All That Glitters
Chapter Six
When Tidus turned on the light in the secret room in Leblanc
Dumont's basement, Rikku's misgivings about their
break-in turned to certainty.
The room was filled with treasures to die for — Ming
vases, Fabergé eggs, bronzes, and original artworks.
Glass display cases were filled with priceless
scrimshaw, jade, and magnificent jewelry, much of which
had been duplicated.
She took a closer look at one of the bronzes. "This is a
fake."
Tidus peered into the jewelry cases. "Lots of duplicates.
I count three rings that look like Leblanc's blue diamond."
"She must be stealing the originals, then selling the
copies."
"Black market sales with phony authentication." He
grinned sheepishly. "I never should have suspected you,
Rikku."
"What?" She couldn't believe her ears. "You didn't trust
me. That's why you fucking stayed away from me for the past two
weeks."
"Damn it, I needed to be sure." He picked up the Sword of
LeFevre. "Apparently, this hasn't been copied yet."
She wasn't about to let him off the hook. The
differences between them had never been more apparent.
"Just because you're a rich attorney —"
"Wealth has nothing to do with suspicion."
"A lot you know." Everything she wanted in life had to
do with security and safety and all those tangible
things that money could buy. "It's everything."
The door to the secret room creaked open, framing a
husky young man with auburn hair. In his right hand, he
held a gun.
Rikku's irritation at Tidus vanished in the face of this
larger threat.
"I knew a man was involved," Tidus said calmly. "A male
voice spoke to Gippal on the phone, claiming to be me,
then lured him out and grabbed the sword. So, who are
you? Leblanc's latest boyfriend?"
Leblanc herself appeared. "Allow me to introduce my son.
His name is Red." She held up the photograph of a Denver
Bronco football player that had hidden the latch to the
secret room. "Named after his father, Red Haywood."
"You're not old enough to have a grown son," Rikku said.
"Aren't you sweet?" She preened. "I got pregnant when I
was fourteen. If I'd known that my boyfriend was going
to be a wealthy running back, I certainly would've
married him. But we all make silly mistakes."
"Like putting me up for adoption," her son said.
She patted his cheek. "My son returned to me two years
ago after he was accused of robbery. We've improved his
technique since then, haven't we, Red?"
"Red," Rikku repeated. "And he's your son. The calling
card of the cat burglar is a red sun."
"Ta-da!" Leblanc said. "One must have one's little
amusements."
Rikku had another question. "Why did you go to Tidus's
house and prepare that surprise dinner?"
"I planned to drug his wine and steal the sword. But I
learned — before he arrived — that Tidus was accompanied
by a security guard. I faked an attack by the cat
burglar to throw off police suspicions. Also, as a ploy
for sympathy." She pressed her wrist melodramatically to
her forehead. "Poor little me! I thought Tidus would
become my gallant protector."
"I'd rather protect a pit viper." Tidus growled.
"Such a pity," Lebl;anc said. "Now I'll have to…eliminate
you. Both of you."
"You won't get away with murder," Tidus said.
"You're trespassing." Her dark eyes shone harshly.
"There won't be much investigation. You're both dressed
in black…like cat burglars, caught in the act."
Rikku didn't intend to go quietly. As Tidus edged toward
the doorway with the sword still in his hand, she picked
up a Ming vase. "I'll smash this."
When Leblanc and Red stared at her, Tidus had the distraction
he needed. Using the gold hilt of the sword, he knocked
the gun from Red's hand and charged him.
Rikku raced after him. She kicked the gun away from
Leblanc's grasp. It slid under the entertainment center in
the rec room. Leblanc rose athletically. She struck a
karate pose.
In an instant, Rikku transformed from her role as
sophisticated interior decorator to her former identity
as a tough street kid. She grabbed a lamp and swung it
like a baseball bat, keeping Leblanc at bay.
At the far end of the room, Sam and Red battled,
hand-to-hand. Tidus got in a good, hard uppercut. When Red
went down, Tidus grabbed the sword and held the tip to
Red's throat.
A familiar voice shouted, "Freeze."
Rikku pivoted and saw Donna, accompanied by three
uniformed policemen. Around Donna's throat, dangling amid
colorful scarves and necklaces, was a badge. "You're a
cop!"
"An undercover detective, and a damn good one," Donna
said. "How did you think I knew all that stuff about you
and Tidus?"
"Psychically?"
"In your dreams," Donna said with a grin. "I've been
investigating this case for months. Now, it looks like
we've caught our cat burglars."
While the officers took Leblanc and her son into custody,
Tidus came to Rikku's side. "I think we might all get
exactly what we want."
