Eye of the Falcon (Psychic Visions #12)(90)

Issa said, “They’ll need to be authenticated. And I’d like a receipt. If they aren’t the ones stolen, I’d like them back.”

The detective nodded. “Yes, that’s fair. But, from the looks of it, I don’t think there’s any doubt these are the real gems.”

Eagle spread out four large glossy photos, matching the ones in the detective’s folder. Eagle reached down for the other velvet bags. Carefully he pulled out the necklaces and put them on the desk. All four necklaces matched the four glossy photos.

The detective said, “This cold case has been unsolved for over twenty years.”

“It’s still unsolved,” Issa said. “All I can tell you is where these were found and what led us to them. And I know it probably had something to do with my family being wiped out twenty years ago.”

The detective sobered. “You’re right. This is not just about finding the stolen goods or capturing the men who did this. A great deal of human life was lost that night.”

He picked up his phone and called somebody. Ten minutes later a rap came at the door, and it opened. The detective stood and said, “This is my supervisor. I’ll write you that receipt. We’ll go from there.”

She nodded. “Is anything else missing?”

Both of the policemen turned to look at her. “Like what?”

Eagle smiled to himself as she gazed steadily at the men. “You showed us four photos, one of each of the four necklaces. Wasn’t there other jewelry that went missing at the same time?”

The detective said, “Oh, that’s a good question.” He walked back to his folder and said, “Though we don’t have any more photographs, besides the four necklaces, some old gold coins went missing. Just a few of them, along with a few smaller pieces of jewelry. Everything was stolen from the same private collection. The jewels were on display under what was supposed to be top security at the time. The thing is, the method of getting in and out was simple. Bribery and murder.”

Issa turned pale at the word murder.

“The theft occurred during a big formal event. Politicians, movie stars, many private collectors were there. So the theft was well publicized.” He raised his gaze and looked at her. “Did you find anything else?”

“Only Irish money,” she said quietly. “And paperwork from my parents.”

He nodded. “That’s fine. We need the details on those, plus a statement from you, if you could, please.”

Hawk asked, his voice harsh and amiable at the same time, “When will you get the jewels authenticated?”

“This morning hopefully but maybe not until tomorrow,” the supervisor said. “We have a specialist who assists us on some investigations.” He turned to look at Issa. “Are you going to see Angus?”

She stood. “Yes. Maybe he’ll have some answers.”

The two officers studied her, then glanced at the jewels. The detective asked, “Do you think he was involved?”

“I have no idea. My father—well, who I thought was my father—and my three brothers along with him were smugglers,” she said quietly. “Maybe these were smuggled out of France weeks earlier.” She shrugged. “I really have no way of knowing as I was six back then.”

The detective said, “I have a time line here. The jewels were stolen in March, and your father died less than ten days later.”

“In that case, it’s likely all related. I don’t know that my father ever left Ireland. Somebody else would’ve been responsible for bringing the jewels across the water.”

The detective nodded. “That would make sense.” He wrote a note down on the file. “Do you know how often he received shipments?”

“I have no way to know. Like I said, I was only six, and my mother and I left for America soon afterward,” she said. “If we’re done here, I’d really like to talk to Angus now.”

The detective said, “And I’d like to hear what he has to say too. Let’s get your statement. Then you can go to the prison.”

“You could come with us,” Issa offered.

The detective smiled. “If I thought it would do any good, I would. But I think your father will speak more freely if I’m not there.”

Eagle agreed. “Then let’s take care of the paperwork so we can be on our way.”





Chapter 28





Walking into the prison was daunting. She’d never been in one before. She struggled not to look around as they walked through the hallways. They had a guard in front and more guards behind them. She appreciated everyone’s concern, but, at the same time, she couldn’t imagine how the men felt being locked up like this. Angus had been here for seventeen years? How horrible.

She was led into a room where she stopped. Angus already sat at the table; a guard stood off to the side. He seemed confused and bewildered as to why he was here. When he looked up at her arrival, he frowned, and then his eyes lit up. “Issa?”

She stood stock-still, overwhelmed once again by memories slamming into her. This man had given her gifts. He had helped her further train Hadrid. He was in the house, laughing and joking with her smiling mother. The only time Issa ever saw her mother smile was for Angus, this man in front of her.

Eagle slung an arm across her shoulder and gently hugged her. “Do you want to sit down?”