"She really hoodwinked me. I've never actually met your daughter." He laughed again. "I had no idea that was her. My aunt hired her as a dog-sitter. Wow, I'm impressed. People told me she and Cassidy were close. I guess she wanted to get to Cassidy and knew I'd make that difficult if I knew who she was." He laughed again.
"I don't see the humor in this," Charles said.
"Your daughter is cunning. I find that entertaining."
An exasperated sigh followed.
"Emil, if you don't have a fool-proof plan for getting those jewels back tonight, then we need to demand Chester give us more time. I can get some . . . people here who can help. But it will be several hours—"
"Not necessary. I have men. On my yacht. They can handle this sort of thing." A theatrical sigh. "This was my first jewel heist. And until tonight, it was as much fun as I thought it would be." A tsking sound. "I can send my guys in to get the jewels. But I can't guarantee the safety of the women. These guys are more sledgehammers than scalpels."
A sickening, heavy silence filled the room and spilled into the hallway. Nash sensed Lena's father was trying tomake a decision—whether to prioritize the jewels over his daughter's life and the life of his niece.
"I have a buyer. I can't back out of this deal. Send your guys in. Get the jewels. Tell them to try not to hit Cassidy or Lena."
"I can't guarantee that," Emil said. "Just so we're clear."
"Just get the jewels," Charles said.
Lena's head throbbed in time with the sickening cadence of regrets marching through her foggy thoughts.
Cassidy squinted at her. "You don't look good. Do you think you have a concussion?"
Lena blinked away the grogginess—or tried to. She stared at her wrists and ankles bound in duct tape. "Yeah, maybe. But I'm all right."
Her feet were bare—her impractical high heels lost in the chaos after the wreck.
"Lena, I . . . I'm so sorry. If I hadn't come out here with Emil—"
"Don't apologize, Cass. Not right now." She forced a weak smile. "Let's just find a way to get out of here."
From somewhere outside, Frank and Manny's laughter filtered into their small storage shed prison.
Her memories of the last half-hour were a bit muddled. But she grasped the basics. Ed Chester, Emil's business manager, took half of the stolen jewels from Emil.Because, of course he did.
And now, Chester thinks Emil will bring him the other half of the jewels to save Cassidy and her.
Lena wasn't holding her breath. Emil was no knight in shining armor.
Her anger at Emil for stealing the jewels in the first place—and starting the chaotic, deadly dominoes falling—burned in her chest.
She pulled at her duct tape restraints.I can't believe this is happening.
Dear God . . .
Praying felt right, but the words still wouldn't form. Was it her fear? Frustration? The possible concussion?
Deep breath. One more deep breath.
Dear God . . . I know I'm not alone. Please keep us safe. And please keep Nash safe. Show me what to do.
She glanced around the musty space filled with surfboards, discarded beach toys, life jackets, and beach chairs.The items filled two freestanding shelves. The freestanding part could be useful. Moonlight shone through a single window at the far end. A plan started to form.
They needed to get rid of the duct tape bindings.
"Find something to get this tape off," she whispered to Cassidy. "Look for something sharp."
The duct tape secured them to flimsy beach chairs. Running would be impossible. But slow, awkward scooting around the shed? Inelegantly feasible.
