“But at what cost,” Agent Gamble said as he shook his head. “I have four men down, chaos in the streets, and look at this mess. You know we will have to frisk both of you before you can leave the vault. Give me the Black Diamond for safe keeping.”
“Not until you can produce our finders fee,” Previne answered. “And haven’t we showed our bodies to enough men for one day? You can clearly see through our clothes. Where would we hide any loot?”
“Okay, let’s get out of here. I’m getting the creeps.”
As they left the vault, they spied the three shooters nude and handcuffed lying on the floor of the hallway.
“I thought they would fight to the end,” Pramilla remarked.
Agent Gamble gave a quick laugh then said, “They had no clothes to keep spare ammunition clips. They ran out of bullets.”
Maya appeared and hugged both her sisters. “We need to get out of these wet clothes,” she said to Gamble. “Meet us in Colt’s suite in an hour. Bring the money.”
The women started to leave but Maya suddenly turned and addressed Agent Gamble again. “And don’t forget, you owe me a dinner tonight. Dress accordingly.”
“Yes I do.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
Loni and Colt heard everything that had transpired at the convention center through their earpieces. They were still in the suite with Eric Grey. He was suddenly ravenously devouring a hamburger and fries while all the action was taking place. They both removed their earpieces just as Grey was finishing and wiping his mouth.
“Eric we are going to help you,” Banyon started. “But we don’t have much time. Several people are headed to this suite and you need to be somewhere else when they get here.”
“Don’t need your help. I can take care of myself,” he defensively replied. “I don’t need anybody. I’m used to being on my own.” He got up and headed towards the suite door.
Loni ran after him and grabbed his arm. “Eric, please listen to Colt,” she pleaded.
“Whenever I listen to someone else, bad things happen to me,” he said as he brushed her arm off of himself.
“But it’s your grandfather’s dying wish,” Banyon offered
“I don’t care,” he said.
“You know, you are as stubborn as he was,” Banyon said with disgust as he threw up his hands.
“Just give me a few minutes head start. The cops will never catch me,” Eric Grey said like a true fugitive.
“This is no longer going to be about you running from the authorities. That time is over. You no longer need to be on the run. We can fix everything so you can live a long and productive life. You will also have money too,” Banyon promised. Grey hesitated for a second.
“I have a record,” Grey shot back. “As soon as the police access my record, I’m going to jail for a long time.”
“We can fix your record. Wipe it clean,” Banyon said even though he was not sure.
“I’ve done some bad things that can’t be fixed,” he replied.
“We know that. Don’t you understand, this is about redemption, redemption and family honor? I know your grandmother Sally has taught you about both,” Banyon scolded. “It’s time to make things right and to start a new life Eric.”
“What exactly are we talking about here?”
“You may find this hard to believe, but there are now people that care about what happens to you. Loni and I see you as part of our family; just as your grandfather made me part of his family. Family helps family. No questions and no reservations.”
Eric stopped and turned towards Banyon. “Tell me about my Grandfather?” Grey suddenly requested.
Loni guided him back to the couch and sat him down. Banyon started with how Sally Hand and Wolfgang Becker met. He told him about some of their adventures and how they wound up in the Bahamas. He also explained that Sally left Wolfgang without notice and only a hint that she was pregnant.
“Sounds like Grandma,” he acknowledged as he scratched his head.
Banyon continued telling Grey all about Wolf and how he became Walter Pierce. He told him about his financial successes and his need for a family. He explained that his Grandfather was actually a hero, how he believed in honor. He wanted Eric to follow in his footsteps. He omitted the parts about the curse and that Banyon could still talk to him. Soon Banyon could see that Eric was coming around.
He then hit him with some of the information that Wolf had told him about Eric. “Your grandfather knew your grandmother had told you about her experiences with Walter Pierce, also that she was determined to live life her way and to seek vindication over the men that had hurt her. Your grandfather wanted to help, but she left.”
“How do you know these things?” Eric asked.
“We are very thorough,” Loni shot back.
Grey didn’t say anything for some time. Banyon could see he was thinking. “Actually,” Eric started, “I have already decided to give up my life of crime. I want more out of my life. But I want to be free as well.”
“Good,” replied Banyon. “Then you will let us help you.”
“Colt, the others will be here any second,” Loni said with alarm.
“Loni, do you have a room key for Eric?” Banyon quickly asked.
“Well, no… wait. Yes I do,” she exclaimed as she pulled one from her pocket and handed a plastic key to Eric.
“We need to do some cleaning up for you. So give us a couple of hours to do that,” Banyon said. “You can’t stay in the suite. Hide out in the hotel.”
“How?”
“This key is tied to my credit card. You can use it anywhere in the hotel for anything they offer. Buy yourself some new clothes; get a haircut and lose the beard, maybe a massage too. A slight change of your appearance will help. I want you to understand that we trust you. Come back in a couple of hours. Then we can continue. Is that okay with you?”
“Let’s just say that I have nothing better to do right now,” a smiling Eric said. “Let’s shake on it.”
