Aldana selected one from her husband’s palm, her fingers trembling. “How many?”
“Three hundred.”
“If they’re all the same quality,” Noah said, “we’re talking somewhere around twenty-five million dollars.”
“Perhaps more, according to Sol,” Jenna said. “A lot more.”
Noah said, “You know what comes next.”
Jenna liked how it was Aldana who said, “No one can ever know. For the sake of our daughters and everyone else.”
“We have to assume they’re watching,” Jenna said. “For how long is anyone’s guess.”
“Which is where Sol’s help becomes vital,” Noah said.
“The trust serves as a blind,” Jenna said. “All expenses in regards to our boat are paid through the accounts that Sol handles. Running costs, maintenance, insurance, the works. Sol is officially counting this as part of his investment.”
Jenna took back the diamonds, poured them into the satchel. “We have a safety deposit box for these babies. Which is registered by the trust, and with you two as co-signatories.”
“And for the time being, that’s where they’ll stay,” Noah said. “But if anything happens, to you or any of the others, it’s there. Waiting. Hopefully we won’t need them. But it’s our backup. Just in case.”
“Sol has assured us he can handle any necessary sale discreetly,” Jenna said. “And any new income to the trust will be tax free.”
“Sol says this falls under the federal laws dealing with lost property,” Noah said. “Which means there is no obligation to disclose these funds to the federal government.”
“Just the same,” Jenna warned. “We have to remain very cautious. We need to make sure there’s no reason for watchers to become aware of what we found.”
“No,” Aldana agreed. “That can’t happen.”
“The longer we wait, the better,” Noah said.
Amos asked, “And the safe?”
“Gone,” Noah said. “Stripped out. The base is now a solid fiberglass and resin block. Same as all the others.”
The silence lasted until Amos said, “Thank you for trusting us.”
“You’re family,” Noah said. “We wouldn’t have it any other way.”
CHAPTER43
Three afternoons later, they headed south on the San Lu highway, then took the turning for Morro Bay.
They stopped by a cantina that catered to the beach crowd. They left the town by way of the meandering lane through the nature preserve, past the old-growth forest of pines and Pacific cypress, down to Shell Beach.
A family with two preschool children and an Irish setter played in the calm waters. Otherwise the crescent-shaped beach was theirs.
Jenna had not returned since bringing Dino’s boat up from the Santa Barbara marina, all those many eons ago. The dock was fronted by a high metal fence rimmed with spikes. The gate combination was Dino’s birth date, which was good for a shared smile.
The landing was flanked by large rusting cabinets sunk in a concrete foundation. They walked down the long pier, out to where the cove’s sheltered waters surrounded them. They ate in silence, sharing their meal with gulls who danced upon the sunset.
Finally, Jenna said, “We need to talk about tomorrow.”
Noah settled his back against the nearest piling. “All right.”
“I’ve been asked to take on a new patient.”
“Where?”
