for,” he said quietly, looking at the stone in his hand. “Dying for.” Then, annoyed with himself, he set the stone down again. “Your stepbrothers had a client.”
    â€œYes, they spoke of a client, argued about him. Thomas wanted to take the money, the initial deposit, and run.”
    The money was being checked now, but there wasn’t much hope of tracing its source.
    â€œTimothy told Thomas he was a fool, that he’d never be able to run far or fast enough. That he—the client—would find him. He’s not even human. Timothy said that, or something like it. They were both afraid, terribly afraid, and terribly desperate.”
    â€œOver their heads.”
    â€œYes, I think very much over their heads.”
    â€œIt would have to be a collector. No one could move these stones for resale.” He glanced at the gems sparkling in their trays like pretty stars. “You acquire, buy and sell to collectors of gems.”
    â€œYes—certainly not on a scale like the Three Stars, but yes.” She skimmed her fingers absently through her hair. “A client might come to