Scandalous Weddings

Chapter Ten

They both watched Louie sink to the floor, his eyes rolling back in his head.

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"Good God," he returned. Then, ruefully, he half smiled. "Very well. But only this once."

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And for one moment he stared at her. Then, "Turn around." His tone was brisk. "It is late and we are behind schedule."

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A few small lights flickered in the lobby as they hurriedly approached. A

They left the stairs and started through the lobby. It had never seemed larger to A

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They paused just around the corner, outside the manager's office. A

Very quickly, Pierce drilled the bit into the wood around the lock. A

"Yale locks," he whispered. "Impossible to pick." He winked.

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"Good girl," he mouthed, patting her back. He handed her the knob and walked behind the desk. A

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Her pulse continued to race. She heard a click from behind. It seemed ominously loud in the silence of the night. Pierce had opened the safe. The horn had disappeared back into the satchel. He was groping through the vault's dark interior.

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"Oh, my God," she heard herself whisper. And then she heard the footfalls outside in the lobby again.

Pierce heard them, too, because the necklace disappeared. A small pistol had appeared in his hand in its stead. He shoved A

The door began to open.

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A slender man stepped into the room.

As he did so, Pierce grabbed him, clapping a hand over his mouth and pressing the muzzle of the gun to his head. "Louie." He released him.

Louie glared at Pierce, and then at A

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He smiled at her and waved them forward. And as one, the trio raced across the lobby and upstairs to the safety of his room.,.

The clock in Pierce's room read three fifty-five. Pierce was gri

They had done it. They had burglarized the countess, and escaped without mishap. She laughed in delight. "I am..

He handed her the bottle, sliding his arm around her. His tone low, he said, still smiling, "Even if it is warm?"

"Even if it is warm," she said, her smile fading.

His also dimmed. A

"Now hold on," Louie cried, arms folded across his chest. "She's got some explaining to do."

Pierce released her. A

"Here," he said softly. "Ladies first."

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"You seem very pleased, A

She met his blue gaze. "I am."

His gaze was probing!

"An' I got a headache you couldn't believe." Louie scowled at A

"Louie, I do believe the lady meant no harm," Pierce said, handing him the bottle.

"I'm sorry," A

"Now what?" she asked with real trepidation.

"In a day or so we will check out," Pierce said easily. "After the ruby is discovered missing, after the police come, question everyone, and fail to find either the thief or the jewel."

"You will stay here?" A

"Yes. If I leave now, in the thick of the night, I will be the obvious culprit. You are the only one who knows who I am, A

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