Lost and Found Read online

  “Demonstrat[es] Krentz’s talent for seamlessly combining romance and suspense.”

  —Vero Beach (FL) Press Journal

  Cady Briggs is useful to Mack Easton. Her expertise in art and antiques helps his low-profile company, Lost and Found, find missing treasures for high-paying clients. But Cady knows that being useful to a client is one thing—and being used is another. So no matter how alluring she finds Mack, she plans to keep business and pleasure entirely separate.

  But then a sudden tragedy puts Cady in charge of Chatelaine’s, her family’s prestigious art and antiques gallery. Suddenly the roles are reversed, as strange developments at Chatelaine’s lead Cady to ask for help from none other than Mack Easton. And instead of tracking down missing masterpieces together, they’ll be hunting for a killer…

  “Renowned by fans and critics for years for her powerful romantic suspense novels, Jayne Ann Krentz will satisfy her toughest reader with her newest entry, Lost & Found. The story line is fast-paced [and] filled with action and strong characterizations.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  “A seasoned pro.”

  —People

  “It’s no wonder that [Jayne Ann Krentz’s] novels consistently hit bestseller lists.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Romantic suspense at its most enjoyable, enhanced by Krentz’s trademark humor and quirky characters. Fans will be very happy with this entertaining and delightful read.”

  —Library Journal

  Praise for the novels of New York Times

  bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz…

  White Lies

  “Krentz delivers the punch her readers are looking for.”

  —The Seattle Times

  “Intriguing suspense and captivating romance expertly crafted by Jayne Ann Krentz.”

  —The (Columbia, SC) State

  “Spirited paranormal romance.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “A steamy thriller with a sense of fun.”

  —Library Journal

  All Night Long

  “In her signature sharp and witty fashion, Jayne Ann Krentz mixes desire and danger to create a riveting novel of romantic suspense.”

  —Chicago Tribune

  “A master of romantic mystery and suspense novels.”

  —The Columbus Dispatch

  “Krentz is in top form here.”

  —The Seattle Times

  “Superb romantic mystery.”

  —The Oakland Press

  Falling Awake

  “Will surely keep the sandman at bay…Terrific.”

  —The Roanoke Times

  “Romantic tension sizzles…Tightly plotted…fully developed characters and crafty plot twists.”

  —The Philadelphia Inquirer

  “Yet another winning tale of romantic suspense…As always, Krentz creates an intelligent, likable couple, wonderful secondary characters, and a fast-paced story that will keep readers turning the pages.”

  —Library Journal

  Truth or Dare

  “Compelling.”

  —The Sunday Age (Melbourne, Australia)

  “There’s a reason Jayne Ann Krentz sells so many books…[She] continues to exhibit a fine knack for entertaining her readers.”

  —Fort Worth Star-Telegram

  “Ranks with some of Krentz’s most entertaining work.”

  —The Seattle Times

  Light in Shadow

  “If Krentz’s newest thriller doesn’t send your pulse racing, dial your cardiologist’s number…Packed with twists and shockers till the explosive ending.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “One of Krentz’s best.”

  —The Seattle Times

  Smoke in Mirrors

  “Hearts will flutter. Spines will tingle.”

  —People

  “Passion smolders…Krentz is a master…The characters are the heart of the book and the reason why she has sold more than 23 million copies of her novels. This is vintage Krentz.”

  —The Seattle Times

  “Quick and witty and the romance sizzles. Smoke in Mirrors reads fast and will make you smile, wince, and sigh. What else could you want?”

  —The (Columbia, SC) State

  Soft Focus

  “A healthy dose of suspense…Krentz has so much fun sending up the noir genre that you won’t mind going along for the ride.”

  —People

  “What could be more perfectly Krentz?…[Her] writing is clean and breezy, with many laugh-aloud chapter endings and a satisfyingly feel-good conclusion.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  Titles by Jayne Ann Krentz

