"I suppose that I just don't understand this plan of Laura's," Daniel said as he handed Harry a glass of whiskey. "Stealing already stolen items -" he sighed and shook his head.

"Look, Daniel, we've both explained her idea. It's simple, really -"

"Don't bother, Harry," Laura said as she entered the room. "I'm sure that Daniel's just hoping we'll cancel our plans and agree take part in whatever he has on the back burner," she suggested, accepting the glass of wine from Harry.

"As a matter of fact," Daniel confirmed, "I *do* have something in the works, but if you're both determined to -"

Laura narrowed her eyes as she looked at Daniel. "Harry," she finally said, turning to run a fingernail up the lapel of his jacket, "would you go and get the silk wrap that goes with this dress, please? It's a bit - chilly down here," she said, glancing at Daniel.

"Why do I think you're trying to get rid of me?" Harry questioned, looking from Laura to Daniel - and then back to Laura. He shook his head. "I'll go get your wrap - I don't suppose you know where it is -?"

"In the back of my closet somewhere - it's the tan silk that you bought for me in Hong Kong -"

Harry dropped a quick kiss on her lips, sending Daniel a warning look before leaving them alone.

Laura sipped her wine as she followed him to the doorway, watching him climb the stairs and cross the landing. "We don't have much time, Daniel," she told him. "Why are you so against what Harry and I are planning on doing?"

"Why are you so certain that it will be successful?" he countered. "Stealing gems and paintings and who knows what else for a reward from their owners - It's risky."

"As risky as what he's been doing? As risky as almost getting caught in a con? Be honest, Daniel. You're still afraid that I'm trying to take him away from you."

"Well, he's already talking about finding somewhere else to live -"

"We explained that," she told him. "While it's not a wholly legitimate business, we *will* be dealing with insurance investigators and police - and - well -" she waved her hand around the room, "-there are a *few* items that you have here that could cause a problem -"

"Yes, yes, of course, but - we had an agreement," he reminded her, glancing through the doors to make sure Harry wasn't in the entryway.

Laura placed a hand on his arm. "Daniel, your secret is safe. I can't tell him."

He looked at her, confused. "Why not?"

"If I do, then he'll figure out that I've known for awhile - and chose not to tell him. You'll lose him - but so will I. So we have no choice except to act together in his best interest."

"I never considered that by not telling him you would be risking - I'm sorry, my dear." He placed his other hand on her arm. "I'm a selfish old man."

"Yes, you are," she confirmed with a smile, "but you love him, as do I. So I suppose I'm - what's the saying - 'in for a penny, in for a pound'?"

"I'm very glad that he found you," Daniel confided, leaning in to kiss her.

At that moment, Harry entered the room. "You know, if I were a man given to jealousy, I'd be forced to ask your intentions, Daniel."

"We were just coming to an agreement, Harry," Laura assured him as he placed the wrap over her shoulders. "Thank you."

"Another agreement?" Harry questioned. "How many does this make now?"

"I'm afraid we've both lost track, Harry, my boy," Daniel answered as Mary came to the doorway.

"Dinner's ready," she announced, then turned back toward the dining room, expecting them to follow.

Daniel held out his arm to Laura - and so did Harry on the other side. Laughing, Laura slipped a hand around each arm. "Shall we, gentlemen?"

***

"You were asking about the guest cottage at the villa, Harry," Daniel said once they were seated and Mary had served the table. "I see no reason why you and Laura can't use it while you're there."

"Thank you, Daniel," Harry said.

"I still think that this scheme is fraught with problems -"

"Which we'll handle as they come up," Laura stated.

"But, there's the very real possibility of Harry turning fellow thieves into enemies," he pointed out.

Before Laura could respond, Harry spoke up. "Nonsense, Daniel. By the time we're involved, the thief will already have delivered the item to whoever hired him and been paid for his trouble -"

"Or to a fence - and as you well know, they don't take well to -"

"There's a way around that," Laura stated. "We offer the fence part of the fee we expect to receive when the item is returned. Most of the time, that amount will be more than he might have gotten for selling the item on the black market." She laughed, shaking her head.

"What's so amusing, my dear?" Daniel asked.

"That word."

"What word is that?" Harry wanted to know.

"Item. Makes me think I've stepped into "The Maltese Falcon"," she explained.

Harry smiled, grabbing her hand and kissing it. "You would make a wonderful Brigid O'Shaughnessy, love."

Daniel shook his head, used to their shared love of old movies. "Your plan just might work, Laura," he told her. "You seem to have an answer for every contingency."

"She's very good at coming up with plans and schemes," Harry confirmed. "And other things as well," he added as he felt her foot against his shin.

Daniel decided not to follow that thread, clearing his throat before asking, "When are you planning to leave?"

"A couple of days," Harry told him. "I have to see my tailor, and Laura wanted to get a few things -"

"I'll call tomorrow morning to have the cottage opened and ready for your arrival."

"Thank you, Daniel," Laura said.

***

Three days later, Harry was on the telephone in the cottage, talking to a friend about a possible client in Paris, when Laura decided to make use of the private beach in the cove below the villa property.

Once down the wooden steps, she laid out the blanket, then glanced up and down the protected cove before removing her bikini top as well as the bottom, deciding to go au natural. She lay down on the blanket, then rolled over onto her stomach, her head resting on her arms. Closing her eyes, she sighed with pure contentment, hoping that Harry would finish his call and join her soon.

The sound of steps on the stairs got her attention. Thinking that it was Harry, she turned her head away, her eyes still closed. "Would you put some lotion on my back, please?"

"I'd love to, but I'm not sure that Harry would approve," Daniel had stated, and upon hearing his voice, Laura had rolled over to wrap herself in the blanket.

"D-Daniel!?" she stammered, feeling the warmth in her face that wasn't due to the sun. "What are you doing here?"

"I do own the place," he reminded her. "I'll only be here for the evening," he told her. "I'm meeting a friend to discuss a job that I need his help for."

"Why are you still smiling?" she asked.

"I'm sorry. I should have called out before I walked down here - but I'm afraid that I simply couldn't resist -"

She wanted to take him to task for being a Peeping Tom - but he was right: it *was* his property, after all. And the thought niggled her brain: how would someone like Felicia have handled the situation? At times like this, Laura was only too aware of her lack of sophistication. Fully covered, she finally smiled. "Did you enjoy the view?" she asked.

His surprise at her question was quickly hidden. "I did, actually."

"A gentleman wouldn't have looked," she told him.

"I never claimed to be a gentleman, my dear girl," was his reply as Harry joined them.

"Daniel!" Harry said, clearly surprised and pleased to see his mentor. "What are you doing here?" Before Daniel could answer, Harry's gaze fell on Laura's bathing suit. "Did I interrupt something?" he asked.

"Not at all, Harry," Daniel said, picking up the bottle of lotion sitting nearby. "I was just telling Laura what a lucky man you are. As for why I'm here, I'm meeting the Major here - we're going to the casino this evening, and then on to Rome." He held the bottle out for Harry to take. "Here. I think your lovely lady needs some attention," he stated, turning and going back toward the stairs.

Laura covered her face in embarrassment. "Laura? What's going on?" Harry asked, "Daniel didn't -"

She shook her head. "No. Nothing happened. I came down here to sunbathe and wait for you to join me. When he walked up, I was laying there with my eyes closed, and I asked him to put some lotion on my back and -"

"I think I need to speak to Daniel," Harry began, but Laura reached up to grab his wrist.

"No, Harry. Nothing happened. Actually, he paid me a compliment -"

He looked doubtful as he turned his head and watched Daniel climbing the stairs. "You're sure about that?"

"I was laying on my stomach," she told him. "He really didn't see much more than he would have if I'd had my bathing suit on. Don't blame him."

"He must have seen that you were nude before he got to you - he should have turned around and gone back -"

"There was no harm done, Harry," she insisted. "Would you mind holding the blanket so I can put my suit back on?"

Harry grabbed the edge of the blanket and held it between Laura and the cliff while she pulled on the bottoms, then lifted the top over her head. "I'll tie it up," he offered, draping the blanket over his arm. There was still an edge to his tone, and Laura put her arms around his neck. "Once he leaves this evening, you and I are going to reenact a scene from 'From Here to Eternity'," she declared.

He finally smiled, pulling her fully into his embrace for a long kiss. "It's a date," he agreed, helping her to fold the blanket, then pick up the rest of her things.

"What happened with the telephone call?" she asked, hoping to take his mind off of Daniel, taking his arm as they walked back toward the stairs.

"Well, I believe that I've found our first client," he said. "She lives in Avignon. We'll drive up there tomorrow morning and speak to her."

"What was stolen from her?" Laura asked.

"A diamond," he informed her. "An incredibly rare eleven carat pink diamond."

***

"I'm going to go take a shower," Laura decided once they entered the cottage - which was actually a three bedroom stucco building with red-clay roof shingles. It also had two full baths, a large chef's kitchen, formal dining room and study. "I feel as though I have sand everywhere."

"You might want to open your package first," Harry suggested, indicating the parcel sitting on the table in front of the sofa.

"Package? For me?" she questioned, moving around the sofa to sit down and pick them both up.

"It has your name on it," he told her.

Laura picked up the small package, sliding her finger under the tape to remove the brown paper, revealing a small cardboard box. She glanced up at Harry as she read the gold-engraved name on the black lid. "Jensen's?" Recognizing the name of the jeweler that Harry often used for legitimate purchases, she removed the lid, finding a black velvet box inside. "I feel like I'm opening one of those Russian dolls," she told him.

