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“Stop him from leaving,” said Mike. Hex nodded, running after the man.
“There! Get to him, and I’ll get her,” he said.
Dan nodded, taking off after the second man in the cloak. Mike circled to the opening at the western edge of the maze, knowing that the woman wouldn’t be able to find her way out on her own.
The minute he slid into the entrance, he froze, listening for the sounds of crunching gravel beneath someone’s shoes. He heard it, but it was too loud. Too heavy. Those were a man’s shoes. Then listening like his grandfather taught him, he heard it. The soft sound of tiny feet in heels padding against the gravel.
“I know you’re in here, Sage. Just give it to me, and I’ll leave.”
Mike could hear the quick, short breaths of the woman, edging along the hedge. Using his height to his advantage, he peeked over the top, seeing the blonde head on the other side. With his long arms, he gripped her beneath her armpits and lifted her over the hedge, covering her mouth.
She let out a yelp, but he whispered in her ear.
“Shhh, it’s me. Mike. Don’t move. My friend is stopping that man.” She nodded, turning to look up into his eyes. His mask was gone, the deep rich brown of his eyes encircled by a ring of lavender. Mike stared down at her, pushing her mask upward. Lowering his lips to hers, he kissed her softly, tasting the champagne.
Hearing a grunt and a male scream, he pulled back, smiling down at the woman.
“Sage, is it?” She nodded, confused. “I heard him calling your name. You wanna tell me what’s going on?”
“Mike? You out there? I got him.”
“Here,” he said, standing and bringing Sage with him. “Come on. Trust me.”
“I don’t know you.”
“Oh, there you are,” smiled Mama Irene. “I was worried for you, baby. I didn’t see you come in.”
“You know her, Mama Irene?”
“Why yes. This is Sage Marshall. It was her house that burned down the other day. I’m so glad you came. Is there a problem?”
“You said you would help me. You said if I needed anything, you could help.”
“I did. And we will, baby. What’s wrong?”
“I think we need to sit down.”
CHAPTER SIX
“The other one made his way back to one of the boats. He got off at the docks and took off in a rental car. We’ll find him.”
“Who is that man?” asked Mike, still holding her hand.
“His name is Smith Jones. At least, that’s what his paperwork said. He was working for me at the jewelry store, Symphony Jewelers. Last week, two men came in with a pouch full of loose diamonds. No one does that. Ever. Smith tried to tell me that they were fakes, but when I looked at them, I knew they were real. The highest quality I’ve ever seen,” said Sage.
“Did you call the police?” asked Luke.
“No. It was my plan to do that when I returned from my buying trip. Unfortunately, I found the house burned down and knew they would head to the store next. I cleared out the store, put a sign in the window for a death in the family, and booked a hotel room in my mother’s name.”
“Smart,” nodded Mike.
“Smith and two other men were outside the store when I was there. That other man that was with him tonight was not someone I recognized. I went through the back of the store, which isn’t my normal way of opening the store.”
“Why?” asked Dan.
“It’s too dangerous. The alley is an easy place to get jumped or robbed. I always go in the front. He knew that. When I was at the hotel, I was digging in my bag and found the invitation that woman gave me, the one with the white hair.”
“She’s my grandmother,” smiled Luke. “Irene Robicheaux.”
