Jared flipped on the lamp beside the couch, only to verify the sick feeling in Cassi’s stomach. The Buddha lay on the floor.
“Oh, no!” she cried as she leaned over to search for damage.
Jared grabbed her hands as she reached for the statue, looking into her eyes. “Remember, it’s counterfeit. Even if it weren’t, it’s insured.”
Cassi was relieved that he could be so calm about it. “I’m still sorry.”
“It’s my fault. I should have put it away after we showed Meela. I don’t know why I didn’t. I—I guess I got carried away when we . . . I really am a gentleman—I think. I have to remind myself of that a lot since I met you.” He gazed at her solemnly, as if wanting to say more.
Her face flushing, she looked away. He released her hands, and once more she reached for the Buddha. It had fallen on the back of its head, leaving several large cracks and a narrow opening in the thin neck. As she lifted the statue, small objects about the size of peas streamed from the fissure.
Jared scooped up several and held them on his palm. “You were right,” he said with wonder. “It is filled with something.”
“Are those diamonds?” The objects seemed to pick up the lamplight and reflect it back tenfold. Cassi set the Buddha to the side on its face so no more of the gems could fall out. Then she gingerly picked up one that had fallen onto the gray carpet.
Jared shrugged. “If so, they’re the biggest cut diamonds I’ve ever seen.”
“They must be worth a fortune.”
“A lot more than four hundred thousand greenbacks, I’d say.”
Cassi snapped her fingers. “Smuggling! Those agents at the airport said something about the thugs who chased us being involved in smuggling. That must be why they want the Buddha.”
“Laranda will go nuts when I tell her about this.” Excitement seeped into Jared’s voice. “She has a buyer all set up for this ugly thing. When she learns it’s a fake, she’s going to hit the roof.”
Cassi’s smile vanished. “That means Linden knew all along. Do you think he’s the one who’s trying to smuggle them into the country?”
Jared shook his head. “You don’t know that. If he was the buyer, he’d have let you bid more on it, don’t you think?”
The thought made her feel better. “Then why didn’t the smuggler’s man bid more?” she had to ask.
Jared shrugged. “There are still a lot of unanswered questions. It might have something to do with me jumping the bid. There was a man who was very interested before that. Maybe he decided stealing it would be more profitable.”
Cassi stared at the diamond in her hand. She tried to calculate its worth along with the hundreds or even thousands that were still inside the Buddha. If they were real diamonds, they would buy her a gallery and anything else she’d ever dreamed of. What if she and Jared were to simply disappear with all of them?
She grimaced. What was she thinking? She dropped the diamond on the carpet and rubbed her hands over her face. “I don’t know anything anymore. I don’t know who I can trust—except you.”
Jared took one of her hands in his. “You can trust me. We’ll get through this.” He squeezed her hand for emphasis before letting it go. “Now help me get the diamonds back inside the Buddha. I know where Meela keeps the tape. That’ll keep them inside until I get to Laranda’s.”
They taped the Buddha and repacked it in its case. Then Jared opened the couch bed for Cassi. “I guess we’d better turn in.” He took a few steps toward the hall.
“Jared?” Cassi said.
“Yes?”
“Did you even for one moment think about keeping them? The diamonds, I mean.”
He came back and stood beside her, his mouth curved in a lopsided grin. “Yeah. I thought of buying us some more fake passports and going to Europe somewhere to live a life of luxury. In my fantasy, I even bought a Ferrari for me and three fur coats for you. Of course, I knew I wouldn’t really do it.”
“Me too. Only I thought of buying a gallery. I couldn’t wear all three fur coats, you know.”
Jared laughed. “Art. It’s in your blood. I like that.” He hugged Cassi, kissing her quickly as if he was afraid to let himself get carried away. “Good night. I’ll see you in the morning. Tomorrow, after this is all over, we’ll go out to eat or something. I’ll show you all my favorite haunts in New York.”