"Last one," he assured her, watching as she pried the box out and snapped it open.

She touched the heart-shaped gold locket with a small diamond embedded in the metal. "Oh, Harry," she sighed, drawing it out, revealing the long chain that was attached.

"Do you like it?" he asked, finally coming over to join her.

"I *love* it!" she declared, putting her arms around him and giving him a long kiss.

"There's an inscription inside," he told her, watching her open the latch on the heart.

"My Love Always," she read. Opening the clasp, she turned around so that he could fasten it around her neck, fingering the cool metal against her skin. "Thank you," she said, turning back so he could see it. The long chain caused the heart to rest just above the cleft of her breasts, and Harry dropped his head to press his lips to that spot.

"I want you to have something that you could wear every day and not have to worry about someone stealing. I'm glad you like it."

She smiled, giving him another kiss. "Oh, I do. I'm not sure I'll ever take it off. Unless I'm wearing fancy dress, or -"

Harry laughed. "Why don't you go take your shower while I prepare our dinner?" he suggested. "But don't forget about our date."

"Hmmm," she nodded, padding toward their bedroom in her bare feet.

Shaking his head, Harry was smiling as he turned toward the kitchen and took out the food that Daniel's housekeeper had sent over. A tap on the back door drew his attention, and his good mood evaporated somewhat as he realized it was Daniel at the door. For a moment, he considered ignoring the man, but finally sighed and called, "It's open," and continued prepping the chicken breasts before carrying the pan over to the oven.

"I wasn't sure I'd be welcome," Daniel said, and Harry saw the uncertainty in the man's eyes. "I'm sorry about earlier, Harry," he began, but Harry shook his head.

"Laura's the one that you owe an apology to, mate." The words came out a bit harsher than he'd intended, but Harry didn't back down.

"And I fully intend to offer one to her. I know that I should have turned around and come back up as soon as I realized that she was -" he plowed on ahead, "after all, how many times in the past had I gone down to that beach and found some attractive young woman - I didn't consider that Laura might be embarrassed by the situation, I suppose."

"She claims that she wasn't."

"Her face told a different story. But I will promise you that it won't happen again, my boy. I hope you believe that."

Harry smiled. "I do." He finally saw the books that Daniel was carrying in front of him - almost like a shield against Harry's anger. "What's that?" he questioned.

"Oh, these are yours, actually," Daniel told him, placing the books onto the small breakfast table. "Mary found them in a storage room -"

"My scrapbooks!" Harry declared, flipping through them.

"I thought perhaps they might be good research material, if nothing else. And I think Laura will get a kick out of looking them over -" He smiled. "I'm on my way to meet the Major - have a nice evening. Give Laura my best."

"I will."

Daniel's smile changed to a grin. "You really are *very* lucky, Harry," he commented before closing the door behind him.
Harry flipped through another page or two before turning his attention back to dinner. There would be time enough later to relive those old memories.

***

He was checking the chicken when he felt two arms slide around his waist. "Be careful," he warned, "the oven's hot."

"So are you," Laura said, resting her head on his back.

"Let me get this safely out and then I'll thank you properly for the comment." Using the mitts, he picked up the baking pan, placing it on the counter.

"I'm waiting," she sighed, watching him close the oven, then turn it off.

Harry turned and pulled her into his arms for a long kiss, his fingers stroking the soft cotton of the long, sleeveless dress she was wearing. "Thank you," he said, stepping back to look at her. "That's new, isn't it?" he asked, reaching out to touch the locket as it lay against her skin just above the low-cut V-neckline.

"I bought it at Madam Lillie's," she nodded. "I thought it might be just the thing for an intimate, romantic evening."

"I agree," he said. "Would you mind setting the table?"

Laura took two plates and silver to the table, pausing to glance at the bottle of wine before her attention was caught by the two scrapbooks. "What's this?"

"Oh, Daniel brought them over while you were in the shower. He came over to apologize and I told him that you were the one that he owes an apology to."

"No, he doesn't," she insisted - too quickly, Harry thought, but kept quiet and changed the subject.

"As for those, they're scrapbooks that I started not long after I met Daniel. The top one is jewel robberies, and the other -"

"Art," she said, flipping the second one open. "Catalogs of larceny," she continued.

"More or less," he nodded, bringing the food to the table and serving their plates. "Daniel and I would scour the newspapers for stories about the thefts. He said that I could study them. I decided to cut them out and paste them into the scrapbook to look at whenever I wasn't helping him on a con or setting up a robbery."

"There's quite a bit here about a thief they called Le Renard -" she frowned. "The Fox, right?"

"Yes. He's a legend - Interpol thought I might be him at one point, but while they had me in custody, he struck again."

"Being in jail is always a good alibi, I suppose," she said with a smile. "Are there any of your - capers in these?"

"Some of my early ones, I think. I haven't seen either of them in a few years."

She flipped to the last pages in the first one while Harry was opening the wine. "Well, someone has been putting recent articles in this one, anyway." She looked across the table. "There's one here about the Royal Lavulite having been stolen." Turning the book around, she took the glass of wine from him.

"Could have been Mary," he told her.

"Or Daniel," Laura suggested. "It would make sense."

"How so?"

"You're his - star pupil," Laura remarked, stopping herself just in time from saying something that she shouldn't. "He's probably very proud that you're so successful."

"I suppose he is. Now -" He closed the book and moved them to the side "-our food is getting cold." Lighting the candles on the table, he went and turned off the bright lighting in the kitchen, leaving the two of them to enjoy their meal by candlelight.

***

It was just after dark when the couple made their way down to the beach, walking hand in hand in the sand. "I love it here," Laura declared with a satisfied sigh. "It reminds me a little of some of the beaches in Southern California - only this one is much nicer. No other people around."

"So you're not homesick?" he asked.

"No," she assured him, smiling. "I meant what I said the last time you asked me that. The only way I would consider going back is if you were there with me. I can't imagine spending my life without you in it."

"We do make a good team, don't we?"

"I think so." She waited for him to say more, felt that he seemed tense, almost uncertain. "Harry?"

"I've been thinking," he said at the same time. "Sorry. You -"

"No, you go ahead," she insisted.

"Why don't we make the partnership permanent?" he questioned.

That stopped Laura in her tracks, forcing him to turn to look at her. "Are you asking - what I think you're asking?" she wanted to know.

He quickly pulled a hand from the pocket of his trousers, opening it to reveal a small, square box. "What does this tell you?"

Very slowly, Laura picked up the box from his hand and opened the lid to reveal a marquis-cut diamond set into a gold ring. "Oh, Harry," she sighed. Even in the bright moonlight, the diamond's facets sparkled. Lifting her eyes to his she said, "Are you sure? Really sure?"

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life, my love. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you. I think I have since that first moment in Wilson Jeffries' apartment."

"Oh, Harry," she said again, watching as he pulled the ring out of the satin lining of the box and took her left hand in his. When he looked up at her, wanting an answer, she nodded. "Yes." Once he slid the ring onto her finger, she threw her arms around his neck. "I love you. That day in Wilson's apartment was the best day of my life - until now," she continued and their lips met halfway.

Suddenly she wanted more than just a kiss - and moved to begin to unbutton his shirt, while Harry lowered the zipper of her dress. Within moments, they were using the dress to lay in the sand as the surf washed over them…

***

Later, as they lounged before the fireplace in their bedroom, celebrating their engagement with champagne, Laura held out her hand to look at the ring. "It's so lovely," she told him.

"Not as lovely as you," he told her, grabbing her hand and kissing it. "So, shall we have a long engagement, do you think?"

"Oh, no, I don't think so. Oh my."

He saw the total terror on her face and sat up, concerned. "What's wrong?"

"I just realized - you're going to have to meet my - *mother*," she answered. She had managed for the last four years to keep any mention of a man being responsible for her decision to leave Los Angeles instead of staying there and marrying Wilson Jeffries. "She has no idea that you even exist!"

"So, the truth comes out -" he said with a smile. "You're ashamed of me."

"Of course I'm not. But she always wanted me to marry someone like Wilson - safe and secure with good prospects for the future."

"I can be all of those things," he reminded her. "And so far, I think I've proven that I can take care of you in the manner to which you're accustomed, haven't I?

"*Better* than. Trust me, I never really thought I'd have been to all of the places that I've been - or that I would wear custom-made high couture dresses - or have emeralds, sapphires, rubies -"

He tapped her hand. "Diamonds?"

"What are we supposed to tell her that you do for a living? We can't very well tell her that you - that *we* are jewel and art thieves -"

"But we're not," he reminded her. "Thieves," he clarified. "Not anymore. We're retrievers of lost property. Reuniting poor victims of crime with their jewels or artwork. We're conducting a service, really."

Laura had begun to smile. "Of course. That's brilliant, Harry," she sank against him. "She won't understand it, but I think we can sell it to her. Or you can. All you have to do is turn a little of that charm her way and -" she snapped her fingers, "-she'll be putty in your hands."

"What about your sister? Will she accept it?"

"As long as Mother does, Frances will, too." The smile widened as her hand wandered over his chest. "She'll probably be terribly jealous that I found someone like you."

"Like me?"

