Chapter 2

“So,” Sullivan begins. “Your father got ten years in prison, is that correct?”

“With no evidence to show that he was involved in the robbery.” Tim doesn’t like his father, but to strangers like these two goons he will always stand up for him.

“But, Mr. Gregory,” says Jacob. “You know your father was positively identified in court. The cameraoutside the museum caught his face when he took off his mask. It is pointless to deny.”

Tim can see that the detective is annoyed. Well, he is annoyed, too.

“I’ll say what I want to say. If you gentlemen have nothing more to do than rehashing that old story, the door is over there.” He jerks back when Jacob suddenly wrenches the front of his shirt.

“Look, you worthless little rat. You queer, sissy actors are no better than your father the robber. You will talk or your father’s not going to last long in that cramped cell of his. He’s going to have ataste of what his kid usually does for kicks every night.”

Tim chokes as Jacob’s fists press into his throat. His eyes begin to water and his lungs cry for fresh air, but there’s no sign that Jacob will let him go soon. Vaguely he hears Sullivan say, “Dan, that’senough.” Tim’s head is swimming when finally, Jacob yanks him free, throwing him back into the chair.Tim coughs weakly, fixing his shirt. He hates to see his hands are shaking. He warily glances up at the detectives.

“You okay?” It comes from Sullivan.

“How can I be? Your partner just attacked me.” There is a bite in his words but the quiver in his voiceshows his insecurity. Tim almost feels like pressing himself small into a corner. “W-what do you want from me?” he stammers, avoiding looking at Jacob.

“Cooperation.”

Tim still only looks at Sullivan. “Like I said when I testified, I hardly know anything about my father. I left home years ago. He barely approves of my career as an actor. All I know about him is that he worked some odd jobs and that he spent all the money he got on alcohol.” What Tim didn’t tell in thecourt and he will not tell this time, either, is how his father would do anything to get Tim to give him all the money he had, including threatening to do unspeakable things to his own kid. He can’t mention that to these detectives. The last thing he wants is to give them more leverage against him. It is not like he needs their protection or something.

“He didn’t tell you about the robbery and all the stuff he stole?” asks Sullivan.

“Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t have known that he got arrested if not for those cops suddenly breaking into the theater and taking me in.” It still traumatizes him even now, every time he remembers the moment police officers came and brought him to their station, suspecting that he was alsoinvolved in the robbery. Later, with a full audience as his alibi, the police still insisted on holding him in for further questioning.

It seems like what happened then was not enough. They came again with the same questions and just now Detective Jacob was willing to rough him up just so he would cooperate. What’s wrong with these men allwanting to harass him, Tim thinks. What is wrong with him?

“Look, we did get all the stolen pieces back, all but one.”

“You’re saying—”

“I’m saying that there’s an item that’s still missing. It’s a necklace with too many sapphire stones to count and sprinkles of diamonds set around each of them. It’s an old one. It dates back to theRussian Monarchy from the 1700’s.”

Tim takes a deep breath. He knows where the conversation is going.

“So you’re accusing me of getting the necklace from my dad and keeping it for him.”

“Did you?” Jacob asks. Tim doesn’t acknowledge him. “Hey, I’m asking you.”

“And I’m not answering.”

Tim yells as Jacob clamps his fingers around Tim’s upper arm.

“Get away from me.” He twists free from Jacob’s clutches and springs from his seat. “You lay your hands on me one more time, I’ll call security and you’ll never get into this building again.” The moment the words leave his mouth, Tim realizes how ridiculous it sounds. They can easily come back with a warrant.

Once more Sullivan attempts to keep the peace.

“It won’t happen again. I can come back without Dan if I have to,” says Sullivan but it’s clear that Jacob doesn’t like it.

“You’re not coming back at all, either of you. Let me tell you now—I know nothing about the frigging necklace. My father never gave it to me. He never contacted me about it. Hell, we hadn’t even talked to each other until I was forced to be a witness at his trial. Now get the hell out of here.”

One could have heard a pin drop during the seconds that follow. Then Sullivan speaks quietly, “It’s possible that we’re not the only ones thinking that are you keeping the necklace.” He nods at Tim’s room. “What if it’s your father’s buddies who did all of this? You know we only managed to get your father. His friends are still at large. I admire your dad’s loyalty to his friends but that’s not whatthey want. They need money and the necklace is their only chance to get a decent amount out of it. What if they decide that turning your place upside down isn’t enough and come to get you instead? They won’t be as polite as my friend and I when trying to make you to talk.”

Tim is stunned into silence by Sullivan’s long and composed speech, and the detective doesn’t look even slightly flustered. When Sullivan hands him something, Tim can only take it wordlessly.