Cashing Out

by Pierce, Nicolette

  Frankie stepped closer, brushing the nun’s cheek with the back of his fingertips. Dani and I grasped each other for support and watched helplessly as he leaned in and whispered something that made her blush. Frankie straightened as she dug through her purse to find paper and a pen.

  Frankie took the offered number with a smile and wink. She hurried away but gave him one last blushing glance.

  “Frankie, did you just send us to hell?” I demanded.

  “No. She’s an actress wearing a theater costume. I recognized it right away,” he said low enough so Charming couldn’t hear.

  It didn’t matter; Charming was occupied with his own challenge. He wasn’t focused on us, but rather on a cigarette-puffing elderly woman with a walker.

  Charming was having a hard time feeding the woman lines. She kept asking him to repeat himself.

  “I said your eyes are the color of tranquil seafoam!” he shouted.

  The woman cocked her head as if he might be a little daft. “That’s glaucoma, not foam.”

  “We’re going to hell for sure,” Dani said, shaking her head.

  I glared at Caleb, who smirked back. He whispered, “She’s about the only person who can’t be seduced by Charming.”

  “No, she’s not. If I can see through him, there must be others.”

  Caleb brightened. “Interesting.”

  “What?”

  “You’re on deck for the next round.”

  “No way! I’m not going through that torture again. Anyway, isn’t it against the rules?”

  “You heard the same rules I did. I can pick whoever I want. I pick you.”

  I glowered at him. The only good part about that plan was that we’d stop dragging innocent people into the competition. And, if Charming fails with the elderly woman, we’ll be ahead.

  Hope dolphin-leaped through my insides until I saw the woman give Charming a piece of paper . . . with her number on it. Noooo! Dani’s hand strangled my arm as we watched in suspended horror.

  Once she shuffled away, both teams glowered at each other. They immediately went to find their next challenge. Men.

  “I don’t know if I can watch,” Lenny said. “If the women are any indication of what the men will be like, I don’t think my delicate insides can take it.”

  I arched my brow but refrained from retorting. I scanned for Caleb. He was aimlessly wandering through the crowd until he bumped into a man with his wife or girlfriend. He spoke briefly and led them over to Charming.

  Charming’s eyes flickered between the couple, and he nearly lost his composure. He straightened his suit and flicked imaginary dust from his coat as he prepared himself for a very awkward seduction. We openly gawked, waiting for him to make his first move.

  “I can’t watch. It’s like offering up a sacrificial lamb,” Dani said, squeezing her eyes shut.

  Charming’s team brought over Frankie’s challenge. A towering man complete with a thick beard and a scowling heavy brow. Frankie glanced up at the man with hardly a wince. Of course, Frankie doesn’t discriminate when it comes to men. This hearty lumberjack might be right up his alley.

  “These guys said you want to talk to me,” the man said, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder to point at Charming’s giggling team.

  Frankie nodded politely before asking, “Do you want me now or later?”

  I sputtered, Caleb barked with laughter, and Dani and Lenny backed away.

  The man’s scowl deepened until his thick brow covered his face.

  “Perhaps I’ve made a mistake,” Frankie said with the same light tone. “I could have sworn I’ve seen you before.”

  “I’m not from around here,” the man growled.

  I stepped back with Dani and Lenny.

  “I think I’m having heart palpitations,” I said. “Someone has to lose . . . and fast. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion.”

  Frankie flashed a smile. “I know where I’ve seen you. Are you sure you don’t want to have a drink later?”

  “No,” the man gritted and tried to sidestep Frankie.

  Frankie blocked him with one easy step and touched his arm. The man jerked away. My eyes slid to Caleb, who wasn’t as cheerful as he was moments ago.

  Frankie wasn’t deterred; his smile never faltered. He said something quick and low to the man. The scowl lifted to arches.

  The man palmed Frankie a business card. “Ten o’clock tonight. Be there.”

  Frankie pocketed the card as the man disappeared into the crowd.

