Chapter 25

People who deny the existence of dragons are often eaten by dragons. From within.

Ursula K. Le Guin

"What do you mean the jewels are gone?"

Conrad Sinclair stared at Barty Winston from across the expansive mahogany desk in his office. The wood had been so finely polished that he could see his own ghostly reflection if he leaned close enough to the surface.

"There was a burglary." Barty shifted uncomfortably in the chair opposite Conrad's desk. "Someone came in through the kitchen door that connects to the museum from the mews."

Conrad frowned, his temper roiling like magma beneath his skin.

"But the auction house has security cameras and alarm systems. The jewels were in a safe." He'd been working with Barty to acquire the information needed to make his own heist possible, but it seemed someone had beaten him to it.