All the oxygen left his lungs. "She what?"
"That's what Cassidy told us." Allie dipped her head and stepped closer, continuing her explanation in a near-whisper. "She said Lena told her to tell you she's not afraid anymore, and that she knows she's not alone."
The words hit Nash like a truck. He shoved both of his hands through his hair and tried not to look as shaken as he felt. He forced a tight nod.
Allie's understanding eyes softened.
He ran a hand down his face, refocusing. "What else did she say?"
"Cassidy said Lena was fine when she left."
"Lena's not injured?"
"She may have hit her head in the accident. Possible concussion. But per Cassidy's description, she's doing okay. Lena came up with a plan about knocking over shelves in the storage shed to distract the guards. Cassidy said all the crashing noise covered her escape."
Nash swallowed. Admiration and worry for Lena surged through him.
Allie placed a hand on his arm. "Cassidy said the guards were told not to hurt them. Just to guard them. Chester wants to make the trade. He won't hurt her, Nash."
"There are no promises in a situation like this, you know that."
She squeezed his arm. "You care about her."
Her comment surprised him, but it shouldn't have. Allie was excellent at reading people. It was one of her most valued skills with WhiteRock. No point in correcting her.
He looked at his watch. "Chester wants to meet in fifteen minutes. Where's Knox?"
"Right here, buddy." Knox stepped out of the shadows. "I got the lay of the land. And I got a glimpse of Lena. She looks okay."
Relief ballooned in his chest. "What did you see?"
Jason joined them. And all eyes focused on Knox.
"There's a small beach cottage. Maybe eight hundred square feet. Falling apart. And a little shed about thirty feet from it. Lena is inside the house. They put her close to a window, tied to a chair. There's some movement in the house."
"How many?" Nash asked.
"I only saw shadows. Maybe two or three. No one walked near the windows. Cassidy said it was just Chester and the two guards from Emil's estate, and that tracks. But I don't think we're going to get a clean shot unless they come outside." Amusement sparked in his eyes. "There's a very beautiful speedboat tied to the pier. That thing's fast. My guess is that's their plan A for an exit. Once they get what they want, they'll be out of here quick. We don't have a boat, so we need to make sure their boat doesn't go anywhere."
Nash ran a hand down his face. "You didn't see Chester?"
Knox shrugged. "I'm guessing he's in the house. No one is outside."
"How did they get out here?" Nash asked.
Allie pointed down the beach. "There's a car fifty yards from here. Just one car. A sedan. Cassidy said that's the car that brought Lena, Chester, the guards, and her. She never saw anyone else."
"Good odds."
Thick, salty air pressed around them, buzzing with mission-ready tension.
Jason stepped closer to the group, jaw set, voice low. "The plan is simple. Nash is going to talk to Chester and hand over the jewels. Hopefully, Lena is released without incident. Of course, I don't trust that it'll go down that smooth. Whatever happens, Nash's objective is Lena. And our objective," he circled his finger in the air to include Allie and Knox, "is securing Chester and the guards. Once Lena is safe and there's no threat, we secure the jewels."
"Got it," Knox said. Allie nodded.
Jason leveled his gaze at Nash for a few seconds.
"Don't ask me if I'm okay," Nash said.
