Free Meet Me in Venice by Elizabeth Adler Page B

prevailing wind, past watery rice paddies and small fields. In the gloom Lily made out the shapes of the poor wooden houses. She quickly doused her headlights, feeling her way around a sleeping village and down the hill to the burial ground. The directions had been good and she found it without any trouble.
    A pair of armed guards raised their rifles as they sighted the truck and Lily gave three short muted blasts of her horn, the signal that she was expected. Ahead, under the wall, she could see a small flatbed truck and a larger van.
    She switched off the engine and the two women got out and stood, shivering, waiting for the signal to advance. A man appeared from behind the flatbed, the back of which was protected from the rain with a tarpaulin. He gestured for them to come forward, watching carefully to see there was no one else with them. His was a dangerous business with plenty of competition and he could not be too careful.
    He motioned them to the flatbed, lifting the tarp to show the muddy treasures hidden beneath. The tomb he was robbing was very old and the artifacts—vases and vessels, statues and jadecarvings—were prized for their antiquity. He knew their value on the hidden market and he knew what he could expect to get from Lily Song, but first there was bargaining to be done.
    The Chinese are masters at the art of bargaining and Lily was no exception. Keen to get a good price, she and Mary-Lou picked out the pieces they wanted then Lily and the man went and sat in the truck to hash out the deal.
    Mary-Lou remained behind, keeping a careful eye on the guards. When they finally turned their backs and took shelter from the wind behind the wall for a quick smoke, she walked silently into the cemetery. Hidden in the shadows, she watched a group of men battering down the doors to a second tomb. Glancing quickly round, she saw what she was looking for: a small pile of artifacts waiting to be collected and carried to the truck. Crouching low, she crept closer. In seconds she had picked up a small bowl. It was still covered in dust and dirt, but looking at it, she knew it was of Imperial jade. She also knew its potential value.
    Her heart thumping with excitement, she slipped it in her pocket next to the gun, then ran silently back up the path to the pickup. If she were caught these men would have no mercy. She and Lily would both be shot and thrown into the river, but somehow she just knew she was safe.
    Sitting in the truck, Lily handed over a wad of money to the “supplier.” He counted it, shaking his head in disgust that a woman had gotten the better of him, grunting his acceptance.
    Mary-Lou was waiting for her and the two took their loot, loaded it into the SUV, then got back in.
    Lily could feel the supplier’s baleful gaze boring into her as shestarted the engine; she saw the guards lift their rifles, following them in their sights as they drove past. Sweating, she half-expected to feel the bullets thudding into the vehicle, but none came. Lily Song was a good customer; she paid cash and the supplier wanted repeat business. Maybe he would kill her one day, but not tonight.
    The stolen artifacts in their padded wrap cloths bounced in the rear of the SUV as the two women headed down to the river and through the night on their long journey back to Shanghai.
    “We did it,” Lily said jubilantly, taking out a cigarette.
    “We did,” Mary-Lou agreed, noting in the spark of the flame from the lighter that Lily’s hand shook slightly. Hers did not. She closed her fingers over the small jade bowl hidden in her pocket and smiled. She would be rich at any cost. Lily did not know that her friend was also a thief.

SEVENTEEN
    PARIS
    T EN days later, true to his promise, Bennett walked unannounced into Preshy’s store, laughing at her stunned exression when she swung round and saw him standing there. And within minutes it was as though he had never been away.
    He gave her his cell-phone number and his e-mail