Part 12 (1/2)
It caught her off guard-d.a.m.n the man for sounding unnervingly sincere without warning-but Morgan recovered quickly and was able to reply with commendable calm as they walked across the pavement outside the museum. ”No, you haven't mentioned that.” the man for sounding unnervingly sincere without warning-but Morgan recovered quickly and was able to reply with commendable calm as they walked across the pavement outside the museum. ”No, you haven't mentioned that.”
”Well, you certainly do. You look ravis.h.i.+ng in jeans, mind you, but this is very elegant.” He guided her toward the low-slung black sports car waiting at the curb.
”Thank you.” Wondering if he did this kind of thing deliberately just to keep her off balance, Morgan remained silent while he installed her in the pa.s.senger side. She waited for him to join her and spoke only when the little car pulled away from the curb with a muted roar.
”Answer a question for me?”
He sent her a quick smile. ”I'll have to hear it first.”
”Umm . . . Do you know the security layout of the museum-and the exhibit?” She had wondered about that only after Storm had made the observation that he ”sensed”-or knew-the placement of all the security video cameras.
”Do you really think Jared would be so trusting?”
”That,” she commented thoughtfully, ”is not an answer.”
Quinn chuckled softly. ”Morgana, I get the distinct feeling I've somehow roused your suspicions.”
”That isn't an answer either. Look, Alex, we've agreed that the truth seems to be a slippery commodity between the two of us.” She half turned on the seat to study his profile. It was a good profile, which was inspiring-but not as regards clarity of thought. ”So I'd appreciate it if you give me a direct answer whenever possible. If you'd rather not say, then tell me so-this habit you have of neatly evading various subjects is not calculated to persuade me to trust you.”
”Yeah, I was afraid of that.” Stopping the car at a traffic light, he glanced at her a bit more seriously. ”I'll try not to do that so often.”
She noticed he didn't promise to stop doing it. ”So . . . do you or don't you know the security setup of the exhibit?”
”I don't. I probably could have gotten it from Max-who does trust me, by the way-but I decided not to. I have a better chance of antic.i.p.ating Nightshade if I have to study the museum and exhibit just the way he does. The only advantage I have is that I know know there's a weakness in the defenses.” there's a weakness in the defenses.”
”The trap? Is it Storm's security program?”
”You don't know?”
Morgan sighed. ”I'm ashamed to admit it, but I haven't even asked.”
In an understanding tone, Quinn said, ”The situation is is a bit complicated.” a bit complicated.”
”Never mind. Do you know where the trap is?”
”Yes, I do. I told Wolfe in the lobby just before you joined us, and he confirmed my deductions.”
”No wonder he was frowning.”
”As I said, he isn't very happy with any of us. I did point out to him that the trap only looks looks like a hole in the defenses, expressly designed to lure Nightshade in and snare him before he can get anywhere near the collection.” like a hole in the defenses, expressly designed to lure Nightshade in and snare him before he can get anywhere near the collection.”
”And was he mollified by this reminder?”
Quinn smiled. ”No. He seemed to feel that Nightshade might be suspicious enough to avoid the trap and find his own way in.”
”Why would he be suspicious?”
”Because of me, I'm afraid.” He sighed. ”Morgana, thieves don't normally follow one another in the dead of night. But I followed him the night he was casing the museum, the night he shot me. He has to wonder about that. He knows he didn't kill me, because no unexplained shootings have been reported in the city, so he knows I may still be a potential problem.”
”But he doesn't know who you are,” Morgan said slowly.
”I'm an unanswered question all the way around-and a man like Nightshade hates unanswered questions.”
She frowned a little as she studied his face. ”You know, every time you talk about Nightshade, I get the feeling there's more to this. You say you don't know much about him . . . but I think you do.”
”Morgana, you are full of questions today.”
”Is that a warning?”
”It's an observation.”
It may have been only that, but Morgan decided to drop the subject anyway. Quinn had already been more forthcoming than she had expected, and she preferred to quit while she was ahead. In any case, they arrived at the restaurant just then, and a number of speculations filled her mind.
She didn't comment until he had parked the car and come around to open her door. ”So Tony's is the best restaurant this side of Naples, huh?”
”I think so,” Quinn replied innocently as he closed her car door and took her arm.
”And I suppose the fact that it tends to be a kind of hangout for art collectors and dealers as well as museum people is a coincidence?”
He sent her a glance, amus.e.m.e.nt in his green eyes. ”No, is it? Fancy that.”
”You can be maddening, you know that?”
”Watch your step, Morgana,” he murmured, probably referring to the uneven flagstone steps leading up to the restaurant's front door.
Though it was just after seven in the evening, the place was already three-quarters full; many of the museums in the area closed at six, and this was, as Morgan had said, a favorite place to unwind as well as dine. The food was not only excellent, it was also served generously and priced reasonably, and the casual but efficient waitresses knew your name by the third visit.
Or, in Quinn's case, the second.
”I ate lunch here Sat.u.r.day,” he told Morgan, after the friendly waitress had conducted them to a window booth and asked ”Mr. Brandon” if he wanted coffee as usual.
Morgan-who was also known to the waitress and who had ordered coffee as well-accepted that somewhat ruefully with a nod and then glanced around casually, curious to see if she could spot whoever it was that Quinn wanted to keep an eye on.
The one glance told her it would be impossible. There were more than a dozen people scattered about the room who were in some way involved in the art world either as collectors, patrons, or employees of the various museums, galleries, and shops in the area. Even Leo Ca.s.sady, their host for the party the other night, and Ken Dugan, head curator of the museum housing the Mysteries Past Mysteries Past exhibit, were present, both with attractive female companions. exhibit, were present, both with attractive female companions.
”Give up?” Quinn murmured.
Morgan unfolded her napkin and placed it over her lap, making a production out of it. ”I don't know what you're talking about,” she told him politely.
”You mean you weren't trying to guess who it is I'm keeping an eye on?” He smiled wickedly. ”Nice try, sweet, but you should never try to play poker with a cardsharp.”
CHAPTER EIGHT.
She scowled at him. ”Thanks for yet another warning. Obviously, you could look as innocent as a lamb with both sleeves full of aces.” warning. Obviously, you could look as innocent as a lamb with both sleeves full of aces.”
Leaning back to allow the waitress to place his coffee before him, Quinn said, ”I didn't know lambs had sleeves.”