Chapter 42
"Iswear, I did not plot this with Shane," Riley said after I pressed her.
"They had inside info," I said.
She cringed. "It didn't take me long to figure out what was going on at the charter company.
Vladimir is using it to launder money along with his other businesses.
They rent boats to clients who don't exist. They pay invoices on maintenance, fuel, catering, and crew to shell companies.
I mentioned something in passing to Shane.
That was it. I didn't know he was going to take the ball and run with it. "
"How did he know that Vladimir kept the money in the Vault?"
"I don't know. It's not hard to figure out. Just follow his thugs around, and you’ll get a sense of his operation pretty quickly."
"What about James?"
"Who’s James?”
“The guard who was killed.”
“I don't know. I'm telling you, I didn't plan this with Shane.
I didn't even know they were doing it until it was done.
" She broke down into sobs. "I wish I would have just kept my mouth shut.
I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined they would do something so stupid.
I should have known better. Wade is dead because of me. "
I wanted to believe her, but I knew better than to trust anybody in a situation like this.
"Not because of you," I replied. "He was a grown man. He made his own decisions. I just hope you're telling me the truth."
"I swear to you, on my brother's grave."
I pulled out my phone and tried to get a bar of service. Out here, it was spotty. I had lost comms with Jack.
The clouds had rolled in, and thunder rumbled in the distance. A flash of lightning sparked on the horizon. We were going to get wet.
I escorted Riley down to the beach and walked around until I got a signal. I called Jack.
He picked up on the first ring. "Well, how’d it go? I take it you’re still alive."
I chuckled. "I got Riley."
He breathed a little easier. "And the gem?"
"It belongs to Vladimir for the time being. Are you still with Shane?"
"He's right here. Want to talk to him?"
"No, but I'm sure his sister does." I handed Riley the phone.
She waited for Shane to come on the line.
"Thank God you're okay!" Shane said.
"No thanks to you, fucking asshole. Why did you do this?"
"Can we talk about this later?"
"No. I want to talk about it now. They could have killed me. Or worse."
"I know,” he said in a meek voice. “I'm sorry about that."
"Are you sorry about Wade, too?"
"You know I am."
"We had everything. A family. We were all together. It lasted a few months, then you threw it all away. I want you to think about that. Something tells me you’re going to have a long time to contemplate this." There was plenty of venom in her voice.
Shane went silent for a moment. "Okay. I can see this is still fresh. Put Tyson on the phone."
Riley handed the device to me and grumbled to herself as she paced around, full of pent-up energy.
"I can't thank you enough for everything,” he said. “I owe you."
"I know you do. And I'm going to collect."
Shane said nothing.
"Put JD back on the phone."
Jack took over. "Where are you?"
I told him.
"I'll call the sheriff. We're en route."
"Hurry up. It's about to get nasty."
I ended the call, and we waited for them to arrive. The angry sky performed with flashing lights and banging drums. Soon, drops of rain fell. Light at first, then more intense.
We took cover in the dilapidated lobby, but the roof was full of holes, and water poured in.
The place smelled like mold. I'm not sure it was any better than being outside in the downpour.
People had punched holes in the wall and sprayed it with graffiti.
Beer cans, hypodermic needles, old mattresses, and all kinds of rubbish littered the area.
We decided to stand under the awning at the main entrance. The two of us looked out over the water, watching the show.
"What happens to my brother now?" Riley asked after she’d had a moment to cool down.
It was a good question, and I wasn't entirely sure.
It depended on how cooperative Shane was.
Without a confession, I still didn't have enough to make a solid case.
Sure, he led us to Garrett. That led us to Brandi and the money.
But that still didn't prove he was involved in the heist. I had my doubts about whether Riley would testify against him.
She might have been hot under the collar now.
But when it came down to it, I didn't know if she could send her brother away for the rest of his life.