"Handsome, charming, to all appearances well-to-do - and yet, still, somehow managed to fall in love with her wild, nonconforming little sister."

Harry placed his empty glass on the hearth, turning her into his arms. "And I wouldn't have you any other way, my love," he told her, capturing her lips with his.

***

"What a lovely house," was Laura's comment as Harry parked the car in front of the small chateau. "What's the client's name again?"

"Margarite d'LeClare," he told her. "Her husband's family have lived here since before Louis XIV. She's the last of the family - they had no children."

"How do you know all of that?" Laura asked.

"She told me when we spoke yesterday," he answered, pressing the doorbell. "The diamond that was stolen -" he broke off as the door was opened by a young woman wearing a dark dress and apron.

"We have an appointment with Madame d'LeClare," Harry told her.

"This way, please," the girl said in heavily accented English. She led them into an antique-filled room. "Madame will be with you shortly," she told them before leaving the room.

There was a painting of a handsome man on horseback over the fireplace mantel, and Harry stood looking up at it, moving closer to examine the artist's signature. "I have a feeling that's probably one of the d'LeClare family -"

"It is," a quiet voice stated - in English. "My late husband's Uncle Phillipe - my husband was named for him."

They turned to see a small woman wearing a black velvet dress with white lace trim. Her white hair was carefully styled, and there were rings on every finger of her hand. One of those hands held the top of a black ebony walking stick - the top of which appeared to be a diamond. "Madame -" Harry began, moving toward the woman, but she shook her head, waving him away with the stick as she moved to sit down in one of the brocade chairs before the fireplace.

"Mrs. d'LeClare," she told him. "Or better yet, simply Margarite. I'm too old to worry with such formality. Please, be seated," she told them, indicating the other chairs or the settee.

"You're English," Laura observed.

"Technically, no. I was born here in Nice, but my parents and I lived in England for the majority of my youth. I learned to speak French, of course, but I spent my childhood speaking English. As I get older, my mind has trouble recalling the proper French words, but the English flows easily." The maid brought in a tray upon which a bone china teapot and three cups sat. "Thank you, Marie," Margarite told the girl, "You can put it on the coffee table." Once Marie was gone, she looked at Laura. "Would you mind being 'mother' as the English say, my dear?"

"Of course," Laura nodded, sitting forward to pour the tea into three cups. "Milk or sugar?"

Once they had their tea, Margarite looked at them. "I spoke to you on the telephone, isn't that correct, Mr.-"

"Just call me Harry," he told her. "And this is my associate, Laura."

"Welcome to the Chateau. I would have preferred different circumstances - but I suppose we should discuss the reason that you're here: the theft of the Coeur d'LeClare." She picked up a photograph from the table next to her, sighing as she looked at it, then handed it to Laura and Harry. "That's the photograph that was taken by the insurance company," she explained.

The photo showed a pale pink heart-shaped diamond resting on a bed of white satin. "It's beautiful," Laura told her.

"Thank you. It's been in the d'LeClare family for almost as long as there has *been* a family. Family legend says that it was given by Madeline d'LeClare by Louis the Fourteenth himself. Rumors say that it was bestowed for - services rendered," she said with a smile. "I intend to leave it to the Museum Nationale upon my death. Or I did until it was stolen."

"When did that happen?" Laura asked.

"Three days ago."

"Did you notify the authorities?"

She sighed again at Harry's question. "I had no idea that it was gone until the thief called me. I keep it locked in the safe -" she indicated the painting of what was likely another relative. "If you would, Harry - touch the bottom of the frame at the same time with your index fingers-"

The frame and painting slid up to reveal a recessed safe. "Very impressive," he told her. "Is the safe's location widely known?"

"I'm sure it is. Phillipe had it installed twenty years ago."

"And the combination?" Laura asked.

"I'm the only one with a copy." She tapped her head. "It's here - and on a slip of paper in my desk in my sitting room. I was afraid that I might forget it, you see - I would never have imagined that someone might find it - The only people that I allow in that room are the servants to clean it."

"If you didn't file a report with the authorities, the insurance company -"

"Won't pay - that's what they told me when I called to tell them it had been stolen and was being held for ransom."

"Ransom?" Laura questioned. "So basically the diamond was kidnapped - or jewel-napped?"

"Precisely. The man who called told me that if I don't give him a million dollars, my diamond will be split into smaller, untraceable gems that he'll sell."

"When do you have to give them the money?" Harry wanted to know.

"In four days. He said that he would call me with further instructions at precisely noon on the twentieth."

"Is it possible that someone who works here at the Chateau might have been involved in the theft?" Laura asked.

"I suppose - but I would hate to consider such a thing to be possible. We did have a few new maids last week, but they weren't here long enough for me to know them very well. And the new ones aren't allowed in my sitting room." She sighed. "The insurance company told me that they believe the diamond has already been cut up, so they're of no help."

Harry went back to the safe. It was a standard wall safe with a tumbler system that he had experience with. "Margarite, when this man called, did you hear anything in the background that might give us a clue about where he might be?"

"Seagulls," she stated. "And loud music - like you hear in an amusement park or a circus. Does that help?"

"It's a starting point, Margarite," Harry told her with a smile. "Now, before we go, I'll put something on your telephone that will record any further calls he should make -"

"And if he does call, try to convince him that you're having trouble getting that much cash together - that you'll need a few more days," Laura suggested.

"Do you think you'll be able to find him before he destroys the diamond?" she wanted to know.

"We're going to do our best," Laura assured the elderly woman.

"If you do, I'll give you the same amount that he's asking for."

The statement sent Laura's eyes toward Harry. "You'll get your diamond back," Harry told her. "Now, let me go get my telephone equipment out of the boot and get it set up before we go."

***

"Do you think it was a good idea to promise to get the diamond back?" Laura asked as they drove away.

"I have a good idea who stole it - and who hired him to do it."

"Then you don't think that the thief is the one asking for a ransom to return it?"

Harry shook his head. "Too risky. Most thieves with enough talent to have stolen it to begin with won't hang onto something that recognizable unless -"

"Unless?" she prompted.

"Their client stiffs them."

"Do you think that's what's happened?"

"No. I think the thief stole it, took it to his client, and was paid for the job. The client knows that cleaving that diamond into smaller stones would be a true crime - so he's willing to return it to the owner for a million dollars."

"How much would he have paid the thief to steal it?"

"A job like that - probably a quarter of that amount."

"So he would clear three quarter of a million dollars," Laura mused. "I suppose that could be worth it. What about the amusement park?"

"It's a small circus, actually. There's one on the coast due south of here. The owner is a rather shady character by the name of Felix duValiet."

"Is that where we're going?"

"Not just yet. I know someone who used to work for him. I think a talk with Jennine will be beneficial."

"Jennine?" Laura questioned, one eyebrow lifted.

"Jealous, love?" he asked, reaching over to take her hand.

"Very," she admitted.

"Anytime you have doubts, all you have to do open that locket. I've made no secret about my past, Laura. But you have full control of my present and future."

***

Jennine duBois was a thin young woman with red hair and green eyes - and she was sitting in a motorized wheelchair. Harry bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek as they entered the small cottage where she was living. "Jennine," he said. "How are you doing?"

"Better now that I see your smiling face, mon ami," she replied, taking his hand in hers as she looked at Laura. "And who is this?"

"Laura Holt," Harry told her. "We're - engaged."

"Engaged?" Her green eyes widened as she smiled at Laura. "Is this true?"

Laura held up her left hand. "It is."

"You must tell me how you managed to get him to propose anything more than a weekend," Jennine said. "It is the most any woman in his orbit has been able to achieve. You must be very special."

"Indeed she is," Harry confirmed, reaching out to take Laura's right hand in his. "Very special."

Still smiling, Jennine turned her chair and led them to a small sofa. "Please. Be seated." Once they had sat down, she asked, "So, what brings you to see me after so long?"

"Felix," Harry said, and the one word caused Jennine's attractive face to harden.

Instead of speaking, she sent the chair toward a small, low table, where she poured herself a drink. "Would either of you care for something?"

"Not at the moment, Miss duBois," Laura said softly.

Jennine tossed back the whiskey she had poured, turning around to face them again. "Jennine, please. What has Felix done now? I hope he hasn't crippled another poor girl in that fly-by-night circus of his."

"Not that I know about," Harry told her. "I'm curious if you know anything about his finances these days."

"I still have friends that work for him," she acknowledged. "They tell me that most of them haven't been paid in several months. That he keeps telling them that he has a plan to get enough money to pay them and the bills that have been piling up -" Her words sent a look between Laura and Harry, and Jennine saw it. "What has he done?"

"We're not certain," Harry said, "but it's possible that he's managed to get his hands on a valuable gem and is threatening to destroy it unless the owner pays him for it's safe return."

"It would have to be a *very* valuable gem for him to pay everything he owes," Jennine suggested. "But I can believe that he would take that risk. -And he won't destroy it. If the owner refuses to pay, he'll find another buyer and get the money that way."

"Do you have any idea where he might keep it - if he does have it?"

"There's a safe in his office - but he had many places where he would hide money so that people wouldn't find it. He had little traps installed in many of the animal cages. I know where most of them are - let me get some paper and I'll draw you some diagrams."

"I can get it for you," Laura offered.

Jennine smiled, pointing toward a door across the room. "Through that door. It's my studio. There should be a tablet and pencil on a table near the canvas."