“New York has something other than buildings?” Cassi knew the answer, having visited for auctions before, but it was fun to tease him.
“You’ll see.” Jared gave her a wave and disappeared down the hallway.
“Three fur coats,” she whispered. That meant Jared had thought about staying with her even after this adventure was over. It was more than she’d hoped. She’d worried that once the Buddha mystery had been solved, he would disappear from her life as quickly as he had come into it. Now that was a thought she couldn’t bear to entertain. These past few days had been wild and at times scary, but she wouldn’t give up a second of her time with Jared.
Was she in love? Cassi didn’t know enough about it to be certain. She had never believed it could happen so fast, but she would wait to see where her feelings would take her.
* * * * *
The next morning, Cassi awoke to the smell of bacon. She sniffed several times and sat up in bed before she could convince herself she wasn’t dreaming. She hadn’t eaten a bacon and egg breakfast anywhere besides in a restaurant or at a hotel since she’d left home at age eighteen.
Slipping out of bed, she pulled on the jeans Meela had given her and tucked in the ends of the white T-shirt they had bought at Venice Beach, the long folds having served better as a nightdress than as a shirt. Giving it up, she made her way to the kitchen, expecting to see Meela.
“Jared!”
“Good morning, sleepyhead.”
Cassi groaned. “How did you get up so early?”
“It’s not early for us New Yorkers. We’re three hours ahead, you know. Would you like some breakfast?”
Cassi nodded. “It smells wonderful. Ordinarily I wouldn’t have been able to get out of bed at,” she glanced at a clock on the wall above the table, “seven-thirty after such a late night, but that smell is heavenly.”
“Sit down.”
Cassi did as she was asked. She studied Jared as he put the finishing touches on breakfast. He was already dressed in the jeans of the night before, but this time he wore a dress shirt with his jacket on top. He must have sneaked back to his apartment again for another shirt. That reminded Cassi of his collection of statues, and how she would like to see them in the daylight. Of course, that could wait until they returned from giving the statue to his boss.
“Here you go.” Jared set a steaming plate in front of her.
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
“I ate before you came in. Besides, I called Laranda and she’s meeting me early at the gallery. We open at nine, and I wanted to show her the Buddha before then. Without interruptions.”
“But . . . are you going right now?”
“I thought I’d get it taken care of and then get back here as soon as possible, so we can go out like we planned.”
Cassi’s hand tightened on her fork. They had come so far together, and now he wanted to finish it himself? Why didn’t he want her with him? “The police or whoever she calls might need my statement,” she said.
“Then I’ll bring them back with me.” Jared sat down at the table and looked at her seriously. “All night I’ve given this a lot of thought. Laranda, well, she’s different. I don’t have time to explain, but I’d really feel better if you stayed here.”
It was an explanation of sorts, but a lame one, and she was still hurt—and not about to admit it. “I think going alone is a mistake,” she said, attacking her bacon with a butter knife and slicing it neatly into a dozen pieces.
“You have to trust me on this. Besides, those people who came to my apartment yesterday could be waiting there, and I don’t want to put yo
u in any more danger. I’ve done that too much as it is.” He paused, awaiting a response, but Cassi busied herself with her food, though she had suddenly lost her appetite.
“Well?” he asked.
Cassi nodded, masking her feelings. “Fine I’ll stay.” She wanted to add that he’d better have a good explanation but worried she might burst into tears before she finished the sentence. That would only embarrass both of them. Besides, she had no real right to question him. Ultimately, the Buddha was his problem.
“I’ll call you when everything’s clear. Then you can wait in my apartment, or go for a walk or whatever until I get here. Ask Meela for my extra key so you won’t have to go through the balconies again.” Jared talked so fast that Cassi could tell he felt bad about leaving her alone. She did feel happier knowing he trusted her in his apartment with his Life collection. Maybe that made up for how odd he was acting now.
“All right. Then go already,” Cassi said.
