A Bid for Love

by Rachel Ann Nunes

  “You wouldn’t do that.” Except that Jared couldn’t be sure of anything about Laranda anymore. He considered reaching for his own gun, but knew he wouldn’t be able to use it on her—even if she didn’t shoot him before he drew it from his holster.

  “Oh, Jared, don’t be silly. Of course I would.” She laughed again. “Ivan, aren’t you finished yet? I’ve got things to do.”

  That reminded Jared of how Ivan and his companion had broken into his apartment. “A key. They had a key to my apartment. Where did they get that?”

  Her brow creased in puzzlement. “How did you know that they—oh, never mind. I had a copy made when I borrowed your car a couple of years ago. I thought it might come in handy one day. Only I’d originally had a different idea in mind.” She gave him a suggestive wink.

  Jared shook his head in disbelief. They had been friends! He had trusted her.

  Ivan lumbered over. “I’ve untied him, but he won’t wake up yet. He must have been hit pretty hard.”

  “Yes, Jared’s a man of many talents.” Laranda handed Ivan the gun. “If he makes a move, shoot him.” She moved closer to Jared and put her hands on his chest caressingly, moving them further inside his jacket. “Ah, here it is.” She slipped the gun out of his holster. Jared’s face fell, and Laranda laughed. “You didn’t think I would forget this, did you? I’m not stupid.”

  “You were never that.”

  She looked at him as if trying to see his sincerity. Then she continued her search, finding and relieving him of his cell phone as well. Satisfied, she tied his hands together behind his back.

  “You could come with me, you know.” She ran a finger slowly down his cheek. “We would be happy in Europe together.”

  “Until you tired of me.”

  “At least you would be alive.”

  Jared knew there was no way he would ever go with Laranda, especially now that he’d glimpsed the depth of the darkness rooted in her soul. She stood for everything he was against, and even to save his life, he couldn’t give in to her. “I thought you were my friend. How can you possibly think a relationship would work between us? Can’t you see? We’re too different. We believe differently.”

  “Because you found religion?” sneered Laranda, drawing back from him as if she had been slapped, her beautiful face twisting in anger. “There is no God, Jared. When are you going to understand that? The only thing you get out of life is what you can grab, and that’s what I’m doing. Even if God existed, He couldn’t save you now.”

  She whirled and walked toward the door Ivan had come in, trying to move more quickly than her skintight dress allowed. She reminded Jared of an animal stalking its prey.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Cassi ran nearly all the way to the address on Meela’s paper, feeling as though everyone stared at the uncomfortable bulge under her shirt. Only as she reached the corner of the gallery’s street did she pause to catch her breath and take stock of the situation. It was an older, yet well-kept part of town. The streets and sidewalks were crowded with cars and pedestrians, and she couldn’t tell for sure if there was anyone watching the gallery. How awful it would be if she tried to save Jared but ended up leading the thugs to him, or if the FBI stopped her before she could arrive.

  The more she studied the situation, the more confused she became. She couldn’t just walk up to the gallery, could she? For an instant, she wished Linden was around so he could help her. She felt horrible now for suspecting him.

  “He’s not here, so he can’t help,” she muttered aloud. “It’s up to you to save Jared. Oh, I wish I’d never seen that stupid, ugly Buddha.”

  “Want a paper?” asked a boy in front of her.

  “Huh?” Cassi focused on him.

  “Do you want a paper?”

  “No, thank you.” Cassi shook her head and lifted her gaze back to the gallery down the street.

  “I know about the Buddha,” the boy said.

  Cassi looked back down at him sharply. “What did you say?”

  “The Buddha. I heard you talking to yourself about it. I know something about where it is.”

  “You do? What?” Surely this was a joke. The boy was trying to panhandle her. Cassi sighed, wishing she could once and for all break the habit of talking to herself.

  “Before I help you, I want to know whose side you’re on.”

  “The good side, of course.” How else could she explain it to this child, who may or may not have some information?