Laura opened the door, entering the art studio. There were several paintings scattered around the room, with a landscape on the stand next to the table. Grabbing the drawing pad and pencil, she returned to the living room. "You're an artist?" she asked, handing her the items.

"I needed to do something to make a living after my accident," she nodded, already going to work with the pencil. "Painting is something I can do from a wheelchair. It was always something that I was good at, but I was also good on the high-wire and trapeze. I thought I could make more money doing that."

"While we're at it, Jennine," Harry began as she was drawing, "any ideas about how we get access to the circus? Customers won't be allowed near the cages - or into the office."

"We can discuss that after I finish these," she told him. "I do have an idea."

***

"I'm not sure I can pull this off, Harry," Laura told him after leaving Jennine's cottage. "I mean, I managed to pretend to be able to read palms and tea leaves and summon the future, but -"

"You'll be fine, love," he assured her. "You were letter perfect when we ran that con awhile back."

"There's a difference between fooling a mark and working in a circus," she informed him. "I never thought I'd actually be working in the circus!" she declared.

"You sound positively elated by the prospect."

"I love amusement parks and carnivals and circuses," she told him. "Don't you?"

"Not particularly," he answered, giving her a sideways grin. "I suppose that means that the wedding is off?"

"I think I can make allowances," she said.

"Why do you like them? They're loud, gaudy places designed to fleece the unsuspecting patrons rather than to entertain them."

"I can't explain it. My father loved them, too. We went to every carnival and circus we could. I used to wonder if maybe he didn't run off to the circus when he left us," she confessed. Before Harry could ask any questions, she said, "I like Jennine. She mentioned an accident -"

Harry nodded grimly. "She was on the high trapeze during a performance. It broke during a tricky maneuver. She fell to the floor of the bigtop and broke her back."

"She blames Felix?"

"They were lovers," he informed her. "He was supposed to have done a safety check on the trapeze - but it was discovered later that he had been busy with - another woman, and hadn't done the check."

"Oh my. I don't blame her for hating him."

"Just remember that when we go in there," he said. "Don't let him charm you."

"I'm immune to charm," she said airily, and then smiled at him, walking her fingers along his leg, "- other than yours, of course."

Harry grabbed her hand, lifting it to his lips. "When we get home, love -"

Laura leaned across the gearshift, blowing into his ear. "Promises, promises."

***

"Have you ever met Felix duValiet?" Laura asked awhile later. They had barely made it to their bedroom, leaving a trail of clothing along the way. Now, she was examining the costume that Jennine had given to her. It was a full, ruffled skirt, and a white peasant style blouse, a wide belt, and a black, curly wig.

"No. I've seen him as a patron of the circus - I used to go there to watch Jennine before her accident - That was over five years ago now. I doubt he'll recognize me before we find the diamond."

"How did you learn to eat fire if you didn't spend time at circuses?" she asked.

"I knew an ex-carny in Brixton - before I met Daniel. Called himself The Great Savini. He taught me how. Taught me a few other tricks of the trade, as it were. Tried to get me to go join the circus. I think he was disappointed when I met Daniel and left the neighborhood," he explained, putting the final touches on his own costume. Skin-tight black jeans, an equally tight, black, sleeveless tee-shirt and boots. His hair was slicked back with a single strand hanging forward. A thin mustache completed the image.

Laura smiled. "Hello there, Johnny Todd," she said, dropping the things she was holding to slide her arms around him. "It's been too long."

Harry leered at her near-lack of clothing, pulling her up for a kiss. "Always with ya, luv. Just hafta ask."

"Mmmm," Laura murmured. "I'll keep that in mind."

"You'd better get dressed as well," he told her."

She smiled, putting the skirt and top on. "I think I'll need your help with the belt. It's a corset!"

Harry laughed, putting his arm around her. "Where is it?"

Laura picked up the item, showing him the laces in front and the hook and eyes at the back. "Here. I know it's not really a corset, it looks like one - but with the points in the front, I can't fasten it and slide it around, so -"

Harry fastened the belt over the bottom of the blouse and top of the skirt, pausing to pull the neck of the the top off of her shoulders. "Where's the black wig that she sent with it?"

***

"Remember, love," Harry whispered as they walked through the midway toward the office, "You're supposed to be a jaded, experienced carny, not a first time visitor."

Her smile dimmed only slightly. "Maybe I just enjoy my work," she suggested.

"Whatever you say, Nicolai, luv," he replied in full on Cockney mode as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

Since it was still early afternoon, there weren't any customers about - mostly carnival workers performing maintenance on rides and cleaning the grounds. "Lookin' for the office, mate," he told a young man pushing a broom.

He jerked his head back. "Over there. Boss is probably busy - usually takes a break about now," he explained with a speculative grin in Laura's direction. "If you get my drift."

"He's expectin' us - Jessie set it up," Harry told him, mentioning Jennine's friend. "Heard he was lookin' for a fire eater and a fortune-teller."

The young man's leer turned into a sneer. "You don't look like a fortune-teller," he told Harry.

Harry's arm remained around Laura, but the other arm grabbed the younger man's collar, pulling him nearly off the ground. "Johnny," Laura said, in what she hoped was a passable Gypsy accent, "Let him be." Smiling at the young man as Harry lowered him and let him go, she told him, "You must forgive Johnny. May I see your hand?"

"Why? I know that all that's a bunch of -"

She stood there, holding out her own hand, waiting patiently. "Lady asked t'see your 'and, mate," Harry said, curling his fingers into a fist.

"Thank you," Laura said as he lay his hand, palm up, on hers. After examining the lines, she spoke. "I see a new friendship in your future - one that can be most- profitable - if you allow it to flourish."

The man's eyes flickered from Laura to Harry, and he smiled, revealing several missing teeth. "Com'on, I'll show you where the office is. I might be wrong about the time." He saw another young man across the way. "Hey, Louis!" he yelled, tossing him the broom that he had been using. "Finish up for me!"

Louis caught the broom and nodded.

They were within sight of a small trailer marked with the word "Office" in French. "He'll be in there. Hope you don't catch him with his pants down," he commented. "If you need anything, call out for Chalkie," he offered. "I gotta get back to work. Gates'll be opening before long."

"Shall we take a chance?" Harry wondered, staring at the closed door in front of them.

"Let's live dangerously, darling," she suggested, still using the accent.

Harry knocked on the door, and almost immediately they heard a man's voice inside. "NO! Don't stop!" he yelled in French. Laura hid her smile as he knocked again, and this time the man began to curse profusely at the interruption. "Stay right there!" he yelled at someone, and then the door was yanked open. A tall man with dark hair going white in the temples, with a white streak from front to back, stood clutching a faded terrycloth bathrobe around himself, his gray eyes filled with fury. "What do you want?"

"We're here to talk to Felix duValiet. I'm Johnny Todd - aka The Great Savini, and this here's Madame Nicolai."

The moment Felix's gaze found Laura, his anger seemed to evaporate. "The fortune-teller and - fire eater," he nodded, stepping back. "I was having a massage," he explained. "Please, have a seat, Madame, and I will finish getting dressed. Excuse me," he said, disappearing into another door, behind which they heard angry whispers. A moment later, a very young blonde tore out of the room, wearing her bra and panties, carrying a skimpy costume. She kept her eyes lowered and ran out of the trailer.

When Felix returned, he was wearing a white shirt and dark trousers. "Forgive her state of undress," he apologized. "The bedroom became quite warm, and she had to remove some of her clothing to be able to continue her work." He sat down, smiling at Laura. "Now, you're here about a job, is that correct?"

Harry leaned forward. "We're both here for jobs, guv. Jessie told us that you're looking for some help."

"He told me that you both had experience in America."

"That is correct," Laura confirmed. "But I wanted to come back to Europe. Closer to home, as it were."

"We'll give you a try out," Felix stated. "I should tell you that I can't pay you very much right now."

"We're used to it," Harry told him.

"Can you start tonight?"

"I am -always ready," Laura declared, lifting the heavy false eyelashes slightly to see if he understood what she was implying. The glint in his eyes revealed that he had.

"That she is," Harry confirmed. "So am I, um, Nic?" he asked with a sideways leer as he grabbed her hand in his. "Jessie told us that we'd 'ave a place to lay our 'eads -?" he asked Felix.

Felix rose from his chair. "I'll show you where -"

"No prob, guv," Harry insisted. "Just point us in the right direction and we'll find it. Don't want to take up anymore of your valu'ble time, now, do we? Busy man an' all that."

"Employee quarters are behind the office. Trailer six is available -" he picked up a set of keys from the desk and tossed them at Harry, who scooped them out of the air before they could reach his face.

"Thanks, Gov'ner. Com'on, luv."

"Thank you, Mr. duValier," Laura said, and Felix smiled.

"Felix. We're all one big, happy family. I'll see you later."

"I shall look forward to that, - Felix," Laura responded as Harry took her arm.

***

"Laid it on a bit thick, didn't you, love?" Harry asked as they entered the trailer.

"I thought that was the plan?" she questioned, looking around. "He doesn't like you very much."

"The feeling is mutual. You saw that - that child that he kicked out when we arrived -"

"I saw her. She couldn't have been much older than sixteen -"

"That's the problem with living the life - sometimes you find things that - that make you sick inside."

