Eye of the Falcon (Psychic Visions #12)(89)

“Of course. We never walk into a situation like this without backup.”

She shook her head. “This is just too nuts.”

“Says the daughter of a smuggler, the daughter of a woman who kept a lover on the side, whose entire male family died while on a job? Who knows what the hell is going on in the world? I still can’t believe we found the jewelry and the money. You have to decide what you want to do about this.”

“Do about it? What can I do?”

“The jewelry should be handed over. Hopefully it goes back to the proper owner, if these can be confirmed as the missing pieces. No way to know if the money was taken at the same time.”

“Any idea how much there is?”

“Close to fifty grand USD.”

She sank back. “My mother must have really hated that money to have left it here all these years. She worked at minimum wage jobs for most of her life and lived from paycheck to paycheck.”

Finally they came to a large building built of stone. She stared at the forbidding-looking front and said, “This looks a little unnerving.”

She hopped out of the car with her purse, noted that Eagle picked up his duffel, slung it over his shoulder, and reached out a hand. She slipped her hand into his, and together, with Hawk bringing up the rear, they walked in the front door.

Hawk said, “He should be waiting for us. Charlie set it up.”

Several men stood off to one side of the counter.

Eagle identified himself and said he was meeting Detective Dennis Laslo.

The taller of the men smiled, walked over, and held out a hand. “That’s me. Let’s go to a private room.” He led them to a small room where they all sat down. “This is quite a story you’ve got.” He turned to look at Issa. “Are you Issa McGuire?”

She nodded. “As far as I know, I am. Although my father might not be who I thought he was.”

“According to Eagle, that could be Angus.” He studied her. “Do you want to see him?”

“Is he allowed visitors?”

“Oh, yes, he’s been a model prisoner. He’s still spouting his innocence. He doesn’t know about you yet. But, if you’d like to see him, I’m sure you would brighten an old man’s day.”

She thought about that. Her mom had been in her fifties. Angus was likely in his sixties. And maybe that would be something she should do. If for nothing else, just to get closure.

“Yes, I would like that. If possible, I’d like to see him today.”

*

It was difficult to watch the play of emotions move across Issa’s face. Eagle still held her hand gently in his. He loved that she’d moved her chair closer to his, that, at every opportunity, she was there right beside him. It had been a long time since he had had that sense of partnership. That sense of togetherness with someone. This felt right. He never thought he’d find a woman as addicted and hung up on birds as he was.

She could teach him so much, but that was for another time. He was still struggling with her abilities. He wasn’t sure what to think of the Roash and Humbug issues. It didn’t seem real. She could communicate in ways he’d only dreamed about.

Now watching her face at the thought of meeting Angus was almost painful. She’d buried her mother. The father she knew was in a grave, buried more than twenty years ago. Never thought to have a biological father alive. And to be the man she’d seen in bed with her mother.

The night that everything blew up. The night the four of them, three humans and one falcon, were all supposed to be watching, all of them derelict in their duties. But only one of them had an allowable excuse because she was a child.

He turned his gaze to the detective and said, “It would need to be today or at the very latest in the morning.”

The detective nodded, opened the file in front of him, ran his finger down as if checking for Angus’s location and a number. He picked up the phone and dialed. As they listened, he requested visiting hours. When he put down the phone, he said, “You’re in luck. You can see him today.”

Issa squeezed Eagle’s fingers. He didn’t know if it was in hope or in fear. But he knew Angus could be the one to give them the answers they needed.

They had other things they had to deal with first though.

The detective placed his forearms on the desk, clasped his hands together, and looked at her. “What do you know about the jewels?”

“Nothing,” she said quietly. “I didn’t know anything about them twenty years ago and just found pictures of them recently after my mother passed away. And well …” She turned to look at Eagle.

He explained from there.

The detective raised an eyebrow, glancing from Eagle to Issa and back. “What do you want to do?”

“What’s right. That means, handing them over,” she said without hesitation.

Eagle smiled at her, loving her even more. And then froze at the thought. Love? Was that what this was? He shoved the thought down, reached into his bag, and pulled out one of the soft velvet bags.

The detective carefully poured out the necklace so everyone could take a closer look. Then he whistled. “Wow.”

He picked it up, and they all stared at the emeralds shimmering in the light. He opened an envelope and showed Eagle and Issa the owner’s photos of the four missing pieces of jewelry. The emerald necklace matched the one in the photo. Beautifully.