The Master Craftsman, page 15
Carol let out a long sigh. “Well, that was terrifying,” she muttered.
Ava turned to Zak. “Way to think quickly,” she said.
Zak grinned at her in return.
The door opened a moment later, and they glanced into the empty hallway. Zak looked at their keys. He handed one to Carol. “It looks like we’re across the hall from one another,” he said.
Quickly, they made their way down the hall. Ava stopped at her door and unlocked it. Zak did the same behind her.
“See you all in a few moments,” Zak whispered. With a grin, he slipped into his room.
Ava pushed the door open, stepping inside with Carol close behind. The room was small, with two full-size beds pushed against the wall. White and yellow accents gave the space an open, airy feel, and the gilt bedposts made it seem ornate.
Carol drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Well, isn’t this lovely.”
They set down their things, and Ava walked to the window and pushed open the curtains, staring down into the courtyard of the hotel. The St. Petersburg skyline stood proudly in the distance.
“Look.” Ava pointed. “There’s the Alexander Column. See the angel on top?”
Carol stepped to the window and looked out over Ava’s shoulder. “It’s beautiful. How did you know that was the Alexander Column?”
“History major, Mom,” Ava said. She turned and smirked. “And you thought that would never come in handy.”
Carol made a playful face at her in return.
Ava stared at the large, stone angel atop the column that stood in the center of Palace Square. Beyond it, the waters of the Neva lapped in a rhythmic dance. “Did you know that all those buildings used to house the Winter Palace where the Russian emperors lived from 1763 to 1917? Now the Winter Palace is one of five buildings that make up the State Hermitage Museum, and it houses about three million exhibits.” Ava shook her head. “This is so cool. Nick really came through on this one.”
Carol looked at Ava quizzically. “Did you think he wouldn’t?”
Ava shrugged, opening her mouth to answer, when the sound of a knock stopped her. Walking to the door, she leaned in close.
“Yes?” she said.
“It’s me.”
Recognizing Xander’s voice, Ava pulled open the door and he quickly stepped in, dragging their bags behind him.
“Here are your things, ladies,” he said. “I’m in the room right next door. When you’re ready to come over, simply ring my room—I’m 529. Let it ring once, then hang up. I’ll unlock my door for you to slip inside. Make sure no one is in the hallway when you come.”
Ava and Carol nodded.
“Right. I’ll go tell Zak. We’ll be seeing you soon, then.” He slipped out into the hall, and the door closed quietly behind him.
Ava turned to her mom and drew in a deep breath. “I’m going to take a shower.”
Forty-five minutes later, Ava and Carol leaned out into the bright hallway to find it empty. Across from them, Zak’s door opened. The three stepped out and quickly walked to Xander’s room next door. They entered quietly, shutting and locking the door behind them. Ava turned to get a good look at Zak. His hair was wet and slicked to the side. He wore a pair of tight, black pants and a bright green sweater, both of which appeared to have been freshly ironed.
“You look refreshed, Zak!” Carol said with a smile.
“Indeed. I feel like a new man!” He looked at Ava, her short blond hair tousled and her face free of makeup. She wore a long-sleeve black T-shirt and faded blue jeans. She looked like the All-American girl next door. Zak gave her a shy smile.
They turned and took in the sight of Xander’s room. It was larger, a nook carved out across from the beds where a small couch and two oversized chairs sat in a semicircle. The room was richly designed, with a polished, dark banister separating the hallway leading from the front door to the sleeping quarters.
“Come in, guys!” Xander said with a wave. He stepped out of the bathroom wearing a tight T-shirt and fitted jeans.
Ava’s cheeks immediately grew hot. “Oh! Uh . . . Hi! Nice . . . um . . . room.” She looked around in an attempt to not stare directly at his chiseled physique.
Xander grinned. “Yeah.” He wiped his hands on a small hand towel, then gestured them toward the sitting area. “Nick spared no expense.”
