Savannah Heat

Chapter Five

Jenna got into the waiting car with Dan, and her internal alarms were all ringing, but she ignored them. She could already feel the chemistry working. She didn’t think she had the energy left to fight it. “I’m not the biggest fan of surprises, Dan, as you might recall.”

“I know. I do remember you always liked the illusion of control. However, it’s truly an illusion. We control nothing much.”

Jenna looked out the car window. Any place but his eyes and his mouth. “It seems so true today,” she whispered. Her stomach settled down after the first few miles, and by the time they got to their destination, she was feeling almost normal. She said little as Dan made small talk about the weather and the area and how much he liked Tybee Island. She had already guessed that Tybee was where they were headed.

Once on Tybee Island, they headed for an exclusive little B it was about who I was. I just delayed the pain and eventually went back to Paris to one of the few people I knew I could trust. Luc was in Paris. You must remember me talking about him. Anyway, he was on the force at the same time I was and married a woman from Paris. Luc’s wife inherited a fortune, so he decided life in Paris sounded better than his New York detective life and pay, and they moved there. Who wouldn’t, right?”

Jenna shrugged and shifted in her chair, watching Dan’s face.

The server came to ask Dan if he wanted another bottle of wine.

But he shook his head..

She tried to start a conversation to distract him. She could see the dark shadows under Dan’s eyes and wondered if he was sleeping at all.

“Anyway, where was I?” Dan asked, as the server left them. “Luc took me to Switzerland after I landed on his doorstep one rainy night. I was in a bad way. I checked myself into a place where they treated me for my depression—my survivor’s guilt, they called it. By the time I was back in New York, I still didn’t have the courage to find you. Gail Wells was still sniffing around, trying to track my money. The thing that saved me was my inheritance from Dad’s estate. It allowed me to account for my spending and my lifestyle and not have a work income on record. In the end, Wells hit a brick wall.”

Jenna felt so many conflicting and confusing feelings that she felt physically ill. She thought of all Dan went through while she assumed the worst, and thought the worst about him. Now, she didn’t know what to do or say. She felt suddenly inadequate and powerless. She wanted to hug him but knew she couldn’t. It was clear that Dan didn’t want pity, or even comfort. “Oh, Dan, if I had just known…”

“I didn’t want you to know, Jenn, that’s the point. I didn’t want to drag you into my problems, or get the investigator on to you, or let you see me so broken. First, Dad dying of a heart attack after being framed and humiliated, and then Elliott paralyzed for life because I let him drive that car. And there I was, an ex-cop having turned jewel thief. I had hit bottom. I was no good to anyone then.”

Jenna hesitated to ask but knew he had more to say. She took a deep breath, and not knowing if the rest would be even worse, she had to know. “You said there were several things to say, what else?”

Dan stopped moving the food around on his plate and sat back with a sigh. “Have you seen the stories in the paper about the jewelry heists all over Paris, Rome, Monte Carlo, London, and most recently in Miami and New York City?”

Jenna knew then why he was in Savannah. “Yes, I have seen the stories, and I know they are hinting that the infamous ‘black cat’ burglar has come out of retirement. I just saw the first reference to that name on a national publication yesterday.”

“You didn’t think it was me again, did you?” Dan asked.

“It crossed my mind, but only for a minute. My next thought was it’s someone copying your style, hoping to get you blamed and, by doing so, keep the heat off them. Truthfully, I tried not to think about it too much at all. But no, I couldn’t fathom a reason for you to go back to that life.”

Dan shrugged. He continued to drink more than eat. “Yes, I can understand why you might have wondered about me being involved at first. But what you just said, those were my thoughts exactly. Someone is interested is setting me up. It’s personal.”

“But why, and by who?”

Dan took a long drink of wine and looked at Jenna, his eyes dark. “I’m working on the who and the why, but yeah, someone is out to frame me and get rich doing it.”

His intense stare was like a hot laser. Jenna shifted in her seat, her nerves tingling. “So, what is there to do about it? Do you have any clues about who it might be?”

