Tightrope (Burning Cove #3)(24)

“Very daring, when you think about it.”

“Yes. But I’m beginning to wonder if things went wrong for Smith, too.”

“Well, what you have described was a very intricate strategy,” Amalie said.

“Pell says that, according to the legend, Smith’s operations are always carefully choreographed. An elaborate setup that keeps him in the shadows at every point is his signature.”

“Burning Cove would be a great place for someone like Smith to hide in plain sight,” Amalie said. “People around here do like to say that this is the perfect small town. It looks like a picture postcard. But I’ve been here long enough to know the sparkle on the surface is deceptive.”

“I sense cynicism.”

“I try to take a realistic view of things,” Amalie said. “Why do you think Smith took the risk of murdering Pickwell? Why not simply grab the suitcase and run?”

“Murdering anyone who might be a potential threat is another characteristic of Smith’s style. So is making sure that there are always plenty of people to take the fall.”

“In this case Smith evidently intended the robot to get the blame. I must admit, that was rather clever. If you and Luther Pell hadn’t been aware of what was going on behind the scenes, everyone would have concluded that the robot did it. That the murder was just a freakish accident.”

“Yesterday Luther and I were afraid that we had missed our shot at Smith. But tonight someone broke into your inn. I am not a fan of coincidence. Until proven otherwise, we have to assume that things did not go as planned onstage.”

Amalie stiffened. “Do you think it was Smith who broke into my inn?”

“Not Smith,” Matthias said, sounding very certain.

“What makes you so sure?”

“Sloppy work. Luther assures me that, whatever else you can say about Smith, he is not sloppy. Whoever broke in here tonight was an amateur.”

“I have to tell you, that is not particularly reassuring. My poor aunt is in the hospital tonight because of that so-called amateur.”

“Amateurs can do just as much damage as a pro,” Matthias said.

“Then what’s the difference?”

“Pros rarely get caught.”

“I would like to point out that whoever broke in here tonight didn’t get caught, either.”

“True.” Matthias gave that a moment of serious consideration. “It probably wasn’t Smith but it might have been someone working for him.”

Amalie shuddered. “Great. We could be dealing with a criminal mastermind who has a team.”

“Luther tells me that Smith never works alone. He is always the puppeteer pulling the strings. The puppets take the risks.”

Amalie widened her hands. “How about we go with the simple explanation? Maybe the intruder picked my inn to burglarize tonight because it looked like an easy target.”

“Then we’re back to a theory involving coincidence.”

“And you don’t like coincidence.”

Matthias looked at her. “Do you?”

“Well, no.”

“Regardless,” Matthias continued, “the incident tonight leaves us with a problem here at the Hidden Beach Inn.”

She studied him closely for a long moment, sensing a significant change in the atmosphere. She could read the subtle waves of energy charging the space around him the same way she had once read the invisible currents around other flyers and catchers. Sometimes you just knew things. Flyer’s intuition. She followed the thought to its logical conclusion.

“You think the burglar might come back, don’t you?” she said.

“It sounds like you chased him off before he had a chance to finish doing whatever it was he came here to do,” Matthias said. “So, yes, I think we have to assume that he might come back.”

“I suppose I could get a dog.”

“That’s not a bad idea, but if we’re dealing with Smith, or someone he’s manipulating, you’re going to need more than a dog.”

“You’re about to tell me that I need someone around who has had some experience with this sort of thing, aren’t you?” she said. “Someone like you.”

“I’ll be the first to admit that I lack many of a dog’s admirable traits. I don’t play fetch very well and I’m not cuddly. But on the plus side, my nose isn’t usually wet and I bathe daily.”

“Something to be said for those two attributes. Fine. You’re welcome to take a room. But I’ll warn you up front I’m going to charge full price. Under the circumstances I’m sure you’ll understand.”

“The money won’t be a problem,” Matthias said. “I’ll be happy to pay a week in advance.”

She brightened a little. “Do you think this business will be over in a week? That would be very good news. I can survive a week, especially if I have a paying customer. That would be you, of course.”

“I can’t give you a definite end date but Luther and I are convinced that Smith is working under a deadline. There are always guaranteed delivery dates in that business. Whoever commissioned the acquisition of the Ares will not be happy if he doesn’t receive his merchandise on time. And Smith won’t risk staying in the country now that he has taken the risk of double-crossing the Broker.”