Sapphire loomed closer, its appearance different during the day. No flashing lights beckoning to tourists, no cool blue neon sign luring those out for the evening, no velvet rope holding back teeming throngs of island partiers. Just a gray front door and one security guard manning it. The guy wore aviator shades and had his arms crossed. He stood stock-still as he surveyed the block.
Steph headed up the steps and greeted the guard. “Hi. I’m Steph Anderson. I’m here to see Eli.”
His blank expression disappeared and a smile spread. “Good to see you again. Welcome back. Mr. Thompson is in his office,” the man said, pushing a beefy palm against the heavy steel door. He gestured for her to go inside.
As she entered the quiet Sapphire, it was as if she’d wandered into a Halloween haunted house with all the lights flicked on, its secrets revealed. Regular fluorescent lights glowed overhead, illuminating the bar, the floor, the stage, the balcony. The flashing colors and techno-heavy music were absent. No hum of crowds, no clink of glasses. The slinky, sexy, sultry mood of after hours was gone. The club did its best impression of a warehouse, big and echoey, as Steph’s sandals slapped across the tiles. As she neared the winding staircase at the edge of the dance floor, a flash of bright yellow appeared at the top of the steps.
“Steph!”
She craned her neck upward to find Clarissa waving to her. Her father’s assistant manager flew down the steps in a banana-yellow dress, her dark hair like a sheet, her high heels clacking.
“Cal told me you were here,” Clarissa said as she neared the bottom step.
Steph furrowed her brow.
“At the front door. He’s our security guard,” she explained. “He buzzed me that you were here. Eli’s in his office working, but he’s been practically bouncing off the walls with excitement to see you again.”
That piqued Steph’s curiosity. Did Eli talk about her that much? “He mentioned we were having lunch?” she asked as Clarissa swiveled around and headed toward the stairs.
The assistant manager nodded. “He’s been in the most joyous mood all week since you arrived. This very morning he told me he was counting down the minutes ’til he saw you.”
“I’m excited to see him, too.”
And his artwork. I’m incredibly excited to see that.
“He’s so proud of you, and all that you’ve accomplished. He told me you had a scuba tour later this week. How exciting. Where will you take them?”
Steph rattled off the itinerary for her upcoming tour—the visit to the Bloody Bay site, then to Little Cayman.
“I love all those places. I’d love to join the tour and do a little diving.”
“Oh, you should. I’ve got room if you want to,” Steph said.
“I’ll do that. I have the day off so I should be able to come along. And are you otherwise enjoying your time in our island paradise?” Clarissa asked as they neared the top of the steps.
Enjoying was one way to put it. Savoring worked, too. Coming every night was another phrase. A flicker of desire stirred in her belly as Steph rewound to twelve hours ago in Jake’s bed. “I’m having the time of my life,” Steph said, a private little grin curving her lips as she thought of her roomie, her partner, her temporary lover.
A parade of images flashed before her eyes—bending over the railing on the balcony, kissing Jake at the panini shop, reading his review, diving under the ocean with him. From the dirty to the sweet, everything with the sexy, funny, witty, caring Jake Harlowe was so damn good.
Her foot landed awkwardly on the next step. Grabbing the railing, she caught herself before she toppled down the stairs.
Thinking about the man she liked was damn distracting.
Liked.
Well, duh. She knew she liked him, but liked seemed far too tame for that swirl of emotions that had nearly knocked her over. Was it more than like?
“Are you OK?” Clarissa asked, eyes wide.
Steph bent to adjust her flip-flop, trying to make light of her near face-plant. “I knew I shouldn’t have put sunscreen on the soles of my feet, too,” she said as she rose.
Clarissa laughed. “I’m glad you’re OK. And I’m equally glad you’re having a lovely stay.” She lowered her voice and wagged her finger playfully. “But don’t let on to Eli how much fun you’re having, or he’ll try to convince you to live here. He’d be beside himself with glee if you moved to the Islands.”
Steph flashed a brief smile, resuming her pace up the steps. “The Caymans is a great place to live, but Miami is pretty awesome, too. Where are you from?”
