Chapter 4

Bobby got off the small airplane in Washington, DC and headed towards the main terminal, bags in tow. When he reached the inside of the gate he saw Gary.

"Gaz, you son of a bitch. I'll never forgive you for this," he said, shaking his hand and giving him a hug. Gary was a tall man, in fact, a whole inch taller than Bobby. He had dirty blonde hair to match his dirty blonde stubble. He was kind of a taller blonder version of John Cleese.

"Sure you will, Robert, especially once you've completed another successful mission. I can't tell you how much the pride glows in your eyes-"

"Cut the crap, what have you got for me?" Bobby said, surveying his surroundings. He saw a man talking on a telephone in a phone booth. Gary also saw the man.

"Not here," he said. "And I'm sure you will agree."

Bobby nodded and they headed out towards the car. They both climbed into the back of the smallish limo and stretched out their legs.

"Valdez doesn't seem to have left a calling card on this one," he said.

"Really?" asked Bobby in surprise.

"Maybe he really is 'just in it for the money' this time."

"Highly unlikely," he said, looking out the window and taking in a drastically different DC than the last time he was here. "Last time Valdez stole something of that value he tried to reincarnate the dead... either he's lost his mind, or I managed to stop him just in time," he said with a grin.

"Don't get so full of yourself, Detective. Our spies think he's somewhere in Africa right now, with the exception of Morris, who you saw talking in the telephone booth."

"He's put on weight," Bobby said simply.

"So have you," Gary responded darkly before smiling. "So, you been reading the magazine lately?"

"Yep. Saw where there was a break in about a year ago, the community events, the study of the history of the hope diamond, and all of that stuff you so 'cleverly disguised' as information. Why can't you just send me the reports- I'm still being charged for the magazine subscription, you know."

"It's much more fun this way," Gary replied. "Ah, here was are."

Bobby stepped out of the car after Gary and they walked into the large brown stone building.

They entered his office. "So, what do you know so far?" Bobby asked.

"Well, none of our people have come up with any information that might lead us to believe he's trying to sell it. We really don't know why he stole it."

"Thrill of the hunt?"

"Anything's possible."

"Could it be a trap?"

"A trap? For who? You? Don't flatter yourself."

"He knows me, though. And he knows you- he could have done this just to get either of us..."

"I don't know, Detective," Gary said with a sigh, sitting down at his desk. "All I know is that the Margo Sapphire has been stolen, you're our expert recovery man, the ladies love you-" At this Bobby snorted. "-and we want our rock back!" he finished fervently.

"Calm down, Gaz. Where in Africa?"

"Egypt, where else?"

"Great, when do I leave?"

"Tomorrow- thought I'd give you time to enjoy the museum- also give our spies some time to give you more information to go on once you got there."

"Good- I'm going to the Modern Art museum, then..." Bobby headed for the door.

"Ah, not without protection," Gary added.

"Then have me watched, not babysat. I don't want Sylvia with me. She's obnoxious."

"She gets the job done."

"A little too well. I'm fine, Gary... trust me- isn't that what you have to do anyway? I'm ok to go tromping off to Egypt, but I can't look at some paintings alone?"

Gary sighed. "Fine, don't miss your plane tomorrow."

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Alex took the single key from her pocket, inserted it in the apartment door, and opened it.

Robert Goren's apartment was a mess. He had left dirty dishes in the sink, laundry looked like it had literally been hurled across the room, and the TV was still on. The only that was not in disarray was the enormous pile of Smithsonian Magazines, which had been stacked neatly in chronological order on the kitchen counter.

She saw the pile and immediately b-lined to avoid it. She wandered around Bobby's apartment, disgusted with the mess before her. She began to pick up pieces of clothing and put them into a pile. She put the dishes in the dishwasher, and then headed back down the hallway to find the bathroom. In the middle of the hallway she saw an arbitrary light switch. She flipped it, but no lights turned on or off.

"Hmm," she mumbled, "Must be for an outlet."

She went to the bathroom (which was also a mess) then back into the kitchen where she gave the pile of magazines a good hard look before picking up the top most one and flipping it open.

"Carbon Dating- When the Good Grow Old," she read aloud. "Oh god, Bobby. You are such a nerd." She flipped the magazine closed again, making a promise to herself: I will read one full magazine a day, and if in a week I have no idea what's going on... I... I don't know what I'll do...

"Damnit, Bobby. What am I supposed to do for the next who knows how long!" She looked around his apartment again. After a long silence she picked up a pile of magazines and headed out the door...