  “What was that about? I don’t know if it counts as anything . . . except a very odd and disturbing encounter,” I said.

  “I have his phone number,” Frankie said.

  Caleb shrugged. “I think that counts.”

  “How do you know him?” I asked. “Wait! I don’t want to know!”

  It was too late.

  “He’s a Peek-A-Boo boy.”

  “A what?” Lenny asked.

  “He works down at the Peek-A-Boo Club in one of their shows.”

  “That guy?” Dani gasped.

  “He’s their star. Just think of him in tiny jean shorts and suspenders.”

  “I’d rather not,” Lenny said.

  “I need to move. This city is too much for me,” I muttered.

  “Oh, yeah. I’ve seen him. He’s not too bad,” Caleb said. We all turned to him with quizzical eyes. “Hey, when you wager on everything, you’re bound to see everything. However, this one caught me by surprise.”

  Wagering. That’s the meat of Caleb’s life. However, I have to admit he’s come in handy several times so far and has taken everything in stride. He’s been willing to help no matter how ridiculous the situation.

  Would Greyson do the same? No, I can’t say he would. He’d get whatever was needed done, but not by putting himself out there. Caleb fixed my floors; Greyson would pay someone. Caleb dressed up as a pirate to flirt with princesses; Greyson would have a meeting and show up at the last moment with his lawyer’s card to deter Charming for suing for the turret damage. Caleb was helping Frankie carry out his challenge, albeit to get one step closer to his wager with me; Greyson would stop the challenge with his lawyer’s business card.

  Is that accurate? I asked myself. Greyson is a businessman. Of course he would handle any situation as such. I’m being too hard on him. If he had stepped in, none of this would be happening, and I wouldn’t know about the Peek-A-Boo boys. That would be a plus.

  Either way, something positive did come from tonight’s experience. Caleb proved he’s rather amazing. I think I’ve only seen him through the eyes of a poker player and haven’t given him a fair chance. Tonight, I see him in a whole different light. I’ll give him his wager whether Frankie wins or loses.

  Three rounds later, we were haggard and ready to quit. Only Frankie and Charming didn’t seem to notice as they glared pointedly at each other.

  I’d had enough; even tourists were starting to distance themselves.

  “We’ve seen that you both can be very charming and obtain phone numbers from even the most unlikely people, but we need to call it a draw before someone calls the cops,” I said.

  “There was a cop here,” Frankie said.

  “Yes, and you got his phone number. But you know what I mean.”

  “One more person for each of us, and then we’ll call it a draw,” Charming countered.

  I rolled my eyes as they resumed glaring. The energy waves rolling off of them were heavily charged.

  “I’ve got a better idea,” I said. “Frankie, you charm Charming. If you can, then we’ll know you’re the better charmer.”

  They both shot their laser stares at me. “Are you insane?” Frankie asked with flaring nostrils. Suave Frankie was gone. Real Frankie was back.

  Caleb saddled up next to me. “Are you trying to sabotage my efforts?”

  “No. If anything, I’m helping,” I said.

  Charming smirked. “I agree. There’s no way Frankie can charm me. In
fact, I’ll add an extra week of service into the mix.”

  Frankie pulled me to the side. “Are you crazy? I can’t charm him!”

  “I think you can. In fact, I know you can.”

  “How?” he demanded.

  “Do you remember the photo he used in the billboard design?”

  “Don’t remind me,” he groaned.

  “How do you think he got it?”

  Frankie shrugged.

  “It’s from his personal collection,” I explained. “Dani dug up information on him today. He used to work with you at Celebrity Mash.”

  Frankie’s eyes widened. Whipping out his phone, he scrolled to the billboard design. “I should have known. Look, he cut himself out of the picture. The only part left is his shoe.”

  “Do you remember him?”

  Frankie nodded and slid a glance over to Charming, who was pacing nearby. “I would’ve never recognized him. We used to sing a duet together. His name is Mark Frank. We joked that if we ever took the show on the road we’d be Frank and Frankie.”