"She's probably a runaway, and fell into duValier's clutches. I'll see if I can't find out something -"

"*We* will," he corrected her. "Once Jennine's friend makes contact -" he sighed, pulling her into his arms, looking into her face. "A man like that - you're going to have to be doubly careful. I doubt he would have any scruples against forcing himself on a woman. If anything were to happen to you -"

A knock on the door of the trailer interrupted the move to kiss her, and Harry went to the door, opening it to a heavily-muscled man with a bald head - and a wide handle-bar mustache. "Johnny!" he said, smiling widely.

From Jennine's description, he could only have been one person, Harry realized, and returned the smiled. "Jessie! Come in, my man, come in!"

According to Jennine, Jessie was the circus' strongman - The Mighty Montague - and he certainly looked the part, Laura thought. The white muscle shirt revealed several tattoos on his arms - and his biceps were huge. Apparently her thoughts betrayed her, as Jessie smiled and laughed, leaning closer. "Go ahead and feel them," he said, raising his arms to tighten the muscles.

Very slowly, Laura touched his arms. "Wow. They're as hard a bricks!"

"I can lift 500 pounds without breaking a sweat. And before you ask, it was either work a circus or become a boxer. I'm a pussycat - and too afraid of hurting someone if I were to hit them. Jennine said that you might need my help."

"Possibly," Harry confirmed. "I'm Johnny Todd, and this is Madame Nicolai."

"Jennine knew what she was doing when she gave you that costume - If you want to distract Felix, that is."

"That's part of the plan," Laura agreed. "But why is it 'perfect'?"

Jessie frowned as he looked at Harry. "Jennine didn't tell you about Madame Baruska?"

"That's the woman that Felix was with when Jennine had her accident, isn't it?" Harry recalled.

"Yes. Dark, curly hair - she was a bit more - buxom, but the similarities are undeniable."

"How difficult would be for you to help me keep an eye on Nicolai?"

"We'll probably be at the side show at the same time, but my act in the big tent is next to last - I'd be willing to be that yours will be early."

"We met a young man when we got here, name of Chalkie - can he be trusted?"

"He's a good kid. Wants to help repair the rides eventually. Felix thinks that he's too young right now. I'll ask him to keep an eye out when neither of us can -"

"Look, you two," Laura said in frustration, "I'm not going to be talked about as though I wasn't in the room. I can take care of myself -"

"You probably can, miss," Jessie began, "On the outside. Carny life is different. It isn't easy. It tends to attract people who can't get along in the outside world. Loners who are running. Some from family responsibilities, and some from the law because they did something wrong. Most of them don't use their real names, either. That anonymity makes it easier for the criminal element to come out." He smiled. "Johnny just wants to make extra sure nothing happens to you. I can't say that I blame him, either."

"So you'll help?" Harry asked.

"As much as I can. Why don't we go out and I'll show you the side-show area and where you can store the things you'll need for your act - then I'll take Madame Nicolai around to her tent."

***

They left Harry digging around under the stage at the side-show entrance, looking for what he would need to 'eat fire'. He hadn't wanted to stay, but Laura had insisted that she would be safe in Jessie's company. Jessie led her to a small tent with the sign "Fortunes Told" hanging outside.

"Felix will have a sign ready for tonight's opening," he assured her, extending his arm for her to precede him into the tent. There was a table in the middle of the dimly lit room, a crystal ball on the table. The walls were hung with scarves and signs of the Zodiac, and glass wind chimes hung around the room. Jessie led her around the table to a chair. "This is your seat. No one else must sit here." He indicated that she should sit down, and she did. "Now - lift the table cover and look underneath."

Laura did as he requested and looked. There were three buttons on the floor. She looked up at Jessie. "What do they operate?"

"Press the one on the right," he told her, and once she did, the crystal ball was illuminated. Laura smiled. "Now the middle button." A gentle breeze went through the room, causing the wind chimes to create other-worldly tinkling music. "The third will cause a light to come on to summon any shills -"

"For a séance," Laura nodded, understanding.

"Yes. We don't encourage those - palm reading and the crystal are enough to satisfy most customers, but occasionally one will insist."

"And the customer must always be kept happy," Laura agreed. "Tell me, Jessie, when we entered Felix's trailer, there was a young girl with him -"

"Sally. She sells tickets right now. He's supposed to be training her to work the high wire."

"She seemed - very young."

He sighed. "I don't know her age. She's a runaway - crossed the channel and made her way here and asked for a job. Said she didn't care what she had to do, that she wanted to work in the circus. You're thinking that she's too young -"

"It would not trouble you -" Laura began, having to remind herself to use the accent now, "knowing that she is but a child -"

"We don't ask questions, Madame," he told her. "I tried to explain that earlier. Sally hasn't complained about her - extra duties with Felix. If she didn't want to go to his trailer, I'm sure she knows that there are several of us that would help her if she asked for it."

Laura hid her disappointment at the idea that such a thing could be overlooked. Now she was hoping that her father hadn't run away to the circus, not if he would have been forced to ignore things like Sally. "Is there more that I should know about?" she asked Jessie.

"About Sally or about the controls?" he asked. "Remember that most of us don't really like our boss. So while we have no proof of Sally's age, we're aware that she seems young - and we keep an eye on her. Just like Chalkie and I will be watching out for you. In fact, I'm going to tell him to dress in Gypsy duds and he'll be your gatekeeper."

Finally smiling, Laura told him, "Thank you."

"Now, I'm going to put Chalkie in the loop and make sure he knows that he's to stay close by when Johnny and I can't be." He hesitated. "I'm not sure about leaving you alone -"

"I think that I will walk over to the side show and see how Johnny is doing."

***

Laura stopped several times to look over booths and advertisements for animal acts. Each time, she caught sight of a young blonde woman wearing a harem costume who tried not to be seen. Laura moved ahead, turning a corner, then ducking between tents to wait for the girl to approach. Stepping out, she said, "Why are you following me?"

Sally gasped and jumped back. "I - I wasn't," she insisted. "Felix - I mean, the Boss, he asked me to keep an eye on you."

"Why would he do that?" Laura asked her.

"I- I don't know." She lifted her shoulders. "He told me to, so I did."

"And do you always do everything the 'Boss' tells you to do?"

"Most of the time."

"What is your name? My name is Nicolai."

"That's a great name. Mine's just Sally."

"Sally. That is a lovely name." The girl smiled, but shook her head. "Do you dance?"

"I'm learning to belly dance," she said. "And to work the high-wire. But right now, I just sell tickets."

"That is an important job," Laura insisted. "If not for you, there would be no customers here to spend money."

"I figure it's a foot in the door. Kept me from having to go back home, and that's the important thing."

"You did not like it at home?"

"My old man took a powder, and my mum kept going out with real jerks. When one of 'em got too friendly with me, she tossed me out on my rear, told me to go find someplace else to live. So I nicked a few pounds and came 'ere. I'm not going to be a ticket taker for long," she declared. "Long as I keep that old man happy, I'm in. And no one better get in my way," she said, her eyes narrowing as the looked at Laura.

Laura couldn't tell if the first impression had been an act - or if this was false bravado on the girl's part. "I do not plan to - get in anyone's way," she said. "I was only making conversation. Excuse me." She felt the girl's eyes on her until she turned the next corner, and it was only then that Laura allowed herself to exhale. There had been something in the girl's tone that led Laura to believe that while Sally might be young, she wasn't a child, by any means.

***

She found Harry onstage, just finishing practicing his act. He saw her and grabbed a towel, jumping off stage to put an arm around her. "'ello, luv. 'ow's it goin'?" He bent closer, whispering. "What are you doing wandering around on your own?"

"Just getting my bearings, darling," she answered, then whispering as well, "I'll explain later."

"Got word that my act is early - second act."

"I will no doubt be busy with customers," she informed him. "So I will have to miss it."

"Gates open in twenty minutes!" Felix' voice said over the loudspeakers around the park.

***

Chalkie was standing in front of the tent when Laura returned. He was wearing dark trousers and a white shirt, and had drawn a mustache on his upper lip. A brightly colored scarf was tied around his head, while a golden ring hung from one ear. He pointed at the sign - "Sign painter just brought it over - Careful, the ink's still wet," he added with a grin before she could touch it.

"Madame Nicolai, Fortunes Told," she read, nodding. "Excellent. So you are to be my - protector?" she asked, reaching out to draw a long fingernail down his cheek.

His earlier leering countenance was gone as his cheeks reddened slightly. "I'll try my best, Madame," he replied.

"You were more fun earlier," she sighed.

"That was before your boyfriend and Jessie set me straight. Told me to be a gentleman around you. So I'll stand outside the tent and usher customers in."

"And who will collect the money?" she asked, pointing to the amount posted on the sign for a reading.

"You, of course. They don't trust me with the money yet. Just sweeping and odd jobs. I'm learning to throw knives, though. And I'm hoping to learn to walk a tight-rope one day, if I can convince the Boss to teach me how."

As if summoned by Chalkie's comment, Felix' voice came over the speakers again. "Five minutes! Everyone to their places!"

***

Even from inside of her tent, Laura could hear Felix- now in the guise of the Ring-Master, introducing the acts for the side-show while she read palms and peered into the crystal ball. While a deck of Tarot cards sat on a nearby side table, when a customer asked about them, Madame Nicolai smiled and explained that "the cards are never as reliable as the palm. All of the lines interconnect to form the full story." During her training for the con she had worked with Harry and Daniel, Laura had become quite good at gathering clues from a mark - and doing so quickly.

