“You and your family will die.”
She stared into his cold eyes.
Then he looked up at the man beside her. “Take her away.”
Before she could say more, a hood was placed over her head. Everything went black. Then she was untied from the chair and hauled back into the vehicle.
They traveled in silence for ten minutes or so, with no one talking. She didn’t know how many men were there. Then she felt the rumbling of the vehicle and a lunge forward and then it screeched to a halt. The blindfold was ripped from her head. As she was blinking to help her eyes adjust to the light, the door of the SUV slid open.
Gretel turned around to see who was there and she was pushed out. She stumbled out onto the sidewalk and her quilted black Chanel was tossed after her. Gretel made it to her feet and then raced to pick up her handbag. “It’s Chanel. You don’t throw Chanel,” she called after the car as it drove off with its wheels screeching.
She checked her bag for damage. The corner was scuffed. She shook her head in disgust. It was ruined. When she opened it, she saw the cell phone they’d placed in her bag. She picked it up, and switched it on silent.
Just when she was looking around trying to work out where she was, Jack’s car pulled up alongside her. She was so pleased to see him; she grabbed the door handle and jumped in beside him.
He frowned at her. “Where were you?”
“Um, just shopping.”
“I’ve been driving around for ages looking for you. Are you all right?” He stared at her and smoothed down her hair. “What happened? Your lip’s cut.”
“Oh.” She pulled down the sun visor and looked in the mirror behind it. She looked a right mess. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“Go on.”
She had to make up something fast. Something he’d believe. The last thing she could do was tell him the truth. “I fainted.”
“I’m taking you straight to the doctor.”
“No! I have a fear of doctors. I’ll be okay.”
“Has anything like this happened before?”
Gretel thought fast. “It’s embarrassing to talk about. Only when I’ve been dieting. I’m low in iron. I’m sure that’s all it is. That’s what happened last time. I’ve got tablets at home. I’ll take one as soon as I get there.”
He shook his head. “You women and your dieting. You don’t need to lose weight. You’re perfect like you are. If you lose any more, you’ll be a stick.”
She laughed and he moved his car into the line of traffic.
“Now, do you want to know about the earrings?” he asked.
“Oh, yes, the earrings.” She’d temporarily forgotten about those. “Yes. What did you find out?”
Chapter Four
“Your earrings aren’t diamonds at all.” He arched a skeptical eyebrow. “I’m guessing you knew that.”
“Oh, that’s so sad. I was starting to hope they were when Monica said they looked like hers.”
“The main thing is, they aren’t hers. The bad thing is, hers are still stolen.”
“That’s horrible for her and she’s got her gun stolen as well. Her diamond earrings and her gun. The poor thing. She’ll be extra upset when she learns I didn’t steal anything after all.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Jack frowning. “Let’s hope she realizes you’re not the enemy.”
“I hope so. If it’s all right with you, I’d rather not be there when you tell her.”
“That’s fine. I can see how awkward it must be for you. I’ll take you home.”
“That’s not necessary. You still haven’t told me about our next assignment. I’m excited to know what it is.” She forced a smile.
He grinned. “It’s one I’m sure you’ll like.”
“Tell me. I’m in suspense.”
“We are involved with the security team protecting the Purple Promise. Have you heard about it?”
Gretel couldn’t believe her ears. The first time she’d heard about the large purple diamond was years ago when it had been found in South Africa and then transported to Antwerp for cutting. Only four diamonds in the world were known to be of the same purple hue, plus the smaller stones that were fashioned from that one diamond crystal that was eventually fashioned into an oval brilliant. “Yes. I was just reading about it in the paper this morning. Wow! Does that mean I’ll get to see it in person?”
He laughed. “I’d dare say so. We’re on the security team.”
“Wow! Wonderful.” That would make everything so much easier. Everything was falling into her lap. Maybe this was her getting her stealing mojo back. If she believed in God she would’ve said it was a Godsend, but since she didn’t, she thought of it more as the tide of life turning in her favor.
He glanced over at her. “If you’re up for it, we can start work today on some plans. If you’re not, I can take you home and bring you up to speed on it tomorrow.”
“No. I’m fine. I’m feeling a lot better. I’ll grab something to eat and that’ll perk me up. What plans? What exactly is involved?”
“Go get yourself something to eat and then we can talk.”
An hour later, the plans landed in Gretel Koch’s lap, and she started studying the layout of the building where the Purple Promise was going to be held.
At last the universe was smiling upon her.
There was no having to get Kent to download the blueprints from wherever he could hack into, taking days or weeks to get them.
No, here it was in front of her.
It was a gift.
She still didn’t know what she was going to do. If she was going to steal it, she’d keep it for herself. She wasn’t going to risk everything just to hand it off to those crooks who’d kidnapped her. Still, maybe she could use them as decoys in some way. Fake her death and make it look like they were the ones who killed her and stole the diamond too. Then she could move somewhere overseas and live a life of luxury because she’d be able to access her other bank accounts. She couldn’t access them currently, not with the FBI breathing down her neck.