  IN TOO DEEP

  FIRED UP

  RUNNING HOT

  SIZZLE AND BURN

  WHITE LIES

  ALL NIGHT LONG

  FALLING AWAKE

  TRUTH OR DARE

  LIGHT IN SHADOW

  SUMMER IN ECLIPSE BAY

  TOGETHER IN ECLIPSE BAY

  SMOKE IN MIRRORS

  LOST & FOUND

  DAWN IN ECLIPSE BAY

  SOFT FOCUS

  ECLIPSE BAY

  EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

  FLASH

  SHARP EDGES

  DEEP WATERS

  ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY

  TRUST ME

  GRAND PASSION

  HIDDEN TALENTS

  WILDEST HEARTS

  FAMILY MAN

  PERFECT PARTNERS

  SWEET FORTUNE

  SILVER LININGS

  THE GOLDEN CHANCE

  Titles by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Amanda Quick

  BURNING LAMP

  THE PERFECT POISON

  THE THIRD CIRCLE

  THE RIVER KNOWS

  SECOND SIGHT

  LIE BY MOONLIGHT

  THE PAID COMPANION

  WAIT UNTIL MIDNIGHT

  LATE FOR THE WEDDING

  DON’T LOOK BACK

  SLIGHTLY SHADY

  WICKED WIDOW

  I THEE WED

  WITH THIS RING

  AFFAIR

  MISCHIEF

  MYSTIQUE

  MISTRESS

  DECEPTION

  DESIRE

  DANGEROUS

  RECKLESS

  RAVISHED

  RENDEZVOUS

  SCANDAL

  SURRENDER

  SEDUCTION

  Titles by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle

  MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL

  OBSIDIAN PREY

  DARK LIGHT

  SILVER MASTER

  GHOST HUNTER

  AFTER GLOW

  HARMONY

  AFTER DARK

  AMARILLIS

  ZINNIA

  ORCHID

  Anthologies

  CHARMED

  (with Julie Beard, Lori Foster, and Eileen Wilks)

  Titles written by Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle

  NO GOING BACK

  JAYNE ANN

  KRENTZ

  LOST

  &

  FOUND

  JOVE BOOKS, NEW YORK

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada

  (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)

  Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia

  (a division of Pearson Australia Group
Pty. Ltd.)

  Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India

  Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632, New Zealand

  (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)

  Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196.

  South Africa

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  LOST & FOUND

  A Jove Book / published by arrangement with G. P. Putnam’s Sons

  PRINTING HISTORY

  G. P. Putnam’s Sons hardcover edition / January 2001

  First Jove mass-market edition / November 2001

  Copyright © 2001 by Jayne Ann Krentz.

  Cover art of “Couple kissing”: Serge Krouglikoff/Getty Images: “Golden Gate Bridge”: Digital Vision/

  Getty Images: “House on hillside”: Paul Kennedy/Getty Images.

  Cover design by Annette Fiore DeFex.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  For information, address: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  ISBN: 978-1-101-21444-2

  JOVE®

  Jove Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  JOVE and the “J” design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  20 19 18 17 16 15

  If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  TO LESLIE GELBMAN

  What a joy it is to work with

  an editor who shares a vision.

  Table of Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-one

  Twenty-two

  Twenty-three

  Twenty-four

  Twenty-five

  Twenty-six

  Twenty-seven

  Twenty-eight

  Twenty-nine

  One

  “It is never wise to become emotionally involved with a client,” Vesta Briggs said.

  “I’m not involved with Mack Easton.” Cady cradled the phone against her shoulder and tugged off first one high heel and then the other. “Not in the way you mean. I’m just consulting for him. I thought I made that clear.”

  There was a short, terse silence on the other end of the line. Cady sighed silently and sank down onto the sofa. The phone had been ringing a moment ago when she had come through the door. She had lunged for it on the off chance that it was Fantasy Man.

  It had not been Mack Easton. It had been her great-aunt.

  “There’s something in your voice when you talk about him,” Vesta said. Icicles of disapproval hung on each word. “I get the impression that you are interested in him in a personal way.”

  “He’s just a voice on the phone.”

  But what a voice. Every time she heard it, a thrill of awareness zinged through each nerve ending. Her vivid imagination did the rest, conjuring blatantly erotic fantasies out of thin air.

  It was a voice that had begun to whisper in her dreams but she saw no reason to mention that to her rigid great-aunt. Vesta Briggs was not a romantic.

  Cady slipped off one silver earring and set it down on the glass-topped coffee table. Probably not a good idea to tell Vesta that in addition to being a voice on the phone, Easton had also become a frequent e-mail correspondent, she thought. He seemed to enjoy locating arcane bits and pieces of information relating to the art world on-line and forwarding them on to her. Lately, she could have sworn that he had begun to flirt with her via computer.

  She saved all of his on-line correspondence in a special folder labeled “Fantasy Man.” She had gotten into the habit of checking her computer first thing each morning to see if he had paid her an on-line visit during the night. She didn’t want to use the word “obsessive” to describe her new routine, but she was aware that some people might view it as a tad compulsive.