  “That’s cute,” I said.

  “Well, back then, life was different. I still don’t see how this will help. He’s changed. I’ve changed.”

  “Frankie, you left to open a chapel. He followed your lead and opened a chapel and became your top rival. He’s been acting a role all these years just like you’ve been acting tonight. He might have lost himself along the way. I’m not saying he’s mentally stable, but you can breakthrough to Mark Frank.”

  “I can’t believe it.” Frankie shook his head. “I never recognized him. Had I known, we could have been great business allies."

  “You still can. Awaken Mark from Charming’s spell. I think you’re the only one who can. Don’t think of this as a competition anymore. Think of it as helping a lost friend.”

  Frankie gave a sober nod and placed his phone back into his pocket. He straightened his suit and crossed the distance, slinging his arm around Mark’s shoulder. Before Mark could protest, Frankie said, “I always thought Frank and Frankie would have been sensational.”

  Mark’s mouth dropped open; his face paled.

  Frankie laughed. “Don’t worry, my friend. It’s a nice night for a walk, isn’t it?” Frankie asked, steering Mark down the sidewalk.

  “How did you know?” Caleb asked.

  “Dani told me. It all started making sense."

  “Instead of wasting the entire evening, you could have picked Charming right away and ended this competition.”

  I smiled. “No. Neither of them were ready to talk. Just like little kids, you have to wear them down first.”

  Caleb chuckled and wrapped his arm around me, steering us in the opposite direction. “Now I’ll never know if Frankie won or not.”

  “He did.”

  Caleb glanced down at me. “You’re calling it?”

  “I’ve called it. Frankie won.”

  “So that means I won.”

  I smiled. He won, hands down.

  * * *

  I was sleeping blissfully in my own bed without Muffin or Frankie’s competition looming over me. That was, until the phone woke me up at an unnatural hour. I glanced at the clock. Oh. Ten o’clock. Still too early.

  I answered the phone with a yawn.

  “This is Mrs. Miller. I’m returning your phone call.”

  Chapter 16

  My eyes popped open as I scurried from the bed. Hearing Mrs. Miller’s voice had my heart racing . . . along with my legs.

  “Um.” Get it together, I thought as I raced around the room searching for a robe. I knew she couldn’t see me through the phone line. But still. “Thank you for returning my call, Mrs. Miller.”

  “It’s no problem. I was going to call you.”

  I stopped in my tracks. “You were?”

  “It seems I have a daughter-in-law I didn’t know about.” Her voice was matter-of-fact and gave nothing away.

  “Ah, so you’ve heard.” I breathed. She must have been in contact with Ian or David. “Is everyone okay? I’ve been so worried.”

  “That’s why I’m calling you.”

  “Did you talk to David or Ian?”

  “No. I can’t get in touch with any of my sons or my daughter-in-law, Mya. And if you know Mya, you know that it’s odd when she’s not chattering your ear off.”

  Yep. I knew.

  “Since I can’t pop around the corner and ask why they haven’t responded to calls or emails, I hired a private detective to check on them.”

  “Did the detective find anything?”

  “He found out I have a daughter-in-law I didn’t know I had, and my sons are missing.”

  “Not all of them. Greyson is at his casino.”

  “I figured as much. I heard his secretary doesn’t let any calls through.”

  “Fiona Watkins is the new assistant director. And you’re right, she won’t let any calls through.”

  Mrs. Miller sighed. “I thought I taught my boys to look beyond lace and smiles. I think I failed them all.”

  Was that a jab at me? I shoved the thought away.

  “Mrs. Miller, I called because I think you might be the only person who can help. There is something I want to show you. Do you think you can fly here? I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it was important.”

  “The detective told me all the leads were dead ends. He’s unable to continue unless we can find a new lead.”

  “I have one.”

  “I’ll be right over.”

  “When?”

  “Ten minutes. I flew in last night.”

  “Meet me at the Tropical Rain Casino. Remy has the postcards I want to show you. Do you think we should call Gwen too?”