“Here. But I went to college in North Carolina and had hoped to stay after graduation. Had some trouble finding work like everyone else finishing college these days, so I decided to come back to the Caymans and try my luck here at home.”
“And it sounds like luck has been on your side?”
She knocked on the railing. “Knock on wood. Yes, it has. I love my job here, and Eli is good to me. If you ever change your mind and move here, you’d make Mr. Thompson the happiest person on earth.” Clarissa resumed her pace up the steps. “Then again, the man is already pretty much the happiest guy I know,” she added with a cheery shrug.
This was the Eli she knew and loved. This was who she wanted him to be. The good guy, the generous guy, the guy who brought jobs to locals, who gave to charity, who loved her.
How could he possibly be the man who had stolen so much from so many? There had to be another explanation. Someone else must be behind the missing money. Hell, maybe that luxury goods merchant was the mastermind and was simply trying to pin it on Eli. Maybe Eli’s diamonds were legitimately earned, and the merchant had simply made it look like Eli procured them from ill-gotten gains. If she could find the diamonds, she could help solve the crime.
“Happiest guy on earth. That describes Eli Thompson to a T,” Steph said as they reached the balcony that wrapped around the dance floor. As she turned the corner down the hallway, she heard his voice on the phone, carrying through the open door. “Perfect. So glad the deal is working out. She’ll simply be thrilled,” he said, and Steph wondered briefly who he was talking about, and which deal was coming together.
When they reached his office, Clarissa pressed the door open all the way. Eli’s back was to them. Immediately, Steph snapped her attention to the art on the walls. She sighed quietly in relief. Only one frame hung, and it didn’t look too heavy. She could do this—aim and shoot.
She patted her purse absently as Eli turned around in his chair.
When his blue eyes landed on her, they twinkled. He waved broadly. His lips curved in a huge grin.
Steph’s gut twisted. This was going to be easy. For all the wrong reasons. She was about to use his emotions to hoodwink him. Just as he’d done to her mother for all those years. Telling her he loved her, then lying behind her back.
But it was for the best, she reminded herself. She was going to find the diamonds for the greater good. For everyone.
She lifted her chin and walked inside, head up high.
All business. Jake was like a laser the next morning. His focus on the case was razor sharp. He had his mission, and he was sticking to it. No distractions allowed.
The bell above the door jingled as Jake entered Uncut. He scanned quickly for Wilder, the gentleman who’d helped him a few days ago. From his post behind the glass display counter, the man presented a diamond necklace to a woman wearing a white tennis skirt and a visor.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? And it goes with everything,” he said.
The woman shook her head, mouthed a thanks, and turned on her heels to go. Wilder returned the necklace to the case. Jake ambled over to the dark-haired man, who beamed as he looked up. He shook his index finger at Jake several times. “Who’s the man?”
Jake pointed two thumbs at himself. “Am I the man?”
“You are the man indeed. At last, I beat my brother in darts.” Wilder raised his arms in victory. “Thanks to your angle trick. I am so grateful.”
The man laughed loudly and clasped his hand on his belly. “Oh, that’s rich. You are a funny man.”
“So that’s a no?” he said drily.
“That would be a big, fat no,” Wilder said, but his tone was playful. “Are you ready to buy for her? For her new job? A diamond would be lovely.”
Jake heaved a sigh. “I might be. Someday. But listen, man. I gotta come clean to you.” He was going out on a limb here, but Wilder had been a decent guy when Jake first talked to him. If he was going to pump him for information, the least he could do was offer up some truth.
Wilder’s expression shifted to one of concern and curiosity. “What is it?”
Jake took off his sunglasses and met his eyes. “A woman I know—a woman I’m close with,” he added, because it was true, “had her diamond stolen from her hotel room here on the island. Those blue-tinted ones we talked about.”
Wilder’s eyes widened. “Oh dear. I don’t like to hear about diamond thefts. It makes me sad when diamonds are not with their rightful owners.”