Of course, Marty would give her a new ID, and maybe rather than fly out of the country, she’d go by boat.
Cruise liner.
They’d never look for her on a cruise. Then she’d disembark in some small foreign country and decide where to go from there.
“Who else knows I’ll be doing this?” Gretel asked.
Jack’s eyebrows drew together. “Why?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m just wondering.”
“You’re worried about some of your old colleagues trying to blackmail or intimidate you for information?”
“No.” She laughed as though what he said was ridiculous. “Of course not. If anyone like that contacted me I’d tell you right away. There’s no one like that anyway. I have no colleagues. I’m sure you wouldn’t want me here if you thought I’d fall into the trap of opening my mouth.”
Jack rubbed his chin. “I remember one colleague you had.”
Gretel rolled her eyes. He meant Ryan Castle, the thorn in her side. “Oh, him. Well, you don’t have to worry about him anymore. I’m taking what I do here very seriously. I know it’s a big opportunity. It’s been a lifeline for me, Jack, and I appreciate it. I’m not going to put one foot wrong.”
“I trust you completely, Gretel, you’d have too much to lose. Besides we’re keeping a close eye on you.” He chuckled, and she didn’t know if that was true or not. Were they watching her?
“Good. I’ve nothing to hide. Did you trust me with those diamond earrings just now?”
“Of course, except the part about you not knowing that those earrings weren’t diamonds. It was almost as though you were baiting Monica.”
“I’d never do that.” Inside, Gretel was laughing. “The earrings were a gift and I would feel horrible trying to figure out how much they’d cost him.”
Monica burst into the room.
“Monica, we’re in a meeting.” He
covered over the plans.
She folded her arms over her chest. “Where are my diamonds?”
Jack stood. “Let’s talk about this outside.”
“No. I want them back now and my gun.”
“It’s okay, Jack,” Gretel answered, pleased that he remembered she didn’t want to witness Monica being told they weren’t her diamond earrings.
He reached into his inner coat pocket and handed back her two certificates. “I went to your office to tell you and you weren’t there. Let’s talk about this further in your office.”
“We can talk here,” Monica blurted out.
“Gretel’s earrings were not your diamonds. Not only that, they didn’t match up with the diamonds on the certificate. They were a whole different color, clarity, and what have you.”
Monica frowned and reached forward and plucked the certificates out of Jack’s fingers. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t worry, he went there by himself. I had nothing to do with it.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that I saw you outside my apartment, and now … I’ve got things missing. That’s what you do. You steal things.”
“I’m sorry, but it wasn’t me.” Gretel shook her head. “And, I wasn’t anywhere near your apartment, wherever that is. I was at home.”
“That’s enough, Monica. You can’t accuse Gretel of this. There’s no proof.”
“I know she did it.”
“Were they insured?” Jack asked Monica.
“Yes.” Then Monica turned on her heel and walked out.
“Sorry about that,” Jack said as he sat down. “I’ve never seen her upset like this.”
“Are you on a higher level than she is?”
“Technically yes. I wouldn’t say I’m her boss, though.”
“Why didn’t you tell her my earrings were fake?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “That was something she didn’t need to know. It makes no difference.”
Gretel sighed. “I wish they were real.”
He clapped his hands. “Back to looking at those plans.” From the list in front of him, he told her of all the security that was in place already. Then, he said, “Why don’t you come up with a few ways it could be stolen and we’ll put measures in place to prevent it?”
She shook her head. “It’s not as easy as that. There’s too much security. I might be able to come up with one way, but not several.” She bit her lip. “Maybe two.”
“See what you can do. I know that you’ve broken into some impenetrable places.”
“Allegedly.”
He stared at her.
“All right. I’m going to need some time.”
“Take all the time in the world. The only thing is those plans can’t leave my office.”
She wasn’t happy about that. Neither would she be able to photograph them with all the security in place. There was a camera in every office. “That’s fine. I’m going to need some coffee.”
“Didn’t you just have something to eat?”
“Yes.”
He said, “I’ll have someone get you something. What would you like?”
“A coffee, black and strong, and a bagel with cream cheese, please.”
“Got it.” Then he looked up at her. “Is that diet food?”
“I’m forgetting the diet for now. Until the Purple Promise is safe.”
“Good idea.” He stood. “I might stretch my legs, head out, and get you the bagel and coffee myself.”
“Okay. I’ll be here. I’m not game to leave the office.”
When he left, she took the plans of the building and walked over to the small couch in the corner.
When the Purple Promise went missing, she’d be the first person they’d come looking for. Then the realization set in. Was the Purple Promise something worth dying for?
If the kidnappers found out she was double-crossing them and framing them, they’d kill her.