By the time she had seen her tenth customer and revealed the woman's future, she was ready to move around. Standing, she walked outside of the tent, listening the sights and sounds of the circus. Even now, there was something about it that brought back memories of those visits with her father. Good memories. "No one's waiting, Chalkie told her. "About this time of night, people tend to stop at the side-show tent before they get this far."

"Perhaps that should be changed," she noted. "The seer's tent should be closer to the games of chance, before the side-show and the big top."

"I'll let you mention that idea to the boss," Chalkie told her.

"I shall do that."

"Ladies and gentlemen, be prepared to watch as Scheherazade does her dance of the Seven Veils - not for the faint at heart. Or the Mighty Montague - the strongest man you've ever seen. And come see The Great Savini - his fire eating will amaze you. All for the low, low price of two francs. We have Lilibet, the most Flexible Woman in the World. You'll be convinced that she's made of rubber! Come and see the show!"

"I know Jessie," Laura told Chalkie. "Scheherazade is -?"

Chalkie sighed. "Tonight she's Sally - The Boss pulled her out of the ticket booth and told her she could do her belly dance with the veils."

"When was this decided?" Laura questioned. Sally hadn't mentioned that - although she had been wearing the harem costume earlier.

"Just before we opened, I guess," he said, shrugging. "She's been trying to get him to let her do more than sell tickets and see to his - needs."

"She seems very young to do many of the tasks -"

"She might be young in years, but she's not in other ways," he told her, nodding as several people appeared. "We have visitors." As Laura turned back to her tent, he said, "I'll send them your way, Madame."

"I will be waiting."

***

Half an hour later, Laura finished giving a reading to a young woman that she had pegged as a business woman who had only come to the circus with a friend on a lark. She had assured the woman that she was in line for recognition and a promotion in her job - but to keep an eye out for the man of her dreams.

The woman had left with a great deal more stardust in her eyes than had been there when she had come into the tent. Before she could look up, someone else entered the tent and laid a hand palm up on the table. "I'd like my palm read, luv," Johnny said, and Laura looked up into his face.

"You're finished with the side-show?" she asked, glancing at the entrance before pulling him down for a brief, quick kiss.

"That was nice," he told her. "I was starting to get the bends from going without."

"We can't have that now, can we?" she asked, standing up, her arms around his neck. "Chalkie?" she called, summoning the gate-keeper.

He stuck his head into the tent. "Yes, Madame Nicolai?"

"I am having a - private reading with this gentleman. I hope that I can count on you to make sure that we are - not disturbed?"

A knowing grin covered the young man's face. "No one gets past me," he assured her, turning and leaving them alone.

"Finally got him housebroken, eh?" Harry asked.

"He's a pussycat," she assured him. "Now stop talking and take your medicine."

Harry pulled her into his arms, pressing his lips to hers. When the kiss ended, he smiled. "Sorry about the kerosene - I tried to -"

"I didn't even notice," she murmured, resting her head on his chest for a moment. "This is nice."

"Hmm. Too bad it has to end."

Laura looked up at him. "You're going to risk starting your search now? Won't there be too many people in the animal compound?"

"Felix told me to have a look around - see if there might be something else I might be interested in doing. Will you be all right?" he wanted to know.

"Chalkie's as good as gold as a gatekeeper," she informed him.

"There's a chance that Felix might decide to pay you a visit after the show finishes in the big top - I'll make sure Chalkie knows to find me and let me know if he does."

"If he does, Sally won't be very happy about it." Seeing his confusion, she quickly recounted her conversation with the girl. "I'm not convinced now that she's the innocent runaway that we thought she was."

"It might have been false bravado, trying to appear tough in front of a possible rival," Harry suggested.

"You didn't see the look on her face. There was nothing false about it."

The heard Chalkie speaking to a customer. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait here," he said with a decent Gypsy accent. Madame Nicolai is with someone."

"That's my cue," Laura told Harry.

"You be careful."

"You as well." Another kiss, and he was gone. Laura sighed as Chalkie stuck his head into the tent a moment later.

"Ready for the next customer?" he asked.

She smiled, sitting down at the table, placing her hands on it. "I am ready."

***

Harry had just checked out the hidden compartment on the outside of the lion's cage and found it empty - the fifth such result. He knew that he was running out of places where Felix might have hidden the diamond, and knew from the sounds inside of the big top that he was running out of time as well.

The final act of the show - the Flying Palieri Brothers, were now performing their death-defying act as the crowd reacted with "ooos" and "ahhhs". Harry moved into the shadows as the lion-tamer came out of the tent, leading the animal back to his cage. Tomas was fastening the latch on the door when he caught sight of someone in the shadows and frowned. "Who is there?"

"Only me, mate," Harry answered. "The Boss wants me t'look around, see if there's more I can do."

"I don't need any help with Leopold," Tomas informed him, reaching into the cage to rub the lion's mane. "He doesn't like strangers."

"Like I said, just lookin' around."

Tomas turned and walked away toward the trailers as the tent began to empty, and Harry stepped back into the shadows, a bit further back this time. Felix came out, moving toward the row of tents beyond the big top. Sally ran out of the tent, calling, "Felix! Wait for me!"

Harry saw the man stop and take a deep breath as he turned to look at the girl. "Sally -"

"If you're on the way to your trailer, we might as well go together," she said before he could say anything else, putting her arms around his neck.

"I'm not going to the trailer right now. I have something to take care of." He pulled her arms away, holding onto them. "When I do get there, I want you and your things to be gone."

"What? But Felix -!"

"You heard me, Sally. You are a - child."

"That's not what you said earlier - or last night. Or the night before that- You can't just toss me aside like I was trash."

"I can do whatever I like," was his response.

"Don't you realize how much trouble I can make for you? If the authorities found out that you've been - "

Felix's right hand released her arm, and moved up to grasp Sally's neck. "Count yourself lucky that I'm letting you stay on with the circus," he told her, shoving her back and releasing her.

She stumbled, but managed to stay on her feet. "As what? The ticket taker? Or as a dancer? You made promises, Felix!"

"I don't what what you do, child. Find another place to stay - I'm sure Jessie or maybe even Chalkie might be willing to take my left-overs - they've done it before -"

Felix never saw Sally's arm as it swung in a vicious arc, her palm impacting with his cheek so hard that it spun his head around. Harry very nearly came out of hiding as Felix raised his own hand, clearly infuriated by her action. But as someone else came out of the tent, he lowered his hand. "Be off the circus grounds by tomorrow morning or I'll take great pleasure in tossing you off personally." He shoved her against the side of the lion's cage and continued toward his destination.

Sally froze as she heard the lion's growl, and Harry just managed to pull her away as the big cat took a swipe at her with his massive claws.

Neither of them saw Felix glance back and smile as he saw Harry with his arms around the girl.

Once she recovered from nearly being mauled by the lion, Sally stepped back, shaking off Harry's hold. "Don't touch me," she insisted.

"I just saved your life," he told her. "You might at least pretend to be grateful."

"Thank you. Now leave me alone. I have things to do." She started down the same path that Felix had gone, but turned to look at him. "If ya care anything about Madame Nicolai, you'd best tell her to stay away from Felix, if she knows what's good for 'er," With those words, she turned and walked away.

He shuddered at the coldness he had heard in her voice - Laura was right about the girl: she might be young in years, but she was anything but a child. Deciding that the best way to get Laura out of Felix's clutches and away from Sally's threats was to find the diamond, he went to the last of the animal cages - the trained chimpanzee, Dolly.

The animal watched as Harry quietly opened the door of the cage and entered her domain. She bared her teeth and shook her hand at him, getting ready to send out an alarm. But Harry shook his head. "Now, Dolly, we're friends, aren't we?" he asked. Earlier in the evening, while he was looking around, he came upon the cage as Dolly's handler, Louis was taking her from the cage and walked with them to the back door of the tent. Dolly had even held her arms out toward Harry, wanting him to hold her. "You remember me, don't you?" he asked, holding out his hand. The hidden compartment was directly beneath the spot where she was sitting. The small simian leapt up into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I know you've fallen for my charm, Dolly, but I'm afraid that I'm spoken for." She made rude noise, jumping out of his arms as though she had understood his words. Having accomplished the task of moving the animal, he carefully pried up the board hiding the compartment. Lifting the top of the metal box, Harry smiled, removing the silk wrapped object.

Opening the silk, he touched the pink diamond heart before wrapping it and putting it into the inside pocket of his leather jacket.

Now all he had to do was retrieve Laura and get the diamond back to where it belonged.

***

It had been almost half an hour since the last customer, and Laura was seriously considering going back to the trailer when she heard Felix's voice outside of the tent as he confronted Chalkie. "What are you doing here?"

"Madame Nicolai asked me to help her," he explained.

"Was it a good night?"

"She told thirty fortunes," Chalkie told him. "And they were all smiling when they came out."

"You can go - I will be making the closing announcement soon."

Laura smiled as Chalkie said, "Go? Madame?!" he called.

She came to the door. "Yes, my little gate-keeper?"

He smiled as well. "You ready for me to go?"

She sighed, reaching up to touch his cheek. "I will miss you. But go. I doubt there will be more sheep to fleece tonight."

"I'll see you tomorrow. G'night."

"Good night," she replied, turning her attention to Felix. "The Boss himself. Come to collect your money, I suppose." Laura turned back into the tent, picking up a small, shiny black box, holding it in front of her like a shield.