“No, not a rumble yet, but I think it’s one person, maybe two, but not a group and not an organized ring. Since this is someone out to get me personally, I should narrow it down soon, but I can’t think of anyone like that who would have the skill set. Hate me yes, want to kill me, maybe, but with the skills to set up a frame like this, no.”

Jenna had forgotten her food and was completely caught up in the excitement again, just like in the old days. “Yes, that would make more sense, and it must be someone not only knowledgeable about gems and diamonds, but someone free and capable of traveling and blending in with the rich.”

Dan nodded and then shrugged. “I know that should narrow it down even more, but I still can’t think of anyone. Maybe I’ve been out of the game too long.”

Jenna watched him over her glass of wine. She couldn’t remember seeing him nervous before; yes, he was changed. She decided to be honest. “I’m here for the social events, to cover it all for my magazine, but now you have me thinking maybe the fake Black Cat will show up here. The senator’s parties and fund-raisers, especially his famous Black-and-White Masked Ball event, were highly publicized. Think about all the jewels and rich people here. What an opportunity for a master thief. Lots of drinking, relaxed guests, and everyone off their guard. Prime targets. Ah, yes, and that’s why you are here. You think so, too.”

Dan pulled his phone from his pocket. “Yes, and speaking of cats, I heard this morning a red hair was found at the scene of two of the robberies. This came from Luc in Paris; it’s not been in the news yet or not here, anyway.” He passed the phone to Jenna so she could read Luc’s email.

“So, are they looking for a Red Cat this time?” Jenna touched her own auburn-toned hair and held up a strand. “You think a red hair at the scene is a coincidence, or is someone sending you—us—a message?”

“Don’t read too much into it, not yet anyway. It could be a coincidence, but a very risky move unless they made sure the hair left was not traceable, meaning no DNA viable hair. I don’t want this to come back around to us again. We need to find the thief or thieves ourselves and shut him, her, or them down. I don’t want to be forced to disappear again just when I have my life back. I don’t want to lose you—again.”

Jenna replayed his last sentence again in her head before she replied. “Dan, I don’t think it’s a great idea to try to take this thing on, just the two of us. We have no idea who we are up against. We might need help.”

“I know, but I have a plan in its infancy stage, but I’ll need you…your help. You’ve got to get rid of this Brock guy. Are you game for one more caper? The Red Cat Caper, huh. That has a ring to it, right?”

Jenna rolled her eyes. “How can you joke? I can’t just ditch Brock. That’s not possible. And I don’t know, Dan. I have a business to run and a life in New York. I can’t imagine getting caught up in one of your adventures again.” She said this knowing she already was.

“Well, first, this won’t be like before. And second, I don’t know how we can do what we need to do with blondie hanging around.”

“Brock will only be around at night. He plays golf all day, and there are some business meetings here, too.”

Dan shrugged. “Okay, if we have to work around him, I guess we can try. Our time is limited here. So, are you in or out?”

“Heaven help me, I’m in.” Jenna raised her glass to meet his. Their gazes locked, and she felt the heat travel up her body.

Dan wiped away the beads of sweat from his brow. “All right then. Here’s to the newly named Red Cat Caper and Savannah heat.” Dan asked the limo driver to let them off a few blocks from the hotel so they could walk down by the river and keep their talk private while they worked on their next step.

Jenna kept stealing glances at Dan to make sure he was still there. To be this close to him again was something she thought would never happen. She didn’t know how she felt about it yet.

After settling on a few preliminary plans, Dan put his hand on Jenna’s back as they walked back to the hotel. As they entered the hotel lobby doors, Dan stopped only a few feet inside. “Stop, turn around. Hurry.”

“What…?”

“Come on, I’ll tell you in a minute.” Dan pulled her back out through the main doors and practically pushed her down the street and around the corner.

“That was her. That was Gail Wells checking in. The insurance investigator.”

“What is she doing here?”

Dan steered Jenna farther down the sidewalk. “She must think I, we, are back in action again and have come to take advantage of the gathering of the rich and the much talked about jewels, what else? Just what we were thinking this new Red Cat might do. Gail is smart and relentless, and she went away thinking you were as involved with everything as I was, but there was no proof. Hunting you was not worth her time when she had me in her sights. I would lead her to you if she could just nail me first. That might be a different story now.”