It crossed her mind to tell Jack the whole thing of how she had been kidnapped and how they were forcing her to steal the Purple Promise, but no. She knew nothing about them or their organization.
If some of the crooks were caught, what was to stop the others from carrying out their threats they’d made to her?
She couldn’t risk it.
Chapter Five
The first thing Gretel did when she walked in the door of her apartment was kick off the stiletto heels that had been killing her feet.
Another day was over.
Then she walked over and slumped onto the couch. What a day. She’d been kidnapped, accused of stealing, and found out she was expected to look after the very thing she wanted to steal.
After a few moments, she stood up and headed to the corner of the room where she kept a different cell phone, an untraceable one.
She called Kent. “Come on. Answer,” she said aloud when he didn't answer right away.
“Hello.”
“It's me,” Gretel said.
“I thought it might be.”
“What a day I've had.”
“What happened?”
“So many things I don't know where to start.”
“Did Monica say anything about seeing you?” Kent asked.
“Yes, and not only that, she accused me of taking the earrings.”
Kent sighed. “That’s not good.”
“What made it worse was … I might have worn a pair today that look very similar.”
“Did you have to do that?”
“I don't know why, but I think I did.”
“You can’t afford to take risks. You’ve got to lay low.”
“You should’ve reminded me of that last night.”
“I tried, but you know how you can be when you’ve got your mind made up about something.”
She ignored his comment and proceeded to tell him what all had happened with the not-diamond earrings. “And then I find out that we’re supposed to be guarding the Purple Promise. We’re part of the security.”
“You're kidding!”
“I'm not. When I say we, I mean Jack and me.”
“That's what I thought you meant. You do get yourself into situations.”
“I haven’t told you half of it. It gets worse. Much worse.”
“How much worse could it get?”
Almost too tired to repeat the whole thing, she took a deep breath. “I was kidnapped by some guys and they want me to steal the Purple Promise for them. That was before I found out that Jack wanted me… That I was supposed to be on the team watching it.”
Kent was silent.
“Say something.”
“Did you just say kidnapped?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“This afternoon. I was snatched off the street, given orders, and then let out again.”
“Who did it?” Kent asked.
“I don't know. I've never seen them before. They were thickset men, balding, or maybe they'd shaved their heads. Generally, they all looked the same. The room was darkened, I was dazed and couldn’t see them properly. I heard their voices. One of them had a very thick accent.”
“What did he say?”
“I can’t remember. They told me what they wanted me to do and then threatened Jack and then they threatened my family. In particular, they mentioned Hazel.”
“This happened today?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you call me right away?”
“As soon as they let me back out on the street, Jack appeared and I got in his car. I’ve been with Jack most of the day. This is the first chance I’ve had. I can’t take this phone with me.”
“I know but … It’s unbelievable.”
“Don't remind me. It's a wonder I made it through. I very nearly didn't. I nearly caved and told Jack about being kidnapped.”
“Where was Jack when all this was happening?”
“He was having the diamonds appraised. It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got the gist of
it. You wore a pair of earrings that you knew would upset Monica. The diamonds that weren't diamonds that you were wearing to annoy Monica and make them think they were hers?”
“That's right.” Gretel wiped away a tear. “I know that sounds awful but she’s been absolutely horrible to me. I guess I have a few flaws. Maybe one, anyway.” She was so in control of her emotions that she rarely cried, but she couldn’t stop those few tears that made their way down her cheeks. “They grabbed me and pulled me into a van, or an SUV or something. Covered my face with a chloroform-soaked rag.”
“Sounds awful. I’m sorry. Are you all right, Gretel? Do you want me to come by?”
“What am I going to do?”
“I’ll find out who they are.”
She rubbed her head forgetting how much she had told him. “Did I tell you they threatened everyone? They threatened me, my sister, and my family?”
“You did. It sounds like you need a good sleep.”
“I need to go to sleep for a week and wake up and be a different person. I can't handle my life anymore.”
Her parents would tell her that she’d made her bed and now she had to lie in it. She hated it how what they said often played through her mind. Especially when she was doing her best to forget them and her entire childhood.
“So they must be in the city somewhere if the drive in the car didn't take too long.”
Gretel couldn’t hold in her sarcasm. “That's right, that narrows it down.”
“Well you're not giving me much to work with. It would help if you remembered what that man said to you and how he said it. I might be able to work out his accent and get a lead from that.”
“I'm sorry. Something might come to me when I’m more rested. I've been waiting all day to find out what happened with Monica's date. Has he called you yet?”
“That was a disaster. Monica ran a background check on him and found out he didn't exist at all. When she confronted him, he ran. She chased him, caught him and was trying to cuff him. He got to his feet and ran. When he got far enough away, he realized his cell phone had slipped out of his pocket in the scuffle.”
Controlled (Gretel Koch Jewel Thief Book 2) Page 3