Banyon suddenly stood up. “In this family we hug.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Colt and Loni were alone in the suite as he prepared to greet his team. He ordered up a bottle of vodka and shot glasses along with several beers from the room service menu. The liquor was now located in buckets on the coffee table. He also ordered some appetizers while were now located on a rolling tray.
Loni placed the two artifacts she had taken from Gerut on the same table. Banyon intended to celebrate the recovery of the artifacts, but was still very nervous. The adrenaline rush of the day’s activities had worn off and other things clouded his thoughts. He still had worries on his mind. He wondered what he would do with Eric Hand AKA Grey now that he had been rescued. He also worried about Agent Gamble and if Maya could make him forget about Banyan’s special gift. His biggest worry was about Wolf. He had been unable to contact him since Wolf had told him about the assassination attempt and where to find Eric Grey. He also worried about the change in Loni and her relationship with the Patel sisters. I feel like I no longer know anything about my world, he thought as he busied himself with fluffing pillows and moving chairs.
He suddenly stopped and studied Loni for a minute before he spoke. He wanted to ask her what happened by the pool, but she was glued to her computer. He cleared his throat. “What are you doing?” he started.
She didn’t look up, but replied, “I’m surfing the web, lots of good stuff here.”
“Why now?”
“Do you think that we should buy a condominium here in Las Vegas? The market is way down and we could get a great deal on a place. Our friends could visit us here and your sons could come too. Look at these pictures…”
Banyon wondered if she could read his mind. He had thought the same thing earlier in the day. “The guys will be here soon,” he said as he interrupted her ramblings.
“It would make a fun place to go during those long winters in Chicago,” she continued without looking up. “And after all
we are due a fair bit of money from the artifacts. This would be a good way to spent it. We could live up on a mountain and…”
He interrupted her again. “We certainly can visit a few houses while we are here in Las Vegas,” he replied with a smile on his lips. He knew she could get him to do anything if she really wanted to and her rambling was always a sign that she wanted something. She was looking at houses. He was sure she wanted her name on the title right next to his.
“Maybe tomorrow? she asked. “I’m free all day.”
“We’ll start at noon,” he smoothly replied.
“How about eight o’clock?” She stared at him with pleading eyes.
Suddenly changing the subject, Banyon cautiously asked her, “What did Previne and Pramilla do to change your mind about them. Your attitude towards them is certainly different since you were at the pool today.”
Loni was busy typing away on her laptop, but this time she stood up when he spoke. She considered his question for a few seconds and then she replied. “It was what they told me about you that mattered, Colt. They told me about the curse that makes them attempt to seduce you, or more correctly stated, to try to seduce any good man they meet. I understand their desire for a good man. I have the same desires as they do. Colt you have always made my blood boil. I now understand why they chase you. We have agreed that they can look but not touch. I’m going to give them some rope and see what happens. I know they want to be settled like we are. Maybe I can help them find a man as good as I have. Whenever I look at you, I remember what life was like before you. I don’t want other women to feel that sad.”
“Loni I don’t know what to say,” Banyon uttered.
She paused and stared for a second and then she started towards him. “Want to have sex right now?” she said cheerfully.
He waited for her to get near and grabbed her in a bear hug. “You are remarkable women Loni Chen.” He then kissed her hard on the lips and realized he was very aroused. She squirmed against him and this only heightened his desire.
“They also told me about my jade ring.” She looked hard at him. “Why didn’t you tell me about it?” she scolded him.
“I only found out about the ring a few days ago and wanted to test it before I told you. I wanted to make sure the ring really worked, and that is the truth.”
“You should have told me immediately,” she chastised him as she leaned back and searched his eyes.
“But, you must have suspected something,” Banyon retorted. “I thought that you were a witch, you know. I thought maybe sometime you would pass a mirror or something and your reflection would be of some old hag in a pointy hat. I guess I was afraid to find out.”
“I’m no witch,” she flatly stated. “Whenever you ask for something, my mind goes blank and all of a sudden I remember what you need is in my pocket.”
Banyon searched his brain for the proper response. “At least I will always know you still care about me. Otherwise the ring won’t work would it?”
“True,” she replied as she considered his remark.
“So are you and the Patel sisters going to be friends now?” he sheepishly asked. He secretly hoped that they would.
“Well, only as long as you keep your hands off of them and they keep their hands off of you,” Loni pointed out.
“I can live with that,” he answered.
“They are also good for our business, we made six hundred thousand dollars because of them, but don’t make me regret my decision,” she said as she pointed her delicate finger at him.
“I won’t dream of it,” he replied.
“Good, that’s settled, then maybe I should give you a small reward,” Loni said as she rubbed against him.
***
A little later, as if on cue, there was a knock on the adjoining door to the suite. Banyon barely had time to cover up when the door flew open and in paraded the Patel sisters. Each one was dressed in exotic dresses of bright fashionable colors with very high heels. They all posed as they entered one by one. Banyon knew they were putting on a show. They each walked up to Banyon and gave him a big hug. They then repeated the hug with Loni.