  “People are watching the gallery,” the boy said, though whether he spoke because he was satisfied with her response or because he wanted to prove he knew something, she couldn’t say. “See those two men in front? There’s another one here by the alley, and one in front of the alley on the other side, too. I’ve been watching them, and they haven’t moved. Even before that man came along.”

  Cassi’s hopes rose. “What man?” If this boy had seen Jared, maybe he could tell her how he slipped past the men and into the gallery.

  The child gave her a passive stare. “You tell me.”

  She stared at the boy, coming to a quick decision. “Okay, I’ll tell you. My friend, Jared, came this morning to the gallery. He was dressed in jeans, a white button-down shirt, and a tan jacket. He was carrying something in a green duffel bag.”

  “The Buddha?” the boy asked, an eager glint coming into his eyes.

  Cassi nodded. “He was supposed to take it to his boss at the gallery, but a lot of people have been after him for it, so he had to be really careful. He thought if he could get it to her, she would call the police and everything would be okay. Except I just found out that she’s the one behind the whole thing. The Buddha is fake and full of smuggled goods. Jared doesn’t know about her, and I’m afraid when she finds out he knows about the Buddha, she’ll kill him.”

  “I thought he was good. The man guarding the alleyway talked to me real mean-like, but your friend was nice. That’s why I didn’t tell anyone I saw him sneak down the alleyway when I sent the bad guy to the restaurant.”

  “What?” Cassi was confused. “Tell me, quickly, from the start.” The little boy obliged, and Cassi learned how Jared had arrived at the gallery unseen, without alerting the thugs. Or were they FBI? No matter. Cassi had to get into the gallery before the police arrived. Too much could happen before then. Too much could go wrong.

  “The man wouldn’t fall for it again,” Cassi said aloud.

  “No,” agreed the boy. “But I know a way to the back of the gallery, if you want me to show you.”

  “Please.” It was too much to hope that he could really do as he claimed, but she had no other ideas at the moment.

  “Come on, then.”

  The boy set his papers down by his father’s stand and motioned to Cassi. She followed him down the street until they were uncomfortably close to the alleyway. Then he slipped into a small store. It was a bakery shop, full of mouthwatering smells. At another time, Cassi would have enjoyed the visit, but now she felt impatient.

  “I’ve come to use the bathroom,” the boy shouted to the old woman who was helping customers at the counter. The woman smiled and nodded, and the boy grabbed Cassi’s hand and led her up some stairs and down a hall. “We pay the lady a fee each month to let us use her bathroom. It’s easier than having to walk blocks to find a free one. It’s no good shutting the newspaper stand for so long. This way I can watch it alone for a few minutes while my pop comes here, and we don’t lose out on the sales.”

  Cassi wanted to ask what a bathroom had to do with getting to the back of the gallery, but she decided to wait and see.

  He led her into the bathroom and opened a small window. “It’s a little small,” he said, “but I think you can make it.”

  Cassi peeked outside. Below the window was a stone ledge that might have once been a high wall before the buildings grew to meet it. Now it was simply a narrow space between the bakery and the back of the building behind it. It would be a tight squeeze for Cassi, but
she was willing to try anything to warn Jared. The only problem was that instead of continuing to the alley, it was blocked ahead. Evidently, the builders of the businesses further down the street had decided that even those few inches were too much space to waste, and they had constructed their additional floors out on top of the stone wall.

  “It ends,” Cassi pointed out.

  The boy smiled. “Come on, I’ll show you.” In a flash he climbed onto the sink, slipped out the window, and landed on the ledge. With much less grace, Cassi followed, wondering idly if the old woman at the bakery counter would worry when they didn’t return within a reasonable time.

  She had to walk with her feet forward and her body twisted sideways to get through the tiny space. Sometimes it became tighter, and she felt the rough stone of the buildings rub against her back and chest. At last, they reached the place where the ledge was blocked, about three store lengths down from the bakery itself. Cassi watched in amazement as the boy scrambled up a rope ladder hanging against the side of the building. She climbed up after him, grateful to be facing it so she wouldn’t have to attempt the four-story climb backwards.

