Lena inched around the first shelf, hoping for something really convenient. Like a knife. Or a pair of scissors. The half-inflated flamingo, ice chests, and questionable collection of expired-looking sunscreen offered no aid in her escape plan.
"Hey," Cassidy whisper-yelled. "A piece of metal roofing." She pointed with her toe. "Leaning against that wall."
Lena craned her neck to eye Cassidy's discovery. "Yeah, looks sharp enough."Thank you, God!"Let's try to cut off the duct tape."
They both made a snail-paced, ungraceful journey to the discarded metal roofing. Lena eased herself to her knees, the chair sitting on her back like a turtle's shell. Sheworked the duct tape around her arm up and down along the edge of the metal roofing, sawing the tape away in less than a minute.
With one hand free, sawing the tape from her other arm was less awkward. And faster.
Finally free of the chair, she helped Cassidy with her bindings.
"Okay, Cass, here's the plan. I'll distract the guards. You go out that window," she said, pointing. "Run for the road. There's only one main road out here, and Nash's team will be looking for us. I know they will. You have to get to them as soon as possible and tell them what's going on. All of it."
"Lena—"
"It's a good plan, Cass. These guards aren't Navy SEALs or anything. But they're both bigger than we are. And they're armed with more than sand shovels. We can't overpower them. But with all the stuff in here, I can keep them distracted long enough for you to get out the window and run. You're faster than me. And I've seen these guys try to run. You can easily outrun them."
"I don't like it," said Cassidy. "I don't like leaving you here."
Warm confidence deep in her bones made Lena smile. "I'm not afraid anymore, Cassidy."
"What do you mean?"
"Too much to explain. But I've let fear control my actions too much lately. I can do this. Besides, we don't have much choice. I don't trust Emil to save us by trading the jewels, but even if he tried, Chester might want to kill us all to cover his tracks. Nash and his team will be looking for us since we didn't show up to meet Jason and Knox, but I don't know how long it will take them to find us. We need to do what we can on our own."
Cassidy's eyes bulged at her explanation. "Um . . ." She swallowed, looked at the window, then back to Lena. Her eyes softened. Then she enveloped Lena in an uncharacteristic bear hug. "I'm so sorry I got you into this. I'm so sorry."
"I know, Cass. It's okay." She allowed her heart to enjoy the reconnection with her cousin for a moment before she untangled herself from Cassidy's sudden, emotional embrace. "It's okay, Cass. Really. But we don't have much time. You need to get out the window as fast as you can."
Cassidy looked at the window again. Finally, a slow nod. "Okay. But be careful."
Lena grabbed Cassidy's wrist. "When you see Nash later, if I don't . . . If something happens to me, tell him it's okay. Tell him it was my plan. And tell him I'm not afraid to do the right thing anymore. And that I'm not alone."
Cassidy raised an eyebrow. "I don't—"
"He'll understand what it means. Just tell him." She tugged her toward the window and carefully slid the glass open—praying it didn't squeak—for Cassidy to slither through.
Chapter 22
"New plan," Nash said as he entered the study, his gun pointed at Emil and Lena's father.
"Who are you?" Charles snapped before he registered the gun. Emil's eyes grew wide. Then he laughed. "You too, huh?"
"What are you talking about?" Charles asked.
"This is my driver. Or, he was." Emil's eyes danced with a riotous mix of frustration and amusement. "Apparently, I need to upgrade my hiring process. Are you working with Chester too?"
"No." Nash raised his gun. "Both of you, keep your hands where I can see them."
The men sneered, but complied.
"So, what do you want?" Emil asked.
"The jewels."
Emil's glare quirked. "So, youareworking with Chester?"
"No. I'm going to take the jewels to the meeting with Chester. I'll tell him you sent me. Since he thinks I'm your driver, he'll buy that. I'm going to make sure Cassidy and Lena get out of there safely."
