Chapter 21
Lena stared through the windshield, replaying the kiss in her mind. What just happened?
"I have so many questions for you," Cassidy said.
"Not half as many as I have for you."
As she watched her cousin, alive and well and driving down the road like they were going out for lunch, another wave of relief filtered through her. Followed by a parade of burning questions.
"Why, Cass? Why?"
"Why, what?"
"Why did you trust Emil? Why did you ignore me? Why did you come out here? And then once you figured out he'd taken the jewels, why didn't you just come home?"
Cassidy flexed her hands on the wheel. "You never understood.
" Her shoulders sagged. "You won't believe me, but Emil has been very good to me.
He really has. That doesn't make him an innocent person, and I guess I didn't really know him.
But I still know him better than you do.
He's nice to me. And he means well most of the time.
" She rolled her lips in and out of her mouth.
"But taking those jewels . . . that was too far.
He's a real adrenaline junkie. But that was just . . . too much for me."
"A what?"
Cassidy shrugged. "It's a rush for him. Doing dangerous things, you know?"
"Stealing things?"
"No. Well, not usually. This is the first time he's broken the law. I think. Usually, it's something like bungee jumping or swimming with sharks." She squinted, searching for a memory. "I think he bought a jetpack once."
Lena swallowed her opinion of Emil. It wouldn't be helpful right now. "Why did he steal Stanton's jewels?"
Cassidy slumped in her seat. "I didn't know he took them until we got here, to the island.
Someone asked Emil if he could steal the jewels and get away with it.
I don't know who or why. Emil was on this crazy adrenaline high when we got here.
He finally told me why. He showed me the jewels.
He had all kinds of explanations—how it wasn't hurting anybody.
And how terrible a person Stanton Hightower is, which I agree with. "
Her jaw tightened. "But when I talked to Lacey, she said Stanton and Ruben were both livid and that I was a suspect.
I told Emil, and he just laughed. It was all a mess, but I thought it was something I could handle.
It didn't seem serious until Emil started acting nervous.
I don't know what changed. But I got the feeling taking the jewels wasn't fun anymore. Emil seemed afraid."
The sincerity in her cousin's tone obliterated Lena's irritation. She almost felt sorry for Cassidy.
The headlights barely illuminated the front gate in the distance. Almost there. "Knox and Jason will be on the main road. I met them yesterday. They're really—"
"Later. I want to hear about the guy first." She narrowed her eyes at Lena. "The bossy, cute guy that kissed you a minute ago."
"Yeah, well—oh, no." Lena's stomach dropped.
Frank and Manny stepped into the road, motioning for them to stop. Guns drawn.
"Emil's guys," Cassidy muttered. "Hang on." She jerked the wheel to the right, careening the SUV off the road. They slid down an embankment for a few feet, with Cassidy still clutching the wheel as if she had control.
She did not.
The SUV strained to stay upright, eventually rolling in a slow-motion nightmare. It landed on its side, the seatbelts painfully restraining them in their seats.
Nash jogged along the side of the house. He planned to enter through the kitchen door and position himself as close to the study as possible.
Emil had checked his watch three times before Nash left with Lena and Cassidy. The billionaire jewel thief was waiting for something. Or someone.
He paused near the back of the house, listening for movement. And trying to regulate his heartbeat—his racing pulse that had nothing to do with Emil. And everything to do with that kiss.
He'd kissed her.
She'd kissed him back.
Again.
There wasn't time to fully process that. But he made a decision—he didn't regret the kiss. He wasn't going to chastise himself or apologize. He cared about Lena. And the kiss was mutual. They'd figure out the rest later.
Silently, he crept through the garden and stepped onto the veranda.
Motion through the kitchen window. Emil.
Nash ducked, retreated from the veranda, and crouched in the shadows next to the house.
Emil burst out of the back door, fuming, binoculars in hand. He walked to the edge of the veranda, raised the binoculars to his face, and looked out over the ocean. There was no way he could see much in the moonlight. Was he waiting for a signal?
Nash tamped down the urge to stand for a better look. He craned his neck as far as he dared, trying to see what Emil was doing.
Over the ocean breeze, a sound. Steps. Footsteps on the sidewalk leading from the beach.
Emil tossed the binoculars onto a patio table and planted his hands on his hips. He obviously saw something Nash couldn't see. The footsteps came closer.
"You're late," Emil said.