"And what might that be?" she asked.
"You," he said. "It's been hell staying away from you.
All I could think about was this…." He pulled her into
his arms for a long, deep kiss. She heard a clatter as
the Sword of LeFevre dropped from his hand.
* * *
Two days later, Rikku stood in the lobby of the Brown
Palace Hotel. She wore a strapless gown of emerald silk
— material that she'd purchased for boudoir curtains
before Leblanc decided on red velvet. The Benefit Ball was
under way. Dozens of Denver's elite were here in all
their finery, wearing enough gems to make a cat
burglar's fur stand on end.
But Tidus had not yet arrived.
Where was he? During the past forty-eight hours, Rikku
had more than forgiven him. They'd been inseparable. He
came with her while she supervised the ball decorations,
which, ironically, included bouquets of gilded lilies.
And she'd gone with him to the courthouse, where he was
approved as a foster parent after Detective Donna Corsky
testified to his outstanding character.
The crowd parted, and she saw him. In his tuxedo with
his blond hair shining under the chandelier's glow, he
was…amazing.
Though Rikku had fully intended to chastise him for being
late, she could only say, "Hi."
"Hi yourself." He caressed her freckled shoulder. Last
night in bed, he'd played a seductive game of connect
the dots. "You're beautiful, Rikku."
Taking her arm, he escorted her through the ballroom to
the dais, where he stepped in front of the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have a presentation to make. As
most of you know, I offered a half-million-dollar reward
for the return of the Sword of LeFevre. The reward goes
to Rikku Huffman."
A security guard with a lockbox stepped in front of her.
Inside was more money than she'd ever imagined. All her
life, she'd yearned for security, and here it was. She
should have been satisfied, but she wanted something
different. Her priorities had changed. She wanted Tidus —
the chance to build a life with him.
She spoke into the microphone. "I'm pleased to donate
the full amount of this reward to the Benefit for
Homeless Children."
Tidus pulled her aside. "I thought money was everything."
"All that glitters isn't gold." Now, she knew the truth.
"You're my everything."
"I hope you won't give this back." He opened a small
black velvet box. Inside was a Tiffany engagement ring.
"Marry me, Rikku."
She flung her arms around his neck. He might not be a
cat burglar, but he had truly stolen her heart.
The End
Chapter Six
When Tidus turned on the light in the secret room in Leblanc
Dumont's basement, Rikku's misgivings about their
break-in turned to certainty.
The room was filled with treasures to die for — Ming
vases, Fabergé eggs, bronzes, and original artworks.
Glass display cases were filled with priceless
scrimshaw, jade, and magnificent jewelry, much of which
had been duplicated.
She took a closer look at one of the bronzes. "This is a
fake."
Tidus peered into the jewelry cases. "Lots of duplicates.
I count three rings that look like Leblanc's blue diamond."
"She must be stealing the originals, then selling the
copies."
"Black market sales with phony authentication." He
grinned sheepishly. "I never should have suspected you,
Rikku."
"What?" She couldn't believe her ears. "You didn't trust
me. That's why you fucking stayed away from me for the past two
weeks."
"Damn it, I needed to be sure." He picked up the Sword of
LeFevre. "Apparently, this hasn't been copied yet."
She wasn't about to let him off the hook. The
differences between them had never been more apparent.
"Just because you're a rich attorney —"
"Wealth has nothing to do with suspicion."
"A lot you know." Everything she wanted in life had to
do with security and safety and all those tangible
things that money could buy. "It's everything."
The door to the secret room creaked open, framing a
husky young man with auburn hair. In his right hand, he
held a gun.
Rikku's irritation at Tidus vanished in the face of this
larger threat.
"I knew a man was involved," Tidus said calmly. "A male
voice spoke to Gippal on the phone, claiming to be me,
then lured him out and grabbed the sword. So, who are
you? Leblanc's latest boyfriend?"
Leblanc herself appeared. "Allow me to introduce my son.
His name is Red." She held up the photograph of a Denver
Bronco football player that had hidden the latch to the
secret room. "Named after his father, Red Haywood."
"You're not old enough to have a grown son," Rikku said.
"Aren't you sweet?" She preened. "I got pregnant when I
was fourteen. If I'd known that my boyfriend was going
to be a wealthy running back, I certainly would've
married him. But we all make silly mistakes."
"Like putting me up for adoption," her son said.
She patted his cheek. "My son returned to me two years
ago after he was accused of robbery. We've improved his
technique since then, haven't we, Red?"
"Red," Rikku repeated. "And he's your son. The calling
card of the cat burglar is a red sun."