The four of them sat down around the small table. “We’ll conduct most of our operations from this space,” he said. “Zak, you’ll want to work here during the days, as I have all the equipment you need to encrypt your computer. Ladies, I’ve got your clothes set up by day so that we can easily keep track of what you’re supposed to be doing and where. There are a couple of different wigs that go with your outfits. I believe Nick mentioned this to you.”
“He did.” Carol crossed her arms. “I’m still not happy about it.”
Xander nodded with a small smile. “He told me you’d say that.”
“Can we see the itinerary?” Ava asked.
Xander produced a pile of folders and handed each of them a file with their name on it. “In here, you’ll find three different sets of identification papers, including passports. Make sure you always have these IDs on you when you leave. I’ll take your real passports and put them in the safe.”
“This is awesome,” Ava whispered. She glanced up to see Xander staring at her and looked away quickly as her cheeks grew warm.
“Ava, most of the time when we leave this room, you’ll be going as Bethany Hansen. You’re a language arts teacher from St. Louis. You love Shakespeare and literature and all things design.”
“Uh, I know nothing about Shakespeare,” Ava said. “I’ve only read Romeo and Juliet, and I didn’t understand it until I saw that Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie version of the story. What if someone wants to talk about Shakespeare?”
Xander smiled. “We aren’t going to actually mention the Shakespeare fact. I just wanted to give you a little history so that you could more easily get into character. Nick used to create entire backgrounds for himself before he headed out in disguise.”
“Oh, I see. So . . . I’m a literary nerd?”
Xander chuckled. “Pretty much,” he answered. “You’re here to do research for a new book on Peter Karl Fabergé. You want to know everything you can about his genius, and your book will highlight all the good things about him, and about the history of Russia. When you speak to the docent at the Fabergé Museum, give her as much praise as you possibly can, and gush about Fabergé’s creations.”
Xander turned to Zak who was flipping through his file.
“I don’t have any identification papers in here,” Zak said.
“Yeah, mate,” Xander replied. “That’s because you won’t be leaving the hotel. You stay here and monitor our every move. You’re our eyes and ears while we’re out.” Xander gestured to the laptop on the table in front of them. “This is the computer you’ll use. I’ll help you set up your own computer with the encryption software for research purposes.”
Zak’s face fell. “Oh. That’s all I do? How will I monitor you all?”
“All of our clothing has tiny cameras pinned to it. You’ll be able to see things that we won’t, from multiple different angles.”
“And what am I looking for?”
“Well, while we’re out, you’re making sure no one is tracking us. If you see anyone in more than one of the places we visit, you need to alert us. I’ll have an earpiece in for communication. We also need you to take screenshots of anything that you feel would be of worth for us to study further. Your position is actually extremely valuable and necessary to the success of this hunt.”
Zak nodded, the disappointment in his eyes filtering out slowly. “And what do I do when you’re not out and about?”
“You start working on getting access to the files of the Fabergé Museum. We need to know their layout, the security, and everything we possibly can that they don’t put out for display in the front. Most importantly, we’re looking for secret files that might contain information on Alma Pihl, on Fabergé’s involvement in the Russian Revolution, on the dissolution of the House of Fabergé, and on Fabergé’s whereabouts after the tsar abdicated the throne.”
“I thought we already knew that,” Ava said. “Fabergé snuck out of the country on a diplomatic train in 1918 by dressing as a British soldier. He made his way to Switzerland, but never recovered from the events of 1917 and died in 1920.”
“Yes, that’s what ultimately happened to Fabergé,” Xander said, “but we don’t have much information on how and where he lived during the year between the start of the revolution and when he left. Where was he? What was he doing? Who was he with?”
“Alma Pihl didn’t leave the country until 1921,” Carol said.
“That’s true,” Ava said.
Carol smiled. “I remember facts too.” She turned to Xander. “Now, what is my role in this ridiculous plot?”
Xander smiled. “Most of the time, you and I will be trailing. We are a wealthy mother and son here on a cultural trip—Mary and Alex Morgan. We’ll be with Ava without actually being with her.”
