“Matthew?” Nikki put a hand on my knee.
“Hmm?” I stared at the limo’s floor. It was an old habit to refocus my thoughts. I could let my mind roam freely, staring off into nothing like that.
“What are your thoughts?”
“I think this is bad on a lot of levels. I think that I’m getting roped into something dangerous without the benefit of an innocent client that needs help. And I think I have to go along with whatever your plan is. What is your plan, anyway? I’m no good in a fight against these people. I bet you could take them all if you wanted.”
“Perhaps. If I employed a number of agents on my behalf. I do have such, but so do they.”
“So what am I doing here? What do you need me for?”
“As I said, I need a detective.”
“For what? What am I detecting?”
“Evidence. I believe this shadowy council is using the Club’s resources and influence for smuggling. The theft of artifacts from other cultures is nothing new, particularly among the socially elite, but I believe that some of these artifacts may hold power.”
My head snapped up. “Powerful artifacts, like charms, medallions, and other objects?”
“I believe so.”
I went back to staring at the carpet, my thoughts whirling.
Oh, Hell.