"Ta-da!" Leblanc said. "One must have one's little
amusements."
Rikku had another question. "Why did you go to Tidus's
house and prepare that surprise dinner?"
"I planned to drug his wine and steal the sword. But I
learned — before he arrived — that Tidus was accompanied
by a security guard. I faked an attack by the cat
burglar to throw off police suspicions. Also, as a ploy
for sympathy." She pressed her wrist melodramatically to
her forehead. "Poor little me! I thought Tidus would
become my gallant protector."
"I'd rather protect a pit viper." Tidus growled.
"Such a pity," Lebl;anc said. "Now I'll have to…eliminate
you. Both of you."
"You won't get away with murder," Tidus said.
"You're trespassing." Her dark eyes shone harshly.
"There won't be much investigation. You're both dressed
in black…like cat burglars, caught in the act."
Rikku didn't intend to go quietly. As Tidus edged toward
the doorway with the sword still in his hand, she picked
up a Ming vase. "I'll smash this."
When Leblanc and Red stared at her, Tidus had the distraction
he needed. Using the gold hilt of the sword, he knocked
the gun from Red's hand and charged him.
Rikku raced after him. She kicked the gun away from
Leblanc's grasp. It slid under the entertainment center in
the rec room. Leblanc rose athletically. She struck a
karate pose.
In an instant, Rikku transformed from her role as
sophisticated interior decorator to her former identity
as a tough street kid. She grabbed a lamp and swung it
like a baseball bat, keeping Leblanc at bay.
At the far end of the room, Sam and Red battled,
hand-to-hand. Tidus got in a good, hard uppercut. When Red
went down, Tidus grabbed the sword and held the tip to
Red's throat.
A familiar voice shouted, "Freeze."
Rikku pivoted and saw Donna, accompanied by three
uniformed policemen. Around Donna's throat, dangling amid
colorful scarves and necklaces, was a badge. "You're a
cop!"
"An undercover detective, and a damn good one," Donna
said. "How did you think I knew all that stuff about you
and Tidus?"
"Psychically?"
"In your dreams," Donna said with a grin. "I've been
investigating this case for months. Now, it looks like
we've caught our cat burglars."
While the officers took Leblanc and her son into custody,
Tidus came to Rikku's side. "I think we might all get
exactly what we want."
"And what might that be?" she asked.
"You," he said. "It's been hell staying away from you.
All I could think about was this…." He pulled her into
his arms for a long, deep kiss. She heard a clatter as
the Sword of LeFevre dropped from his hand.
* * *
Two days later, Rikku stood in the lobby of the Brown
Palace Hotel. She wore a strapless gown of emerald silk
— material that she'd purchased for boudoir curtains
before Leblanc decided on red velvet. The Benefit Ball was
under way. Dozens of Denver's elite were here in all
their finery, wearing enough gems to make a cat
burglar's fur stand on end.
But Tidus had not yet arrived.
Where was he? During the past forty-eight hours, Rikku
had more than forgiven him. They'd been inseparable. He
came with her while she supervised the ball decorations,
which, ironically, included bouquets of gilded lilies.
And she'd gone with him to the courthouse, where he was
approved as a foster parent after Detective Donna Corsky
testified to his outstanding character.
The crowd parted, and she saw him. In his tuxedo with
his blond hair shining under the chandelier's glow, he
was…amazing.
Though Rikku had fully intended to chastise him for being
late, she could only say, "Hi."
"Hi yourself." He caressed her freckled shoulder. Last
night in bed, he'd played a seductive game of connect
the dots. "You're beautiful, Rikku."
Taking her arm, he escorted her through the ballroom to
the dais, where he stepped in front of the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have a presentation to make. As
most of you know, I offered a half-million-dollar reward
for the return of the Sword of LeFevre. The reward goes
to Rikku Huffman."
A security guard with a lockbox stepped in front of her.
Inside was more money than she'd ever imagined. All her
life, she'd yearned for security, and here it was. She
should have been satisfied, but she wanted something
different. Her priorities had changed. She wanted Tidus —
the chance to build a life with him.
She spoke into the microphone. "I'm pleased to donate
the full amount of this reward to the Benefit for
Homeless Children."
Tidus pulled her aside. "I thought money was everything."
"All that glitters isn't gold." Now, she knew the truth.
"You're my everything."
"I hope you won't give this back." He opened a small
black velvet box. Inside was a Tiffany engagement ring.
"Marry me, Rikku."
She flung her arms around his neck. He might not be a
cat burglar, but he had truly stolen her heart.
The End