Carol narrowed her eyes. “Okay,” she said slowly. “But you’re British, and I’m American. How will that play into our story?”
“How is your British accent?” Xander crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.
“Oh . . . um . . .” Carol stammered. “Can I have a spot of tea?” she asked in her best British accent.
Ava snorted. “You sound like a bad version of Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast.”
Carol gave Ava a playful swat on the arm, her cheeks red. “No one told me I’d need a degree in acting for this job!”
Xander laughed. “Don’t worry, Miss Carol. I happen to be able to speak with a near flawless American accent. So, you won’t have to become a Brit for this trip,” he said, switching to his American accent.
Ava gave a small shake of her head, marveling at the fact that he somehow sounded just as sexy as an American as he did as a Brit.
“Okay,” she said, her voice cracking. She cleared her throat. “We have our identities and costumes—”
“Which I am still uncomfortable with,” Carol said.
“And our itinerary,” Ava continued. “The goal is to figure out what happened to the egg between the years 1917 and 1921. We believe that Alma Pihl had it in her possession, but we need some proof of that.”
Zak turned to Xander. “On the off chance that I do need to leave this hotel for any reason at all, what is it suggested that I do?”
“Dress sharp, mate,” Xander replied. “Slick your hair, tuck in your shirt, walk with shoulders back.” Xander looked at Zak’s combed hair and tucked-in shirt approvingly. “You’re already in character, I see! So, the thought is you’re a wealthy businessman here to talk with the bigwigs. I have a suit in your size in the closet for the rare time you might need to leave.”
Zak nodded. “Okay, so it’s possible I might need to leave at some point, then?” he asked, his voice laced with hopeful undertones.
“Look, mate, anything can happen on these trips. This isn’t the safest line of work. Nick did warn you all of that, didn’t he?”
They nodded, Carol crossing her arms and pursing her lips.
“You’re in particularly dangerous territory here for a couple of reasons. This is Russia, and you’re from America. There’s a history there. You’ve got to keep your heads up, yeah?”
They all nodded.
“There’s also a big prize at stake here,” he continued. “Finding this egg could have incredible financial repercussions, so this isn’t something to be taken lightly. We’re on a true mission, one with historical and financial significance. We all need to be on guard, yeah?”
They nodded again. Ava stifled a yawn as she tucked her folder under her arm. Xander glanced at her and smiled, causing her stomach to flip.
“Right. I really need you all to head back to your rooms and rest. It doesn’t do us any good for you to start the mission exhausted.”
Ava blushed and nodded. She and Carol stood, Zak on their heels.
“Does Nick know we made it?” Ava asked Xander.
“I’m calling him now,” Xander said. “I’m sure he’ll want to connect with you all later. Today, just plan to rest. This afternoon, we’ll head over to the Hermitage if you’d like. That will give you a bit of the feel of the grandeur of this city. Tomorrow, we go to the Fabergé Museum.”
“Cool. Thanks.” Ava turned to her mom. “I want to talk to Xander alone a minute. I’ll meet you back in the room.”
Carol nodded. She and Zak opened the door to Xander’s room and peered into the hallway. They stepped out quickly and moved toward their rooms.
Xander’s door clicked to a close, and Ava turned to face him. “I have something I want you to look at.” She reached into her shoulder bag and pulled out Alma’s poem. “Nick gave me this before we left. It’s a poem written by Alma Pihl.”
“Wonderful! Nick told me you’d be bringing this.”
Xander gestured for Ava to come sit next to him on the couch. She hesitated for a brief moment, then walked over and sank down beside him. She pulled the paper out of the plastic bag and gently opened it.
“Alma drew a sketch of what we believe to be the missing egg on the back,” she began, holding it out so Xander could see.
“Amazing,” he whispered. “May I?”
Ava surrendered the poem to him and leaned in a little closer.