  When she arrived at the top, the boy was sitting near the edge of the building, staring down into the alleyway next to the gallery. If she stretched her neck, Cassi could just see the man guarding the street. He had copper-colored hair and wore suit pants and a dress shirt. He turned her way, and Cassi drew her head back quickly.

  “This is my favorite place to come,” the boy said. “I can watch what they unload at the gallery, or I can walk to the front and watch the street—that’s more interesting.”

  Cassi nodded. “Like watching the world without them knowing it. I like to do that, too.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “Thank you for showing me this.”

  He shrugged. “Getting down shouldn’t be too hard. I’ll just switch my rope to the other side.”

  The rope was anchored by a huge screw hammered into the top of the building. “Did you do this yourself?” Cassi asked.

  “Yeah. I used to go up the fire escape ladder that goes down into the alley, but it broke partway and now it’s hard to climb.” He paused and looked at her almost guiltily. “I don’t hurt nothin’ up here. I just watch people or feed the birds.”

  “Of course.” Cassi waited as he moved the rope to the other side. Since it was anchored to the roof near the other side of the building, the rope didn’t quite reach the top of the stone wall that emerged once again below. It seemed a long way down.

  “I’d better go,” she said. “What’s your name, anyway?”

  “Donny.”

  “Well, I’m Cassi, and I’m very grateful.” She leaned down and kissed the boy on the cheek. He turned red but looked pleased.

  “It is drugs?” he asked suddenly, unable to hide his curiosity. “Inside the Buddha, I mean.”

  “No, diamonds. Great big ones.”

  “Wow!”

  Cassi smiled, glad that he was properly impressed. “That’s what I said when I saw them.” She turned to go.

  “You climb on down,” Donny said behind her. “When you’re on the ledge, I’ll tell you when it’s safe to run across.”

  Cassi made her way quickly down the rope, keeping as close to the building as possible. She couldn’t see the man guarding the alleyway, so he shouldn’t be able to see her—yet. When her feet reached the end of the rope, she braced them against the wall and used just her hands on the rope, wishing she’d worn tennis shoes instead of sandals. She had to drop the last two feet and nearly fell off the wall and into the alley, but at the last moment her hand found an indentation in the side building, and she was able to balance herself.

  She looked around, rubbing her chest where the gun had jabbed her when she dropped off the rope. More than ten feet below her was the blacktop surface of the alleyway. The stone wall stretched the length of the gallery and slightly beyond, where it was once more blocked by stores or businesses. To her left stood tall buildings without windows, built directly up to the wall. Cassi could see why the men guarding the alleys didn’t see any reason to post another man back here; the alleys seemed the only way to the back of the gallery.

  Unless, of course, you knew a curious boy named Donny. Cassi smiled.

  “Psttt,” came a sound from above. “Go now, he’s turned away. Good luck!”

  Cassi ran across the wall, hugging the buildings on her left so she wouldn’t fall. “Why didn’t I take gymnastics instead of drama in high school?” she muttered. Into her head flashed a scene of women doing flips and dancing on a beam much smaller than the wall she balanced on.

  After she passed the alleyway, Cassi breathed a sigh of relief and slowed down. The last thing she needed at this point was a broken ankle. At the back of the gallery there was a large garbage bin, and she moved forward a few more feet until she could reach it. Easing herself on top of it, she climbed down the side to the ground, turning to wave at Donny, who still watched her from the roof. He returned her wave.

  Cassi ran to the back door and quietly inserted a key. The first one she chose didn’t work, but the next key turned in the lock.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  A loud crack at the back door halted Laranda in mid-flight. Her exquisite head turned on her white neck, and the rest of her body followed. Calmly she brought up Jared’s gun.

  Jared’s heart constricted as he saw Cassi coming through the door. “Run, Cassi!” he shouted.

