Page 106 of Wild Escape

“Go ahead.”

“I left $10 million in duffel bags at the abandoned warehouse at 7 Union Street. If he wants his money, he better get there fast. No telling who might find it between now and then.”

“I’ll tell him.”

“Is he there right now?”

“No.”

I’m not sure I believed him.

Daphne ended the call, and we waited.

With $10 million on the line, I certainly wouldn't dillydally. But 12 o'clock rolled around. Then 12:05.

No sign of Dane or his comrade.

12:15.

Still no one.

By 12:30, I had lost hope.

At 12:45, I called the sheriff and told him it was a bust. He told the other officers to stand down, and Tango One returned to base.

Daphne and I climbed to our feet, jumped down from the loading dock, and met Jack at the corner of Industry and Union.

"There on to us," I said, glancing around. "They might even be watching us.”

"Maybe they played us," Jack said.

My suspicious eyes found Daphne.

"Don't look at me. I didn't tip them off. I did everything you asked me to. Believe me, I want them to go down as much as you do.”

Given the circumstances, I believed her.

We headed back toward the Porsche.

I said to Daphne, "You're taking me to the dagger right now."

"Right now?"

"I want real leverage over these scumbags. And I'm tired of not making any progress.”

"Hey, I've been doing everything you've asked. I've been cooperating, I haven't tried to escape, I haven't kicked you in the nuts anymore."

I gave her a sour look. "All things that you should have done from the start."

We made it back to the Porsche.

"Where's the dagger?" I asked again.

Daphne huffed. "It's at Whisper Key. You really want to go out there right now?”

"Damn straight I do.”

We hopped into the car and headed back to Diver Down. We prepped our gear and loaded it aboard the Raptor. We took shovels, metal detectors, assault rifles, extra magazines, flash bang grenades, IR optics, and just about anything else we thought we might need in case we ran into trouble.