The rotor wash bent the grass as the craft descended into the meadow. The skids touched down, and the cargo door slid open.
Two masked thugs hopped out with AR-15s and secured the immediate area. A man in a suit followed, his face covered by a black balaclava. I could only assume it was Vladimir.
Another goon inside the helo held onto Riley's arm. Her face was tortured with fear.
"Deputy Wild," Vladimir said. He'd done his homework. We’d walked into his bar and left a card, after all. I'm sure he knew all about me and JD—all of our personal connections, friends, and associates. "So glad you could join us. I take it you have the jewel."
I nodded and pulled it from my pocket. Even in the moonlight, it sparkled.
Vlad signaled to the thug inside the helicopter, and he released Riley. Like a gentleman, Vladimir helped her out of the helicopter. She darted across the meadow toward me.
Still gagged and bound at the wrist, Riley huddled close when she reached me.
"It's time for you to live up to your end of the bargain," Vladimir said.
I tossed the Eye of Destiny to him, making sure it didn't arc high enough to hit the rotor blades.
Vladimir caught the pitch and examined the gemstone. The smile in his blue eyes was evident. "It was a pleasure doing business with you, Deputy. You really ought to get a better class of friends. You know what they say, you are the people you hang around. Shane is an anchor. He will only drag everyone around him down."
There was a long, tense moment before Vladimir signaled to his underlings. He climbed back into the helicopter, and so did his guardians. The thugs who brought me to the island turned around and marched back to the shore.
I wasn't about to ask them for a ride.
That was it—Vlad had what he wanted. I was just a cop doing my job. He had respect for that. I hadn't screwed him over or done anything to antagonize him.
Unfortunately, I couldn't prove he was behind any of this. A few untraceable, encrypted phone calls, a voice behind a mask. No positive identification. Vladimir was a ghost.
The rotor blades spun up, and the skids lifted from the high grass. The black helicopter ascended into the sky and headed back toward Coconut Key.
Soon, Riley and I were alone. Nothing but us, the trees, the breeze, and the mosquitoes.
I fished the pin to the hand grenade from my pocket and replaced it, securing the explosive. I put it back in my tactical vest, then grabbed a knife and cut the flex cuffs around Riley's wrists.
She peeled the duct tape from her mouth and flung her arms around me, squeezing tight. "Am I glad to see you!"
"Are you okay?"
"I am now," she whispered.
"They didn't hurt you, did they?"
"No. I mean, they smacked me around a little when I got mouthy."
"You got mouthy? No," I said, feigning disbelief.
She shrugged. "Well, sometimes I can be opinionated. Sue me."
She hugged me again. There was no denying—Riley felt good in my arms.
"How's Shane?" she asked.
"He's okay.” After a pause, I said, “Garrett's dead."
She broke from our embrace and looked at me with wide eyes. "What happened to him?"
"Long story." I stared deep into her emerald eyes as the pale moonlight glowed her soft skin. "It's time you tell me the truth."
42