"I came for more than that, Nicolai, and I think you know it."

"But what else could there be? I have nothing of value to offer a man such as yourself."

His hands covered hers on the box. "You underestimate *your*self, my dear." He leaned toward her, giving her a kiss that Laura had to force herself not to pull away from. She released her hold on the box, gently pulling her hands away. "Now, I have to close the circus for the night - why don't you go to my trailer and I'll join you there as soon as I am finished."

"But what about Johnny?" she asked. "He is very jealous."

Felix shook his head, laughing softly. "The last time I saw him, he had his arms around young Sally, and it looked as though he might be there for awhile. Sally may be young, but she's quite willing."

Swallowing her disgust, Laura lifted her hand to cup his cheek. "I will be there."

Felix winked, his smile telling her that he had never doubted her answer. Goodness, but the man had a massive ego! "Excellent. I will be along shortly."

***

Harry was just opening the trailer door when Chalkie appeared. "Why aren't you with Nic?" Harry asked.

"She told me to leave - She was with the Boss - he came by, said he was getting ready to close the gate."

Harry nodded, putting a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Good lad. And thanks." Inside the trailer, Harry tossed their few items into the case they had brought. It was just as he stepped outside that he heard Felix's voice over the loudspeaker. "Ladies and Gentlemen, if you would please make your way to the exit. DuValier's is about to close. We will be open again tomorrow night at the same time. Have a pleasant evening."

Harry rounded Felix' trailer, relieved to see Laura pacing the dirt path alone. But his relief was short-lived as Sally suddenly appeared out of the darkness, light glinting off of the blade of the knife she raised. "Look out!" Harry called, running toward the girl as Laura ducked and almost evaded the knife as it sliced through the white gauze top, grazing her shoulder. "Give me the knife, Sally," Harry said, keeping himself between her and Laura.

Felix ran up to them. "What in blazes is going on here?" he demanded to know.

"Your little bird here decided t'slice and dice my lady," Harry informed him angrily.

Felix looked at Laura. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine," she told him, ignoring the burning pain in her shoulder. "She's crazy!"

"Stop this, Sally," Felix said in a firm tone. "Don't make someone call the police -"

"You would 'ate that, wouldn't you?" she questioned. "Because then I'll tell them all about you. About how you 'ad me go to work for that old lady -"

Felix's eyes widened and he ran toward her, "Shut up, you little fool!" he said in a quiet, deadly tone.

"You're not going to replace me with 'er!" Sally insisted, nodding toward Laura, who had moved over to stand beside Harry.

"You don't worry about that, girl," Harry said. "Me and Nic are getting out of 'ere."

"What?" Felix asked, distracted by his words. "You can't -"

"You said that we were 'ere on trial," Harry reminded him, his gaze still locked on Sally and that knife in her hand. "We've decided that we don't want t'be here. Not gonna risk losin' Nic. Com'on, luv," he said, putting his arm around Laura, feeling the dampness on her shoulder from her wound. "We're getting' out of 'ere."

"Let 'em go, Felix," Sally growled dangerously when he would have tried to follow. "Or I might just take it into my 'ead to use this knife on *you*."

"You won't do that -"

"Try me. Take one more step and we'll see 'ow deep I can stuff this knife into your gut -"

"Jessie! Chalkie! Louis! Someone, help!" Felix began yelling as Laura and Harry reached the gate and left the grounds.

***

Harry opened the driver side door of the old clunker he had borrowed from a friend, tossing the case in first, then helping Laura in before joining her. "Can you manage until we get back to the villa?" he asked. "I don't think we should loiter about."

"I think it's really just a scratch," she told him.

"Didn't feel like a scratch when I put my arm around you." He got the car started and put it into gear, scattering gravel.

Laura removed the black wig from her head, breathing a sigh of relief as she ran her fingers through her own hair, scattering the pins that had been holding it in place. "Oh, that feels good." But moving her left arm caused her to wince. "Ouch," she muttered.

"We'll be at the villa soon," he promised. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? For what?"

"For not being quick enough to keep her from -"

"You did all you could, Harry," she assured him. "Don't blame yourself. Sally really *is* crazy. Between that and Felix' influence on her, - At least now we know how the thief got that combination to Margarite's safe. What's to stop him from trying again - if she doesn't stab him?"

"I think we should be able to convince Margarite that it would safer if she donates the diamond to the National Museum now instead of later."

"And if we can't?"

"We'll set up a security system." He saw her wince again, and reached inside of his jacket, pulling out the silk-wrapped gem, tossing it into her lap. "There. Maybe that will keep your mind off of it."

Laura unwrapped the diamond, holding it in both hands. "It's lovely," she sighed. "And heavier than I thought it would be."

"We'll take it back to the Chateau tomorrow morning," he told her.

"And collect our fee," she finished.

Harry smiled. "And collect our fee."

***

"I don't think it needs stitches," Harry said as he examined the wound just above her left shoulder blade after he cleaned it. Bending down, he pressed a kiss on top of her shoulder as Laura continued to examine the pink diamond she was holding. "Hold still, love, so I can get a bandage on it."

"Sorry," she murmured. "Do you think Sally knew about the diamond?" she asked.

"No. If she had, she and it would have been long gone. I don't see her as being patient enough to wait for Felix's diamond-napping to pay off. There," he said, kissing the bandage, then the side of Laura's neck as he deftly plucked the diamond from her hands.

"Hey!"

"It's late, and we have to drive to Avignon tomorrow," he reminded her, picking up the square of white silk, noting that it was dotted with blood. Laura's blood. The realization sent him onto the edge of the bed as his knees gave out.

"Harry? Harry, what's wrong?" Laura asked.

"I can't help but think how close I came to losing you tonight," he said, dropping the diamond onto the bed as he pulled her into his arms.

"I'm okay," she reminded him, placing her hands on his cheeks, looking into his eyes. "You said yourself that it was a scratch. Don't worry about the things that didn't happen. Isn't that what you once told me?"

He nodded, reaching up to pull her hand to his lips. "Am I being fair to you, Laura?" he asked. "Forcing you into a life that you -"

"That I chose - because of you. Because I love you."

Her hand was replaced by her lips as they embraced. "If I ever lost you, Laura, - " He buried his face in her hair as he continued to admit, "I've never loved anyone as much as I love you, and it's terrifying."

"Shh," she whispered, "Believe me, I understand how you feel. "I was terrified when you were stabbed in London. But this business is fraught with that kind of danger. We either have to learn to live with it or let it drive us apart." She pulled back to look at him. "I think the two of us together can overcome anything, Harry. Don't you?"

His answer was another kiss that lasted until he tried to lower her to the bed - only to have her say, "Ouch!" and pull the diamond from behind her back. "Give me a minute," she told him, getting out of bed to go to the dressing table, where she found the white velvet bag that she used for her own jewelry. Opening it, she poured her things onto the counter. "I hope this is big enough," she said, coming back over to pick up the diamond and slip it inside. "Perfect!" she declared, handing it over to Harry, who placed the bag into the drawer of the nightstand.

Harry reached out and pulled her gently back into his arms. "Now that that's done, it's time to go to sleep."

"Sleep?" Laura questioned as he turned out the lamp on the bedside table.

"Eventually," he said, his fingers lightly moving down her spine…

***

Laura protested as Harry moved away, trying to snuggle closer to him, Finally, eyes still closed, she moved her hand around the bed to no avail - and no Harry. Opening her eyes, she flinched from the bright morning sunlight filtering into the room through the curtains. "Harry?" she called out, sitting up and wincing as her shoulder began to hurt. "Harry?" she called again, this time more loudly.

He appeared with a tray, wearing his silk bathrobe. "No need to shout the house down, love. Just getting us a bit of breakfast before we drive to Avignon."

She smiled - only to wince upon trying to rest against the headboard.

"Let me look at your shoulder before we dig in, eh?" he suggested, placing the tray on the table and sitting down beside her to gently remove the bandage. "Doesn't look too bad. I'll put another bandage on it -" he started to move away, but Laura shook her head.

"It can wait," she assured him. "After breakfast will be soon enough." She kissed his fingertips.

"Well, then," he said, going to retrieve the tray and it's contents. "I've prepared a veritable feast for milady," he told her, placing the tray on the bed, dropping a napkin over his arm. "Toast, poached eggs, sausage, fresh orange juice and coffee. With what would madam like to begin, hmm?"

***

The maid looked pleased to see them when she opened the door. "We're here to see Madame d'LeClare," Harry informed her. She led them into the salon once more, but this time Margarite was already in the room, sitting before the dark fireplace.

She looked up when Marie entered. "You have visitors, Madame," she announced before leaving the room and closing the doors behind her.

Margarite started to rise, but Harry held out his hand. "Stay seated, Margarite," he told her.

"You are back much sooner than I expected that you would be," the old woman said, looking up at them. "Please, be seated. I'm afraid you've caught me feeling a bit sorry for myself. Losing that diamond means that I've let down generations of d'LeClares -"

Laura and Harry both knelt before her, with Laura holding the velvet pouch, which she now opened and emptied into Harry's waiting hand. "There's no reason to feel bad, Margarite," she said.

"Oh my," Margarite sighed, her eyes filling with tears as she carefully took the Coeur d'LeClare into her frail, shaking hands. "You found it." She pulled it to her chest, closing her eyes. "I never thought to see it again." She opened her eyes and looked at Harry. "I know that you promised me that you would find it, young man, but these days, promises are like water."

