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I had no idea what he was talking about, but it hardly mattered, because he’d lied earlier. Because she, whoever she was, had needed Sasha to get this necklace and hadn’t planned to kill him until she had whatever piece of jewelry it was in her hand.
“If you tell me where she is, I might be able to help you out.”
He was quiet a moment, then said, “No, I think I’ll kill you instead. She wanted you grabbed, for insurance, since a stupid dog, like her boy, would do anything for their mate, and when she found out he suddenly had one, she wanted you bad.”
Her boy. These were all clues; I just needed to connect the dots. “Why don’t you put down your gun so you don’t get hurt.”
He didn’t answer me, and I saw his eyes go flat. He wasn’t engaging with me anymore; he was planning to act, to move.
“Don’t do it,” I warned him. “I already have your partner’s rifle. You can see it right here. It’s a mistake to do anything but put down your gun. Please. You’re not faster than me, and I already have the advantage.”
He didn’t believe me, and instead swung the weapon into his hands, and yes, he was very fast, well trained, probably had been a soldier at some point, but the rifle I was holding was already aimed at him, and I shot him in the center of the chest. He was dead by the time he hit the ground.
I heard the sirens and waited, though it was hard. I wanted to go, wanted to drive to the auction house, because that was where, I was guessing, this woman, whoever she was, had taken Sasha. When my phone rang, I answered without checking who the caller was.
“Hello.”
“Is this Deacon?”
“Yeah. Who’s this?”
“It’s Oliver, from Sasha’s work. I’m trying to get a hold of him because his code was used to get into our building, but then someone used a different one to get into an area he’s not authorized for.”
“What code?”
“It belonged to a woman who quit on us two days ago.”
The sirens were loud now, all around me, and I heard cars pulling up.
“What woman?”
“Vanessa Howard. She used to be Sasha’s boss, so I was thinking she might have tugged on his heartstrings to get her into the building. But she no longer works at the auction house, so he shouldn’t be letting her in.”
“I doubt he’s doing it by choice. I’m on my way there, but I believe she kidnapped him and he’s there under duress.”
“Oh shit, should I call the police?”
“Already done.” I barely managed to get out. “What part of the auction house is Sasha not authorized for?”
Avery looked like he’d just rolled out of bed as he approached with four uniformed officers to secure the scene. When he pointed at the house, I shook my head.
“The vault area. But really, I have no idea why she’d want to be in there, or what she’d be after. There’s nothing she hasn’t seen besides the papers I brought back from my latest trip.”
“And some kind of necklace.”
“Necklace?”
“That’s what I was told.”
“I have no idea what that could be, but I’ll meet you there and––”
“No,” I ordered. “I don’t want you to get hurt, and there’s no point in you going.” I hung up and faced Avery. “I have to go to the auction house. Someone kidnapped Sasha.”
When I turned away, ready to go get my car, Avery gripped my bicep.
“What?” I asked, when he stepped around to face me.
“I’ll take you. We’ll get there faster.”