Previne showed Banyon the pouch with the Black Diamond and deposited on the coffee table along with the other items.
Loni suddenly looked at her outfit and said, “I’m a little underdressed for this group.” She torn off to the bedroom.
“That was quite an entrance,” Banyon offered.
“Why not,” Maya said. “We did good deeds today. We deserve to celebrate a little.” She then plopped down on the couch and crossed her beautiful legs. “I hope that Greg likes these.”
“Can you do it?” a suddenly serious Banyon asked.
“Most certainly with Greg,” she announced for everyone to hear.
“Not that, I mean can you make him forget?”
“When I am done with him, he will only remember me.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
The party was in full swing when Greg Gamble rang the suite doorbell. Maya ran to the door, assumed her most sexy pose and opened it. Gamble could only stare at her.
“Close your mouth silly and come in,” she purred.
He dropped his satchel by the door. His first stop was Colton Banyon and he shook his hand. “You did great today. If not for you we would have been too late to stop the assassins.”
He then turned to Loni who had changed into a short black cocktail dress. “You look stunning. Colt doesn’t know how lucky he is.”
“Oh yes he does. I make sure he knows it every day,” she said loud enough for everyone to hear.
“And you two,” he addressed Previne and Pramilla. “You guys captivated all my agents and I’m sure you had the same effect on John Gerut.”
“It might have been our outfits,” Pramilla gave a sexy throaty laugh. “They were rather revealing after the sprinklers started.”
“If he had listened to us, he wouldn’t be dust in the wind,” Previne coyly remarked as she threw open her arms.
“Where is the Black Diamond?” Gamble then asked.
“It is on the coffee table behind you, along with the other items that we recovered,” Loni announced.
“Good, “he replied as he turned to eyeball the artifacts.
“What about me?” Maya pouted “I saved your life.”
Gamble reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Everyone stopped and stared at the box. “For you,” he said.
Maya quickly grabbed the present and grinned at everyone before she opened it. Inside was a lovely broche. “Complements of the FBI and especially me,” he added.
“Why it is lovely,” exclaimed Maya as she walked into his arms and kissed him on the lips. The kiss seemed to linger too long for friendship and Banyon felt a smile of satisfaction brake out on his face.
“I want to propose a toast,” Banyon said. “Everyone get a shot glass of vodka. That’s how we do it in our family. It is a tradition.”
When everyone was ready, Banyon made the announcement. “To good friends, safe times, the recovery of the artifacts, but mostly to the finders fee.”
Everyone laughed and drank up.
Epilogue
Banyon woke with a throbbing headache. He managed to get to the bathroom and took a couple of pills for his hangover. They had partied later than expected the night before. He semi-staggered into the living area and he found Loni hard at work trying to clean up the mess from the party. She was putting glasses on a tray.
“Call housekeeping, that is what we are paying them for,” he managed gruffly. “While you are at it, call room service and get me some breakfast.”
“Yes master,” she answered as she turned to him and curtseyed like a maid would. She had a smile on her face.
“We need to deposit the finders fee check, before Agent Gamble changes his mind. He hinted last night he had another job for us,” Banyon muttered. “I told you that him knowing about our talents wouldn’t be a good thing.”
“Alr
eady done,” Loni smiled at him.
“How, did you go out this morning?”
“No silly,” she said as she held up her cellphone. “I took a picture of the front and back of the check and made the deposit by phone. The money is in our business account already. He can’t take it back.”
“I’m still worried,” he voiced.
“Someone is a little grumpy today,” she said as she bounced over to him and hugged him. Then she planted a wet kiss on his lips.
“How come you are not hung over? We had quite a party last night,” he said as he remembered the event.
They had consumed three shots each to celebrate their good fortune when the vodka ran out. Suddenly everyone but Banyon was on cellphones. Loni called room service for more liquor. Pramilla called someone named Sam. Previne called one of the agents from the convention center who had lent her a jacket to cover her wet outfit. Maya called a restaurant and Agent Gamble called a team to pick up the artifacts and someone to deliver the finders fee check. Within minutes there were many knocks at the door and a full blown party ensued.
It was about midnight when the door to the suite opened and Eric Grey entered. Everyone turned to see who was joining the party. A frightened look suddenly appeared on his face and he attempted to exit, but Banyon quickly called to him with a hand gesture.
“Eric, it is so nice of you to join us. You have nothing to fear here. Join the party.” He then gestured to the crowd. “Everyone, this is my nephew, Eric Hand.” Eric had bought new clothes, gotten his beard shaved, and hair styled. He looked totally different.
Agent Gamble swiveled around to eyeball Eric, but Maya quickly pressed herself against him. “Greg, are you going to take me to dinner?” she breathed into his ear. He suddenly had more important things to do.
“He is very cute,” Previne said to Pramilla as they appraised the young man.
“He looks like he is about our age too.” Previne commented. Banyon had filled them in before Gamble had arrived. They knew Eric was the grandson of Wolf.
A Dubious Terrain (A Colton Banyon Mystery Book 4) Page 23