Always a Thief - Kay Hooper [82]
Quinn shook his head. “Neither do the police, if that's any comfort.”
“It isn't.”
“You have more resources in this city than I do. Tap them. Find out what's going on.”
“We have a timetable. You do remember that, don't you?”
“I do. And everything will be in place by Thursday night. If you choose to go ahead, that is.”
“Of course I choose to go ahead. I can't take the chance that this . . . other player . . . can get in ahead of us.”
“It's a risk. To proceed without knowing who's out there. But there's another risk.” Quinn saw no reason why he shouldn't go ahead and stoke the fire.
“Which is?”
“Something Morgan told me. Max is planning to break up the collection, donate it to various museums around the world. He says the time for any one man or one family to have such treasures is long past.”
“He would,” Nightshade commented grimly.
“Yeah, definitely in character. He plans to make the announcement at the close of Mysteries Past, but he'll be contacting the other museums well before then to officially donate the pieces.”
“I wondered why he was willing to exhibit the collection now, after all these years. One final hurrah. One last opportunity to see all of it together in one place.”
Quinn shrugged.
“So you got this from Morgan?”
“Pillow talk. She couldn't know the information was particularly important.”
Rather than comment on that, Nightshade said, “So this is the last real chance to target the entire Bannister collection at once.”
“Looks like.”
Nightshade eyed him. “You don't sound too concerned.”
“All I want is the Talisman emerald, remember? Sending it to another museum could make it easier for me.”
“But not for me.” His lips tightened. “I don't like being rushed. But I won't take the chance of the collection being put beyond my reach. We move Thursday, on schedule.”
“Despite the risk of not knowing who this other player is?”
“Despite that. The Bannister collection is worth the risk. Some things are worth any risk. You believe that, don't you, Alex?”
“Yes,” Quinn replied. “Yes, I do.”
During the next few days, Morgan was uncharacteristically tranquil—particularly since she woke up each morning with a passionate cat burglar in her bed. Not that she was calm then, because her need for Quinn seemed only to grow stronger with every day that passed, but when she reluctantly left him asleep in her bed and went to the museum later each morning, she wrapped serenity around her like a shell.
If any of the others realized that behind her smile and thoughtful eyes a very sharp and observant mind was working, no one said anything about it. Storm teased her about Alex's effect on her, and both Max and Wolfe made rather surprised comments about her newfound composure and the lack of chatter around the museum, but if Alex thought there was anything different about her he hadn't mentioned it.
That was fine with Morgan. She didn't try to hide the fact that she was in love with Alex; she merely remained calm about it. Almost fatalistic, in fact. What would be, would be.
It was, of course, a deceptive appearance.
He came to the museum every day to pick her up—sometimes for lunch, but always by closing time—and they'd spend the remainder of the evening together, until he had to leave to become Quinn. He was always there when she woke in the morning, but he kept his suite at the Imperial and returned there at least once every day. He didn't suggest moving in with her, and Morgan didn't bring up the subject.
She teased him until he began teaching her how to pick a lock, though he claimed he was doing it only to impress her with the level of skill required. (She was impressed.) And, as always, they talked. Morgan didn't ask him too many questions, but she chose those she did ask carefully and timed them with even more caution. And it might have been because he was increasingly tense about the trap—or sting—but Quinn didn't seem to notice that she was gathering bits of information in a discreet but methodical way.
By Thursday, Morgan thought she had figured out at least part of what