Dating for Keeps Read Online Free PDF

handler, but he is far from stupid. He is incredibly shrewd in the running of his business. All of his smuggling materials have tracking numbers. Two weeks ago his violin resurfaced on the auction black market, and through his contacts he ascertained that the violin would be brought here. That's why he has been wining and dining you; he needed access to the violin. He did ask you about it, didn't he?"
    Tessa was so stunned she could barely manage a reply. "Yes, yes he did mention his love of violins the very first time we met. He specifically asked me if I had any for sale."
    Michael's voice softened as he realized the shock that Tessa must be experiencing. "I think he expected it to arrive several days ago which is why he has been with you every day. He has just been waiting for it to arrive."
    Tessa was silent for a few moments as she let all of this information sink in. "He certainly is a master of disguise," she finally whispered.
    "Yes, that's what makes him such a good con artist."
    Tessa then fixed her gaze on Michael. "Why are you telling me all this? I'm not a pro at law enforcement or anything, but you seem to be trusting me a lot."
    "Well, I don't have much of a choice. I really need your help if we want to nab Lucas. Besides," he added, "I did my homework on you. Never been arrested, clean as a whistle. What do you think I was doing the other night? I certainly wasn't watching Lucas as much as I was watching you. I saw his treatment of you and how he kept brushing you off. It was pretty evident that you aren't in on any of his schemes. To be honest, I was having a hard time figuring out why you were with him at all. He wasn't giving you the time of day."
    "That was a rare occasion," Tessa said quietly. "He normally was very attentive to me. I still can't believe he was faking it."
    "You can't believe it, or you don't want to believe it?" Michael sounded slightly annoyed. "Listen, I get it. Handsome guy comes in and starts showering you with gifts, it's easy to fall for him right? Just because he could flash a smile and throw some fancy food in front of you doesn't mean he has a heart of gold. Remember that."
    Tessa shirked as he spoke, and she thought his manner especially uncouth. In an effort to get her dates with Lucas out of her head, she tried to move the topic along. "So, what can I do to help you?"
    "First, I need the violin. Have you received it yet?"
    "Yes, actually it just arrived. Let me get it for you." Tessa went to the back of the store and retrieved the violin. Michael's eyes lit up when he saw it.
    "Have you told Lucas about this?"
    "No, I literally just got it before you came in."
    "Great. Now I need to make sure this is our violin." He took the instrument and inspected in closely. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a small mallet which he used to carefully tap around the back edges of the violin. As he tapped the entire back panel loosened and soon separated easily from the rest of the violin.
    Tessa gasped as Michael revealed the inside of the violin. Lying just enough that back panel was a small pouch. Michael took the pouch in his hand and opened it up to reveal a diamond the size of a large stone. He grinned, "Yep, this is our violin. What a beauty."
    He carefully placed the diamond back in its pouch and popped it into his pocket. This action caused Tessa to raise her eyebrow.
    "What are you doing?"
    "Don't worry sweetheart. The diamond is stolen property. I have to turn it in for processing."
    "But don't you need that to lure Lucas?"
    "He won't know one way or the other if the diamond is actually in the violin. As a matter of fact, if things go according to plan he won't lay a finger on the violin at all. I plan to apprehend him before it reaches that point." He replaced that back of the violin and gave it a tap with his mallet. The panel fit together so seamlessly that an untrained eye would never have known that it had been tampered with. Michael turned his attention back to Tessa. "Okay,