  “Who’s Gwen?”

  “Ian’s first and current wife. Believe me, I had no idea Ian was married.”

  “The detective only came across your marriage record. If Ian is married to Gwen, which I doubt since the detective would’ve found some trace of her, then it wasn’t a legal marriage.”

  Crap! I need to call my lawyer again.

  “Give me thirty minutes and I’ll meet you at the casino. When you arrive, ask a security officer for Remy.”

  I politely ended the call and sent Remy a quick warning text before jumping into the shower.

  * * *

  “Jet, I told you not to get Mrs. Miller involved,” Remy scolded.

  “She called me,” I said. “She hired a detective and found me.” I left out the part about how I initially called her. It seemed a moot point when she was going to call me anyway. Plus, the vein in Remy’s neck was pulsing. “Maybe she can help with the postcards.”

  Remy grunted a curse and pulled out the stack from his desk drawer. “She might. I can’t make heads or tails out of them. He’s using numbers and letters. I looked for codes and GPS coordinates. I put them in chronological order and then in reverse. I even looked up information on African animals. Nothing.”

  “I want to know why he felt the need to send them. Is he in trouble? Did he know something before it happened?”

  “The Millers have their issues like all families, but they are also smart.”

  “I know they’re smart.”

  “Not just smart. Clever.”

  “Is there a point?”

  “There’s a reason behind everything they do. Everything.”

  “And we’re back to the postcards. Of course Ian sent them for a reason. But what is it?”

  “To find the diamonds,” a feminine voice said from the doorway. Remy and I turned to find Mrs. Miller.

  It became quite apparent who the Miller boys resembled. From her gray eyes and dark hair, to her tall, sleek stature, she was without a doubt their mother. Only a few fine lines around her eyes and mouth gave her age away. Otherwise, she was elegant and timeless. A beauty wrapped in expensive clothes with a respectable amount of fine jewelry.

  “Mrs. Miller, thank you for coming. I’m Nadia Wolf,” I said, crossing the distance to shake her hand. She
held onto my hand firmly while studying me.

  “You mean Nadia Miller,” she finally said, releasing my hand.

  “That should be cleared up soon,” I muttered, tossing a glance at Remy for help.

  He moved around his desk and shook Mrs. Miller’s hand. “I’m Remy Bourne. I worked for Greyson until a few months ago.”

  Mrs. Miller nodded. “I know who you are. Greyson has mentioned you in the past, and Mya . . . well, you’re a subject that Mya loves to chatter about.”

  Remy’s jaw twitched. “I’m sorry she makes me a topic of conversation. There really isn’t anything about me worth talking about.”

  Mrs. Miller smiled slightly. “You gave my detective the slip several times. Apparently there is something worth talking about. But I’m not here to put you on the spot,” she said, watching Remy’s obvious discomfort. “I’m here because my sons are being held hostage.”

  I froze. Remy gaped. We watched Mrs. Miller as she crossed the room.

  “Do you mind if I sit? It’s been a busy morning.”

  “Of course,” Remy said with a thick voice.

  “Can I get you anything? Did you eat?” I asked, trying to be helpful. But the real question burst forth. “What do you mean, they’re being held hostage? Where’s Mya?”

  She sunk into the chair and took a moment to compose herself before saying, “I was called this morning with ransom demands for Ian and David. The man didn’t say anything about Mya.”

  “What is he asking for?” Remy asked.

  “The Matahari necklace or its equivalent in cash.”

  “How are we going to come up with fifteen million in cash?” I asked.

  Mrs. Miller eyed me. “How do you know it’s worth so much?”

  “The Sierra Leone government agent told me. He said Ian stole it.”

  Mrs. Miller shook her head. “Ian doesn’t steal.”

  “Whether or not he stole it, they think he has it,” Remy said. “Do you have any idea who called you with the ransom demand?”

  “No. I was told to have the necklace or cash within forty-eight hours or they will kill both of my sons,” she said as her voice cracked.