  Of course, if there was anyone who would understand obsession, it was Vesta, she thought. She glanced at the row of family photographs arranged on one wall. Her gaze fell on the woman with dark hair and enigmatic eyes. It had been taken some fifty years ago when her great-aunt was in her thirties, shortly after she had founded Gallery Chatelaine. There was a withdrawn, remote quality about the image. Vesta looked as if she was listening to a conversation that only she could hear, one that had taken place in the distant past.

  As far as anyone knew, the only thing Vesta had ever cared about was Chatelaine’s. There had been no room in her life for love or marriage or children. For five decades she had single-handedly controlled the fate of the business she had created. With unflinching determination, skill and vision she had brought her gallery to its current respected position in the art world. But her lifelong preference for privacy could no longer conceal her growing eccentricities.

  A lot of people were convinced that Cady took after Vesta. Lately Cady had begun to worry about that possibility herself.

  It was true that, in spite of Vesta’s austere personality, she had always felt a deep attachment to her. It wasn’t just because her great-aunt had taught her everything she knew about the art and antiques business. The feeling of unspoken understanding between the two women went deeper. Even as a child Cady had sensed some deep, long-buried pain beneath the layers of protective frost that Vesta wore like an invisible shroud.

  “Easton is a good client,” Cady said, trying hard to inject reassurance into her words. “What’s more, I’m really enjoying this end of the business.”

  “Tracing lost and stolen art and antiques?” Vesta paused. “I can see why that might appeal to you. You always were more adventurous than Sylvia.”

  “Which is why Sylvia makes a much better CEO for Gallery Chatelaine than I ever could,” Cady said quickly. “She thrives on that corporate stuff.”

  “And you don’t.” Vesta sounded resigned.

  “No.” Cady settled deeper into the sofa. “I’m happy with my little art consulting business. I wasn’t cut out to run a large operation like Chatelaine’s. We both know that.”

  “You may change your mind someday.”

  “No.” This was old territory. It had been well covered after Cady’s divorce three years ago.

  There was more silence on the line.

  “Be careful,” Vesta said after a while. “Don’t allow yourself to be seduced by this new client of yours.”

  “Seduced?” Cady repeated in a strangled voice, unable to believe what she had heard. Vesta never discussed sex. “I told you, I haven’t
even met him.”

  “There is often a great deal of money at stake when it comes to art. You know that as well as I do. A man who requires your expertise to get his hands on that cash cannot be trusted. It sounds like your Mr. Easton finds you useful.”

  “That’s the whole point of my art consulting business. To make myself useful.”

  “It’s all well and good for a client to find you useful. But don’t let yourself be used. There’s a difference.”

  “Good grief, Aunt Vesta, it’s not like I’m having a red-hot affair with the man.” Unfortunately, she added to herself.

  “Yes, well, that’s enough on the subject of Mack Easton. I didn’t call just to discuss him,” Vesta said.

  “Good.”

  “I also wanted you to know that I’m having second thoughts about the wisdom of a merger with Austrey-Post.”

  Deeply relieved by the change of topic, Cady swung her legs up onto the sofa and leaned back in the corner. “Sylvia told me that you had mentioned you might postpone the vote on the proposal.”

  “I haven’t made a final decision yet but I will soon.” Vesta paused. “I just thought you should know.”

  “I’m no longer a member of the board,” Cady reminded her. “I won’t be voting.”

  “I’m aware of that. Nevertheless, I think you should stay informed.”

  “Sylvia is not a happy camper,” Cady said carefully.

  “I know. She wants the merger to go through.”

  “She’s got a vision for the gallery, Aunt Vesta.”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s a great vision, one that will make Gallery Chatelaine even more important in the art world than it is already.”

  “Yes.”

  There was something in Vesta’s voice that told Cady there was more to the story, but she knew her aunt well enough to know that there was no point pushing for an explanation. Besides, this was Sylvia’s problem.

  “Did you go out tonight?” Vesta asked.

  Another change of subject. Interesting.

  “I went to the preview of the Kenner collection,” Cady said.

  “Oh, yes, that’s right. I remember that you mentioned it. I expect that it was well attended. The sharks of the art world have been circling for years, waiting for Anna Kenner to expire. Her collection of eighteenth-and nineteenth-century decorative arts is one of the finest in the country.”

  “Well, the good news is that Mrs. Kenner managed to outlive several of the sharks. She was ninety-seven when she died.”