Jared stood and looked down at her, hesitating as if wanting to say more. He touched her shoulder awkwardly. Cassi’s eyes met his, and a tingle flooded her body. “I’ll be back,” he said.
After he left, his words rang out hollowly, almost ominously in the quiet kitchen. Instead of feeling comforted, Cassi was more agitated than when Jared had first said he was going without her. She finished her breakfast and washed the dishes sullenly.
“He made this breakfast simply to bribe me,” she made the fork say to the knife in the sudsy water.
“That’s a man for you,” replied the knife. “They never say what they really mean or want. They just cover up with bribes and suggestions. Why can’t they be more like women?”
“Those creatures?” interjected the plate. “They’re even worse, falling for men they’ve only known for six days.”
“Well, he kissed her!” the cup said.
“She kissed him!” countered the spatula.
Cassi sighed. This was getting her nowhere. Besides, she was quickly running out of dishes to talk for her.
“At least I’m not talking to myself,” she said. “Whoops, there I go again.”
After finishing the dishes, Cassi went down the hall to the bathroom to clean up. She discarded her large T-shirt for the blue one Meela had lent her the night before. Unlike her other clothing, it smelled fresh and clean.
The minutes ticked slowly by. Cassi paced from the living room to the kitchen and back again, trying not to wake Meela. At eight o’clock, she could stand it no longer. She had to talk with someone or go crazy. Last night Meela had offered to let her use her cell phone to call Renae, and she hoped the offer was still open. Taking the little phone to the couch, she dialed Renae’s number in Covina. It rang three times before anyone answered.
“Hello?” said a groggy voice.
Oops. She’d forgotten the three-hour time difference. “Renae, it’s me, Cassi.”
“Where are you? Are you in trouble?” Renae’s voice sounded more alert now, and Cassi could hear Trent in the background.
“No. I’m sorry for calling so early. It’s just that I’m upset. I should have waited.”
“Actually, I’m glad you called. I’ve been waiting to hear from you. I’ve got so much to tell you. I talked to Linden.”
“You what? You didn’t tell him where I was, did you?”
“I don’t know where you are, so how could I tell him? But shut up for a minute and let me tell you what happened. After you and Jared left, Trent and I got to thinking that those men claiming to be from the FBI probably were who they said they were, and most likely on the good side of things. Anyway, I called the number they left me and asked to know more about what was going on. At first they wouldn’t tell me, but then Linden called me back last night and told me everything he knew. He’s been working with the FBI to crack down on a new smuggling ring. He says they believe someone’s using the Buddha to smuggle something important. Only it’s not the main cartel who usually does a lot of the big-time smuggling—run by a guy named Big Tommy, or something—meaning that the cartel is mad at the newcomer and ready to start a turf war.”
Cassi moaned. “With us stuck in between.”
“Now you’re starting to see the picture.”
Knowing about the diamonds, the story Linden had told Renae made sense. “All that shouldn’t matter now,” Cassi said. “Jared went to give the Buddha to Laranda, and she’ll call the police. I wish we had done that back in L.A., but it wasn’t until I saw the diamonds last night that—”
Renae gasped. “Diamonds? You saw them?”
“Yes, but—”
“And Jared went to give them to his boss?”
“Yes.” Fear clutched at Cassi’s heart. “Is that a problem?”
“Oh, Cassi that’s what I’m trying to tell you. They suspect Jared’s boss is involved! And now that Jared knows about the diamonds—”
“She’ll never let him go.” Panic flooded Cassi’s mind. “Jared must have suspected. That’s why he wouldn’t let me go with him to give her the Buddha. Oh, what am I going to do?” Of course there was another explanation—that Jared had been using her all along, but she couldn’t believe that. Not after last night.
“Calm down. Linden and his friends flew to New York yesterday. They should be there. They’ll help Jared.”
“What if they aren’t there in time? I can’t let him die!” Sobs clogged Cassi’s throat. Renae was saying something else, but Cassi was beyond hearing. She hung up and dropped the phone onto the couch.
