“No,” she agreed. “But you don’t need to know. You should be safe here. The treasure is out of the house, so there’s no reason for Lucas to come after you, but still be vigilant. He may decide to be spiteful.” She didn’t think there were any of his cronies in Retribution Bay to carry out revenge, but it was worth the warning.
Darcy scowled. “We’ll keep everyone close to the house for the next few days. Take care of yourself.”
Matt thrust a key at her. “Tell Mum and Dad to stay at Georgie’s.”
She nodded and then twisted the throttle, heading to her parents with a warning she hoped was unnecessary.
Lee didn’t enjoy being locked in the back of the paddy wagon. He rattled the handcuffs but didn’t bother dislodging them. No point letting Rodney know what he could do.
He’d asked whether there had been a change in the plan as Rodney had loaded him into the back, but Rodney said nothing, which made Lee nervous. Had plans changed, or was Rodney double-crossing Lucas and actually undercover for the police? Too many variables.
His phone was tucked in his pocket, but he wasn’t certain for how long. It would be confiscated when they arrived at the police station. The police didn’t normally keep prisoners overnight in Retribution Bay, so that meant either they were going to make an exception for him, or he and Rodney would take a trip to Carnarvon tonight.
Which would leave the treasure unguarded except for Brandon and perhaps Dot.
His skin crawled. He hated not knowing the whole plan.
He felt every bump along the road back to town, but at least there hadn’t been a detour.
What weapons did Brandon have on him? Lee would bet he was armed, but he had seen no evidence.
Rodney would be foolish to under-estimate Brandon, and Rodney—while an arrogant son-of-a-bitch—was no fool.
Focusing on the task at hand soothed Lee and allowed him to block the expression Nhiari had given him as he’d been loaded into the car. Her whole demeanour had changed, and he didn’t know whether Dot had told her something which had changed her feelings for him, or whether she didn’t want to show her emotions in front of the others. They probably thought she had Stockholm Syndrome. Matt would.
He exhaled. What did he expect? He’d already accepted they had no future, though she had asked about a plea bargain for him.
The car slowed as they entered the town, and Lee tracked the turns to the police station. The engine stopped and two car doors slammed. Then there was a clunk as the back lock disengaged, and Rodney stood there with a scowl. “Out you get.”
Lee climbed out and looked around. They’d taken him to the rear of the police station, where there was a walled yard and the gate they came through was shut. Discouraging anyone from running.
Brandon stood next to the car and waited.
“This way,” Rodney said, gesturing for them both to follow him.
“I’ll wait here with the treasure.” Brandon crossed his arms and stood with his legs apart, daring Rodney to disagree.
Rodney rolled his eyes and pushed Lee on the shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Lee walked into a room with two doors leading from it. One led into the offices, and the other to a corridor with a cell in it. Dot walked out of her office and raised her eyebrows. “We don’t have facilities to keep him here overnight.”
“We don’t have the time to take him to Carnarvon and we can’t leave the treasure unattended either,” Rodney replied. “I’ll set up a watch.”
Dot studied him. “You got someone to agree to that?”
“Of course.”
Lee watched the discussion. Rodney was keeping his cards close to his chest, and Dot was unimpressed. Rodney prodded Lee and indicated down the corridor. “Through there is the cell.”
Lee followed his orders, waiting until Dot was out of earshot before saying, “What’s going on, Rodney?”
“You’ll know when you need to know,” Rodney replied. “Lucas has everything under control.”
Not good. Had there been a change of plans he was unaware of, or was the heist happening in the morning?
He moved into the cell.
The clang of the door sounded quite final. Rodney smirked as he walked away.
