Chapter 29
"They took her," Shane said.
"Riley?”
"She's not at the hotel. I can't get in touch with her."
"Have there been any ransom demands? You have proof of life?”
"That son-of-a-bitch needs to pay for what he did to Wade.”
"What son-of-a-bitch are we talking about?" I asked, trying to get him to say it.
"You know damn good and well who we’re talking about.”
"Of course I do. Why won't you say it?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"I want you to admit you broke into the Vault and stole from Vladimir Solonik.”
"The only thing that matters is getting Riley back safe and sound," Shane said. “The rendezvous is at midnight.”
"Midnight!?”
“You see the pressing nature of things.”
“What did you steal from him?”
Shane said nothing.
"I'm trying to help you get Riley back. You can keep playing games, or you can start telling me the truth.”
After a long beat, he said, "I'm not admitting to anything... But I know where his money is.”
"Even if you hand it over, he's not gonna let you walk away. Not after what you've done.”
"That's why I need your help.”
"Where's the money?"
"It's not just about the money.”
"What's it about?”
"Hypothetically speaking, if someone were to have stolen from Vladimir's vault, those people would have stumbled across something more valuable than money.”
“Like what?”
“A rare gem.”
"A rare gem?”
"The cash is chump change. The Eye of Destiny is the prize. It’s worth $140 to $150 million.”
That hung there for a moment.
“What is the Eye of Destiny?”
“It’s a 72.3 karat blue diamond that was stolen from a pre-Hindu temple.
A French collector in the 1700s acquired it.
It was taken from him, and a Russian Tsar came into possession of it.
It remained in the royal family for almost a century before it was lifted again.
It bounced around the black market, then disappeared.
It surfaced recently in the possession of a Russian Oligarch.
Shortly after his death, it was pilfered again and found its way into Vladimir’s collection. Word is, he’s got a buyer lined up.”
“Seems to get stolen a lot,” I quipped.
“It’s part of the curse.”
“Curse?”
“We’ll talk about that later. I don’t really buy into that kind of thing. But the way things have been going…”
"You really screwed up this time.”
"Help me get Riley back. Help me take care of Vladimir.”
"I'm not going to help you kill him.”
"You just said, he's not going to let anybody involved walk away. The only way Riley can live the rest of her life without looking over her shoulder is if Vladimir stops breathing."
"Shane, I'm a cop. Are you really trying to pull me into a conspiracy to assassinate someone?”
"No. I would never do something like that,” he said, covering his ass. “I think you’ve misinterpreted me.” He paused. “But Vladimir is a scumbag drug dealer who kills people every day with his product. Kids, adults, you name it. Getting that guy off the street is doing a service to society.”
"I'll help you get Riley back. But let's make one thing clear. You let me handle Vladimir. I will bring him down legitimately." I paused. "How involved is Riley in this?”
"She's not involved at all.”
"I don't believe that.”
"Believe it.”
"Why should I? You haven't been straight with me from the beginning.”
Shane hesitated a moment, then exhaled. "Look, just get Riley back. I'll come clean about everything once I know she’s safe.”
"Who killed the guard? Who killed James?”
"That's a distraction, man. Focus on Riley. I know she means something to you, too. She likes you, and you’ve got my blessing.”
"I'll do everything I can to get her back,” I said. “I suggest we bring in the FBI on this."
"Are you out of your mind? No FBI. No other cops. Just you, me, and JD.”
"Where's the cash and the jewel?”
“Not over an open channel. Meet me at the Salty Dawg in 20 minutes.”
I ended the call and filled JD in on the situation.
“That dipshit. What the hell was he thinking?”
“Apparently, he wasn’t.”
We left the Platinum Dunes and drove to the bar. Jack pulled into the lot and found a place to park. We waited in the car, keeping an eye out for the black Thundercat.
Shane pulled into the lot a few minutes later.
Jack flashed the lights, and Shane drove around to the Porsche. He rolled down his window and shouted at Jack, “Follow me!”