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“They’re not finished looking around, but Ramos seems to think it’s no big deal.”
    “How does he figure that?” Maddock asked.
    “The guy who grabbed Sarah kept asking, ‘Where is the journal?’ She had no idea what he was talking about.  I mean, Washington kept a journal while he was in the British army, but it’s not lost or anything. Heck, you can find scans of it online”
    “So he was looking for some other journal,” Bones said.
    “Which explains why the books in the study had been disturbed,” Maddock added.
    Melissa nodded. “Ramos thinks it was a black market antiquities dealer.”
    “One who shows up in the middle of the day?” Bones gave a slow shake of his head. “Give me a freaking break.”
    “And what about the Bastille key?” Maddock asked.
    “Ramos says the guy probably wants to sell copies to unsuspecting buyers.”
    Maddock buried his face in his hands. “Seriously? Why wouldn’t he just steal the key?”
    “An alarm goes off if it’s removed from the case. He’d have likely been caught. Ramos figures the guy slipped in between tours, made a quick casting of the key, and then poked around the study. When he heard Sarah coming, he panicked.”
    “How does he explain the footprints leading up the stairs?” Bones asked. “Or did he even find them?”
    “He found a couple on the stairs but nothing else, and everything upstairs appears normal, at least, according to Sarah. ”
    “ You sound like you’re not too happy with her,” Maddock said.
    “She treated me like an idiot. I swear there’s something about the portrait in the study, but she dismissed me out of hand. After that, everyone treated me like I’m a buffoon.” She reached out and took Maddock’s hand. “I don’t think Ramos is taking this seriously. What if this guy comes back?”
    Maddock checked his watch. It was almost closing time. “How about Bones and I come back for some late night detective work?”
    “Break into Mount Vernon? Oh hell yes.” Bones pounded his fist on the table, startling an elderly couple seated two tables away.
    “A little louder next time,” Maddock said. “I don’t think they heard you in DC.”
    “Bite me, Maddock.”
    “The two of you?” Melissa’s eyebrows sprang up. “I’m the one who can get you in here, disable the alarms, and turn off the security cameras. I’m the one who will notice if something’s out of sorts. You’re not leaving me out of this.”
    “Wait a minute,” Bones said, “how do you know how to do all that stuff?”
    “I like to learn things, and the head of security has a thing for me.”
    Maddock sat up a little straighter.
    “Don’t worry. Just a little harmless flirting. I did the same thing with the head archivist, and now I know the passcode to the secure area.”
    “Where did you find this chick, Maddock?” Bones smiled in approval.
    “Hey, I was straight-laced when I met you.” She blushed and glanced away. “Okay, that’s a lie, but these adventures you’ve been telling me about have brought out my… devious side.” She grinned at Maddock. “Admit it. Aren’t you happy to have me at your disposal?”
     
    A cool breeze rolled up off the Potomac, and Melissa gave a little shudder and pressed her body against Maddock.
    “I don’t know if I’m cold or just nervous,” she whispered.
    Maddock wrapped his arms around her and gave her a squeeze. “You’re doing great. If it weren’t for you, we’d have probably set off an alarm or two.”
    “Hey,” Bones said, “a little more confidence in my burglary abilities, if you please. I could have gotten us in.”
    “Sure you could have,” Melissa said, “but isn’t this way easier?” She unlocked the veranda door, stepped inside, and quickly disabled the alarm.
    “Where do you want to start?” Bones whispered.
    “The study. I want another look at the Washington portrait.”
    They moved quickly to the study, with only faint security lights and the dull moonlight