The newcomer replied with a grunt. "I'm here. It was your idiot idea that I come by boat. And we said, midnight. Why did you move up the time?"
Emil didn't reply. He just turned around, opened the back door, and stormed back into the house. The stranger followed him.
Nice. Things are getting interesting.
Nash watched the silhouettes move from the kitchen to the hallway. He waited a few seconds, then let himself in through the back door.
Footfalls drifted down the hall and into the study.
They didn't shut the door. Small miracles. Thank you, God.
Nash pulled his phone from his pocket and hit record. He wouldn't be able to get video from his hiding place near the door. But recording the conversation could be helpful later.
"Emil? What happened to you? Did you fall off your boat?"
"I'm so glad you asked." Venom coursed through Emil's words.
"Apparently, someone leaked information about me having the jewels.
Tonight, a homicidal madman showed up at my party, demanding I give him the jewels, or he'd kill me.
I escaped with Cassidy in a fishing boat, but he tossed a bomb into it and we had to swim for our lives!
" A loud smack echoed, probably Emil's hand hitting the desk.
"I'm done with this! I want my money, and I want out. "
"Who was he? How did he know about the jewels? Does he know about me?"
"I have no idea! This has spun way out of control. My security guards on my yacht caught someone looking for the jewels yesterday. They got rid of him, but this is a mess. It's not fun anymore. It was a rush at first, but I'm done."
"Wait. What do you mean they 'got rid of him'? Did they kill him?"
"I don't know. I told them I didn't want to know. The local police here are a joke, so I'm not worried. I just want to get rid of these jewels and be done with it."
The man groaned. "You imbecile. I should never have involved you. How could you . . . nevermind. Fine. I'll take the jewels and be gone. Do not contact me after tonight."
The dial on the safe spun.
"Don't bother with that," Emil said.
"Why not?" asked the man.
Rustling sounds. A soft thud sounded.
"What's that?" The man's irritation ratcheted up.
"The jewels," said Emil.
"You had them on you?"
"Yes, but this is only half the jewels. So I'll take half my price tonight."
"Where's the rest, Emil?" The man sounded like he was scolding a child.
"They were stolen from the safe," Emil growled.
"What?"
"I'll take care of it," Emil said. "For now, at least you have half the jewels."
"Of all the incompetent—" Most of the words that followed were expletives.
"Get over it," Emil snapped. "You don't really need the jewels."
"And you don't really need the money," the man hissed.
"You won't hold out on me. I'm not a man you want to cross."
Another thud followed.
"There's half of your money. But I want the rest of the jewels. Find them or—"
The trill of Emil's phone ringing silenced the room. After a moment, Emil's voice barked through the study.
"What do you want, Chester? . . . What? Are you insane? . . . How did you— . . . You'll regret this, Chester. I promise you that."
A tap indicated Emil set down his phone. "Well, I found your jewels," Emil said.
"Who was that?"
"My assistant, Chester. He took the jewels from the safe. And now he wants these."
"Where is he? I'm done with you," snarled the man. "I'll get the rest of the jewels myself."
"I'll get them." Emil's low tone sent a disturbing chill down Nash's spine. "And you'll pay me the other half of my money. I'll handle this. Chester is out of his league. He wants to meet in an hour. On North Point Beach. It's a few minutes from here."
"Why is he sure you'll show up?" Suspicion quivered in the man's voice. "Does he have something on you?"
Emil laughed. "He doesn't have the upper hand he thinks he has. He's got Cassidy with him. And my aunt's dog-sitter. How that happened, I don't know. He must have taken out my driver. I'm surprised because I thought he could handle himself."
"He has Cassidy?"
"Don't go getting sentimental now, Charles. It was your idea to focus the blame on her so no one would suspect us."
"Yes, I know. It worked, by the way. You're welcome."
Emil mumbled something that sounded impolite.
"Wait," Charles said. "Chester wants to trade these jewels for Cassidy? Why do you think he'll have the other half of the jewels with him?"
A snort from Emil. "I'll give him some credit. He's covering his bases. He's not sure I'll come for the women, so he texted a picture of Cassidy holding the jewels he stole from the safe. He figures I'll show up for the women or the jewels. He's probably not sure which is more enticing."
"Show me the picture," Charles said.
A few beats of silence passed, then a muttered curse.
"Why is Lena there?" Charles asked.
"Lena? The dog-sitter? How do you—"
"She's not a dog-sitter, you idiot. That's my daughter, Lena."