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far more.
    â€œIf he has them at all, they’re somewhere well protected. He’s done with this place. He won’t come back. It’s been violated. At least in his mind.”
    â€œYou knew him well,” Warrick said, pretending to study the underside of the desk.
    â€œNo. Thank God. The man was diabolical.”
    â€œAs the name would indicate.”
    â€œYes, well the accounts I heard of him were terrifying. Even at fifteen I was not so much a fool as to believe he snacked on young virgins, but I knew something horrible went on here.”
    â€œSo it wasn’t only gambling?” Warrick sat. In his research he’d come across several interesting accusations against Lucifer of Lucifer’s Lair. Now he wondered if Fallon would confirm them. He could hear traces of the lower-class accent creeping into her speech. She must have worked very hard to rid herself of it to become one of The Three Diamonds.
    â€œMy father wasn’t a gambler,” she said looking around. “He drank too much and he stole and he occasionally engaged in blackmail. He never gambled. Why would he when he couldn’t be sure of making money? I don’t know what his association with Lucifer involved. I was present at several of their meetings, but they didn’t speak freely in front of me. All I can tell you is it wasn’t gambling.”
    Warrick rested his arms on his knees. “And why do you think your father brought you to these meetings with Lucifer? He brought you here, I assume.”
    â€œYes.” She shivered almost imperceptibly. “I’ve been here before.” She looked at him and even in the dim light he could feel the power of her gaze. “Why do you think a man brings a young girl to a meeting with another man?”
    â€œYou weren’t just a young girl. You were his daughter.”
    â€œThe daughter of a pickpocket and a whore. Trust me, he didn’t have many tender feelings. He sold my mother until she was too ill to work any longer.”
    â€œAnd did he sell you to Lucifer?”
    â€œNo. That’s when I left.”
    â€œAnd came under the protection of Sinclair.”
    She looked away. “As warm and cozy as all of this reminiscing makes me feel, I cannot help but ask what it is you want from me?”
    â€œTonight? Tonight I want you to look around Lucifer’s Lair with me. I could use another set of eyes. And you’ve been here before. Perhaps you have some insight.”
    â€œThat was ten years ago.”
    He rose to his feet. “Humor me.”
    â€œFine. And after this our friendship is over. I’ve kept my end of the bargain.”
    â€œI don’t recall us making a bargain.” He took the lamp from her and started for the door on the far side of the room.
    â€œYes, we did. You said if I helped you, then you wouldn’t reveal my past.”
    â€œThat does sound familiar.” He could hear her scampering behind him, and he walked all the more quickly to keep her hurrying after him.
    â€œI’ve told you what I know. I don’t know where the diamonds are. I’d never heard of them until Juliette mentioned them. I hadn’t thought of Lucifer for years until he accosted her. I’ve held up my part of the bargain.”
    Warrick spun round and grabbed her arm. This was life and death—to him, if not her. “I’ll decide when you’ve done your part. I decide what’s involved in our bargain and what’s not, and I’ll say when you’ve fulfilled your part. Is that clear?”
    She looked down at his hand. “You’re hurting my arm.”
    He released her. “Forgive me.” He turned left toward the thick wooden door he remembered from his surveillance earlier that night. When he heard her behind him, he turned the handle and pushed the door open to reveal the scarlet and black bedroom. “Now, tell me what the hell went on in here.”

Four
    Fallon