“The secret beneath the boards,” Xander read quietly. “Interesting. Did Nick have any thoughts on what it meant?”
Ava shook her head. “Talking through all of this with Nick was like trying to talk with someone who speaks in riddles.” She sighed. “But no, he didn’t know what it meant. He felt like that would start to become clearer once we were in the country.”
Xander nodded. He turned the page over and looked at the sketch on the back. Leaning forward, he squinted, then he stood up and walked across the room, clutching the poem in his hand. He reached into a black bag on the floor and scrounged around for a moment before pulling out a magnifying glass. He returned to the couch and sat next to Ava, holding the magnifying glass over the text.
“It looks like something has been erased on here,” he said. “See there?”
He held the magnifying glass over a small section of the corner and pointed at it. Ava leaned forward and saw what he was pointing at. Faint markings on the page formed the image of something that Ava couldn’t quite decipher.
“Is it a drawing or a word?” she asked.
Xander leaned forward. “I think it’s a drawing.” He pointed at the faint image. “See? Look how it curves around here, and then again down there.”
Ava studied it closely and nodded. “Yeah, I see it. There’s no way to discern what that is, though.”
Xander shook his head. “No, you’re right. But it’s good to know it’s there. Everything is a clue.” He smiled at Ava.
She pursed her lips and looked away, annoyed with herself for being at all affected by this handsome man with the ridiculous name.
“Can I keep this right now?” Xander asked. “I’d like to spend a little more time looking at it under the glass, if that’s okay.”
“Sure, it’s fine.” Ava stood and turned toward the door of his room. “Well, I should go,” she said, her voice a little louder than she’d intended. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours?”
Xander stood as well. “You got it.”
Ava’s heart fluttered as he looked down at her. She pulled open his door and peered into the hallway. Seeing no one, she stepped out and walked quickly to her own room. Xander’s door clicked shut behind her.
“Pull it together, weirdo,” Ava muttered to herself. She knocked gently, and seconds later Carol pulled open the door. Ava stepped inside and stared at her mom. “So, here we go,” she said.
“Here we go,” Carol murmured in return.
The next morning, Ava stepped off the elevator, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. She forced herself to keep her hands down, despite the fact that she desperately wanted to reach up and scratch her head underneath the long, thick blond wig she was wearing. The fake hair cascaded down over her shoulders and felt entirely uncomfortable and foreign. She hadn’t had long hair in almost a decade for a reason.
The jacket Xander had given her was thick with a fur lining, and it hung to her waist. She wore tight black jeans and a long tunic, which hung out below the bottom of the coat. It was the trendiest outfit she had ever worn, and she had never felt more out of place in her life. She pulled the sunglasses Xander had given her out of the cross-body computer bag she wore and put them on. Catching a glimpse of herself in a nearby mirror, she almost did a double take. She looked nothing like herself.
The ding of the elevator behind her signaled Xander and Carol’s exit. Ava turned and glanced at the pair, stifling a cough as she saw Xander step through the doors. He wore a crisp, navy suit, perfectly tailored to fit his body. He had his hair slicked back and wore a pair of dark-rimmed glasses, which somehow made him look even more handsome, like a new and improved version of Clark Kent.
Carol wore a dark pantsuit that made her look ten years younger. Ava had never seen her mother quite so glamorous. She’d put on more makeup than usual, assuming that if she was to be a wealthy American on tour with her son, she’d better look the part. She wore a short, bob-length brown wig and carried a long brown trench coat over her arm. Ava looked away without acknowledging the two. She walked out the front door as confidently as she could in the stiff boots Xander had given her, nodding at the doorman as she passed. Anatoly stood next to the car. When he saw Ava coming, he opened the back door for her. She slid into the car and waited as he walked around to the front and slid behind the driver’s seat.
“I will drive around the block and gather Xander and your mother,” Anatoly said.
Ava nodded. She let out a long breath and looked out the window as they pulled into traffic. Glancing back up front, she saw Anatoly watching her in the rearview mirror.
