“Do you think that’s what Shakespeare was talking about? The Kingmaker? MacBeth was after the Kingmaker,” Vanessa said.
Graeme shook his head. “Vanessa, it’s a play.” He pulled her forward, and they entered a library. So far, they’d found nothing indicating where the stone might be hidden. Graeme feared they’d have to search the bedchambers, as that was where most people hid their valuables.
“I am quite serious,” she said. “If King William used it to become king, why could the Bard not have used it in a play? A play about Scottish kings, no less.”
Graeme chuckled. “It’s an interesting theory, but it doesn’t have any bearing on our current search.”
But Vanessa wasn’t listening; she’d marched off to a room at the front of the castle. “Don’t be so certain of that, my husband.” She pointed to a sign, then smiled broadly.
“MacBeth’s Museum,” Graeme read. “So the Cawdor family is capitalizing on the literary fame of their estate.”
Vanessa tugged on his sleeve to pull him into the room. “We must search everywhere.”
They stepped into the large room. Posters of various performances hung on the walls, and glass cases held props used in the play: robes, swords, and a handful of scripts.
“Fascinating,” Vanessa said.
Graeme walked the length of the room until he stood before a large glass case. Inside was a purple and red robe, clearly designed for royalty, and above it sat a jewel-adorned crown. Emeralds, rubies, and sapphires covered nearly every inch of the gold crown, and in the very center sat a huge ruby.
“Vanessa,” Graeme said.
She came to his side and looked up at the crown. “Hiding something in plain sight can oftentimes be most effective,” he said.
She pointed to the plaque next to the case. “MacBeth’s crown.”
* * *
The Raven stood in the doorway watching Sam and Braden search the study. His own presence went unnoticed by the men, who were focused on their task. That was the problem with most people; they simply weren’t observant enough.
Braden paid no attention to the mess he left, overturning drawers and tossing books on the floor. The Raven shook his head. Before Solomon’s had interfered with his career, The Raven had been the best antiquities man in the business. For a hefty price, he had tracked down and retrieved more artifacts than most so-called scientists could ever dream of finding. But since Solomon’s had forced him into hiding, his former clients had had to rely on this bumbling idiot to find their treasures.
He’d never seen the man work, had only heard from others about his discoveries. And Braden had, of course, found King Solomon’s stone, the royal sapphire, which The Raven now possessed. But perhaps all of that had been sheer good luck. Watching the man now, The Raven was unsure he could find his own arse.
Enough of this. He withdrew his dagger and gripped the hilt firmly. Then he quietly stepped into the room. He was halfway across the study when Braden looked up.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the devil himself,” Braden said. He dropped a book on the floor, then stepped on it coming toward The Raven. “Can’t ever find anything for yourself, can you? Always have to swoop in and steal from other people.” Braden cocked his head to one side. “Is that why they call you The Raven? Because you’re nothing more than a filthy scavenger?”
Sam raised one eyebrow.
The Raven nodded in response.
Braden smiled until Sam grabbed him from behind, imprisoning his arms. “What the hell?” He looked from side to side. “Sam? What are you doing?” And then the obvious must have dawned on him. He swore.
“You’re a sorry excuse for a treasure hunter, Braden.” With that, The Raven plunged his dagger into the man’s left side and rammed it upward into his heart.
Braden’s eyes widened. He coughed. Blood sprayed all over The Raven and the carpet. Braden choked on his last breath. Sam dropped him, and he slumped to the floor.
The Raven withdrew a handkerchief from a pocket and wiped his face and hands, then dropped it on the body. He sheathed his dagger. “Now I suppose it is up to Niall alone to find the Loch Ness Treasure.” He eyed Sam, whose stoic expression gave nothing away. “Shall we see if Graeme has found anything?”
“It’s brilliant,” Vanessa said. “No one would suspect that to be one of the royal stones. The entire crown looks like a prop.”
“Exactly,” Graeme said.
“How do we get it out, though? Breaking the glass will cause too much noise and alert the family,” Vanessa said.
Before Graeme could think of a solution, Sam ran into the room.
“You found it?” Sam asked.