“We don’t have to understand it all,” Frank says. “That’s not our job.”
“How can I mediate if I don’t know everything?”
“You’re right, but you’re not mediating between the Mafia and the government. You don’t have the mayor breathing down your neck or some hot shot lawyer looking to stir the legal pot. Thisis Damian versus a group of idiot thieves who stumbled onto something way bigger than them. That’s all.”
“Maybe you’re right.” My steps slow to a halt. “But Zira… there’s something about her.”
“Aside from the fact that she tried to kill you?”
“Yes, aside from that.”
“Does this something make your insides tingle?” Frank smirks suddenly, and I glare at him.
“Fuck off.”
“I’m just saying. Maybe it’s like the reverse of the bond between victim and savior. You two have a bond between victim and perpetrator.”
“Remind me why you’re here again?”
“To keep you safe.”
“Right.” I scoff sharply, but the conversation derails as my phone blares into life and I answer with a swipe of my thumb. “Valentina?”
“Hey, Bradley. Listen. We didn’t find any diamonds on the initial sweep of the car.”
“Shit.”
“It’s not bad news, though. Raven had the idea to look deeper, so we’ve been taking the car apart piece by piece. The diamonds are there. They’re justinsidethe car. Name a loose part that’s hollow and bingo, it’s filled to the brim.”
“Huh. Maybe this Harris was smarter than I gave him credit for.”
“Maybe.” Valentina fights a yawn. “Anyway, this’ll take some time because we have to go through every compartment, every tube, everyeverything, but at a glance, Raven thinks we’re still missing a good portion.”
“How much?”
“Anything from half to three-quarters. Wherever the rest of those diamonds are, they’re not here.”
“Alright, thanks. Keep me updated.”
“Will do. You owe me.”
“Steak and wine, it’s already ordered.”
“Mmhmm.”
The call ends and I meet Frank’s curious gaze. “They found the diamonds in the car, but not all of them. Which means we’re wrong and Harris is working for someone smart enough to have sold them already, or they’re stashed.”
“Looks like sleeping beauty just became more useful,” Frank replies. “I’ll make some calls about Harris.”
Zira sleeps through the night until later morning and announces she’s awake by slamming the door to her room and storming into the kitchen. I sit at the table nursing my umpteenth cup of coffee and remain calm as she slams her hands down on the table with enough force to make the salt and pepper shakers jump.
“Youdruggedme.”
“I did.”
“And don’t lie to me— You’re admitting it?”
“I am.”