At that moment she knew that despite the short time she’d known Jared, she loved him. Loved him! And she couldn’t let him die.
“Think!” she said aloud, knocking her hand on the side of her head to clear it.
“Is everything okay?”
Meela stood in the doorway. Cassi jumped up from the couch and ran to her side. “It’s Jared. He’s gone to Laranda’s. Only I just found out that she’s the one behind all this. The Buddha is full of diamonds. I don’t know what to do. You’ve got to help me!”
“What can I do?”
The woman’s calm question helped Cassi control her emotions. “Tell me where the gallery is, and . . . do you have a gun?”
Meela nodded. “Doesn’t everyone?” Going to the kitchen, she reached into the cupboard above the refrigerator, and drew out a small box, opening the lock with a key from a chain around her neck. “Are you sure about this?”
“I have to try to help him. The police might not find him in time.”
Meela gave her the small pistol and a handful of bullets. “I don’t keep it loaded.”
Cassi studied the revolver. It was a LadySmith .38 Special, and despite her aversion to guns, it felt good in her hand.
“I’ve never fired it—except for when I got the permit,” Meela said. “Do you know how?”
“My brother’s a police officer. His hobby is anything to do with guns, and he made me learn a few years ago.” She put the bullets in her pocket and tucked the gun in her bra between her breasts. Then she pulled on the big white T-shirt from Venice Beach on top of the blue one. “I won’t load it now,” she said. “I wouldn’t want it to go off before—” She shrugged. She hoped she wouldn’t have to load the gun at all. “Can you see it?”
Meela shook her head.
“Thanks, Meela. I appreciate it. I hope I see you soon.”
“I’m calling the police,” Meela said.
“That’s a good idea, though I would think the FBI has already talked to them.” Cassi gave her a quick hug, and then turned to the door.
“Wait, Cassi, let me write down the directions for you. And take these.” Meela threw her a set of keys. “They’re Jared’s. I’m sure he has one for the gallery there.”
Cassi caught the keys and shoved them into the pocket with the bullets. She waited impatiently while Meela wrote down the directions to the gallery.
Finally, she was out the door. “Oh, please let me be on time,” she said as she ran down the hallway. “Ple
ase.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The June morning was warm, and already the traffic was heavy. People filled the sidewalks, trying to avoid the gaze of others who crossed their paths. Normally, Jared would purposely go out of his way to smile or say hello to his fellow New Yorkers, but today he was too busy watching to see if he was being followed. A strange car had been parked outside his apartment building, and he had run quickly around the back and weaved through the side streets to be sure he wasn’t followed. Now he tried to hum and act natural, but he knew apprehension etched clearly on his face, as plainly as if he were guilty of some crime.
Jared felt awful about leaving Cassi behind, but he knew it would be a mistake to take her with him. Not only would this last part of their journey be the most dangerous—the people chasing them had to know where he was headed—but it would also involve Laranda. He admitted to himself that his beautiful boss was the real reason he didn’t want Cassi along.
Laranda’s face, cold and calculating, came again to his mind. Funny that it was never her great beauty he remembered when he was separated from her. It was always her business sense and her impartial judgments, her hawk-like stare and her blatant propositions that echoed in his memory. Only when he was with her did he recognize her exquisitely sculptured features and flawless porcelain skin.
Cassi, with her olive skin, dark eyes, and wonderful hair, was Laranda’s opposite in every way. She was as beautiful inside as she was on the outside, as kind and soft as Laranda was hard and cruel. Jared felt a need to protect Cassi from Laranda, a woman of the world who would not look too kindly upon being scorned by Jared in favor of another woman. Laranda had put up with his refusals when there had been no love interest in his life, confident that he would eventually fall to her wiles, but with Cassi around, Laranda would no longer have that assurance. Jared had heard many times that there was nothing as vicious as a woman scorned, and he could well imagine that Laranda’s brutal wrath would be boundless.
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