Jumping up, David ran over to his friend, hugging him. “Congratulations! Zane and I will babysit anytime you need us!”
“What?” Zane said, staring at David.
“Five babies? Oh, pooh bear, isn’t that amazing?” cried Theo, grinning at Norm.
“Yeah, it makes our triplets seem easy.” Colton laughed.
“Speak for yourself.” Ian said, swatting his mate on the arm.
“Ki, are you planning a baby shower?” asked Zane.
“What a wonderful idea!” Kieran clapped his hands. “I can picture it now!”
“Babe,” Logan cut in, “let’s get rid of the assholes first, okay?” Turning to Reif, he asked, “How do you get in touch with your contact once you’ve stolen the stuff?”
“I don’t. He always seems to know when I’ve been successful and he just appears.”
“Hmmm…I was going to suggest you just hand it over but that might tip them off that we’re wise to their scam,” Logan said.
“I was thinking the same thing,” said Zane. “Since Reif’s contact believes the green diamond is in Loch Ness, why doesn’t Brian just plant it there for Reif to find? That way, if they’re following Reif it’ll look like he found it based on his research.”
“Did you tell your contact it was in the Loch?” asked Slate.
“Yes. He knows I’ve been searching for it in the loch for the last week,” Reif said.
“Can your contact swim underwater?” asked Logan.
“No. Well, not that I know of.”
“Then I agree with Zane,” said Logan. “Brian can plant it, but before you bring it up to the surface, I want you to arrange to meet your contact here so there are witnesses to you handing over the green diamond. Once you’ve set a time for the meeting, then go and retrieve the diamond.”
“You mean you don’t trust the man?” Reif asked with a sardonic smile, knowing what Logan was going to say.
“You got that right…and neither should you. He may be in on the scam, so we can’t take a chance.”
“Fuck!” Reif said. “I didn’t think about that. But, you know, I don’t think he is, because he hasn’t acted any differently than he has before.”
“Either that or he’s a very good actor,” snorted Fionn.
“How soon do you think he’ll be contacting you?” asked Logan.
“I have to return to my cottage for that to happen,” Reif replied.
“Ay, I will come with ye,” Brian said.
“No you won’t. I don’t want you anywhere near the man, Nessie. He isn’t a nice person.”
“Ye canna meet him yersel’. Remember, yer sea dragon carries our babies. As yer mate, ‘tis my duty to protect ye,” Brian said, forcefully, not about to budge on this point.
“Nessie, if you’re there, he won’t come. Remember, he doesn’t know I have a mate so he’ll wait until you leave.”
“Yer not meetin’ him by yoursel’,” Brian reiterated.
“You’re worrying about nothing. He’s not going to harm me,” Reif said.
Stepping into the argument, Logan said, “Brian, Reif’s right. If his contact always appears when Reif’s alone, he won’t change now just because Reif has a mate…especially if he doesn’t know about it. And remember, Reif hasn’t given them the diamond yet, so I think he’ll be safe.”
“Maybe. But what happens if yer wrong?” asked Brian.