  “No, don’t! I’ll shoot him!” Laranda pointed a gun at Jared. “Lock that door behind you and come here.”

  Cassi cast Jared a frightened glance but did as she was ordered. Laranda slowly approached her, transferring the gun’s aim to Cassi instead of Jared. He considered diving at Laranda, but a sharp jab in his back assured him Ivan was on the job.

  Laranda moved past Cassi and punched in a code on the alarm to avoid a call from the alarm company. After she finished, Laranda waved Cassi over to stand with Jared.

  “Who’s this?” Laranda asked, in an ugly tone instead of her usual silky voice.

  Jared didn’t answer. He was still in shock that Cassi had come. He wished desperately that she hadn’t, though he really should have expected it, knowing how impetuous she was.

  Cassi lifted her chin. “I’m Cassi. You must be Laranda. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “That’s funny. I haven’t heard a thing about you.”

  Jared finally found his voice. “She’s not part of this. Let her go.”

  Laranda turned on him. “So you care about her. Is she what really kept you so long in L.A.? Has our Jared finally found a woman? How sweet.” She eyed Cassi up and down, from her curly hair to her sandaled feet. She shook her head, her upper lip curling in scorn, though Cassi didn’t quail under her stare. “You always were a sucker for curly hair.” Laranda brought a hand to her own smooth locks.

  “I know you’re behind the smuggling,” Cassi said. “But Jared gave you the Buddha, so you have what you want. Please, just let us go.”

  “You know so little about what I want, girl,” Laranda grated.

  “I know what you’re doing is wrong.”

  “Why, because God says so? That explains what Jared sees in you. The poor fool.”

  Jared wanted to protest, to tell the creature in front of him that it was not only Cassi’s faith that captivated him but her kindness, her intelligence, her beauty, and most of all her impulsiveness. In Jared’s mind, Cassi had all the important qualities that made a woman truly beautiful.

  He was about to tell Laranda the truth, but something warned caution. Jared bit back the words that had come to his throat. Laranda had their lives in her hands, and given her strange fascination with him, it was better not to taunt her with his growing feelings for Cassi.

  Jared threw a warning glance at Cassi, but she didn’t appear to notice, her brow furrowed in thought. Somehow he had to get her clear. He couldn’t let Cassi share his fate when she was only involved because of him.


  But how?

  Maybe he would have to rethink Laranda’s offer to go with her to Europe in order to save Cassi.

  Then the phone rang.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Laranda crossed to where the gallery’s cordless phone lay on a table. She scooped it up with her free hand, her long nails making a scraping sound in the sudden quiet of the vast room. “Hello? Ah, yes, Peter, I have your merchandise and am waiting for you.”

  Cassi was relieved to have those green eyes turn away from her, though Laranda’s presence still dominated the room. Her shimmering red outfit was glamorous, revealing a lot of smooth, white skin, and her shoulder-length hair was flawlessly groomed. Cassi was only too aware of her own borrowed jeans and the oversized T-shirt, both of which had become quite grubby during her adventures. She stifled the urge to pat her hair into place, a useless gesture since her wild hair wasn’t going to start behaving just because she was in the presence of an incredibly poised and beautiful woman.

  The large packing room around them was both strange and familiar to Cassi, as it somewhat resembled the shipping room in Linden’s gallery. Several long tables and enormous shelves of packing supplies were the most prominent features in the room—besides the exquisite Laranda.

  “I’m sorry,” Jared mouthed. His hands were tied behind him, and a big man pointed a gun at his back. Cassi felt some satisfaction knowing she had been right about Jared’s trouble—only somehow she wasn’t helping exactly as she’d envisioned.

  “Who’s the bruised guy by the door?” Cassi asked.

  Jared’s jaw twitched, and she noticed that the cut above his left eye had reopened. “Works for Laranda,” he said. “He was one of the men at my apartment last night. I—I wish you hadn’t come.”