Reluctantly, Goldie reached into her pocket. She hated to give it up, afraid that it might be the only way to save herself. Yet they both knew that he could easily overpower her and take whatever he wanted from her.
She placed the cell into his hand and, like his own, he pocketed it.
“I didn’t want anything to do with Mandeville or what he has planned,” he said. “I was seriously trying to help you. But now things have gotten complicated.” He took a step back, giving her breathing room, and she was grateful for that. “Make yourself at home. We aren’t going anywhere just yet.”
The café had opened at ten. It must be at least ten thirty or even later by now, she thought. Whatever Mandeville had planned, wouldn’t it have happened by now? Apparently not, since Donovan was waiting for something. For someone?
“Whatever you have planned, I don’t want to be a part of it,” she said and took a step toward the door. It surprised her how quickly he moved. His hand locked down on her wrist, the look in his eyes filled with a silent warning.
She glared at him, angry with herself for bringing him to town, angry with him for making her think she could have moved on from Max with him. “You’re really good at what you do, lyingand pretending to be something you’re not.” She hated the hurt she heard in her voice. “I actually thought you were one of the good guys and might have really—”
“Cared about you?” His gaze locked with hers. “The other night when we went for a drive, I had you take the wheel because I was afraid that if I drove, I would have kept going and taken you with me. I certainly wanted to.”
“What makes you think I would have gone with you?”
He chuckled. “That’s the problem. I started caring too much about you and you’re still hung up on your sheriff. Now look where that’s gotten us.”
She wasn’t sure where he thought that was, but she was now his captive. “Is Mandeville planning to rob the bank?” No answer. “What do you have to do for him?”
“Don’t you mean what dowehave to do?” He nodded. “As much as I needed you not to leave town, I’d hoped you would, but you couldn’t leave Max, could you?” He looked sorry and for a moment, she saw what had attracted her to him, that spark that had made her think she could trust him.
Until he pulled the gun from where he’d had it tucked in his jeans behind his back. “It doesn’t matter how we got here. We’re both in this now whether we like it or not.”
They both started at the sound of a text coming from one of the phones. Donovan fished his out, looked at the screen, then at her. “It’s time. Let’s go. I’m sorry but you have to come with me. It will look too suspicious if I leave alone.” He started to move but then stopped as if he knew what she was thinking. “You’re right. I probably won’t shoot you in the back. But if this doesn’t go the way Mandeville wants it to, he’ll kill anyone who gets in his way—especially the sheriff.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Max saw the front door of the hotel open, and Goldie and Donovan step out. He tried to read their body language, especially Goldie’s. He thought they would head for the café, but instead Donovan was leading her to his red sports car. He led her around to the driver’s side, opened the door for her and motioned for her to drive. She hesitated, but only for a moment before she slid behind the wheel, and he closed the door. The sheriff watched him walk around the car to climb into the passenger side before handing her the keys. Max wanted to believe Goldie wouldn’t go with him unless she was being forced to, but he couldn’t be sure about that. Where were these two going?
“I think Mandeville is about to move, but I have a problem,” Rance radioed, sounding anxious.
Max looked down the street toward the café and let out a curse as the three elderly women carrying protest signs began to walk up and down out front. “Tell me you can still see Mandeville,” Max radioed Rance.
“Afraid not,” he answered. “They’re blocking my view of Mandeville’s table. He’s still there but something’s happening. Lolly just stood up. She’s leaving. Luca is going after her. Mandeville had stood up, but he’s sitting back down.”
Max cursed as he saw Penny and her friends arguing with people trying to get into the café. A moment later, he saw Arnie come out to try to chase them away.
“Lolly just stormed out of the café,” Rance radioed. “Luca Havers is right behind her.”
Max wondered if it wasn’t a smokescreen. “Keep your eye on Mandeville,” he radioed.
Silence, then finally, “Mandeville’s still at the table,” Rance answered.
The sheriff was trying to see what was happening but didn’t have as good a view as Rance. “Where did Luca Havers go?”
“He and Lolly are standing by his SUV arguing. He just tried to restrain her, but she broke free. She’s headed for the hotel. He’s going after her.”
“And Mandeville?” Max demanded.
Static on the radio, then, “His table is empty,” Rance said with a curse.
“Did you see him and his associate leave the building?”
“No, I’m trying to see if they’re in the crowd that’s gathered outside the café. They could have slipped out the back. It’s mass confusion down there with those women protesting in front of the café and people coming to see what’s going on.”
Max hurriedly radioed the men behind the café and bank. The deputies confirmed what he feared. No sign of anyone leaving from the back of the café or the bank.
“Mandeville has to still be in there,” he radioed Rance. He didn’t understand what was happening—or what wasn’t happening. He’d been so sure they would hit the bank once the armored car arrived, but there was still no sign of it. Was it possible Mandeville and his thug had gone down to the basement of the café? But what would be the point if the money wasn’t here yet?
