The Black Sheep and The English Rose. Donna Kauffman

really sorry, ma’am,” the agent rushed to add. “But regulations state that we have to go through a check list of items before we can release it for rental again.”

      She looked up at Finn, all plaintive and uncertain. Damn, she really was good. “What do we do now?” she asked, as if their only other choice might be life-threatening. Given the barely suppressed level of hostility Andrea was aiming at Felicity Jane, that might not be an exaggeration.

      “It won’t take that long, ma’am,” Brian hurried to assure her. “I can get them to put a rush on it; it’s just we had to go retrieve it from one of the hangars—” He broke off when both Finn and Felicity turned to look at him. “What? What did I say?”

      “It was left at a hangar?”

      “Yeah, some hot shot called and informed us we’d have to go pick up the car ourselves, like we have that kind of crew available. Some people just aren’t considerate, but I’m sure we can accommodate you. How about I offer you an upgrade, free of charge? I have a nice—”

      “That’s quite kind of you,” Felicity responded, this time with a smile only Finn knew was forced. “We need to go discuss this; then we’ll get back to you.”

      “Sure, no problem. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do. I’ll put a rush on the Caddy for you, just in case. It’s a convertible!”

      “Much appreciated,” Finn said, then steered Felicity back outside, leaning down to speak quietly in her ear. “I saw a sign pointing to the main flight office. It’s over there, about halfway down the line of private hangars. We’ll head there and see what we can find out.”

      “If she’s on Reese’s plane, they could be heading anywhere. He doesn’t fly in anything small.”

      “I’ll bet,” Finn muttered.

      Felicity let that pass. “We’d be lucky to find anyone in the office who’d talk to us.”

      Finn smiled as they both ducked into the waiting town car. “You underestimate yourself. You had the car rental kid ready to offer marriage if it would keep you in his proximity a minute longer.”

      She did smile at that, despite the concern still clear in her eyes. “It’s the accent. You Yanks just don’t know what to do with it.”

      “It does hold a certain charm.” He sat back and pulled his iPhone out once more, his smile fading as he went back to work. “You know, I’m going to have to rethink the whole leased limo thing. This is coming in pretty handy.”

      “It does that,” she responded, still sitting on the edge of the seat, looking out the window as the driver maneuvered along the narrow road leading toward the hangars and other outbuildings.

      Finn noticed the pensive look on her face. “We’ll track them down.”

      “I wish I had your confidence. I’m concerned that we’re heading off in the wrong direction. If it turns out Julia isn’t involved, or doesn’t know who John sold it to, then we’ve wasted valuable time, and the stone will have left the country.”

      “I’m betting the private plane belongs to Reese. We find the plane, we’ll find Reese and, hopefully, the stone. My gut says Julia helped him broker a deal with one of her clients back home and they’re headed to California.”

      “And if you’re wrong?”

      He waited for her to glance his way, then grinned and said, “Well…we could always discuss dessert.”