“Yeah, me, too. So I’m just wondering,” he said, reaching into his pocket and taking out his phone. “If you’ve seen this guy around at all.” Jake opened to a saved photo of Ferdinand, the guy with the snake tattoo. He’d snagged it from the Sapphire website that morning. Jake wasn’t sure if Ferdinand was the thief, but given Marie’s tip last night, coupled with Steph spotting him earlier on the trip and Jake’s run-in at the club office, he might as well start with Eli’s manager. “Trying to figure out if this guy’s been trying to turn that blue diamond back into money.”
Wilder tensed and pointed to the screen. “I’ve seen him around,” he said in a nervous whisper.
“You have?” Excitement zipped through Jake. “Where? When?”
Wilder waved frantically toward the door. “Yesterday. He was at a café nearby with the man who runs International Diamonds.”
Jake nearly pumped his fist. “Really?”
“And everyone here knows International Diamonds turns the blue diamonds. He probably went straight there with the gem.”
“Yeah, he probably did,” Jake said, and this new intel placed the man with the snake tattoo at the head of the line as Suspect Number One. “Anything else you saw at the café? Did you hear anything?”
Wilder shook his head, his eyes etched with worry. “No. I was just walking by on my way back from lunch.” Wilder paused, tilted his head. “But I thought perhaps he was working for Mr. Thompson. Since he works for him at Sapphire.”
Shit.
Jake’s hopes plummeted as it hit him—the man might be totally legit. He could be working the diamond trade on behalf of Eli. Ferdinand might have been meeting with International Diamonds as Eli’s middleman, rather than to peddle his own stolen gem. It was entirely possible that Ferdinand was helping Eli turn his diamonds into cash and vice versa, rather than pilfering diamonds from the women Eli cared about—Steph and Isla.
Jake’s shoulders sagged. He was right where he started a few minutes ago. Circling suspects. Trying to figure out who had stolen Steph’s diamond, and therefore, who was after the other hundreds of sparkly gems.
“Thanks, man,” he said, and held out a hand to shake.
When Jake left the shop, he took a minute to recalibrate, weighing next steps. He needed more information, so he called Kate and gave her three names.
“I’ll have intel for you in an hour,” she said in her crisp, business tone.
“Excellent,” he said. “Tell Mason I’m bringing him back a new snorkel mask and we’re going to dive for buried treasure off the coast of Key Largo.”
Kate laughed. “He’ll be excited. He misses you,” she said, downshifting to a softer voice now.
“I miss the little guy, too.”
A few minutes later, he wandered along Wayboard Street, passing International Diamonds. He peered inside, scanning for the woman who’d helped him last week. Monica was her name. Maybe he could poke around somehow, see what she knew. She’d given him useful information on the value of the diamonds and where they came from in Canada. She could be a valuable resource about the two new missing gems and who was trying to sell them. But, as he started to formulate a game plan, he recalled how she’d seemed a touch suspicious of him.
He didn’t see her inside the shop.
Perhaps that was for the best. No need to stir up the hornet’s nest with her. He left the diamond district and headed toward Tristan’s. He needed a quiet spot to dial Steph at the appointed time. He’d pay a visit to the restaurant, poke around and see what he could learn about the proprietor, then slip into the restroom to call Steph at eleven thirty.
Yep, he had his edge back. He was firing on all cylinders today.
As he bounded up the steps, the hair on the back of his neck tingled. He had the distinct sensation of being followed. Whipping his head around, he spotted a flash of dark hair in a tight bun. He rushed back down the steps. The woman had whisked into a dress store.
A woman who looked a lot like Monica.
A recent memory slammed to the front of his brain. Holy shit. He’d spotted her the other night at the bar on the beach, where Steph had enjoyed the Cherry Popsicle. He’d gone there with her after the party at Isla and Eli’s house.
Was the diamond saleswoman following him?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Eli plunked down the receiver with a flourish.
He opened his arms for a hug, but then furrowed his brow. He raised his wrist to look at the face of his Rolex. “Wait. Am I late for lunch? Did I get the time wrong?”
