He dug into his pants.
We both gave him a strange look.
He pulled out the jewel. The blue diamond sparkled in his palm under the mercury vapor light. With a grin, he said, “This is what Vladimir really wants.”
The stunning cushion-cut diamond mesmerized.
Shane closed his fist around it and stuffed it into his pocket.
“You took that?”
“During the shootout. I wasn’t going to let anyone have it.” He paused and looked around again. Nobody paid any attention to us. “Let’s get out of here.”
I hopped into the Thundercat with Shane. I was not about to let him out of my sight.
He fired up the engine and pulled out of the lot. We rambled back to Coconut Key, Jack on our tail.
With Shane’s foot to the floor, the engine roared. We blazed down the highway, passing cars like they were standing still.
The moon hung in the sky, glowing the water. A few clouds drifted on the breeze.
Shane kept quiet for the first part of the drive. He finally said, “I know you’re sticking your neck out for me.”
“To put it mildly.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Show me you appreciate it by coming clean.”
“I told you, I will. Just as soon as I know Riley is safe.”
His phone buzzed with a call. Shane pulled the device from his pocket. It glowed his face as he looked at the screen before answering. “Hello?”
An ominous voice filtered through. “Do you have my property?”
“Yes.”
“All of it?”
“Yes.”
“This transaction is not going to go well if you lie to me.”
Shane sighed, then admitted, “There were complications. But I have what’s important.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“I need proof of life,” Shane said.
“And I need proof you have what I want, seeing how my money is in the custody of the PBPD.”
Word had traveled fast. No doubt Vladimir had an informant on the inside.
“You’ll get it.”
After a pause, Vladimir said, “Meet me at Sunset Wharf on Rock Island at midnight. Come alone. Don’t bring any cops.”
Vladimir ended the call, and a few moments later, a picture of Riley buzzed Shane's phone. His jaw clenched tight when he opened the image and looked at it.
