Free Always a Thief by Kay Hooper Page A

to do with the museum.”
    Quinn considered that for a moment in silence, then said, “Without more to go on, I'm not surprised the police don't know where to fit that particular puzzle piece.”
    “You think she fits somewhere, that she's part of someone's plans for the museum or the exhibit?”
    “Oh, yes,” Quinn replied matter-of-factly. “In a situation like this, there are no coincidences.”
    “Then we've got another player.”
    “It's very likely.”
    “Great. That's just great.”
    Quinn studied his brother, then said, “Are you going to give me the results of the ballistics report?”
    “Do I have to?”
    “No. Nightshade shot me.”
    Jared sighed. “The bullet matched those taken from his previous victims. The question is, did he know who he was shooting.”
    “He couldn't have
known
anything. He probably suspected another thief, maybe trying to I.D. him or trying to get rid of some of the competition.”
    “Even if he didn't connect you with the museum, he has to suspect a trap.”
    “Probably. I would.” Without waiting for a response to that, Quinn added, “The collection is being set up in the museum now, so there are armed guards everywhere around the clock; no thief in his right mind would try to go after it until the exhibit opens to the public.”
    “Can we assume Nightshade is in his right mind?”
    “We can assume he's not stupid. I don't believe he'd try for the collection now with all the security so visible. He'll wait, until the museum has to accommodate the public, has to reduce the number of guards and rely on electronic security. That's when it's most vulnerable.
    “We have the by-invitation-only private showing next Friday, and then the exhibit opens to the public on Saturday. I think we both agree that the sooner we lure Nightshade into the trap, the better. If we let him, he could well wait for the next two months and make his move when we've relaxed our guard.”
    “I'd rather not have to haunt the museum for the next two months,” Jared said politely. “The sooner we wrap this up, the happier I'll be.”
    “Yes, I imagine you're pretty fed up with having to be my watchdog.”
    “It isn't my favorite job, I admit.”
    Curiously, Quinn asked, “Because you don't like being a watchdog, or because it's me?”
    Jared drew a breath and let it out slowly. “Let's not go there, okay?”
    Quinn hadn't kept himself alive and at large for ten years without learning when it was safer to back off. So he backed off. “Right. Look, I don't see that I can learn anything more by using the methods I've been using so far. With the collection out of the vaults, the stakes have just shot sky-high.”
    “Meaning?”
    “Meaning I can no longer afford to be cautious.”
    “You're saying you've been acting cautiously all this time?”
    “Of course.”
    “Could have fooled me.”
    Quinn could have said that he had, in fact, fooled his brother, but instead said, “Oh, I'm always careful.”
    That solemn statement was so wide of the mark that Jared could only shake his head. “Sure you are.”
    “I am. And I plan to be very, very careful during the next step of my plan.”
    “Which is?” Jared inquired somewhat warily.
    “Well, hunting by night hasn't earned me much except a bullet. I think it's time I tried a more direct approach.”
    Jared sighed. “I've got a feeling I won't like this.”
    “No, probably not.” Quinn's even, white teeth showed in a sudden grin. “But I will.”

CHAPTER
    FIVE
    “M ay I have this dance?”
    Morgan West would have known the voice anywhere, even here in a Sea Cliff mansion in the middle of an elegant, black-tie party. Rather numbly, she looked up to meet the laughing green eyes of the most famous—and infamous—cat burglar in the world.
    Quinn.
    He was dressed for the party, a handsome heartbreaker in his stark black dinner jacket. His fair hair gleamed as he bowed very slightly with exquisite grace before her, and Morgan knew without doubt