Steph waved off his concern and flashed a big, bright smile. “Nope. I’m just early. I was doing some shopping in the neighborhood and thought I would pop in to see you in your element.”
Her stomach churned as she lied about the reason for her early arrival.
Eli strode across the plum-colored carpet of his office and wrapped her in a big embrace. “You should stay in the Caymans,” he declared with a happy sigh, then broke the hug. “Sit,” he said, patting a plush black leather couch.
“Is there a conspiracy going on to get me to relocate here?” she teased. “Clarissa said the same thing.”
“Smart woman. That’s why I keep her around. I told her to convince you.”
She laughed, but the chuckle didn’t sound as if it came from her. It seemed to originate from another Steph—one who was playing pretend, who was imitating a woman who felt no guilt. Steph wasn’t terribly acquainted with that version of herself. She hadn’t played her before. “Clarissa was definitely convincing, but I don’t think a move is in the cards. I like Miami—and Mom—too much,” she said, because at least that was wholly true. “I hope I’ll be here more often, though. I had some inquiries about snorkel tours and a visit to Happy Turtle, so fingers crossed.”
He raised his index and middle finger, twisting them together. “Good. Nothing could make me happier than seeing you around more often. Now tell me about your shopping trip. What did you see? What did you buy?” he asked, peering around as if hunting for bags.
Shoot. Why hadn’t she brought props for every wrinkle in her lie? Lying was hard. It required too much advance prep.
Think, think.
Her right thumb and index finger darted to her ear. “These earrings,” she said, fastening on a bright smile as she leaned forward to show him her mermaid earrings. “Aren’t they cute?”
“Cute is the wrong word,” he said, his expression serious. “They are beautiful. Isla would love them. She loves pretty little earrings.”
Of course she does. She loves shiny objects. She’s probably the mastermind.
“Where did you get them?”
A make-believe store I just invented from thin air.
“Oh, just a tiny boutique in Georgetown,” she said breezily, naming a popular shopping area.
“Which one? I want to get her
a pair.”
She stared at the ceiling. Scrunched up her brow. Scratched her chin. “Darn. I can’t seem to remember the name. We were only there for a little while before we came over here to do some window shopping,” she said, feeling a bit like she was on the hot seat, so she quickly shifted gears. “You know, save money and all. I went with my friend Tommy. He’s helping me on my tour in a few days.”
“Ah, how lovely,” Eli said casually. But Steph was comprised of tense muscles and tight skin as she waited for a phone call from “Tommy.” “Is this Tommy fellow a nice guy?”
She nodded. “Very nice. He’s checking on some of the equipment we need for the tour. That should keep him occupied for a few hours this afternoon. He needs to stay busy, since his girlfriend just broke up with him, and he’s still heartbroken. So he likes the extra work to keep his mind off her.”
Eli nodded, an intensely serious look on his face. “Of course. There’s nothing like hard work to distract a man from heartache.”
“But that gives me plenty of time with you,” she said, clasping his hand and squeezing it, laying the foundation for her own smoke and mirrors that would come any minute. Eleven thirty ticked closer.
“Why don’t we leave early and pop into Isla’s gallery? Then I’ll drive us over to the restaurant,” he suggested, and her heart skittered with worry. Driving with him was fine, but she couldn’t leave early. She needed to wait for that call. Her ears perked, longing to hear the phone trill any second.
She just had to keep him occupied until it rang.
“I keep meaning to check out the Lynx paintings. And oh,” she said, pointing to the square design on the wall. “You have one, too.” She feigned excitement as she focused on staying put in his office, rather than leaving for Isla’s gallery. “Isla said you’re both huge fans of his work.”
“Isn’t it gorgeous? We love his concept of the world. Oh, and he sent lunch to Isla yesterday. What a treat! When she called his office to leave a message to thank him, his assistant sounded a little surprised at first, as if she hadn’t known he sent it. But he’s on a meditation retreat, so she probably assumed he would be too busy focusing on the sound of waves or the falling of rain or some such to be thinking about others. But that’s just the type of kind man he is!”
The Sapphire Heist (A Jewel Novel Book 2) Page 9