"Harry never makes a promise that he can't keep," Laura told her, and Margarite smiled.

"I need to return this to the safe," she decided, initiating another look between Laura and Harry.

"For a short while, perhaps," Harry agreed, helping her to her feet and going with her to the portrait across the room. "But for your peace of mind, I really think that you should consider donating it to the Museum Nationale now instead of later. They're able to provide unbreakable security for such a valuable property."

"And I'm sure you'd be able to go and see it whenever you like," Laura added.

"Think of how much joy seeing it would bring to others," Harry continued to nudge, touching the frame as he had on their last visit. Margarite handed the diamond to Laura, before opening the safe. Placing the gem inside, she closed it, turned the dial, and let Harry touch the frame again.

"You're right, I suppose," she nodded. "I'll call my attorney this afternoon and ask him to make the arrangements. Now, as to your payment for returning the Coeur - "

"Margarite," Harry began, but she shook her head and waved her hand.

"You have earned payment," she insisted, leading them into a small ante-room off of the salon. There, she pulled a key from her pocket and unlocked an antique cabinet, pulling out a leather satchel. "I had this for the man who stole the diamond," she explained. "It it now yours." She smiled. "This, and my everlasting gratitude to you both."

After removing the telephone tap, they left the Chateau. "Not bad for our first case, eh?" Harry asked as he pulled onto the road.

"Not bad at all," she agreed, looking at the leather case sitting beside her feet. Leaning across the shift lever of the car, she whispered, "I think a replay of Capetown might be in order."

"I thought you said that was uncomfortable."

"We'll take the bundles apart this time," she said.

"Whatever makes you happy, love," he agreed, wiggling slightly as her fingers moved onto his leg. "Laura - "

"Hmm?" she murmured.

"As much as I love you, I'd like to arrive at Jennine's in one piece." Laura sighed, and moved back into her seat - but managed to drag a fingertip along a sensitive spot as she did so, smiling as Harry moaned softly.

***

Jeninne was smiling when she opened the front door. "Laura! Harry! I am so glad that you came by," she declared, ushering them into the front room. "Jessie and I were just discussing you-."

Laura and Harry both stopped short as they saw the man who rose from the settee. "I feel as though we've already met," he said, coming forward to shake their hands. "And I must say that you look much better without that horrible black wig," he told Laura. "It didn't suit you."

"I wore that wig!" Jeninne reminded him.

"Ah, but you look good in anything," he assured her, lifting a hand to brush her cheek, causing Jennine to smile.

"Speaking of the wig," Laura told her, holding out the bag, "I have it and the rest of the costume - I'm afraid the blouse is a bit worse for wear -"

"She had a bit of a run-in with Sally," Harry explained.

"Oh dear," Jennine said. "Were you badly injured?"

"Just a scratch," Laura assured her.

"Please. Have a seat," Jennine said, turning her chair back toward the settee and matching chairs.

"When did you have that run in with Sally?" Jessie asked.

"Just before we left - she came at Laura because she was jealous of Felix' attentions to her."

"Well, she doesn't have to worry about that anymore," Jessie told them.

"Why not? Don't tell me that he -"

"You haven't heard?" Jennine questioned. "It was in the morning newspaper -"

"We left the villa early this morning," Laura explained. "What happened?"

All eyes turned toward Jessie as he answered the question. "We all heard Felix yelling for help - but by the time we got there, it was just in time to see Sally plunge a knife into Felix's chest." Laura gasped at the news, feeling Harry's hand on hers. "And then she dropped to the ground and started crying over him, insisting she hadn't meant to do it. Someone called the police. They came and took her away. Turns out she's wanted in England for stabbing her mother and step-father while they were sleeping, then stole the cash they had to get away."

"What's going to happen to the circus?" Harry wanted to know.

"That's what Jennine and I were just discussing," Jessie told him.

"Oui," Jennine confirmed. "Since Felix owed so much money to his workers and to his bill collectors, we are going to -" she hesitated, clearly looking for a word, which Jessie supplied.

"Petition," he said, then finished for her, "We're going to petition the court to let us take over the circus and try to make a go of it."

Harry shook his head. "Jennine, you'd actually be willing to go back there? After what happened?"

"Once a carny, always a carny, mon ami," she told him. "I will handle the office and the books while Jessie takes care of everything else."

"It was Jessie who checked your rigging that night in Felix's place, wasn't it?" Harry asked, and Jessie nodded, clearly not happy about remembering that terrible night.

"Yeah. I saw Felix going toward his trailer with the fortune-teller and asked if he'd done it yet. He insisted that it was in good order, for me not to worry about it. When I insisted, he told me to do it myself if I was so concerned. I had just begun learning what to look for on the highwire - and he knew that. I guess I missed something -" he knelt beside the wheelchair as Jennine cupped his face with her hands. "When I saw her fall that night, I might have killed him if she had -"

"Shh, mon cheri," Jennine said in a soothing voice. "It does not matter now. He cannot hurt either of us."

"Do you think you'll be able to make a go of things?" Laura wanted to know after watching the couple exchange a gentle kiss.

Jessie turned to look at her. "It will be difficult to begin, but if the court and other creditors are willing to give us time -"

Laura looked at Harry, who was already turning toward the door. "We might be of some help," he told them. "I'll be right back."

"What does he mean?" Jennine wanted to know.

"A little surprise," was Laura's answer. "We told you that Felix thought that he had come up with a plan to steal something valuable and hold it for ransom, remember?"

"Oui," she nodded. "But I still do not -" Her eyes widened in shock as Harry returned - carrying several bundles of money. "Mon Dieu!"

Harry dropped the bundles onto a table, stepping back to allow Jessie to examine the money. "As I was saying," Laura began again, "Our client paid us for the return of their property - and since we couldn't have found it without your help - we thought we would share the wealth."

"Jennine," Jessie said, in shock, "there's a quarter of a million here!"

"Oh, Harry," Jennine said, her eyes filling with tears again, "Laura. Are you sure about this?"

"Very sure," Laura confirmed as Harry placed his arm around her, resting his hand on her waist instead of her shoulder.

"I do have one request, however," he announced, and Jennine and Jessie turned to look at him. "Get Chalkie's teeth fixed and make him the new Ring Master."

***

"I wasn't expecting you to give them that much," Laura said as they drove away.

"It's going to take at least that much to get that place back on its feet. They have to pay the employees, plus the past due accounts - and then will need operating money for at least six months - Most of the rides looked like they needed some serious work -"

"I wasn't complaining," she said, placing a finger to his lips. "Just making a comment. Did you know that it was Jessie who -?"

"Jennine let it slip one day when I was visiting. Not that he'd been the one, but that she suspected that he was the one. You saw the flowers around the cottage?"

"I couldn't help but see them," she nodded. There had been flowers on almost every table, fresh cut flowers. "You mean, Jessie -?"

"Some days more than others. I suspect that he used whatever he could scrounge the night before to send them."

"That's sweet. Did you mean what you told them, that you're retiring your fire sticks?"

"Permanently," he stated firmly. "What about you? Have you retired from fortune-telling?" She held out her hand, and he smiled. "Just a moment," he told her, shifting before placing his hand in hers. "Well? What do you see?"

"I see a bed," Laura began, using the accent again. "And money laying across it. Much money."

"Bundled or -?"

"Oh, no, not a bundle in sight."

"What else?"

"Oh my," she sighed, "I do not know if I can go on. It is - too personal."

"Really? Give it a try."

"I see two people, lying on the bed, they are - naked."

"Sounds interesting," he told her. "Anything else?"

Laura brought his hand to her lips and pressed a kiss onto his palm before closing his fingers over it. "The rest - will wait," she declared, dropping her hand onto his thigh.

But this time Harry grabbed it. "Uh uh, love. If I have to wait, so do you."

"That's not fair," she pouted. "Okay, so what else should we talk about?"

"How to tell Daniel about our plans, perhaps?" he suggested. "Or how to tell your mother?"

Laura's eyes widened. "I just realized something. It had never occurred to me before - *How* am I supposed to introduce you to Mother?"

"Mother, this is Harry," he suggested.

"Harry - what? You don't *have* a last name!" she declared.

"Make one up - or use any of the names on my passports -"

"The passport idea won't work. Mother watches old movies, too. And she *likes* Bogart!"

"Laura, does the last name really matter? Smith, Jones -"

"I keep telling you, you don't know my mother! She won't be impressed unless you have a name that -"

"I'm supposed to impress her now," he mused. "I think, perhaps, my love, that you're letting yourself blow this all out of proportion."

"No, I'm not. Trust me on this. I'll come up with something - and until I do, I can't let Mother know -"

"So much for the short engagement," Harry sighed. "Can we at least tell Daniel? Who knows, he might even have an idea about a name I can use."

"I said that I would think of something," she assured him. Her hand wandered back over to his thigh. "You're angry with me, aren't you?"

"No, of course not." He grabbed her hand again. "But I'm still not going to let you tease me into sending us both to the hospital." This time, he retained her hand, only releasing it to use the shift lever before capturing it again.

"You don't trust me," she said.

"I trust you with my life, Laura," he insisted, bringing her hand back to his lips. "But we're not far from the villa - and once there, you're welcome to do whatever you want." He grinned. "I promise."

The End

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