Jenna looked at Dan and said the words she knew she shouldn’t. “So, what next?”

Dan smiled. “Okay, let’s think it through. Together, there’s not much we can’t do.”

Jenna looked up and down the street. “We can’t do it out here on the street. Let’s go sit in that little ice cream shop and give Miss Wells plenty of time to check in and get to her room.” With every step they took down the street, Jenna could hear her brain asking her what the heck she was doing. But her heart overruled her head—again. A familiar theme when Dan was involved.

Sitting in the ice cream parlor with two dishes of ice cream, they looked not at all like former international jewel thieves. Dan ran his fingers through his hair. “Gail does know what you look like, but it’s been five years. It’s not as if she wouldn’t find you easily enough. You have a public profile.”

Jenna paused, a spoon full of ice cream halfway to her mouth. “Oh damn. She’s been keeping track of me for years I’d bet.”

“That’s a good bet. But if she does see and recognize you, she will be watching you to see if I show up. But there’s nothing she can do for now. At least, you’re safe to go with your plans. You have a legitimate reason to be here, covering the event for your magazine. That’s something she can verify.”

“How can we find out what she knows for sure or exactly why she is here? Or should I be asking, what does she think she knows and what does she plan to do about it?”

Dan put his hand on Jenna’s arm and leaned in to whisper, “Do you think you can get into her room to do a search if I keep her occupied?”

Jenna’s stomach flipped. “But wait, I thought you wanted to avoid her. Now, you’re going to walk up and say, oh, hello. Are you tracking me, Miss Wells ?”

“I’m having second thoughts about all that now. Trying to avoid her too much, although my first choice, makes me look suspicious. Since no charges were ever brought, and I have an invitation to these parties, I have an excuse to be here. In no way can she prove I’m here for any other reason. Besides, I’d bet she knows I’m here already, or I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t be here. She must have party invitations, too, and I’ll have to see her. Might as well use this to our advantage. But if she sees us together, that will ring all her bells, and there you go, you will be on her radar, one of the things I left you and this country to prevent.”

“Okay, I suppose it’s best we’re not seen together then, right?”

Dan pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’ll find another place to stay so you and I can meet there and not be seen together in this hotel. Speaking of being together, when is your Mr. GQ coming back?”

“He has a business dinner tonight and will be in all the golf tournaments this weekend. He is scheduled to go to Atlanta on his way back to New York. He’s mainly here for the golf and to make contacts, and, of course, to be my escort to the parties. He didn’t want to stay for all the parties until he saw the guest list. A businessman’s dream.”

Dan grinned. “So, he has a real job, huh? And I thought he might be a model or hairdresser.”

“He’s a real estate broker, as you well know, and he has his own international firm. He can’t help it that he’s handsome, Dan.”

“Oh, I see. So, you think he’s handsome. Since when do you go for the pretty boys, Jenn?”

Dan’s stare and his tone, halfway between kidding and serious, made her uneasy. “We’ve been dating for about a year, but it’s never—it’s not exactly…well, it’s not that serious. Besides you were a pretty boy…once.”

“Once? I’m not sure if I should be offended, pleased, or maybe book a spa vacation.”

Jenna reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “Oh, don’t worry, you weren’t that pretty.” She let out a long breath, abandoning the hope she ever erased Dan from her life. “But okay, I’ll admit it, you’re still pretty sexy.”

“I’ll take any compliment you can spare. I’m feeling kind of vulnerable where you are concerned. Or haven’t you noticed?”

“Dan Kelly, vulnerable? Now when did that happen?”

“About five years ago.”

Jenna’s heart skipped a beat. Yes, she lost Dan, but he lost her, too, and his brother’s life was forever changed. She looked at Dan’s face and saw the pain, and she also saw the truth. He was a changed man. He was allowing himself to appear vulnerable, imperfect, and capable of mistakes.

In spite of her own pain, Jenna’s heart went out to him. “Yes, sorry. And listen, when all of this is over, providing we escape jail or getting shot, I want to go to see Elliott.”

Dan nodded. “Yes, of course. I’m sure he would love to see you, too. So, let’s think about what we need to do to get there.”