Premonition seized Patience; she shook it off as irrational. She opened her mouth to defend Gerrard-he kicked her ankle. Hard. Sucking in a breath, she turned-and met a very straight stare.
"Let be," Gerrard whispered. "There's nothing there-let them play out their hand. Vane warned me something like this might happen. He said best to shrug and grin cynically and see what transpires."
To Patience's utter amazement, he proceeded to do just that, managing to convey an impression of patent boredom.
"By all means-search all you like." He grinned cynically again.
Pushing back from the table, Patience bustled to Minnie's side. Minnie clasped her hand tightly, then nodded to Masters. "Show the gentlemen in."
There were three of them, subtly unsavory to a man. Standing at Minnie's shoulder, firmly clasping her hand, Patience watched as, sharp eyes darting about the room, the Runners edged in and formed up in a row. Sligo slipped through the door after them.
The tallest Runner, in the center, bobbed a bow at Minnie. "Ma'am. As I hope yer man told you, we've a-come to search the premises. Seems there's some valuable pearls gone missing and a villain about."
"Indeed." Minnie studied them, then nodded. "Very well. You have my permission to search the house."
"We'll start with the bedchambers, if you don't mind, ma'am."
"If you must. Masters will accompany you." Minnie nodded a dismissal. Sligo held the door open,
and Masters ushered the men out.
"I think," Minnie said, "that we should all remain here until the search is concluded."
Gerrard slouched, relaxed, in his chair. The others shifted and looked uncomfortable.
Patience turned on Sligo.
"I know, I know." He held up a placating hand as he reached for the door. "I'll find him and get him here." He slipped out. The door closed softly behind him.
Patience sighed and turned back to Minnie.
Half an hour had passed, and Patience was certain the face of the ormolu clock on the mantel was indelibly imprinted on her mind, before the door opened again.
Everyone straightened. Breaths caught.
Vane strode in.
Patience knew an instant of giddy relief. His gaze touched her, then passed on to Minnie. He went straight to her, pulling up a vacant chair.
"Tell me."
Minnie did, her voice lowered so the others, now gathered in groups about the room, could not hear. Aside from Minnie with Timms beside her, and Patience hovering, only Gerrard remained at the table, alone at the other end. As Minnie whispered her news, Vane's face hardened. He exchanged a charged glance with Gerrard.
Glancing up, Vane met Patience's eyes, then he looked back at Minnie. "It's all right-a good sign, in fact." He, too, spoke softly; his words reached no further than Patience. "We know there's nothing in Gerrard's room. Sligo searched only yesterday. And Sligo's very thorough. But this means something, at long last, is afoot."
Minnie's look was tremulous.
Somewhat grimly, Vane smiled. "Trust me." Minnie drew in a breath, then smiled, weakly. He squeezed her hands, then stood.
He turned to Patience. Something shifted in his face, in his eyes.
Patience lost her breath.
"I apologize for not arriving this morning, but something came up."
He took her hand, raised it to his lips, then changed his grip and grasped firmly; Patience felt warm strength flow into her, around her. "Anything helpful?" she asked.
Vane grimaced. "Another blank wall. Gabriel heard of our problem-he has some surprising contacts. While we learned nothing about where the pearls are, we did learn where they haven't been. To wit, pawned." Patience opened her eyes wide. Vane nodded. "It was another possibility, but we've exhausted that avenue, too. For my money, the pearls have never left Minnie's household."